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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...
More From Varinder Bhatia - Page 29
At meet with Rahul, Congress leaders from Haryana call for change in state unitSubscriber Only
March 25, 2022 19:45 IST
Unlike in Punjab, where various factions within the party posed as a factor for the party’s poor performance, Congress is attempting to put up a united face in Haryana.
Sat, Mar 26, 2022
Haryana CM Khattar asks DCs, SPs to mend ways, curb corruption or face consequencesSubscriber Only
March 24, 2022 17:47 IST
The meeting that was originally convened to review the implementation of government's various public-welfare schemes, was majorly focused on how to curtail corruption in government setup.
Thu, Mar 24, 2022
How Haryana ramped up its health infra to curb Covid-19 spreadSubscriber Only
March 23, 2022 06:15 IST
The task, if, achieved, may give the BJP-JJP coalition an edge against the Aam Aadmi Party that is now focussing on Haryana after a stupendous victory in neighbouring Punjab.
Wed, Mar 23, 2022
Haryana: Most patients succumbing to Covid-19 had no comorbiditiesSubscriber Only
March 20, 2022 18:30 IST
According to the figures, 3,952 of 10,594 Covid-19 fatalities (till March 17) in the state did not have any comorbidities, while 3,085 people who died after contracting the virus were suffering from multiple comorbidities.
Sun, Mar 20, 2022
Crossovers, booths, local polls: After Delhi, Punjab, AAP eyes next-door HaryanaSubscriber Only
March 15, 2022 19:01 IST
The party, which got barely 60,000 votes contesting 46 of the 90 Assembly seats in the 2019 Vidhan Sabha elections, claims to have already created a base at the ground level in Haryana.
Wed, Mar 16, 2022
2 years on, Haryana yet to find who owns 60 illegal farm houses in AravallisSubscriber Only
March 13, 2022 08:36 IST
Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka had been seeking information about the ownership of the said 60 farm houses for over two years under the Right to Information Act.
Sun, Mar 13, 2022
Haryana’s e-procurement push: farmers get MSP for 14 cropsSubscriber Only
March 12, 2022 02:08 IST
These crops include wheat, mustard, barley, gram, paddy, maize, bajra, cotton, sunflower, moong, groundnut, tur, urad and sesame.
Sat, Mar 12, 2022
Haryana Budget 2022 Highlights: Khattar presents Rs 1.77-lakh-cr Budget; Oppn calls it ‘jugglery of words’
March 08, 2022 08:52 IST
Haryana Budget 2022 Highlights: Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda claimed the government has cut economic progress and infrastructure budget by 3 per cent “even at a time of record unemployment”.
Tue, Mar 08, 2022
Haryana: Congress MLA Raghuvir Singh Kadian’s suspension from budget session revokedSubscriber Only
March 07, 2022 17:39 IST
Speaker Gian Chand Gupta revoked Kadian's suspension after examining video footage of Friday's proceedings and verifying that the latter committed the act on a "sudden provocation".
Tue, Mar 08, 2022
Explained: Who is Dr Raghuvir Singh Kadian, the Congress MLA who tore copy of anti-conversion Bill in Haryana Assembly?Subscriber Only
March 04, 2022 19:53 IST
Haryana Vidhan Sabha witnessed unruly scenes over the introduction of an anti-conversion Bill on Friday. Congress MLA Dr Raghuvir Singh Kadian was suspended for tearing a copy of the Bill and not apologising for the act.
Sat, Mar 05, 2022
Explained: Haryana govt’s anti-conversion Bill, its provisions and Opposition’s objectionsSubscriber Only
March 04, 2022 18:13 IST
The BJP govt in Haryana introduced an anti-conversion Bill in the Vidhan Sabha today. Why did the Opposition protest? What are the provisions in the Bill?
Sat, Mar 05, 2022
Haryana introduces Bill to stop ‘forcible’ conversions, faces heated protests in HouseSubscriber Only
March 04, 2022 13:19 IST
Other Congress MLAs, including BB Batra, Geeta Bhukkal and others, termed the Bill an attempt by the BJP government to “create a divide” between Hindus and Muslims.
Sat, Mar 05, 2022
Fearing negative impact on UP prospects due to farm protest, BJP yet to pitch Khattar in PunjabSubscriber Only
February 15, 2022 06:02 IST
Khattar is one of the 30 leaders named as star campaigner by the BJP for Punjab. He is also the only other BJP chief minister, apart from Himachal Pradesh's Jai Ram Thakur, to make it to the list.
Tue, Feb 15, 2022
Prison term over, Ajay Chautala set to steer JJP, eye on future pollsSubscriber Only
February 11, 2022 23:59 IST
While son Dushyant had led the party to 10 seats in the 2019 Assembly elections, putting it in the position of kingmaker and getting him a seat in the BJP-led government as Deputy Chief Minister, JJP leaders said it was Ajay who was the “guiding light” of the fledgling party.
Sun, Feb 13, 2022
Explained: Why is Haryana bringing an anti-conversion law; what does the draft Bill say?Subscriber Only
February 08, 2022 20:55 IST
The Haryana government is set to enact legislation to prevent unlawful religious conversions. What is the progress on the proposed law so far, and what happens now? What does the draft Bill cleared by the Cabinet propose?
Thu, Feb 10, 2022
Explained: Dera Sacha Sauda chief out of jail; can his release have an impact on voting in Punjab?Subscriber Only
February 07, 2022 21:37 IST
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been released on furlough days before the Punjab elections. On what grounds was he released, and will this impact the polls? What role has the Dera played in elections in the past?
Tue, Feb 08, 2022
Will continue to fight for local youth: Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala after stay on private job reservation lawSubscriber Only
February 03, 2022 16:44 IST
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday stayed the Haryana law that ensures 75 per cent reservation for locals in private jobs on a petition filed by Faridabad Industries Association and other associations.
Thu, Feb 03, 2022
Explained: What is Haryana’s private sector quota law that the HC has stayed?Subscriber Only
February 03, 2022 16:02 IST
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed a law that reserves 75 per cent of jobs for Haryanvis in private establishments across the state. What is this law, and what were the contentions raised by petitioners?
Fri, Feb 04, 2022
HC stays Haryana govt’s law providing 75% reservation for localsSubscriber Only
February 03, 2022 13:05 IST
The court, while staying the Haryana law, said “the core issue is whether any state can restrict employment (even in the private sector) on the basis of domicile”.
Fri, Feb 04, 2022
Amid Omicron surge, urban Haryana sees higher fatalities than rural beltSubscriber Only
February 02, 2022 01:30 IST
The analysis of the deaths that occurred this year, out of 251 patients, 103 had died after they were on ventilator support due to their deteriorated condition, 82 were on oxygen and others on BiPaP or other life-saving equipment stage.
Wed, Feb 02, 2022
Among Covid fatalities in Haryana, number of vaccinated 5 times that of non-jabbedSubscriber Only
January 29, 2022 04:54 IST
The initial analysis conducted by the state health department, has revealed that out of the fatalities this year, the death rate of vaccinated patients is five times that of the non-vaccinated.
Sat, Jan 29, 2022
Explained: Why Haryana BJP is going all out to regain lost ground in the stateSubscriber Only
January 21, 2022 20:19 IST
The BJP unit in Haryana is going all out to regain trust among the rural population, a major chunk of the state’s electorate. A look at why, and what the party has been doing.
Mon, Jan 24, 2022
At 64.7% weekly positivity rate, Lahaul-Spiti tops countrySubscriber Only
January 07, 2022 06:39 IST
As on January 6 morning, the number of active Covid-19 patients in Chandigarh was 665, Haryana had 6,059 active patients, Himachal Pradesh reported 1,216, while Punjab had 4,434 active Covid-19 patients in the state.
Fri, Jan 07, 2022
In Haryana Cabinet expansion, a reach-out to Dushyant, farmersSubscriber Only
December 28, 2021 18:56 IST
🔴 The two new ministers are JJP's Tohana MLA Devender Babli and BJP's Hisar MLA Kamal Gupta, taking the strength of the Manohar Lal Khattar Cabinet to 14.
Tue, Jan 04, 2022
Bastara toll plaza row Central govt confirms service of IAS officerSubscriber Only
December 24, 2021 07:24 IST
After the officer's objectionable comments went viral on social media, farmers had gheraoed the mini-secretariat of Karnal and sat on an indefinite dharna demanding suspension of the officer and registration of a criminal case against him.
Fri, Dec 24, 2021Journalism of Courage
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