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Journalism of Courage

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 20

Manohar Lal Khattar, venture capital funds, Haryana Budget, haryana news, Political Pulse, Indian express, Opinion, Editorial, Current Affairs

Khattar’s Budget eyes 2024 polls: 65k jobs, sops for employees, 10-fold hike in allocation for cowSubscriber Only

February 24, 2023 06:30 IST

Oppn has kept its guns trained on BJP-JJP govt over Haryana's rising unemployment, with Congress citing CMIE's Dec 2022 data putting it at 37%

Fri, Feb 24, 2023

Haryana Budget 2023: No new taxes, thrust on agriculture, allocation for cow protection increased by 10 timesSubscriber Only

February 23, 2023 14:50 IST

Haryana's 2023-24 Budget, presented by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, saw an increase of 11.6 per cent from the revised estimates of Rs 1,64,808 crore from the previous budget.

Thu, Feb 23, 2023

Haryana Budget 2023 Highlights: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar presents state Budget, says no new taxes to be levied

February 23, 2023 10:26 IST

Haryana Budget 2023-24 News Highlights: The Budget session of the Assembly had commenced on February 20

Fri, Feb 24, 2023

‘Isteefa nahin lenge’: Khattar digs in heels amid disquiet in BJP over minister Sandeep SinghSubscriber Only

February 22, 2023 22:05 IST

While many Haryana BJP leaders back the ex-hockey captain facing a sexual harassment case, some want the party to distance itself from him amid growing protests

Wed, Feb 22, 2023

Haryana budget session, Haryana assembly, Haryana gau rakshak, Monu Manesar, Indian Express

Haryana budget session: Congress MLAs raise Junaid-Nasir killings, say govt patronising Monu ManesarSubscriber Only

February 22, 2023 16:10 IST

The Opposition MLAs raised questions on the alleged involvement of police and the government-nominated 'gau rakshaks' including Monu Manesar, one of the absconding accused in the killing of Junaid and Nasir.

Thu, Feb 23, 2023

Shift jurisdiction of investigating cyber frauds to location of accused: Haryana Police to MHASubscriber Only

February 22, 2023 08:46 IST

"It becomes completely unfeasible for the police to go all the way to another state and catch the accused. But, if the jurisdiction of investigating the case is shifted to the state of the offender, it would become easier for the personnel of the police station concerned to nab the accused and bust the entire gang of such offenders," Additional Director General of Police (State Crime Branch, Haryana) O P Singh said.

Wed, Feb 22, 2023

Peace eludes the fighting House of Chautalas, Haryana Assembly a witness againSubscriber Only

February 22, 2023 08:35 IST

Dy CM Dushyant recently visited grandfather Om Prakash, but name calling by uncle's faction shows a reconciliation seems unlikely in near future

Wed, Feb 22, 2023

In House, Abhay accuses nephew Dushyant of corruption; is expelled for ‘unparliamentary behaviour’Subscriber Only

February 21, 2023 22:46 IST

Earlier, the SET had been set up by the Haryana government to probe the alleged theft of liquor seized by the police and the excise department from two godowns in Sonipat district.

Tue, Feb 21, 2023

‘Biggest thief’: Abhay Chautala accuses nephew and Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant of graft in airport project, latter refutesSubscriber Only

February 21, 2023 14:19 IST

Accusing the Haryana government of changing the alignment of a road connecting the upcoming Hisar airport with a few villages for vested interests, INLD leader Abhay Chautala sought a thorough probe into the matter in the Vidhan Sabha.

Tue, Feb 21, 2023

In 13 months, cyber scamsters in Haryana ‘pocketed’ 335 croreSubscriber Only

February 21, 2023 10:15 IST

Out of these over 66,784 complaints, 33,532 complaints are pending and under process, while 31,087 have been disposed of.

Tue, Feb 21, 2023

Government says committed to constructing SYL canal; Manohar Lal Khattar puts faith in Supreme CourtSubscriber Only

February 21, 2023 09:18 IST

The government has zero-tolerance for corruption. The CM Flying Squad is continuously working to further the government's anti-corruption mission, the governor Dattatreya said.

Tue, Feb 21, 2023

Before ‘cow vigilante killings’, Haryana unveiled communal harmony panel with polls in mindSubscriber Only

February 20, 2023 19:40 IST

Ahead of the 2024 elections, BJP hopes the move will give it some traction in south Haryana, where there are constituencies with a sizeable minority population.

Mon, Feb 20, 2023

Haryana poised to play key role in making India $5 trillion economy: Governor Bandaru DattatreyaSubscriber Only

February 20, 2023 16:44 IST

The Haryana government is committed to constructing the SYL canal, said Governor Bandaru Dattatreya in his address to the House on the first day of the Assembly's budget session.

Mon, Feb 20, 2023

Haryana news, Mewat district, cyber crime, SIM cards blocked, Haryana’s Mewat, Indian Express, India news, current affairs

Con call: In Haryana’s Mewat, 5 lakh SIM cards blocked since Jan 1Subscriber Only

February 20, 2023 02:14 IST

The police were acting on 66,784 complaints made between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, with Rs 301.48 crore allegedly lost to cybercrimes originating from Mewat, a region in Haryana's Nuh district that has gained notoriety for being a hotbed of cybercrime.

Mon, Feb 20, 2023

Haryana panel to review communal harmony every quarter nowSubscriber Only

February 18, 2023 05:31 IST

“The maintenance of communal harmony, and the prevention/ avoidance of communal disturbances/riots and, in the event of any such disturbances occurring, action to control the same and measures to provide protection and relief to the affected persons, is a prime responsibility of the State Governments,” the MHA guidelines mention.

Sat, Feb 18, 2023

Committee formed in Haryana to review situation of communal harmony in state every quarterSubscriber Only

February 17, 2023 17:31 IST

Government officials said Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya has constituted the State Level Integration Committee (SLIC).

Fri, Feb 17, 2023

Haryana government withdraws decision asking students to return tablets before examsSubscriber Only

February 17, 2023 11:59 IST

Class 10 and 12 students will now be expected to submit the free tablets to their schools on the day of their last exam.

Fri, Feb 17, 2023

Stilt plus four-floor construction likely to be banned in PanchkulaSubscriber Only

February 14, 2023 22:04 IST

MLA Gian Chand Gupta says CM Manohar Lal Khattar assured him; formal orders awaited.

Wed, Feb 15, 2023

Total recall: Haryana govt asks students to return tablets it gave them during pandemicSubscriber Only

February 10, 2023 20:53 IST

Order directs govt school principals not to allocate roll numbers to students who fail to return their tablets

Sat, Feb 11, 2023

Khattar govt in Oppn’s crosshairs after scrapping many posts, rejecting OPSSubscriber Only

February 08, 2023 21:33 IST

Haryana Assembly's budget session is set to be stormy, even as Oppn has attacked recruitment drives via govt's contractual employment agency

Wed, Feb 08, 2023

Celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug Day’: Animal Welfare Board of IndiaSubscriber Only

February 08, 2023 17:46 IST

The appeal states it has been issued on the direction of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

Thu, Feb 09, 2023

In a blow to government job seekers, Haryana abolishes posts lying vacant for 2 yearsSubscriber Only

February 08, 2023 11:02 IST

The move comes at a time when the Haryana government has been under fire by the Opposition over the high unemployment rate in the state

Wed, Feb 08, 2023

Haryana sets up six fast-track courts for expeditious disposal of cases under NDPS ActSubscriber Only

January 30, 2023 19:18 IST

At least six such fast-track courts have been notified in the state –one each in Ambala, Hisar, Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, and Panipat – “for the purposes of speedy trial of offences under the said Act.”

Mon, Jan 30, 2023