Even in the stifling heat of September, where not even a leaf moves, the tricolour will surely flutter proudly at Malad (E). Local boy Siddharth Haresh Bhawnani, 23, has topped the all India merit of the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination for entry to the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai.

Siddharth tops among 258 boys who were successful at the UPSC. This son of a businessman, his father, Haresh, is a land developer and mother, Sindhu, is a homeopathy doctor, is scheduled to report to the OTA on Saturday, September 30, for military training. Siddharth will undergo 49 weeks of training and on successfully completing it, he will be commissioned as 'Lieutenant' in the Indian army.