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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 8
A Karnal sweep: Why BJP Haryana win is doubly sweet for Manohar Lal KhattarSubscriber Only
October 10, 2024 18:59 IST
Khattar’s Karnal LS seat was the only one where BJP won all the Assembly segments. Party’s worst performance was in LS seats held by Kumari Selja and Deepender Hooda
Fri, Oct 11, 2024
32 votes and 12 Independents: How Haryana’s closest battle played out, was won by BJPSubscriber Only
October 10, 2024 09:20 IST
BJP’s Devender Chatar Bhuj Atri defeats Brijendra Singh of Congress, former Dy CM Dushyant Chautala pushed to fifth spot.
Thu, Oct 10, 2024
The ‘suspect 7’, as per Congress: A Haryana seat not won in 30 yrs, the BJP CM seat, a Hooda aide’s seatSubscriber Only
October 10, 2024 07:51 IST
Two narrow defeats for party in these 7 seats, in all but one, it lost to the BJP.
Thu, Oct 10, 2024
Bhupinder Singh Hooda interview: ‘In loktantra (democracy), log haar gaye, tantra jeet gaya’Subscriber Only
October 10, 2024 07:45 IST
"How could the ticket distribution be lopsided? There is a proper procedure that the Congress party follows," says Haryana Congress leader who is facing questions about his role in the party's defeat.
Thu, Oct 10, 2024
Building blocks of BJP’s Haryana win: Sweep in Ahirwal, seats bordering Delhi; GT Road belt dominance intactSubscriber Only
October 10, 2024 07:00 IST
Though Jats appeared to consolidate behind the Congress, the ruling party did not get washed away in the core Jat belt.
Fri, Oct 11, 2024
Dushyant Chautala’s JJP hits rock bottom: From kingmaker in 2019 to zero seats in 2024Subscriber Only
October 08, 2024 20:59 IST
Dushyant, who had won the Uchana Kalan seat in 2019 with 92,504 votes, got just 7,950 votes there this time, finishing a distant fifth.
Wed, Oct 09, 2024
Kumari Selja speaks out on Congress’s Haryana poll debacle: ‘State unit to blame, they didn’t let me campaign, farce of strategists team exposed’Subscriber Only
October 08, 2024 19:02 IST
The Sirsa MP and AICC general secretary placed blame on Haryana’s party affairs incharge Deepak Babaria, PCC president Udai Bhan, CLP leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and his son and Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda
Wed, Oct 09, 2024
Decode Politics: How Congress lost the plot in HaryanaSubscriber Only
October 08, 2024 15:28 IST
Infighting, overconfidence, overdependence on Hooda, faulty tickets and organisational mismanagement are among key factors that sealed the party’s fate
Wed, Oct 09, 2024
Election Results Haryana 2024: Why this will be a verdict on Congress’ caste calculusSubscriber Only
October 08, 2024 12:21 IST
Election Results Haryana 2024: Should the BJP manage a historic third straight win in Haryana, it will be a vindication of its tried and tested electoral arithmetic. Here's what you need to know.
Wed, Oct 09, 2024
Election Results 2024 Live Analysis: How NC-Cong won first polls in J&K in 10 years, BJP bounced back in Haryana
October 08, 2024 08:00 IST
Election Results 2024 Live Analysis: Even as the exit polls had projected a clear majority for Congress, the BJP's win marks a first for Haryana, which had not seen any party form the government for three consecutive times. Stay tuned as we decode the results.
Tue, Oct 08, 2024
Haryana Election Results 2024 Live: 3 Independent MLAs extend support to BJP, party’s seat tally rises to 51
October 08, 2024 06:56 IST
Haryana Election Result 2024 Live Updates: All three Independent MLAs — Savitri Jindal, Devender Kadyan, and Rajesh Joon — on Wednesday decided to back the BJP government once it is sworn in
Wed, Oct 09, 2024
Election Results 2024 Highlights: Made EC aware of 20 complaints from 7 constituencies, demanded sealing of EVMs, says Congress
October 07, 2024 23:05 IST
Election Results 2024 Highlights: In his first comments following the election results in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said his party was analysing the “unexpected results in Haryana.”
Mon, Nov 25, 2024
5 things to watch out for in Haryana poll results: Cong CM race, Hooda play to BJP’s Saini gambleSubscriber Only
October 07, 2024 21:15 IST
The outcome would be crucial for determining the future of regional parties JJP and INLD, even as it would also reflect AAP's standing in Kejriwal's home state.
Tue, Oct 08, 2024
Eyeing power in Haryana, Congress faces a problem of plenty as CM aspirants swellSubscriber Only
October 05, 2024 20:22 IST
Staking their claims for top post, senior Cong faces including Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja and Randeep Singh Surjewala also make a common refrain – that the party high command will take the final call.
Sun, Oct 06, 2024
Voting begins for Haryana’s 90 seats as BJP eyes third term, Congress a comebackSubscriber Only
October 05, 2024 07:57 IST
The high-voltage campaign in poll-bound Haryana came to an end on October 3 and the results are expected on October 8.
Sat, Oct 05, 2024
Decode Politics: Why BJP ‘damaad’, ‘dalaal’ noise against Congress in Haryana rings a bit hollowSubscriber Only
October 04, 2024 16:02 IST
Party has been attacking Robert Vadra and former CM Bhupinder Hooda over a land deal since 2014. But its govt told HC in 2023 that “no violations were detected”, its ex-CM Khattar said in July “matter does not invite a jail term”
Fri, Oct 04, 2024
BJP, Congress set stage for direct contestSubscriber Only
October 04, 2024 14:54 IST
More than two crore voters, including 8,821 who are 100 years old or above, are eligible to exercise their franchise at 20,629 polling booths on October 5.
Fri, Oct 04, 2024
Ashok Tanwar turns again: Canvasses for BJP in afternoon, in Congress hours laterSubscriber Only
October 03, 2024 16:06 IST
Five years and three parties later, former Haryana Congress chief and Dalit leader returns to party in Rahul Gandhi’s presence, BJP taken by surprise
Fri, Oct 04, 2024
Paroles amid elections: How Dera chief Ram Rahim’s jail exits play out in Haryana pollsSubscriber Only
October 02, 2024 21:23 IST
Since 2017, when Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping two of his disciples, he has been out of prison on parole or furlough at least 11 times granted by Haryana govt.
Thu, Oct 03, 2024
Why PM Modi keeps bringing up a caste clash of 14 years ago in HaryanaSubscriber Only
October 01, 2024 13:40 IST
The 2010 Mirchpur violence, which saw Dalit houses being burnt and two killed, has emerged as a key issue for BJP, which is trying to corner Congress on Dalit issue. A Congress govt was in power at the time
Thu, Oct 03, 2024
Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra push before Haryana wrap: Five reasons whySubscriber Only
September 30, 2024 19:03 IST
Bharat Jodo lessons, underlining unity, covering larger areas in shorter time, the Congress leader is aiming for several goals
Mon, Sep 30, 2024
Cop’s daughter, history-sheeter’s wife: Manju Hooda faces uphill battle against Bhupinder Singh HoodaSubscriber Only
September 30, 2024 17:30 IST
The BJP nominee from Garhi-Sampla Kiloi is banking on her history of social work, husband’s popularity to take on the Congress heavyweight who has been winning the seat since 2005.
Mon, Sep 30, 2024
Why Manohar Lal Khattar was not at PM Modi’s Haryana poll rallySubscriber Only
September 26, 2024 17:03 IST
As BJP's poll pitch pivots towards Dalit, OBC issues, it highlights cracks between Bhupinder Hooda and Kumari Selja, Congress’s key Dalit face
Fri, Sep 27, 2024
‘Sulking’ Selja meets Kharge, will return to Congress campaign in HaryanaSubscriber Only
September 23, 2024 14:29 IST
Selja told The Indian Express that she very much remained “an aspirant for the CM’s post” if the Congress wins.
Tue, Sep 24, 2024
‘Sulking’ Selja’s absence from Congress’s Haryana push sparks buzz as Khattar invites her to join BJPSubscriber Only
September 21, 2024 20:48 IST
Congress sources said Selja has been “upset” over the party high command’s decision to give her detractor Bhupinder Hooda a free hand in ticket distribution
Sun, Sep 22, 2024Journalism of Courage
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