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Varinder Bhatia
Varinder Bhatia is the Deputy Resident Editor at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. He is a veteran journalist with over 22 years of experience specializing in crime, political investigations, and legal reporting. Professional Profile Education: Law graduate from Panjab University. Career Path: He began his career as an intern at The Times of India and worked as a legal reporter for Hindustan Times (2001) before joining The Indian Express in October 2004. Awards: He is a two-time winner of the Express Excellence Awards. Expertise: His reporting is deeply rooted in the political and judicial affairs of Haryana, with a focus on high-profile criminal cases and administrative reforms. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) His recent work highlights critical investigative reporting on crime and governance: 1. Crime & Investigations "Red Fort car explosion: Shops where raw materials bought identified" (Nov 14, 2025): Detailed reporting on the investigation into the sourcing of ammonium nitrate and potash for a car blast near Delhi's Red Fort. "Well-educated, a loner: Woman who killed 4 kids was jealous of their looks" (Dec 5, 2025): A chilling investigative piece on a Panipat woman arrested for murdering her own son and nieces. "Haryana officer suicide: What has happened so far in the Y Puran Kumar case" (Oct 15, 2025): Covering the high-stakes suicide of an IGP who left a note naming several top IPS and IAS officers in a corruption scandal. "Relu Ram murder: Why the murder of a former MLA's family is back in focus" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the flare-up of property disputes after the release of convicts in a 24-year-old mass murder case. 2. Haryana Politics & Economy "Over 25 lakh farmers have Rs 60,816 crore outstanding loans, says CM Nayab Singh Saini" (Dec 18, 2025): Reporting from the Haryana Vidhan Sabha winter session on the state's agriculture debt crisis. "Haryana comes out with Ordinance to simplify land ownership in rural areas" (Nov 27, 2025): Analyzing new laws to clarify ownership within abadi deh (village habitation) lands. "Lado Laksmi Yojana: Saini...
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More From Varinder Bhatia - Page 2
Penpa Tsering to take oath as Sikyong of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile for second term
February 14, 2026 13:32 IST
Penpa Tsering will take oath as the president of the Central Tibetan Administration on May 27.
Sat, Feb 14, 2026
How Supreme Court stance on Aravalli definition stalls Haryana’s ambitious Jungle Safari projectSubscriber Only
February 13, 2026 12:27 IST
The Supreme Court made it clear that no activity affecting the Aravallis can proceed until there is a clear, expert-backed determination of what constitutes the 'Aravalli range'. This has put the brakes on Haryana's ambitious Jungle Safari project in Gurugram and Nuh districts
Fri, Feb 13, 2026
Why Haryana civic polls are a pivotal test for Congress’s urban rebuild push after Rahul Gandhi’s ‘pep talk’Subscriber Only
February 12, 2026 14:31 IST
Party has invited applications from mayoral and councillor aspirants, where it has asked them to detail electoral experience, if any as well as provide documents like caste certificate, Aadhaar card and voter ID
Thu, Feb 12, 2026
Punjab and Haryana HC flags possible collusion by Haryana Govt in Rs 11-crore arbitration case, seeks chief secretary’s explanationSubscriber Only
February 09, 2026 15:38 IST
The Punjab and Haryana High Court noted that despite an appeal being pending since 2023, nearly the entire awarded amount of approximately Rs 11 crore had already been released to the respondents.
Mon, Feb 09, 2026
Haryana notifies new transfer policy for district cadre teachers; bonus points for certain categories, special rule for MewatSubscriber Only
February 06, 2026 11:38 IST
According to officials, the new Haryana policy aims to balance teachers’ welfare with student interests. It introduces a merit-based, voluntary district change mechanism with detailed safeguards.
Fri, Feb 06, 2026
Haryana initiates major upgrade of state aircraft operations and safety systemsSubscriber Only
February 05, 2026 18:41 IST
The development comes in the wake of recent air crash in Baramati, which claimed the life of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on January 28.
Thu, Feb 05, 2026
32 votes, 2 rivals, and a courtroom showdown: SC turns down Haryana MLA Devender Attri’s plea against recountSubscriber Only
February 04, 2026 18:24 IST
In 2024, BJP’s Devender Attri polled 48,968 votes in Uchana Kalan constituency, while Congress candidate Brijendra Singh got 48,935 votes, prompting him to challenge the result.
Wed, Feb 04, 2026
Haryana’s new payout rules for high-voltage tower bases: How landowners can now get 200% compensationSubscriber Only
February 01, 2026 11:28 IST
Additional Chief Secretary Shyamal Misra confirms a new framework to balance infrastructure needs with landowner interests, featuring direct bank transfers and market-linked rates.
Sun, Feb 01, 2026
Across world, exiled Tibetans vote today to shortlist their leaders: Why the election mattersSubscriber Only
February 01, 2026 06:30 IST
At a time when Tibet remains under tight Chinese control, these elections serve both a governance function for the diaspora and a symbolic assertion of Tibetan political identity.
Sun, Feb 01, 2026
Haryana constitutes high-power panel headed by ex-SC judge to address Adani Power PPA issues, notifies Terms of ReferenceSubscriber Only
January 31, 2026 17:13 IST
The High-Power Committee, led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Krishna Murari, has been tasked with mitigating hardships faced by Adani Power Ltd in supplying power to Haryana.
Sat, Jan 31, 2026
Retroactive fines from day 1: Haryana’s big warning to Murthal’s famous dhabas amid concerns about pollutionSubscriber Only
January 28, 2026 18:25 IST
All dhabas must strictly comply with norms prescribed by the CPCB, NGT, and the HSPCB, said minister Rao Narbir Singh.
Wed, Jan 28, 2026
Haryana tightens rulebook on faculty recruitment: New SOPs aim to end confusion over reservation rostersSubscriber Only
January 27, 2026 18:23 IST
As per the new SOP, all government-aided private colleges in Haryana will be treated as a single unit for reservation calculations.
Tue, Jan 27, 2026
Explained: Haryana’s Direct Land Purchase policy for Gurugram Metro, how it affects landownersSubscriber Only
January 22, 2026 16:41 IST
The background section of the official notification notes that Gurugram’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) envisages nearly 200 km of mass transport network by 2041.
Fri, Jan 23, 2026
In Gurgaon Metro push, Haryana says can seize land if owner won’t sellSubscriber Only
January 21, 2026 10:32 IST
Officials familiar with the policy say this dual-track approach is deliberate.
Wed, Jan 21, 2026
‘Sell land now or face acquisition’: Haryana unveils hardline policy to fast-track Gurgaon MetroSubscriber Only
January 20, 2026 15:50 IST
The Haryana government is offering 25% higher compensation for land for the 29.05 km Millennium City Centre-Cyber City Metro corridor.
Thu, Jan 22, 2026
Punjab and Haryana HC seeks Pathankot DC’s response on alleged illegal mining on Central government land near India-Pakistan borderSubscriber Only
January 19, 2026 17:06 IST
The petitioner has also alleged that the land in question is occupied by the relatives of a senior Punjab IPS officer and certain other influential persons.
Mon, Jan 19, 2026
When love rewrites the cadre map: The growing list of IAS, IPS power couples in Haryana and PunjabSubscriber Only
January 17, 2026 16:50 IST
Many IAS and IPS officers have sought inter-cadre transfers to serve alongside their spouses. The sheer scale of such transfers in Haryana and Punjab has sparked conversations about the increasing presence of such ‘power couples’.
Sat, Jan 17, 2026
How Haryana turned around sex ratio at birth, now close to national averageSubscriber Only
January 06, 2026 21:09 IST
Concerted action against illegal abortions, monitoring of centres, special IDs to pregnant women, inter-state raids and incentives to informers help state reach 923
Wed, Jan 07, 2026
‘Phantom workers’, fake work documents: How a Rs 1,500 crore ‘scam’ unfolded in HaryanaSubscriber Only
January 02, 2026 15:41 IST
The alleged scam flagged by Haryana minister Anil Vij involves work slips and registration papers of construction workers — documents that are key for this vulnerable group to access welfare schemes. Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini has now called a probe into the matter.
Fri, Jan 02, 2026
2025: Why it was an unquiet year for HaryanaSubscriber Only
December 29, 2025 19:17 IST
From the busting a white collar terror module and recovery of 2,900 kg of explosives to turmoil in the police force — marred by suicides and a shake-up at the top — it was an unquiet year for Haryana. Politically, however, it bought big gains for the BJP, which swept the civic polls even as the Cong finally started to get its act together.
Mon, Dec 29, 2025
Haryana Vidhan Sabha winter session: Over 25 lakh farmers have Rs 60,816 crore outstanding loans, says CM Nayab Singh SainiSubscriber Only
December 18, 2025 19:04 IST
Farmers from Hisar, Sirsa lead the state with the highest number of outstanding agriculture loan
Thu, Dec 18, 2025
The murder that shook Haryana: 24 years on, why the murder of a former MLA’s family by his daughter, son-in-law is back in focusSubscriber Only
December 12, 2025 17:56 IST
As convicts in Relu Ram Punia family's killings – his daughter Sonia and her husband Sanjeev – walk out of prison following HC's order, old family property disputes flare up
Fri, Dec 12, 2025
Haryana withdraws PSOs of 72 persons, frees 201 cops for other dutiesSubscriber Only
December 11, 2025 21:41 IST
Move part of rationalisation of force, review of the threat perception to the 'protectees' at district-level, every week
Thu, Dec 11, 2025
Gurgaon’s Rs 700-crore plot: Punjab and Haryana HC sets aside order directing HSVP to deposit Rs 123.77 croreSubscriber Only
December 10, 2025 14:30 IST
The Punjab and Haryana High Court mandated the creation of a charge on the property equivalent to 25 per cent of the bid amount of Rs 495 crore.
Wed, Dec 10, 2025
Well-educated, a loner: Woman who killed 4 kids was jealous of their looks, say policeSubscriber Only
December 05, 2025 04:50 IST
According to the police, the first two murders took place in 2023 at Poonam’s residence in Bhawad. Her nine-year-old niece, Ishika, and three-year-old son, Shubham, were found dead in a water tank at the house.
Fri, Dec 05, 2025
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