Mumbai, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a major crackdown on illegal cattle trafficking, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar on Wednesday announced that the state government is actively considering cancelling the registration of vehicles repeatedly used for illegal cattle transportation.

Replying to a half-hour discussion in the Legislative Assembly raised by MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar on animal preservation and enforcement of the cattle slaughter ban, the minister said the state was effectively implementing the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act and that habitual offenders involved in organised cattle smuggling were being booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Bhoyar said law enforcement agencies were maintaining data on cow protectors (gaurakshaks) and complainants to trace illegal networks.

He said vehicles seized in cattle smuggling cases are currently released only on specific court orders. However, authorities have detected 17 instances in which previously seized vehicles were allegedly reused for the same offence.

Following directions from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Home Department is preparing a proposal to permanently cancel the registration of such repeat-offending vehicles to dismantle the smuggling network, the minister said.

Sharing details of the enforcement drive, Bhoyar said 1,195 cases under cattle protection laws were registered across Maharashtra in 2025. These operations led to the seizure of 9,81,736 kg of beef.

He also referred to a major operation on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway near Lonavala, where two container trucks carrying 57 tonnes of meat were intercepted.

The subsequent investigation led Maharashtra authorities to an associated slaughterhouse in Hyderabad, Telangana. In coordination with local authorities, the facility was shut down and administrative action was initiated against four to five other illegal slaughterhouses operating in the area.

The minister said that under a Government Resolution (GR) issued on February 27, 2024, all livestock in Maharashtra must be tagged with a 12-digit barcoded ear tag linked to the centralised Bharat Pashudhan System.

He said the digital database tracks breeding records, veterinary health history and ownership changes to prevent illegal trade.

Bhoyar added that the state's Goseva Commission had recently conducted a high-level review meeting, following which standard operating procedures had been introduced to prevent unauthorised transportation of animals and eliminate illegal slaughterhouses.

He further informed the House that the government was considering legislative amendments to enhance prison terms and fines, grant greater enforcement powers to the Goseva Commission, deploy specialised police squads, constitute state and district-level monitoring committees, and install mandatory CCTV surveillance at all inter-state border check-posts.

Addressing the upkeep of rescued cattle, Bhoyar said funds from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) would be utilised to develop pasture lands and public grazing fields across rural areas to improve fodder availability through coordinated efforts by the Home, Forest and Animal Husbandry departments.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has cracked a Rs 4.70 crore WhatsApp Boss fraud and arrested two mule account holders and agents.

The TGCSB said on Wednesday that it took up the investigation following a complaint that an unknown fraudster impersonated the company's Managing Director by creating a WhatsApp profile using the Managing Director's name and photograph and committed the fraud.

According to TGCSB Director Shikha Goel, the case was registered under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 66D of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

Believing the messages sent by the fraudster to be genuine, the complainant transferred a total amount of Rs 4.70 crore to bank accounts specified by the fraudster.

During the course of the investigation, technical analysis and bank account verification led to the identification and arrest of Dosapati Krishna Sai, a resident of Sathupally, Khammam district, and Mandavally Shiva Nagaraju, a resident of Kothapet, Hyderabad, originally from Sathupally, Khammam district. They are accused numbers five and six, respectively.

Investigation revealed that the accused knowingly procured and supplied current bank accounts to cyber fraudsters in exchange for commission. They facilitated the operation of these mule accounts and received approximately Rs 4 lakh as commission, which they shared among themselves.

Further investigation revealed that Rs 1.80 crore of the defrauded amount was credited to the bank account of the accused, Nagaraju, who had arranged and provided it to the cyber fraudsters through co-accused Krishna Sai. Analysis of the account also revealed suspicious credit transactions totaling more than Rs 2.49 crore. The account was found to be linked to multiple cybercrime complaints registered in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

The accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the remaining absconding accused and to trace and recover the remaining proceeds of crime, the TGCSB director said.

She advised people not to trust a WhatsApp profile merely because it displays the name or photograph of a known person, as these can be easily copied and misused by fraudsters. She cautioned people to be wary if a contact suddenly requests urgent or confidential fund transfers, especially to a new bank account, and advised them to never rely solely on WhatsApp messages for financial transactions.

Source: IANS

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Ahmedabad, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has arrested a man wanted in an earlier narcotics case along with his associate after seizing 9.8 kg of suspected ganja valued at Rs 4.9 lakh from an auto-rickshaw in the city, police said on Wednesday.

According to the Crime Branch, officers were on patrol as part of an operation to identify and take action against people involved in the illegal sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances when they received specific information about the movement of contraband.

Acting on the tip-off, the team intercepted an auto-rickshaw on the service road near the Adinath Stone warehouse, close to Chunilal Park Society on the CTM Narol-Naroda Road.

During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered 9.8 kg of alleged ganja valued at Rs 4.9 lakh. Police also seized other items, taking the total value of the property recovered to Rs 5,60,290.

The arrested men have been identified as Israyalkhan Khan, 33, a resident of Akola city in Maharashtra, and Mohammed Sajid Kamruddin Pathan, 42, a resident of Ramol area in Ahmedabad.

Police said Israyalkhan was already wanted in a case registered at Danilimda Police Station under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

He is wanted in Danilimda Police Station case under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(2)(B) and 29 of the Act.

The Crime Branch has also named another suspect, identified as Mohsin Baba of Akola city, as a wanted accused in connection with the investigation.

Following the seizure, the Crime Branch registered a fresh case at the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) Police Station. The case has been filed under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(2)(B) and 29 of the NDPS Act.

Police said legal proceedings have been initiated against the two arrested accused in accordance with the provisions of the NDPS Act.

The investigation is continuing to establish the source of the seized contraband, its intended destination and the involvement of any other persons connected to the alleged narcotics network.

Source: IANS

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Jodhpur, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted a search at the Jodhpur residence of Zeeshan, an alleged handler of the banned terrorist organisation ISIS, as part of its ongoing investigation into a terrorism-related case.

The search lasted for nearly two hours, during which the agency seized a motorcycle from the premises. The vehicle was later deposited at the Sadar Bazar police station.

Zeeshan was arrested in March 2026 in connection with alleged terrorist activities. While he was initially taken into custody by a joint team of the Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan Police, the NIA later arrested him in connection with its own case after he was remanded to judicial custody.

According to investigators, Zeeshan allegedly used social media platforms to radicalise and recruit youths for ISIS.

During Wednesday's operation, NIA officials, assisted by the local police, carried out a detailed search of the house and gathered information relating to the accused's associates, neighbours and bank accounts. The agency did not disclose further details of the search.

Investigators have alleged that several objectionable chats and videos were recovered from Zeeshan's mobile phone following his arrest.

They also claimed that he operated a social media group called 'Benex', through which he allegedly attempted to influence and radicalise youths. According to the investigation, he had qualified through an online process to become an administrator of the group.

Investigators further alleged that Zeeshan had obtained multiple mobile SIM cards under different identities to operate the network, with some SIM cards reportedly registered in his parents' names.

Following his arrest, the SIM cards were allegedly blocked, making it difficult for investigators to retrieve past communications.

The NIA subsequently questioned Zeeshan's parents, and the SIM cards were later reactivated as part of the investigation.

Local police officials said they had not received any information regarding the agency's next course of action. However, further questioning of other suspects is likely as the investigation progresses.

Source: IANS

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Bengaluru, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two employees of the Postal Department in connection with the alleged misappropriation of approximately Rs 1.3 crore from the Post Office Savings Accounts of 44 account holders at Saragur Post Office in Mysuru district in Karnataka, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The arrested accused are a Postal Assistant and a Postman, both posted at the Saragur Post Office. They were arrested following an investigation into allegations of criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

According to the CBI, a case was registered in March 2026 based on a written complaint received from the Postal Department regarding the alleged fraud.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the two accused allegedly siphoned off funds from the savings accounts of customers over a period spanning 2022 to 2025. The stolen money was allegedly transferred into the bank accounts of their relatives as well as their own accounts.

Investigators found that the accused had allegedly misused customers' login credentials, including user IDs and passwords, to fraudulently access accounts and transfer funds without the knowledge or consent of the account holders.

The CBI said the fraud currently involves 44 savings account holders, with the total amount misappropriated estimated at around Rs 1.3 crore. However, officials suspect that similar irregularities may have occurred in other accounts as well, and those transactions are also under investigation.

Following their arrest, the accused were produced before the Special CBI Court in Bengaluru. The agency has sought their police custody for detailed interrogation to uncover the full extent of the fraud and identify any other persons who may have been involved.

The CBI said the investigation is continuing and that efforts are underway to trace the entire trail of the misappropriated funds. The agency added that it is committed to uncovering the complete conspiracy and bringing all those responsible to justice at the earliest.

Source: IANS

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Bhopal, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) A special CBI court in Bhopal on Wednesday sentenced a former Bank of India branch manager and a private individual to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in a bank fraud case involving the fraudulent sanction of a Rs 30 lakh loan.

The court also imposed a total fine of Rs 60,000 on the two convicts, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said in a statement.

The convicts have been identified as Piyush Chaturvedi, the then Senior Branch Manager of Bank of India, Misrod branch in Bhopal, and Mohan Singh Solanki.

According to the CBI, the case was registered in January 2016 following a complaint by the then Deputy Zonal Manager of the Bank of India in Bhopal.

The agency alleged that Chaturvedi had sanctioned a term loan and cash credit limit of Rs 30 lakh in the name of M/s Sunny Enterprises in November 2013.

"On the same day, Rs 22 lakh was transferred through an RTGS transaction from the firm's account on the basis of forged and fabricated RTGS forms and vouchers to the account of M/s Gold Fly Aish of accused Mohan Singh Solanki," the CBI said.

The investigation found that the amount was allegedly misappropriated by the two accused as part of a criminal conspiracy, resulting in a financial loss to the bank.

After completing the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet against both accused before the special court.

"After completion of investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet against accused Piyush Chaturvedi and Mohan Singh Solanki. The court, after the trial, convicted and sentenced the accused persons accordingly," the agency said.

The CBI said the case relates to the fraudulent sanction of a bank loan and diversion of funds using forged banking documents.

The judgment brings to an end the decade-old case registered on the complaint of the bank.

Source: IANS

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Dehradun, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) Chairman Hemant Dwivedi said on Wednesday that the organisation had taken cognisance of the complaint regarding the alleged theft of donations made at the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand's Badrinath "within 24 hours" and assured that whoever is found guilty will be severely punished.

Speaking to IANS, Dwivedi said: ''The Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee received this complaint on July 3 that there had been some manipulation by an employee in the counting room. As soon as the matter came to the notice of the Temple Committee, the Executive Officer Sohan Singh Rangad was directed to immediately seek an explanation from all the officials in the counting room and to secure all the CCTVs in the premises."

"By evening we had also formed a four member inquiry committee. We had taken cognisance of the incident within 24 hours (of receiving the complaint) since the place is at the centre of faith for lakhs of devotees and it is our primary responsibility to maintain the sanctity of the offerings made here," he asserted.

He also said that upon its arrival, the inquiry team found certain irregularities post which the accused employee was immediately suspended from service so that the probe can be impartial.

"Late at night, the temple committee also lodged an FIR against the concerned employee," Dwivedi added.

Dwivedi was referring to Pramod Nautiyal, the Personal Assistant posted in the office of the BKTC Chairman, who was suspended with immediate effect on July 7 by the BKTC, saying that allowing him to continue in his position could compromise the fairness and impartiality of the investigation.

He expressed gratitude to the Uttarakhand government and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for taking immediate cognisance of the matter and forming a probe panel consisting of senior officials.

"The government is open to include any expert into the panel if required, in order to conduct an impartial probe," he added.

"I assure you that a thorough probe will be conducted and strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty in the matter," he stressed.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Hours after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday issued a statement alleging dubious transactions through three bank accounts of the Trinamool Congress, on which debit restrictions have already been imposed, the former ruling party in West Bengal issued a statement rejecting the allegations made by the central agency.

The Trinamool Congress also described the ED's action relating to the freezing of its three bank accounts, with total deposits of Rs 440 crore, as politically motivated.

In its statement issued on Wednesday evening, the party claimed that all funds held in its bank accounts had been fully and transparently disclosed.

"All funds held in the party's bank accounts have been fully and transparently disclosed. The party has duly reported all donation transactions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Income Tax Department. These disclosures are published annually on the ECI's website and are available in the public domain," the Trinamool Congress statement said.

The party also claimed that details relating to electoral bonds were already available with the Government of India since the bonds were issued by the State Bank of India (SBI) and subsequently submitted before the Supreme Court.

Referring to the freezing of the three bank accounts, the Trinamool Congress termed the action arbitrary and illegal.

"The misuse of investigative agencies to target political opponents has become a hallmark of the BJP's politics and represents a serious assault on democratic institutions and the principles of a level playing field," the party said in its statement.

The debit restrictions on the three bank accounts were imposed by the bank authorities following instructions from the West Bengal Police after two parallel developments.

The first was a letter from the party's former treasurer and former West Bengal Sports and Power Minister Aroop Biswas to the bank seeking a freeze on the accounts over apprehensions that the funds could be misused.

Subsequently, MLAs belonging to the "rebel but majority" faction of the Trinamool Congress Legislature Party, led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, approached the West Bengal Police with a similar request. They also alleged that the accounts could contain proceeds of corruption and extortion.

Taking note of the allegations and complaints, the police directed the bank to impose debit restrictions on the accounts.

The "original but minority" faction of the party, led by Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, challenged the move before the Calcutta High Court. However, the court declined to grant interim relief and did not lift the restrictions.

Thereafter, the ED initiated its own investigation into the matter, taking cognisance of allegations that proceeds of corruption and extortion might have been routed through the accounts, thereby bringing the matter within the ambit of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

On Tuesday, ED officials conducted raids and searches at five locations in Kolkata in connection with the agency's investigation into the matter.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Madras High Court on Wednesday granted conditional anticipatory bail to DMK MLA V. Senthil Balaji and his brother, Ashok Kumar, in connection with a case alleging an attempt to bribe a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA with Rs 35 crore to influence his vote during the proposed no-confidence motion against the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker.

Justice P. Ilanthiraiyan granted anticipatory bail to both petitioners subject to conditions, directing them to appear before the investigating officer every day until further orders and cooperate fully with the investigation.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate N.R. Elango, appearing for Senthil Balaji, argued that the complaint had been lodged two days after the alleged phone call and that the prosecution had no recording of the conversation, relying only on call detail records (CDRs).

He contended that the allegations, including claims of an attempt to destabilise the government, were based purely on assumptions.

When the court sought clarification on Balaji's role, noting that the FIR did not specifically implicate him, Elango submitted that the only circumstance cited by the prosecution was that Balaji was in Erode on the same day as the prime accused.

He further argued that the case was politically motivated and intended to prevent Balaji from discharging his duties ahead of the Karur by-election.

Senior Advocate P. Kumaresan, appearing for Ashok Kumar, argued that his client had been implicated solely because he was Balaji's brother and alleged that investigators were attempting to build a case without substantive evidence.

Opposing the plea, Public Prosecutor John Sathyan told the court that investigators had gathered material indicating a conspiracy, including the booking of hotel rooms in Chennai.

He also claimed that one of the accused had fled to Singapore and remotely deleted CCTV footage, which investigators were attempting to recover.

The prosecution further alleged that the investigation had uncovered evidence pointing to hawala transactions and that fresh leads had emerged during inquiries in Bengaluru.

Sathyan maintained that the case involved an attempt to destabilise the elected government at a politically sensitive time and that there was sufficient material linking both petitioners to the alleged conspiracy.

The case stems from a complaint lodged on June 26 by TVK MLA M. Elaiyaraja, who alleged that he was contacted by a man identified as Thirunavukkarassu and offered Rs 35 crore to support a proposed move against the Assembly Speaker.

He also alleged that he was threatened with serious consequences if he refused.

Three persons were arrested on July 1, following which police claimed that the alleged approach to the MLA had been made at the behest of Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar.

In their bail pleas, the brothers denied any involvement, contending that Senthil Balaji was not named in the original FIR, that there was no evidence linking them to the alleged bribery attempt, and that the case was politically motivated.

Source: IANS

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Jammu, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Economic Offences Wing of the Jammu Crime Branch on Wednesday initiated an investigation into an alleged Rs 3.75 crore property fraud, a crime branch statement said.

A case has been registered against Pieary Lal Koul, a resident of Channi Deeli, after a Jammu-based doctor charged him with cheating and criminal breach of trust during a property sale, according to the statement.

According to the doctor's complaint, he had entered into a sale agreement with Koul for the purchase of a plot of land with a house at Channi Deeli for a consideration of Rs 3.75 crore and had also paid a token amount.

Later, he discovered that the property had been mortgaged with a bank despite Koul representing it as free from encumbrances.

Upon Koul's assurance, the doctor cleared the outstanding bank liability and thereafter paid the remaining amount via bank transfers and cash.

However, even after a considerable period of time, the property was not registered in his name, nor was he given possession of it, the complaint said.

Taking cognisance of the complaint, the Economic Offences Wing has registered an FIR under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and initiated an investigation into the matter, the spokesperson said.

The investigation would examine the sale agreement, bank records, financial transactions, receipts and other documentary evidence, the spokesperson added.

Source: IANS

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Vadodara, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) on Wednesday seized Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) worth Rs 78 lakh during a raid in Vadodara city, uncovering what investigators believe to be part of an interstate liquor smuggling network.

According to the officials, the operation was carried out following directions from the Director General of Police (DGP), G.S. Malik, to intensify legal action against illegal liquor and gambling activities across the state.

Acting on specific information, Police Sub-Inspector V.N. Jadeja of the State Monitoring Cell raided an area near Mahadev Hotel at Kapurai Chokdi in Vadodara.

During the operation, officers recovered 500 cartons containing 22,116 bottles of IMFL valued at Rs 78 lakh. Including the truck and other seized property, the total value of the confiscated material was estimated at Rs 93.06 lakh.

Police arrested Daman Sharma, a resident of Dharuhera town in Haryana's Rewari district, who was working as the cleaner of the truck transporting the liquor.

Investigators have also named four other accused, including the truck driver, Khilu Saini, of Pataudi in Haryana; the alleged consignor, Joga Yadav, of Najafgarh in Delhi; and two others, including the person accused of ordering the consignment. In all, five people have been booked.

A case has been registered at Kapurai Police Station in Vadodara under relevant provisions of the Gujarat Prohibition Act, including Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B), along with Sections 336(2), 336(3) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The investigation is continuing to trace the remaining accused and establish the wider supply chain.

The latest seizure adds to a series of major prohibition enforcement operations carried out by the State Monitoring Cell in recent weeks.

On June 10, the SMC intercepted a truck near Bibipura village on the Vadodara-Ahmedabad Expressway in Ahmedabad Rural and seized IMFL worth more than Rs 1.49 crore, bringing the total value of the recovered property to more than Rs 1.74 crore.

In another operation on June 24, the State Monitoring Cell seized IMFL worth more than Rs 63 lakh from a truck in Surendranagar district.

The total seizure, including the vehicle and other property, was valued at over Rs 93 lakh, while police arrested the driver and launched efforts to trace other members of the alleged interstate smuggling network.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi/Mumbai, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches on Tuesday at multiple premises linked to a Mumbai-based company and its directors in connection with an alleged bank fraud amounting to Rs 30.63 crore.

The raids were carried out based on a case registered just a day earlier on the complaint of Punjab National Bank.

The CBI had registered the case on July 7, 2026, against a Mumbai-based communication company and its directors, along with unknown public servants and private persons.

According to the complaint, the accused allegedly caused a wrongful loss of approximately Rs 30.63 crore to the bank through a well-planned criminal conspiracy, the investigation agency said.

It is alleged that the company and its directors obtained higher cash credit facilities from Punjab National Bank and other consortium member banks by submitting inflated debtor figures and other false financial information.

The accused are also suspected of securing a term loan from the bank and subsequently diverting or siphoning off the funds for purposes other than those for which the loan was sanctioned, thereby causing substantial financial loss to the lending institutions.

During the searches conducted on July 8, CBI teams recovered and seized several incriminating documents, including bank records and property-related papers. Preliminary examination of the seized material has revealed the existence of certain debtor entities whose credentials are now being verified.

Importantly, documents on the alleged inflation of debtor figures to avail enhanced credit facilities have also been seized and are expected to provide crucial evidence in the case.

The investigation is progressing rapidly to determine the full extent of the alleged conspiracy, establish the roles of all individuals involved, including public servants, and trace the end use of the diverted loan funds.

Further action will be taken based on the findings.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The gangster-terror nexus has always been cited by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in its battle against terror that is threatening the security of both the Indian and international communities, and in a major boost to national security, the US FB) and Canada's RCMP, under Operation Hard Ball, targeted the leadership of criminal gangs that were terrorising law-abiding citizens, particularly those targeting the Punjabi community.

This operation, which targeted gangs run by the gangs headed by Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara, is an important step in the battle against the gangster-terror nexus, officials say.

These gangs were not just targeting Indian nationals abroad and attempting radicalisation, but were also promoting the Khalistan cause, officials also pointed out.

For India, the battle against the Khalistan movement has been very important. It has taken years to convince the international community about the dangers of this movement thriving. These actions suggest that the Modi government has managed to impress upon the international community, especially in the United States and Canada, that all must work together to beat down the Khalistan movement.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the US action suggests that these groups, under the name of the Khalistan movement, were running transnational operations that were not just limited to one country, and the official said that these gangs had been running operations in Canada, the US, Europe, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia.

The official added that this is a major victory for the Indian agencies, and with such action, crimes such as the Khalistan issue, human trafficking, money laundering and narcotic smuggling would come largely under control.

Another official said that this action is a sign of what is set to come.

In Canada and the UK, the authorities have already started to act. This is largely due to the cooperation built under Prime Minister Modi.

The official said that the Modi government was quick to recognise this issue and warned these countries that backing such groups would have a detrimental effect. The US action led to the arrest of 37 persons who ran their global syndicates from jails in India. They have been charged in separate federal indictments which involve organised crimes and propaganda.

In addition to this, the US authorities have also seized narcotics that form the primary basis of the Khalistan movement. The movement thrives on the smuggling of drugs that is backed by the ISI.

In recent years, the ISI has been backing these elements to promote drug smuggling so that the movement is revived.

Post the operation, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) said: "Operation Hard Ball" was the result of a years-long federal investigation into Indian crime syndicates that engage in racketeering, targeted killings, shootings, extortion, the trafficking of bulk quantities of narcotics across international borders."

US First Assistant Attorney Bill Essayli said: "Transnational criminal gangs who spread fear, drugs, and violence will face the full force of justice and the weight of the federal government."

On the action against Bishnoi, the DoJ said: "In private, Bishnoi presided over a sweeping criminal enterprise that spanned multiple continents. Using contraband cellphones and other voice-over internet protocol devices smuggled into his jail cell, Bishnoi personally directed political assassinations, murders, shootings, extortions, kidnappings, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other crimes committed by members and associates of the Bishnoi enterprise worldwide."

Officials say that this is not just any ordinary operation that the US authorities have carried out. The Khalistan and gangster-terror nexus has always been a major threat to several countries. However, some countries, for the sake of politics, had ignored this issue. However, India has made it clear that this issue is a major threat, and since the past several months, the cooperation between these countries and Indian agencies has been enhanced.

The Intelligence sharing has gone a long way in identifying this problem, and in the days to come, the Khalistan issue that is linked to drug and arms smuggling is bound to be tackled in a big manner, officials also say.

Source: IANS

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Ahmedabad, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Wednesday arrested a 27-year-old illegal arms supplier and seized six country-made firearms along with 21 live cartridges during a special drive launched ahead of the 149th Rath Yatra to prevent the circulation of illegal weapons in the city.

The accused, identified as Karansinh alias Kanchido Solanki, a resident of Hathipura village in Detroj taluka of Ahmedabad district, was apprehended from beneath Zundal Bridge on S.P. Ring Road following specific intelligence received by Crime Branch personnel while they were on patrol.

Police said they recovered four country-made revolvers, one additional country-made pistol, one country-made 12-bore firearm and 21 cartridges from his possession.

The seized weapons and ammunition were valued at Rs 82,100. Officers also recovered a mobile phone worth Rs 6,000 and a black bag worth Rs 200, taking the total value of the seized property to Rs 88,300.

A case has been registered at the Crime Branch under Sections 25(1-B)(A) and 29 of the Arms Act, and further investigation is underway.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that he had been engaged in the illegal sale of firearms and had previously been arrested in arms-related cases by Detroj Police Station.

According to investigators, he told police that he had procured the weapons from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and intended to sell them in Ahmedabad Rural and Mehsana district.

The Crime Branch said its investigation has revealed that the accused had links with bootleggers, bookies and other persons involved in criminal activities in Ahmedabad Rural and Mehsana.

Police alleged that he would identify potential buyers, procure country-made firearms from Madhya Pradesh and supply them to criminal elements in the region.

Investigators further said the accused had allegedly been involved in the illegal firearms trade for the past one-and-a-half to two years.

"Ahmedabad Rural and Mehsana police had previously arrested several individuals who had allegedly purchased weapons from him," officials said.

After securing bail in earlier cases, the accused is alleged to have travelled to Gwalior again to procure more firearms.

Police are now investigating the intended recipients of the seized weapons and the purpose for which they were allegedly being transported.

The accused has a criminal record spanning several years.

Police records show he has previously been booked in cases involving offences under the Indian Penal Code, the Prohibition Act, the Gujarat Police Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and multiple cases under the Arms Act registered at Detroj, Becharaji and Kadi police stations.

The Crime Branch said the investigation is continuing to identify any wider network involved in the procurement and distribution of illegal firearms.

Source: IANS

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Chandigarh, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence (CI), Amritsar, has busted an illegal arms and explosives smuggling module with the arrest of three alleged Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives and the recovery of six hand grenades and 12 sophisticated pistols from their possession, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Wednesday.

Those arrested have been identified as Chintu, Jobanpreet Singh and Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, all residents of Kakkar village in Amritsar.

The recovered weapons include eight .30 bore pistols and four 9 mm pistols, along with nine cartridges. Police have also impounded the car allegedly used to transport the consignments.

DGP Yadav said the preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were operating on the directions of a foreign-based smuggler backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and foreign-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives.

The arrested accused were allegedly planning to carry out activities intended to disturb public peace across various cities in the border state, the DGP said.

Sharing operational details, he said police teams from CI Amritsar had received reliable inputs that the suspects -- Chintu, Jobanpreet Singh and Gurpreet Singh -- had recently received a huge consignment of explosives, arms and ammunition from the Ajnala area on the instructions of their handlers and were expected to deliver it to other associates near the underpass on the Bharatmala bypass highway in Amritsar.

Acting swiftly, police teams laid a checkpoint in Amritsar and intercepted the car in which all three accused were travelling. During the search, six hand grenades and 12 pistols were recovered from their possession.

The DGP said the case is being investigated from multiple angles to establish linkages and uncover the entire network.

A case under Section 25 of the Arms Act, Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell police station in Amritsar.

Source: IANS

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Chandigarh, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two officials of the Haryana Labour Welfare Board (HLWB) in connection with the alleged misappropriation of government funds from the Board's account maintained with the Sector-32 branch of IDFC First Bank in Chandigarh, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The arrested officials have been identified as Accounts Officer Jugal Kishor and contractual Accountant Amit Kumar.

The case was taken over by the CBI on a reference from the Haryana government.

The investigation uncovered incriminating evidence against Jugal Kishor and Amit Kumar, following which both were arrested. The accused were produced before a competent court, which sent them to CBI custody.

According to the agency, its investigation revealed that government funds amounting to Rs 50 crore were siphoned off from the HLWB account through fraudulent debit transactions and diverted to shell entities, including Capco Fintech Services, SRR Planning Gurus Private Limited, and Swastik Desh Projects.

The agency said the HLWB fraud is part of a larger banking scam linked to the Sector-32 branch of IDFC First Bank, Chandigarh, where government funds worth about Rs 504 crore belonging to eight Haryana government departments were allegedly siphoned off through forged or non-existent fixed deposits and fraudulent debit transactions. The funds were subsequently routed through shell entities.

The CBI had taken over the probe from the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Haryana, at the request of the state government.

So far, the agency has filed charge sheets against 17 accused in the case, including six officials of IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, three Haryana government employees, two companies and six private individuals.

The CBI said it remains committed to identifying the complete trail of the misappropriated public funds, tracing the proceeds of crime and bringing all those involved to justice.

Source: IANS

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Dehradun, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid a row over the alleged irregularities of donations at Shri Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand's Badrinath, Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan founder Swami Darshan Bharti on Wednesday urged the state government and Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) to launch a probe into previous allegations of embezzlement, including "theft of gold" from the Kedarnath Temple.

In an interaction with IANS, Swami Darshan Bharti said: "Theft has been happening for a long time. If the Uttarakhand government conducts an impartial investigation into this matter, then the Kedarnath Temple should also be included. The gold theft at the Kedarnath Temple, which drew widespread attention, should also be made part of the investigation."

The Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan founder added: "Incidents which took place even five years ago should be probed and the investigation should not be restricted to what happened today. It should include the scams which took place in the tenure of previous government officials as well."

"There have been innumerable scams at the Badrinath Temple. In fact, it is easier to do so at the Kedarnath Temple. If devotees want to donate money there, priests are ready to pocket that," he alleged.

Swami Darshan Bharti also alleged that sixty per cent of the donated amount at Kedarnath and Badrinath Temples "goes into the pockets of the people there and not into the donation boxes".

"BKTC should look into this but they themselves are involved and are hence unable to stop such thefts. I have myself seen that in Kedarnath and Badrinath temples, instead of the donation boxes, people take the money and put it in their pockets," he claimed while emphasising that it is a major robbery which should be stopped at all costs.

He urged the Uttarakhand government to probe whether or not gold was stolen from the Kedarnath Temple.

"If the Uttarakhand government and BKTC considers itself devoted to God, then it should form a large Special Investigation Team (SIT) and complete probe into all the previous allegations, regardless of the time it takes," Swami Darshan Bharti asserted.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered at the Badrinath Police Station following a complaint by the BKTC regarding the alleged embezzlement of temple donations.

Following the preliminary findings, the BKTC suspended Pramod Nautiyal, the Personal Assistant posted in the office of the BKTC Chairman, with immediate effect on July 7, saying that allowing him to continue in his position could compromise the fairness and impartiality of the investigation.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) A husband attempted suicide after hacking his wife to death on the road in broad daylight. The incident took place in Sodepur, North 24 Parganas district, on Wednesday.

According to the police, the deceased woman has been identified as Geeta Das, aged 33. Her husband hacked her with a sharp weapon on School Road in the Future Gate area of Sodepur. She soon collapsed on the road. The incident took place in front of locals. Before anyone could do anything, the young man also stabbed himself in the stomach with a knife.

Almost immediately, the police arrived at the scene and rescued the two. However, Geeta died on the way to the hospital. The person who tried to commit suicide after killing her is also in critical condition.

Later, police investigation revealed that the accused is Geeta's husband, identified as Subhash Das. There was often unrest between Subhash and his wife. The same thing happened on Wednesday morning. An argument started between the two on the road in the Future Gate area.

It is believed that he had already kept a knife with him to kill her. During the argument, he pulled out a knife and attacked Geeta indiscriminately. The young woman fell to the ground in a bloody state. People nearby were coming forward to rescue her, but it is alleged that Subhash also threatened them with a knife. After that, he stabbed himself in the stomach with the knife. The entire incident happened in a few seconds.

A large police force from Khardah police station rescued two people in serious condition and took them to Sagar Dutta Medical College and Hospital. Doctors declared Geeta dead. Her husband is undergoing treatment and is in a serious condition. He will undergo surgery.

In the meantime, the police are collecting CCTV footage from the area and also questioning witnesses. Locals allege that various antisocial activities frequently take place on that road and in the area. Some have demanded special vigilance from the police and administration.

Senior police officials, including Deputy Commissioner of Barrackpore Police Commissionerate Kartik Chandra Mandal, have visited the scene. The police have seized the weapon used in the murder.

The police have registered a case under the murder section against the husband. The body of the wife has been sent for autopsy. The police are waiting for the husband to recover before they can arrest him.

Source: IANS

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Patna, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Security agencies have arrested a Bangladeshi national near the India-Nepal border in Bihar's East Champaran district during a joint operation conducted by the district police and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

The arrest was made near the Maitri Bridge at Custom Chowk under the Haraiya police station area, where the suspect was allegedly attempting to cross into Nepal.

According to the police, security personnel were conducting routine surveillance and document verification along the India-Nepal border on Wednesday when they noticed a man behaving suspiciously near the border crossing.

During questioning, he allegedly failed to produce valid documents establishing his legal stay in India.

He was immediately detained and later arrested with the assistance of the SSB.

The arrested individual has been identified as Md. Shyam Hussain, son of Giasuddin, a resident of Baroegaon village under Srinagar police station in Munshiganj district of Bangladesh.

Preliminary investigations revealed that he had allegedly been living illegally in India for a considerable period and was attempting to leave the country through the Nepal border.

Police are interrogating the accused to determine when and through which route he entered India.

Officials are also examining whether he was assisted by an organised network or intended to travel onward to another country through Nepal. His contacts, activities and movements during his stay in India are also being verified.

Investigators are further verifying his identity documents and examining the duration and circumstances of his alleged illegal stay.

"Action is being taken against the arrested Bangladeshi national under the relevant legal provisions applicable to foreign nationals. A detailed investigation into his documents, identity, and the duration of his stay in India is underway. After completion of the investigation, he will be produced before the court, and further legal proceedings will be initiated in accordance with the law," an official spokesperson of the East Champaran Police said.

The Haraiya and Raxaul sectors of East Champaran remain under heightened surveillance because of their proximity to the India-Nepal border.

Police and the SSB regularly conduct joint operations to prevent illegal border crossings, human trafficking and the use of forged documents.

Officials said surveillance in the border region would continue and strict legal action would be taken against individuals found residing illegally in India or attempting unauthorised cross-border movement.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted search operations on Tuesday at the premises of M/s E-Complex Private Limited and the residential premises of one of its directors, which resulted in the detection and seizure of evidence pertaining to suspicious transactions and assets beneficially owned or controlled by Reliance Anil Ambani Group, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.

During the search operations, several incriminating documents, records relating to immovable properties and other evidentiary materials related to the bank scam case were seized, the statement said.

Investigation conducted so far has revealed that public funds amounting to thousands of crores of rupees, raised by Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL) and Reliance Commercial Finance Limited (RCFL), were systematically diverted through a web of shell and group companies controlled and managed by the Reliance Anil Ambani Group. Corporate loans were sanctioned to these entities in gross violation of prudent lending norms, without adequate due diligence, proper documentation or assessment of creditworthiness. The beneficiary entities were found to be financially weak, lacking genuine business operations and possessing little or no repayment capacity.

Investigation has further revealed that the directors of these shell entities were employees or close associates of the Reliance Anil Ambani Group and functioned under the directions of the senior management of the Group. The bank accounts and books of account of these entities were operated and maintained by officials of flagship group companies, including Reliance Infrastructure Limited, Reliance Power Limited and Reliance Capital Limited, thereby establishing their effective control over these shell entities.

ED had filed a Prosecution Complaint before the Special Court (PMLA) on June 12, 2026, in this case.

Total Proceeds of crime of Rs 15,548 crore have been quantified in the case, and properties amounting to Rs 4,510 crore have been attached till now under the provisions of the PMLA. Attached properties amounting to Rs 3,926 crores have been confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority till date.

Earlier, the ED had arrested Amitabh Jhunjhunwala (Ex-Director of Reliance Capital Limited) and Amit Bapna (Ex- CFO of Reliance Capital Limited) on April 15, 2026, in the case for their active involvement in the diversion of funds from RHFL and RCFL. At the relevant time, both RHFL and RCFL were subsidiaries of Reliance Capital Limited. Both accused are presently in judicial custody.

Further investigation is still in progress, the statement added.

ED is investigating cases pertaining to the diversion and siphoning of public funds by Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL) and Reliance Commercial Finance Limited (RCFL) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The Enforcement Directorate initiated an investigation based on multiple FIRs registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Delhi, pursuant to complaints filed by Yes Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, State Bank of India, UCO Bank, Union Bank of India and Axis Bank Limited.

Source: IANS

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Raipur, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a well-coordinated joint operation, Narayanpur Police and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) recovered a large quantity of indigenous weapons and explosive materials, including a powerful 15 kg pressure cooker IED, from a hidden Maoist dump in a forest area.

The operation was carried out to maintain peace in the declared "Naxal-free zones" and to effectively curb the remaining Maoist activities through sustained area domination and intensive search operations.

Acting on credible intelligence, the joint team launched the search operation on July 7, 2026. Superintendent of Police Robinson Gudiya and ITBP 53rd Division Commandant Sanjay Kumar led the operation.

The team, consisting of ITBP personnel, one representative from Narayanpur Police and a five-member bomb disposal squad, conducted searches starting from village Edsmeta and the surrounding forest areas near the Adingpar camp, police officials said.

During the thorough combing of the dense forest terrain, the security forces discovered a significant cache of arms and explosives concealed by Maoists.

A 15 kg pressure cooker IED found at the site was safely defused through a controlled explosion by the bomb disposal squad following all prescribed security procedures.

The team also recovered one locally manufactured rocket launcher, 16 indigenous 51 mm mortar rounds, five indigenous 84 mm rocket launcher rounds, 10 indigenous 40×46 mm barrel grenade launcher rounds, eight .303 rifle cartridges and four tactical pouches, the officials said.

The successful recovery is a major setback to Maoist activities in the region.

After completing the mission, the joint force returned safely to the Adingpar camp.

Officials confirmed that anti-LWE campaigns and intensive search operations will continue vigorously in the area to ensure complete dominance and long-term peace.

This joint effort underscores the strong coordination between the state police and central forces in tackling internal security challenges and safeguarding local communities from Naxal threats.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and three others have been arrested after CCTV footage purportedly showed him and several of his supporters assaulting doctors and hospital staff inside a municipal hospital in Maharashtra's Kalyan.

Speaking to reporters, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Suhas Hemade said: "In this assault case, there are four accused, including one woman. They include local corporator Ramesh Mhatre, Akshay Karande, Rajesh Pawar, and Pramod Nikam."

Describing the alleged assault incident, he said: "A female patient had come to Shastri Nagar Hospital. An argument broke out over an issue regarding her treatment. Following this, the relatives of the patient came along with the accused and assaulted the on-duty doctor, Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe, a female doctor, and a nurse."

"They misbehaved with them, beat them up, hurled abuses, and threatened them. Following this incident, Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe lodged a complaint yesterday, and a case has been registered," the police official said.

"Legal procedures will be followed, and action will be taken accordingly," he added.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat condemned the incident, saying, "Whether it is a male or female (doctor), assaulting someone is not an act of courage."

"Just because the person belongs to our party, we won't defend his actions," he asserted.

However, he urged doctors to carry out the treatment of patients properly.

"In some cases, even the doctors' behaviour is not good, but still we won't support what the corporator has done," he stated.

The footage of the incident quickly went viral, triggering outrage among medical professionals and the public. Several healthcare organisations demanded strict action against those involved, stressing that violence against healthcare workers cannot be justified under any circumstances.

Despite the public backlash, Mhatre denied allegations that he had assaulted the woman doctor. Speaking to NDTV on Wednesday, he maintained that he had not physically attacked her, claiming instead that he merely slapped her mobile phone as she was not responding to their concerns.

He argued that he was attempting to draw the doctor's attention after repeated phone calls went unanswered. Mhatre also defended his actions by claiming that he was acting in the interest of the patient and the newborn.

Mhatre further stated that he would not apologise for the incident and asserted that his actions had helped save the lives of the woman and her child. However, he added that he would express regret if the doctors apologised for their behaviour.

Source: IANS

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Jamshedpur, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Vishwanath Mandal, alias Bodra, the prime accused in the sensational murder case of Karni Sena youth leader Himanshu Singh, surrendered before a court in Jamshedpur on Wednesday, officials said.

Mandal, alleged to be the main conspirator behind the crime, had been absconding since the murder.

Police had been conducting raids at his suspected hideouts in Jharkhand and other states to arrest him, while legal pressure on him continued to mount. A reward of Rs 2 lakh had been announced for information leading to his arrest.

Prior to his surrender, police had arrested nine accused in connection with the case and taken a juvenile into custody. During the investigation, officers recovered several sharp-edged weapons, including choppers, axes, machetes and knives, from those arrested.

Earlier, police arrested Neeraj Singh, owner of the Double Down Bar, from the Khatu Shyamji area of Rajasthan. He was brought to Jamshedpur on transit remand and questioned with regard to the incident. Agencies are continuing to probe various aspects of the case.

The murder took place on the night of June 27 outside the Double Down Bar in the Bistupur area of Jamshedpur, where Himanshu Singh was allegedly attacked with sharp-edged weapons and killed.

According to allegations, Himanshu Singh and his friend objected to the alleged harassment of women by a group of youths inside the establishment. A confrontation followed, during which Himanshu was attacked.

In an attempt to save himself, Himanshu reportedly sought refuge inside a police PCR vehicle. However, the attackers dragged him out in front of police personnel and assaulted him with sharp-edged weapons. He sustained critical injuries and succumbed during treatment on June 29.

The incident triggered widespread criticism over law and order and the functioning of the police. In the aftermath, the state government initiated action against several police officials, including the then Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Odisha Vigilance on Wednesday arrested a senior state government official who was caught red-handed while allegedly accepting a Rs 2 lakh bribe from a leaseholder for extending a lease and facilitating future benefits in sand spot auctions.

The accused official was identified as Satyajit Rout, currently working as the Deputy Director (Geology)-cum-Deputy Director of Mines, Office of the Deputy Director of Mines, Jeypore, in Koraput district. Rout was nabbed by Odisha Vigilance officials on Tuesday night while allegedly accepting a Rs 2 lakh bribe from a leaseholder.

“The leaseholder had already deposited the requisite amount towards the spot auction. However, the accused Rout was delaying the matter without any valid reason. Instead, Rout demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from the leaseholder for the above purpose. Finding no other way, he reported the matter to the Vigilance authorities,” Odisha Vigilance said.

Acting on the complaint, the Vigilance sleuths laid a trap on Tuesday night and apprehended Rout while he was allegedly receiving the Rs 2 lakh bribe from the leaseholder. The entire bribe amount was recovered and seized from his possession in the presence of witnesses. Following the trap, simultaneous searches were launched at Rout's residential house in Lingaraj Nagar, Jeypore, his houses at Bidyadharpur and Mahanga in Cuttack district, and his office chamber in Koraput.

During the house searches, the Vigilance officials also unearthed Rs 2.90 lakh in cash from his residence in Jeypore and Rs 2 lakh in cash from his house at Bidyadharpur, taking the total cash seizure to Rs 6.90 lakh.

In another case, Vigilance officials on Wednesday launched simultaneous searches at different locations linked to Rabindra Kumar Nayak, Forest Ranger, Kendrapada Forest Range, over the alleged possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

During the searches, the sleuths have so far found Nayak in possession of two buildings, including a palatial four-storeyed building, six high-value plots in a prime area of Baranga in Cuttack district, cash amounting to Rs 2.14 lakh, deposits worth Rs 43 lakh, a four-wheeler and other assets.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The ongoing Monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly witnessed fiery exchanges on Wednesday as the Opposition aggressively targeted the ruling MahaYuti government over recent monsoon-related crises.

After four days of relentless downpours across Mumbai and Pune -- which resulted in fatal tree-fall incidents in the state capital Mumbai and a landslide on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway's 'Missing Link' project -- the Opposition launched a scathing attack on the state administration's preparedness.

Responding to the allegations in the State Assembly, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis delivered a detailed, data-backed rebuttal, capping his speech with Urdu poetry to dismiss the Opposition's criticism.

Addressing the severe waterlogging and rain situation in the state capital, Chief Minister Fadnavis presented stark meteorological data to highlight the unprecedented nature of the downpour.

"If we look at the data up to July 6, Colaba normally receives 734 mm of rain and Santacruz receives 856 mm for the entire month of July," the Chief Minister said.

"However, this year, in just six days, Colaba recorded 882 mm (111 per cent of the monthly average) and Santacruz recorded 988 mm (102 per cent of the monthly average)."

The Chief Minister also clarified that 90 per cent of this deluge fell within a narrow span of just four days.

"Mumbai receives an average of 2,318 mm of rainfall during the entire monsoon season, and 42 per cent of that total quota was dumped on the city in just six days," he added, emphasising the immense strain placed on the city's drainage systems.

Defending Mumbai's flood-management infrastructure, Chief Minister Fadnavis told the House that the state administration has actively deployed 990 water pumps -- managed collectively by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and Western/Central Railways -- alongside six major and 10 minor pumping stations to flush out rainwater.

The Chief Minister took a sharp dig at previous administrations while highlighting the current Maharashtra government's transparency.

"This year, 80 per cent of the pre-monsoon desilting was completed on time, and 83 per cent of the silt was removed from the Mithi river," he asserted.

Invoking past controversies, Chief Minister Fadnavis remarked, "We all remember the notorious desilting scams of the past. When an investigation was launched into the vehicles allegedly transporting the excavated silt, the registration numbers turned out belonging to scooters, auto-rickshaws, and luxury cars. Those days of fake claims and corruption are over."

Additionally, the Chief Minister confirmed that strict directives have been issued to the BMC regarding the mandatory auditing and management of old, hazardous trees to prevent further fatalities.

Brushing aside intense criticism regarding a recent landslide on the newly constructed extension of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Chief Minister Fadnavis staunchly defended the Maharashtra government's execution of mega-infrastructure projects.

"It surprises me how some people can lie so shamelessly on television even after the project has successfully commenced operations," the Chief Minister countered.

"Everyone knows the monumental scale of the Connecting/Missing Link project. It was built only because the MahaYuti government had the political courage to pull it off."

Concluding his address, Chief Minister Fadnavis resorted to a famous Urdu couplet to take a final swipe at the Opposition's reluctance to take governance risks.

“Girte hain shahsawar hi maidan-e-jung mein, wo tifl kya gire jo ghutno ke bal chale..." (Only the brave riders fall in the battlefield, not the toddlers who merely crawl on their knees...)

"We took the bold decisions, consulted our engineers and officials, and delivered a project that people thought was impossible," Chief Minister Fadnavis concluded, silencing the Opposition benches.

"Those who never try to walk are the ones who never fall -- and they are the ones left with nothing to do but criticise," he said.

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Odisha Police on Wednesday launched the e-Zero FIR System for cyber financial fraud cases, marking a significant step towards strengthening the state's response to cyber-enabled financial crimes.

This was launched by the Director General of Police, Odisha, Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, during a special programme held at the Odisha Police headquarters in Cuttack.

“The initiative marks a major milestone in Odisha Police's efforts to leverage technology for faster, transparent and citizen-centric policing. With cyber financial frauds witnessing a steady rise across the country, the e-Zero FIR System has been introduced to ensure prompt registration of cases, facilitate immediate police intervention and enhance the chances of preventing further financial loss,” said Odisha Police.

It further added that the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) has integrated the National Cybercrime Helpline 1930 with the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) of Odisha.

This integration enables the automatic generation of e-Zero FIR requests for eligible cyber financial fraud complaints, irrespective of jurisdiction. Under the new system, complaints involving cyber financial frauds of Rs 10 lakh and above, reported through the National Cybercrime Helpline 1930, will automatically generate an e-Zero FIR request in CCTNS and be routed to the Cyber Police Station, Crime Branch, Odisha.

Based on the facts and merits of each case, the Cyber Police Station may register a regular FIR and investigate the matter, transfer the complaint to the jurisdictional Cyber Police Station, register a Zero FIR and transfer it to the competent territorial Cyber Crime Police Station, link the complaint with an already registered FIR, or close the request where the prescribed criteria are not fulfilled.

According to the Odisha Police, this integration eliminates duplicate data entry, enables faster registration of cases, facilitates seamless information sharing among law enforcement agencies and allows complainants to track the status of their complaints more efficiently.

Speaking on the occasion, DGP Khurania said, “Odisha Police remain committed to harnessing technology to strengthen cybercrime response mechanisms and provide timely, transparent and citizen-friendly policing.”

Besides, he urged citizens to report cyber financial frauds immediately through the National Cybercrime Helpline 1930 to enable prompt police action and improve the chances of recovering defrauded money.

The DGP also congratulated the officers and personnel of the State Crime Records Bureau, Crime Branch and all stakeholders whose dedicated efforts made the successful implementation of the e-Zero FIR System possible.

The launch of the e-Zero FIR System reinforces Odisha Police's commitment to building a robust, technology-driven policing ecosystem capable of effectively addressing emerging cybercrime challenges while ensuring swift access to justice for citizens.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a major overhaul of the state's anti-corruption framework, the Kerala government on Wednesday unveiled a comprehensively revised Vigilance Manual after nearly 24 years, introducing sweeping changes to modernise investigations, strengthen internal vigilance mechanisms, and improve the professional standards of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB).

Releasing the revised manual, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the updated document would provide greater momentum to the state's fight against corruption by equipping the Vigilance Department to deal with evolving forms of financial crimes in the digital era.

"The nature of corruption has changed significantly over the years and investigation procedures must keep pace with these changes," the Minister said while inaugurating the release of the manual and a review meeting of Internal Vigilance Heads of government departments and public sector undertakings.

The event was organised as part of Project Zero, the state-wide anti-corruption campaign launched by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to promote transparency and accountability in public administration.

The first comprehensive revision of the manual since 2002 incorporates detailed guidelines for investigating irregularities involving digital payments, online financial transactions, and other technology-driven economic offences.

It also lays down clear procedures governing the selection, training, investigation methods and legal processes relating to Vigilance officers with the objective of making the agency's functioning more scientific, professional and efficient.

Among the key reforms announced is the introduction of an aptitude test for police personnel seeking deputation to the Vigilance Department, a move aimed at improving the quality of investigations.

The government will also consider providing uniforms to Vigilance officers and instituting medals and other awards to recognise exemplary service.

Chennithala said Project Zero would now enter a more intensive phase, with District Vigilance Superintendents of Police leading anti-corruption initiatives across Kerala.

Surprise inspections will be strengthened, while special emphasis will be placed on detecting benami property transactions and cases involving assets disproportionate to known sources of income.

The Minister also announced that the Vigilance clearance mechanism for appointments to key government posts would be enforced more effectively.

Departments have been directed to strengthen their internal vigilance systems and promptly report corruption-related complaints to the VACB.

Legal advisers will also be appointed to ensure the effective handling of tribunal matters and court cases.

The revised manual is expected to serve as the operational blueprint for the State's anti-corruption agency as it adapts to increasingly sophisticated financial crimes while reinforcing transparency and accountability in governance.

Source: IANS

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Haridwar, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid the controversy over alleged embezzlement of donations made at Ayodhya's Ram Temple and Badrinath's Shri Badrinath Temple, Parmarth Niketan President Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Jain monk Acharya Lokesh Muni on Wednesday urged for the implementation of strict rules so that such allegations are not repeated.

Speaking to IANS, Swami Chidanand Saraswati cautioned against the spread of rumours which "hurt people's religious sentiments".

"I would like to say that no one should spread such rumours. If there has been any mistake, there are proper channels to address it. People should go and discuss the matter through the appropriate means instead of coming directly to the media and misleading the public," he said.

The Parmarth Niketan President added: "If rules are broken, they can be formed again but once faith is broken, it is very difficult to restore. It is a good step that the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) Chairman Hemant Dwivedi immediately constituted an inquiry committee. I have also come to know that the committee's secretary Pramod Nautiya has been dismissed. This is a fast action taken by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami-led Uttarakhand government."

Swami Chidanand Saraswati also urged for implementation of strict rules for temples, terming it "mandatory to sustain the faith of devotees".

"SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) should be made and followed so that people are able to maintain their faith on temples," he said.

Jain spiritual leader Acharya Lokesh Muni said that where there are large institutions, such incidents can happen but "it cannot be allowed to continue".

"Our country has laws, the Constitution, and a proper system of governance. Wherever such an incident occurs at any place of faith, it should not be tolerated. Proper arrangements must be made to prevent such incidents, and if one has occurred, the stolen property or money should also be recovered and strict action should be taken against those guilty," he told IANS.

The Jain spiritual leader also said: "Measures should be taken that such incidents are never repeated. Lord Ram is the soul of this country, so if thefts take place at the Ram Temple, it hurts the sentiments of devotees."

Lokesh Muni expressed confidence that the stolen donations from Ram Temple will be recovered, guilty will be punished and that the government along with the Temple Trust will take measures to prevent repetition of such acts.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) CPIM leader Meenakshi Mukherjee on Wednesday moved the Calcutta High Court, seeking its intervention against the egg attack on her car on Tuesday.

Meenakshi's lawyer, Abhishek Halder, drew the attention of the single bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya of the Calcutta High Court to the egg-pelting incident.

He said that eggs were pelted on Meenakshi's car when she went to meet the family of a deceased party worker in Sitalkuchi of Cooch Behar district in North Bengal, and therefore an intervention is required to stop such an attack in the future.

Justice Bhattacharya has allowed her to file a case. He said that the case will be heard as per the rules once the process of filing the case is completed.

On Tuesday, eggs were thrown at Minakshi Mukherjee's car in Sitalkuchi. She was in Sitalkuchi to meet the family of a deceased party worker. While returning from there, the attack took place. The CPIM Central Committee member was accompanied by former party MP Alokesh Das in the car.

It was learnt that CPIM activist Montu Mia died two days ago in Sitalkuchi. The CPIM claimed that the family believes that he was murdered. The police were not accepting the complaint initially. The CPIM claimed that the complaint was accepted much later.

On the other hand, a resident of Sitalkuchi was killed while working in Mumbai. The Left said that proper steps are not being taken to bring back the body of that migrant worker.

Minakshi said that they have a plan to surround the District Magistrate's office in protest against these two incidents.

On Tuesday afternoon, Meenakshi went to meet Montu's family. Later, Meenakshi's car was returning from there through Sitalkuchi Bazaar. At that time, a group of people started pelting eggs at her car.

The CPIM leader alleged that BJP workers carried out the attack. She also accused the police of inaction. Minakshi broadcast a live video on social media from inside the car during the egg-pelting. It shows that eggs are being thrown at her car one after another. They landed on the windshield of the car.

Later, Minakshi reached the Cooch Behar Superintendent of Police's office. She submitted a written complaint to the Superintendent of Police's office. After that, the CPIM leader sat on a dharna there. She claimed that even after the written complaint was submitted, the accused were not being arrested. Her question is, "Can't we walk in the streets with our lives and dignity? Is this called the rule of law?"

However, BJP's Cooch Behar district president Abhijit Barman claimed that the party has no connection with this attack. He said the incident was an outcome of the anger of the common man.

Abhijit said, "The CPIM is now seeing the BJP everywhere. That is why they are trying to blame the BJP for everything. If the common people throw eggs, the BJP will not take responsibility for it. Because no BJP worker will go and throw eggs at them."

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday again avoided appearing at the Bidhannagar Court in North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal to give his voice samples in connection with a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into an alleged hate speech case linked to the recent Assembly elections.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Delhi High Court has granted regular bail to advocate B. Mohanraj, an accused in the Rs 200 crore extortion case allegedly orchestrated by alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, holding that his continued incarceration as an undertrial was unwarranted despite the stringent bail restrictions under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Allowing the bail plea, a single-judge Bench Justice Prateek Jalan observed that Mohanraj had spent nearly four years and 10 months in custody, while the trial involving 24 accused, 403 prosecution witnesses and chargesheets running into more than 10,000 pages was unlikely to conclude within a reasonable time.

"The petitioner has already spent approximately 4 years and 10 months in custody as an undertrial... the factors indicated above, including the number of accused (24), number of witnesses (403), and the complexity of the case, make expeditious conclusion of the proceedings unlikely," the Delhi High Court said.

"Having regard to the role ascribed to the petitioner by the prosecution, I am of the view that his further incarceration as an undertrial is inappropriate," Justice Jalan added.

The judgment directed Mohanraj's release on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 2.5 lakh with two sureties of the like amount, subject to conditions including surrender of his passport, appearance before the trial court on every date of hearing, and a direction not to influence witnesses or tamper with evidence.

The case arises out of an FIR registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell in August 2021 alleging that Chandrashekhar and his associates extorted around Rs 217 crore from the wife of a businessman on the pretext of securing legal relief for her husband.

The prosecution has alleged that Chandrashekhar operated the extortion syndicate from jail with the help of associates and corrupt prison officials.

The prosecution further alleged that Mohanraj, a practising advocate and a close associate of Chandrashekhar and his wife Leena Maria Paul, facilitated the acquisition of luxury cars and immovable property in Chennai by allegedly channelising proceeds of crime through third parties and received commissions for the transactions.

In its latest judgment, the Delhi High Court observed that its earlier judgment rejecting Mohanraj's bail in 2023 had recorded prima facie findings that he had actively assisted the alleged organised crime syndicate by managing proceeds of crime and was not merely handling the legal affairs of Chandrashekhar and Paul.

However, Justice Jalan said that the present application raised the question of balancing the constitutional right to personal liberty under Article 21 against the statutory restrictions on bail under special laws such as MCOCA.

Referring to recent Supreme Court decisions on prolonged incarceration, the Delhi High Court observed that statutory restrictions on bail cannot completely override constitutional protections where trials are unlikely to conclude within a reasonable period.

The High Court clarified that its observations were confined to deciding the bail application and would not influence the trial on the merits.

The order came weeks after the Delhi High Court refused bail to Leena Maria Paul in the same MCOCA case, holding that the material on record prima facie indicated her involvement in the activities of the alleged organised crime syndicate.

The Supreme Court has since issued notice to the Delhi Police on Paul's special leave petition (SLP) challenging the rejection of her bail.

Paul had earlier secured bail in the parallel money laundering case investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The money laundering case has also reached the stage of framing charges against Chandrashekhar, Paul and several other accused, while Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez has pleaded not guilty and chosen to face trial in the ED case.

Source: IANS

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Dehradun, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Congress strongly hit out at the Uttarakhand government on Wednesday regarding the theft case of donations at the Badrinath Temple and expressed a lack of confidence in the ongoing investigation into the "irregularities" concerning the shrine's offerings.

Apart from being in the headlines amid the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, Badrinath Temple, one of the most revered sites of Sanatan Dharm located in Uttarakhand's Chamoli, grabbed attention after several claims on social media about the irregularities relating to the offerings at the shrine.

This also came against the backdrop of the ongoing controversy over the embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya.

Following the allegations, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) filed an FIR with the Uttarakhand Police. Subsequently, the Pushkar Singh Dhami government constituted a three-member high-level committee on the instructions to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the issue.

In response, Uttarakhand Congress President Ganesh Godiyal told IANS: "All this is merely a cover-up. The government is not conducting the kind of investigation that should actually take place. I said on the very first day that this incident at a place of faith for crores of devotees has deeply affected our religious sentiments. In such a situation, an all-party committee must be formed to conduct the investigation, headed by a leader from the Opposition."

"Everyone involved in the inquiry should take an oath in the name of Lord Badrinath and pledge that they will rise above political considerations and carry out the investigation in a transparent manner," he further stated.

Referring to the investigation into the Ankita Bhandari murder case, Godiyal said: "Just like how SIT covered up the Ankita Bhandari murder case evidence, this committee will do the same thing. I have no faith in it."

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Dhami said that if there were any irregularities relating to the donations made at Shri Badrinath Temple, it would be "a sin amounting to cow slaughter", while assuring that strict action would be taken against whoever is found guilty in the case.

Addressing reporters during an event in Haridwar, CM Dhami said: "Whoever is found guilty won't be spared. Strict action will be taken. A committee has been formed, and police have started their preliminary probe."

"This is a sin amounting to cow slaughter. It is a massive sin like that of murdering one's own parents. This cannot be forgiven," he further added.

"The law will take its own course, and the guilty will be punished," he assured.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The death of Pravas Mondal, the first of the four accused to be arrested in the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old minor girl at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, in a police encounter on early Wednesday morning, has evoked mixed reactions from the different political parties in the state.

Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra, a prominent face in the faction led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, has issued a social media statement condemning the encounter.

“Baruipur rape murder accused Prabhash Mondal killed in encounter! What is going on @WBPolice? Bengalis please welcome new Bengal- Uttar Pradesh 2.0. @BJP4Bengal has no government. This is jungle law,” read Moitra’s social media statement.

However, an opposite opinion was expressed by Trinamool Congress legislator and former West Bengal legislator, Siuli Saha, a prominent face in the rebel faction led by expelled party legislator, Ritabrata Banerjee.

“There is a provision for legal encounters. If a criminal attacks the police while fleeing, then he can be encountered. We are trusting what the state government is saying. We always want the rapists to be punished to the fullest extent. However, at the same time I feel that encounters should always be controlled by the state administration," Saha said.

Giving his reactions on the encounter, Bharatiya Janata Party’s state president in West Bengal and Rajya Sabha member, Samik Bhattacharya, said the development proved the “zero-tolerance” policy of the current state government in such matters.

“This incident proved that no criminal would be spared and no one would escape the clutches of law just because of the blessings of politicians,” Bhattacharya said.

The state Congress president in West Bengal, Suvankar Sarkar, demanded a high-level probe into the encounter incident. According to him, justice should be done following a proper trial, ensuring the conviction of the accused.

Pravas Mondol was taken to the crime scene on Tuesday night to reconstruct the incident. There, he allegedly snatched a service rifle from one of the police personnel escorting him and tried to escape. While the police personnel chased him, according to police, Mondal fired at them from the police rifle that he snatched. The cops resorted to counter-firing, in which Mondal was also shot. The injured accused was taken to a local hospital, where he was declared dead.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The father of the victim, a minor girl from Baruipur in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, who was allegedly raped and murdered last week, thanked Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday for prompt action in the case.

Speaking to the media persons in the afternoon, the victim’s father said the Chief Minister kept his promise of prompt police action to ensure justice for her deceased daughter.

“The Chief Minister is like my elder brother. I have full faith in his commitment to the matter. I am very happy with the prompt action taken by the state police in the matter,” said the victim girl’s father.

Pravas Mondal, one of the accused in the case, was killed in an early morning police encounter when he tried to escape.

According to him, the person killed in a police encounter was a proven notorious element in the area for a long time. “He was rowdy and always in an inebriated state. He did not work anywhere. Considering what he had done with a minor girl, such a punishment was right for him. I am not just saying this. The entire locality feels the same,” said the victim girl’s father.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Ratna Debnath, who is the mother of the RG Kar rape-murder victim, said that although her daughter will get justice, she was happy that the parents of the victim girl have got justice.

“I think that the police had done the right thing. One rapist has been killed. Such actions are necessary to save many more minor girls in future from such tragic ends,” Debnath said.

Pravas was taken to the crime scene on Tuesday night to reconstruct the incident. There, he allegedly snatched a service rifle from one of the police personnel escorting him and tried to escape.

While the police personnel chased him, according to police, Mondal fired at them from the police rifle that he snatched. The cops resorted to counter-firing, in which Mondal was also shot.

With bullet injuries on his body, the accused was taken to a local hospital, where he was declared dead.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) As India intensifies its campaign against narcotics, enforcement agencies are confronting a new and rapidly evolving threat -- drug trafficking networks operating through the dark web and cryptocurrencies. Officials say the narcotics trade is increasingly shifting away from conventional smuggling routes, making investigations more complex and hampering efforts to trace financial transactions.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that it is no longer the routes used by narcotic cartels that pose the challenge. The trade has largely shifted to the dark web, and this poses a major challenge. Further, the transactions are fuelled by cryptocurrency, and this has aided the smugglers in concealing their networks behind digital wallets.

The official said that tracing the financial trail is very crucial in a drug smuggling operation. The conventional land, air and sea routes no longer pose a major challenge. These are the conventional methods that have been used for years by drug smugglers.

The cryptocurrency transactions being made by drug lords are what the agencies are finding hard to track. Another official said that the drug smugglers have roped in various dark web groups to help further their business. These groups operate through encrypted browsers and dedicated systems. It takes a lot to track such an operation, and going forward this would pose a major challenge for Indian agencies, the official also said.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), India’s premier anti-drug agency, had between 2020 and 2024 booked 92 cases involving the dark net and cryptocurrencies. The NCB has found that the drug trade is increasingly shifting to this method and has led the agency to enhance technology and surveillance online, an official said.

Earlier this year, the NCB had busted a dark net-enabled pan-India drug distribution network. During the probe, it was found that this cartel known as Team Kalki would source high-grade LSD and MDMA from Poland, Germany and the Netherlands.

It then adopted a drop-dead technique by which the drugs would be left at a pre-determined hidden location for trusted customers. Using speed post and various couriers, the cartel managed more than 1,000 orders across the country. To conceal the money trail, it routed the funds through intermediary mule wallets.

Officials say that while the dark net remains the biggest challenge, a new trend where smaller cartels operating without the backing of the bigger cartels is emerging. The dark web has helped individuals with ample technical expertise to run a drug operation.

The official explained that the emergence of these smaller and unknown players has made the battle against drugs even more challenging. The Indian narcotics markets are largely being controlled either by the Dawood Ibrahim Syndicate or the drug lords operating out of the Golden Triangle. The D-Syndicate operates more in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and the other northern parts of the country.

It does have southern operations based in Tamil Nadu, and these narcotics are meant for some southern states and Sri Lanka. The Golden Triangle cartels focus on the northeast and also Sri Lanka through the Southern states. The drugs that land in Sri Lanka are meant for local markets, while the remaining are smuggled into Thailand.

Officials say that handling these cartels is relatively easier. They often use conventional methods and smuggle drugs using land, sea, or air routes. However, it is these unknown players who form cartels with just one or two persons is what poses the challenge.

There is no file on them, and they are largely incognito. Two to three persons with ample technical knowledge of the dark web get together and start a cartel. They are also not associated with any major syndicate, and this makes finding their trail harder, the official said.

An official said that the newer technologies do pose a challenge, with unknown and smaller cartels coming up. However, this does not mean that bigger syndicates would look to completely stop using the conventional methods. They would try to maximise their business and hence would use all possible methods available at their disposal, the official said.

Source: IANS

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