Syal surrendered in all the three FIRs registered against him. The FIRs pertain to fraud and criminal breach of trust and were registered here on November 28, 1997, June 28, 1998, and November 6, 1998, respectively.

The case against Syal was earlier registered on the complaint of one Narinder Singh Sandhu who invested money in a firm called Alpine Floritech. In discharge of their liabilities, the directors issued post-dated cheques but the same were dishonoured when presented to the bank. It was learnt that the directors had withdrawn money from the account and had transferred the same in the name of another firm called Marigold.

Court stays auction of cinema parking lots
The auction of car parkings, scooter and cycle stands adjoining cinema halls, which was scheduled to be conducted here today by the Municipal Corporation through the Commissioner and Executive Engineer (Roads), MC, was stayed in view of the court order granting stay in the matter.

The order was passed here by UT Civil Judge (junior division) Jasbir Singh on a suit to this effect filed by hotel Piccadily and seven other city hotels.

The plaintiffs maintained that in October 1997 also the MC was planning to auction parking lots inspite of the fact that scooter and cycle stands were provided in the building itself and the plans approved of the same. The said auction was also stayed by court's order dated October 15, 1997.

In their reply to the suit the defendants maintained that the earlier stay of the court was with regard to the October auction.

The court, however, held that as per site plans and allotment letters shown by plaintiffs the parking lots are to be used by those visiting the theatres. The stay was granted considering that if it is not general public would be put to inconvenience. The court also held that it was yet to be adjudicated if the parking sites are actually vested in the MC.

Passports surrendered in sword case HARINDER Singh Mander and A. K. Srivastava, accused in Akbar Sword case, today furnished their bail bonds in the court of UT Chief Judicial Magistrate Sant Parkash in compliance with the orders of UT District and Sessions Judge B.S. Bedi. They also surrendered their passports in court. The bail bonds were in the sum of Rs 50,000 each, along with two sureties for each accused.

Earlier, during the day, the accused had also obtained an extension till November 10 for furnishing their bail bonds in the court. Pronouncing the order after a long argument on the application, the Judge had allowed the accused to remain on bail after they furnished bail bonds in the sum of Rs 50,000, along with two sureties of like amounts each. The Judge, however, required the accused to surrender their passports.

Six-month RI for cycle thief
The court of UT Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class) Paramvir Nijjar today held a local resident guilty of having stolen a cycle of BSA-SLR make and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of six months. The prosecution had maintained that on March 30, 1999, the accused was found to be in possession of the said cycle, which in fact was stolen from Ranjit Singh.

Beant case: witness cross examined
In his cross examination today, Chamkaur Singh, brother of Dilawar Singh, stated that he was on leave from duty after September 2, 1995, and he remained on leave till September 25. When questioned as to where he had been, he was a bit puzzled and later replied that he was in CBI's custody. The witness added that he was taken to the mortuary on September 5 and was told that the remains lying there were Dilwra Singh's. He said that the body was too mutilated to be recognised, adding that his father was also in CBI"s custody till September 25.