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‘NIA officials came to Bhupatinagar thana:’ West Bengal police debunk lies of Mamata Banerjee about NIA not informing local police before raids

OpIndia Staff
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‘NIA officials came to Bhupatinagar thana:’ West Bengal police debunk lies of Mamata Banerjee about NIA not informing local police before raids

A day after Mamata Banerjee falsely accused the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of conducting raids in Bhupatinagar without imitating the local police, the Superintendent of police (Purba Medinipur) Soumyadip Bhattacharya debunked her misleading claims.

In a video posted by Republic Bangla on its YouTube channel on Sunday (7th April), Soumyadip Bhattacharya was heard saying, “A team of NIA officials reached Bhuptainagar police station (thana). Thereafter, the police assured them of all forms of help and cooperation.”

His statement debunked the lies peddled by the West Bengal Chief Minister on Saturday (6th April) during a public meeting in Raiganj.

While speaking on stage, she claimed, “They (NIA officials) were going to whichever house they wanted. They had gone there in the wee hours of the night without informing the local police and carried out attacks.”

The Superintendent of Police (Purba Medinipur) Soumyadip Bhattacharya has made it clear that the NIA team first came to the Bhupatinagar police station while Mamata Banerjee alleged that the central agency officials did not bother to inform the local police.

During her speech, Mamata Banerjee also claimed that NIA officials intruded into the homes of women of Bhupatinagar village and committed atrocities on them.

“Now, if the NIA goes to the house of women late at night to commit atrocities (atyachar), will the women wear bangles and do nothing about it? Won’t they defend their honour and dignity?” she brazened out.

“You want to enter people’s houses at night. You want to arrest all booth Presidents of the TMC. We do not want an Election Commission that works for the BJP and changes officers deployed by our government,” she alleged.

“Why is the EC not stopping the atrocities of the ED, CBI and the Income Tax Department? The State police will maintain security and law and order in the State throughout the year but the BSF, CISF, and CRPF will take over all operations during the elections?” Mamata Banerjee continued to fearmonger about central forces.

Mamata Banerjee further claimed, “NIA and CBI are like brothers to the BJP. ED and the Income Tax Department are the funding boxes of the BJP.

Rameshwaram Cafe blast accused possibly getting foreign funding via cryptocurrency: Intelligence sources

OpIndia Staff
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Rameshwaram Cafe blast accused possibly getting foreign funding via cryptocurrency: Intelligence sources

Rameshwaram cafe blast accused could possibly be in touch with foreign handlers, News18 reported on Monday (8th April) citing top intelligence sources. According to the report, foreign funding is the new trend among terrorists and they are possibly using the cryptocurrency transfer route to fund their activities. The sources also claimed that crowded places are more likely to be their targets to create a panic in public.

The reports also claim that temples are no longer the preferred place for terrorist attacks.

As per the News18 report, the Rameshwaram blast perpetrators are old absconders who came into notoriety following the ISIS graffiti case in 2020. Shariq is from Tirthalli in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka, the report added. 

The sources told News18, “The way they have been absconding for so long and yet carried out a blast again clearly suggests they are getting financial and logistics support from outside India.” 

According to the report, the money possibly came through the crypto route to carry out attacks and sustain during the “cooling-off” period. 

The intelligence sources stated that the terrorists chose the popular Rameshwaram cafe to get more publicity. 

They added, “So far, we have no idea who was the foreign handler. They attacked Rameshwaram because they wanted to attack a place which is known and crowded and they get more publicity.” 

The report added that the idea behind the Rameshwaram cafe blast was to attack employees and staff from software companies during lunchtime. According to them, it had two reasons – it is easy to attack and these foreign MNCs will create panic saying, “They are unsafe in India.” 

The sources have indicated that Rameshwaram cafe was not on the initial target list of these terrorists but it “suddenly” became one. According to the Intelligence sources, they suspect that the accused visited many tourist spots in India to do a recce.

They added, “Their earlier targets used to be temples like those in Coimbatore and Mangalore. An attack at a cafe shows traces of Indian Mujahideen which used to attack only crowded places like Sarojini Nagar, Dilsukh Nagar Market in Hyderabad.”

Rameshwaram cafe blast could have possible links with other ISIS/terror modules

Earlier, reports had suggested that the Rameshwaram Cafe blast accused could have possible links to the ISIS Ballari module as similarities in modus operandi have surfaced. As per reports, the Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast bears resemblance to the Mangaluru Cooker blast case which was linked to the ISIS module. 

One of the similarities mentioned in the reports is the assembly of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Moreover, the execution of the blast also appears to have similarities with previous such blasts in the state including the Mangaluru cooker blast.

In December last year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested eight terrorists in the ISIS Ballari module case including its leader Minaz. The NIA raids had led to the seizure of explosive raw materials, such as Sulphur, Potassium Nitrate, Charcoal, Gunpowder, Sugar and Ethanol, sharp-edged weapons, unaccounted cash, and incriminating documents, along with smartphones and other digital devices. The accused had planned to use the explosive raw materials for the fabrication of IEDs, which were to be used for carrying out terror acts. 

Another similarity is that the Bengaluru blast too appears to be a lone wolf attack so far like the Mangaluru cooker blast case.

Other than the ISIS Ballari module, a link to Lashkar-e-Taiba’s module led by terrorist Abdul Karim Tunda aka “Doctor of Bomb” is also emerging. Tunda was acquitted in a terrorist bombing case in Rajasthan just a day before the attack in Bengaluru.

Earlier on 28th March, the NIA had arrested a key conspirator Muzammil Shareef following massive raids across multiple locations in three states. The agency released a statement stating that Shareef was arrested after he was identified as a co-conspirator in the case.

NIA investigations have revealed that arrested Muzammil Shareef had extended logistic support to the other two identified accused in the case, involving an IED explosion at the Cafe located at ITPL road, Brookefield, Bengaluru, on 1st March. Several customers and hotel staff members were injured in the blast, some of them grievously. The blast also caused extensive damage to the property.

NIA, which took over the case on 3rd March, had earlier identified the main accused, Mussavir Shazeeb Hussain, who had carried out the blast. It had also identified another conspirator, Abdul Matheen Taha, who is also wanted by the agency in other cases. Both Mussavir Shazeeb Hussain and Abdul Matheen Taha are on the run.

Meanwhile, as per earlier reports, the two terror outfits IM and SIMI are coming together under one umbrella to carry out major blasts in India.

Ahmednagar: Hamid sexually assaults a Hindu minor, blackmails her using her private pictures, booked under POCSO and SC/ST Act

Siddhi Somani
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Ahmednagar: Hamid sexually assaults a Hindu minor, blackmails her using her private pictures, booked under POCSO and SC/ST Act

The city of Ahmednagar in the state of Maharashtra has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. OpIndia in the past year has reported several incidents of communal violence, grooming jihad, and child sexual abuse. In yet another similar incident, the city police have booked one individual identified as Hamid Sayyed for sexually assaulting a minor Hindu girl belonging to the SC/ST community.

The accused first developed a ‘friendship’ with the minor and then sexually assaulted her. He also captured derogatory photos and videos of the minor and threatened her to obey him, failing which he said he would publicize her images. The FIR in this case was filed on 2nd April 2024 under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the SC/ST Act, 1989.

The FIR copy in this case has been obtained by OpIndia. The victim girl, in her complaint to the police, stated that the accused Hamid stayed in her neighborhood area and that he sent her an Instagram request. The girl knew the accused hence she accepted the said request and began responding to Hamid’s text casually.

“I knew him as somebody who stays in the locality, so I responded to his texts. We began talking like friends. One day, however, he called me to meet where he forcefully captured some of my pictures. I refused and asked him to delete those, but he continued to take pictures. This was around October 2023. After 6 months or so, he began to threaten me and force me to meet him, failing which he said he would send my pictures to my parents,” the girl said.

As per the FIR, the accused in February 2024 forcefully called the girl to his house. He threatened her to meet failing which he said he would viral the pictures of the minor that he had. The girl saw no option but to meet the accused. On meeting, the accused closed the doors of his house and sexually abused the minor. He also physically assaulted her and threatened to keep her mouth shut.

“He again shot some derogatory photos and videos of me. And used them to blackmail me to meet his sexual demands. I was too scared to tell all this at home. But recently, he again called me and said that he would send all those derogatory videos to my family and my fiance’ and would break my marriage. He said he would kill me if I didn’t meet him and fulfill his sexual desires,” the girl said.

After this, the girl told everything to her father who decided to file a police complaint. The accused Hamid Sayyed, has been booked under sections 376(3)(rape), 342, 354, 354A, 354D, 323, 504, 506, and 507 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Several sections like 3, 4, 8, and 12 of the POCSO have also been imposed upon the accused along with relevant sections of ST/ST Act, 1989.

In one more such case reported from the Sangamner region of Maharashtra, a 17-year-old Hindu girl was teased, harassed, and molested by a 36-year-old individual who was identified as Imran Sayyed. The accused blocked the minor’s way to her college and followed her on the streets. He used to tease her making her feel uncomfortable. The girl in the FIR filed on 20th March 2024 also said that she was molested by the accused after which she informed her uncle about the man.

Copy obtained by OpIndia

The incident is said to have happened on 17th March. However, the girl did not know who the accused was. She just told her uncle that a man wearing a kurta and a round Islamic cap on his head misbehaved with her making her feel uncomfortable. The uncle then informed the Police who booked an ‘unknown’ individual in the case under section 354D (stalking as the act of following, contacting, or attempting to contact a person persistently despite their clear indication of disinterest) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and section 12 of the POCSO Act, 2012.

Later, the accused was seen by one of the relatives of the girl who informed the girl and her uncle. The accused was then schooled and assaulted for following and molesting the girl. He was taken to the police who identified him as Imran Sayyed. However, the FIR has been filed against an ‘unknown’ individual despite the identity of the accused confirmed by the victim.

Further investigations in the case are underway.

Suspended Maldives Minister Mariyam Shiuna, who was removed for a derogatory post against PM Modi, now apologises for insulting Indian flag with a fake poster

OpIndia Staff
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Suspended Maldives Minister Mariyam Shiuna, who was removed for a derogatory post against PM Modi, now apologises for insulting Indian flag with a fake poster

Following an outrage against her recent post insulting the Indian flag, Maldives’ ruling party leader Mariyam Shiuna, who was previously suspended for a derogatory post against PM Modi, has issued an apology. Taking to X, Shiuna wrote, “I extend my sincerest apologies for any confusion or offense caused by the content of my recent post.”

Notably, late at night on 6th April, the Maldivian Minister uploaded a post targeting the Maldivian opposition party MDP, and India. The post, seeking support for the ruling Maldivian party PPM, mocked the Ashoka Chakra of the Indian National flag. The translated version of the tweet reads, “The MDP is heading towards the mouth. We need not fall into their mouth again.” The post was an apparent disagreement with Maldives seeking Indian help in surviving. 

(Former Maldivian Minister Mariyam Shiuna apologises for her controversial post insulting the Indian flag)

The image of the fake poster included the Ashok Chakra, along with the symbol of Maldivian opposition party MDP, accusing of collusion between India and Maldives’ opposition party. Notably, MDP has been highly critical of the Mohamed Muizzu-led government’s anti-India policy.

(The post morphed MDP’s election poster to replace compass with Ashoka Chakra of Indian flag, which sparked outrage on Indian social media over insult of Indian flag)

The post, which was later deleted, had morphed the election campaign poster of the Maldivian opposition party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). The morphed poster had replaced the image of a compass with an image of Ashoka Chakra. The post sparked an outrage with several netizens slamming the PPM leader for insulting the Indian flag. 

After facing massive backlash, Shiuna has now extended her “sincerest apologies”. 

The post read, “I would like to address a recent social media post of mine that has garnered attention and criticism. I extend my sincerest apologies for any confusion or offense caused by the content of my recent post.”

The suspended Maldives minister added, “It was brought to my attention that the image used in my response to the Maldivian opposition party MDP bore a resemblance to the Indian flag. I want to make it clear that this was entirely unintentional, and I sincerely regret any misunderstanding it may have caused.” 

Leader of the ruling PPM party, which led the India-out campaign, Mariyam Shiuna further stated, “Maldives deeply values its relationship and the mutual respect we share with India. In future I will be more vigilant in verifying the content I share to prevent such oversights.”

Previously, the PPM leader was suspended from her Ministerial duties following her derogatory post against PM Modi. 

After PM Modi visited Lakshadweep, political commentator Raushan Sinha shared PM Modi’s video ‘promoting tourism in Lakshadweep’. Mr. Sinha asserted that it is a “big setback to the new Chinese puppet govt of Maldives”.

The post irked Mariyam Shiuna, Maldives’ Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts. The Maldivian leader responded to Mr. Sinha’s post by calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “clown” and a “puppet of Israel”, which she later deleted. It is worth noting that PM Modi did not mention the Maldives anywhere in his tweets.

(Mariyam Shiuna’s earlier derogatory post against PM Modi for which the PPM leader was suspended)

The Indian government had raised strong objections with the Maldivian government against the remarks made by Mariyam Shiuna. 

Shiuna, along with two more ruling party leaders in the Maldives, were later suspended.

The controversial posts by several Maldivian Ministers over PM Modi’s Lakshadweep visit sparked an outrage, worsening the strained diplomatic relationship between the two countries. Despite strained ties and PPM’s anti-India rhetorics, India had recently extended a helping hand to the Maldives. 

After India permitted the export of essential commodities at the request of the Maldives government, Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer thanked India for a “gesture which signifies the longstanding friendship”. 

Responding to his post, Indian FM Dr. S Jaishankar replied, “You are welcome, FM @MoosaZameer. India stands firmly committed to its Neighbourhood First and SAGAR policies.”

While Shiuna’s recent controversial post insulting the Indian flag could have snowballed into a redux of last time’s social media sparring, the PPM leader’s apology and Maldive’s recent pleas for a request for help and debt relief from India could precipitate thaw in the strained diplomatic ties between the two neighbouring countries. 

If everyone making allegations on YouTube is arrested, how many will be jailed: Supreme Court restores YouTuber’s bail over remarks against Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin

OpIndia Staff
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If everyone making allegations on YouTube is arrested, how many will be jailed: Supreme Court restores YouTuber’s bail over remarks against Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin

On Monday (8th April), the Supreme Court restored the bail granted to YouTuber A. Duraimurugan Sattai for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in 2021. The bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan set aside the Madras High Court order that cancelled Sattai’s bail. Restoring his bail, the bench stated that he did not misuse his liberty by protesting and expressing his views.

Posing a question to the Tamil Nadu government’s counsel, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, Justice Oka asked, “If before elections, we start putting behind bars everyone who makes allegations on YouTube, imagine how many will be jailed?”

The court rejected Advocate Rohatgi’s argument that the court should impose a condition on the YouTuber that he does not make any scandalous remarks while on bail. 

Retorting to the argument, Justice Oka asked Rohatgi, “And who decides what is scandalous? Look at the bigger picture.”

YouTuber Sattai challenged the Madras High Court’s order, which cancelled his bail on the grounds that within a few days of giving an undertaking before the court (based on which he was granted a bail by the High Court), Sattai made derogatory remarks against the Tamil Nadu CM.

A notice was issued on his plea in July 2022, while the Supreme Court continued his bail in August 2021. Since then, Sattai has been on bail for more than 2.5 years. 

The Tamil Nadu government’s counsel, Rohatgi apprised the court about two FIRs registered against the YouTuber in December 2022 and March 2023. 

Regarding the FIRs, the Court noted that the allegations in the same pertained to – 

(i) Participation in a protest condemning the demolition of Babri Masjid 

(ii) Sattai and others speaking furiously and demanding the release of certain persons in custody.

The bench observed, “We don’t think that by protesting and by expressing his views, it can be said that the appellant has misused the liberty granted to him (by this Court). Even otherwise we are of the view that the grounds mentioned in the impugned order cannot constitute grounds for cancellation of bail.”

The prosecution alleged that Murugan and other members of the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) party assembled in defiance of COVID-19 regulations after their protest request was denied. During this assembly, Murugan allegedly made derogatory remarks with the intent to disrupt public peace and tranquility.

The complainant, a member of the DMK party, saw a speech by the petitioner and another individual on the YouTube channel “Ravana,” wherein they allegedly mocked CM Stalin.

Based on his complaint, the police registered a case and arrested Murugan in October 2021. Later, in November 2021, the Madras High Court granted him bail. However, a division bench of the High Court cancelled his bail for allegedly making derogatory remarks despite giving an undertaking in the court. 

Subsequently, in 2022, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail and he has been out on bail since then.

The Supreme Court order states, “Leave granted. By impugned order, the benefit of bail granted to the appellant was cancelled. This Court continued interim bail earlier; he continues to be on bail for 2.5 years…All the same, we do not find grounds to cancel bail. We thus quash the High Court order cancelling bail and restore the earlier order granting bail. Needless to say, cancellation of bail can be applied for if deemed fit.” 

Forced conversion in Srinagar: Hindu youth coerced into converting to Islam and made to read Kalma, FIR lodged and probe launched

OpIndia Staff
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Forced conversion in Srinagar: Hindu youth coerced into converting to Islam and made to read Kalma, FIR lodged and probe launched

On Friday (5th April), a Hindu youth working as a house help at a Kashmiri Muslim resident’s house was allegedly forced to convert to Islam in Srinagar. The Hindu youth identified as Sandeep from Haryana was made to recite the Kalma and give Shahada during the Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at Dargah Hazratbal.

A video of Haryana resident Sandeep Kumar converting to Islam has gone viral online wherein he was asked by Hazratbal Dargah’s Imam and Khateeb Kamal Farooqui if he is accepting Islam of his own free will or if he was coerced into converting. To this, the Hindu youth claims he was accepting Islam at his own will. Subsequently, Kamal Farroqui recites the Islamic Kalma and Sandeep repeats after him. During the incident on Friday, thousands of Muslims had gathered at the Dargah. The video of the incident soon went viral on WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media platforms.

As the police took cognisance of the video on Saturday (6th April) and initiated an investigation into the matter, it found that Sandeep Kumar was “mentally manipulated” by Anayat Muntazir, a resident of Nowhatta and owner of the house where Sandeep was working as a domestic help. The police said in the FIR that during the congregational prayers on Friday, Anayat Munatazir took Sandeep to Hazratbal Dargah and made him convert to Islam.

The FIR in the matter has been registered against the accused at Nigeen Police Station under sections 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), 298 (Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings), 153 (giving provocation with intent to cause riot), and 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of the IPC.

“According to reliable sources, the video, shared by certain individuals associated with news portals, depicts a person named Sandeep, residing in Haryana, purportedly converting his religion during Friday prayers at the Hazratbal shrine. The dissemination of this video has stirred unrest among the public and raised concerns about religious harmony and tolerance. The incident has also evoked strong reactions beyond the borders of Jammu and Kashmir and the UT, potentially fuelling sectarianism and communal discord,” the police said in the FIR.

“Further investigation revealed that Sandeep was allegedly mentally manipulated by the owner of the house, Anayat Muntazir, a resident of Nowhatta, who employed Sandeep Kumar as a domestic worker at his home in Srinagar. Anayat reportedly took Sandeep to the Hazratbal shrine, where he allegedly coerced him into reciting the Kalima during congregational prayers to convert his religion,” the FIR adds.

Speaking on the matter, a Jammu and Kashmir police official said, “We have registered FIR no. 55/2024 at Police Station Nigeen under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including disobedience to lawful order, deliberate intent to wound religious feelings, giving provocation with intent to cause riot, and promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc.”

Reports say that a Sub-Inspector-level officer has been tasked with completing the case file and sending the investigation report to the Superintendent of Police for further action.

After Congress ecosystem cried that OTT platforms were bowing to Hindutva, Jairam Ramesh promotes Amazon Prime movie glorifying Congress

OpIndia Staff
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After Congress ecosystem cried that OTT platforms were bowing to Hindutva, Jairam Ramesh promotes Amazon Prime movie glorifying Congress

On Saturday (6th April), veteran Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the poster of ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ and urged everyone to watch the film on the Over-The-Top (OTT) platform Amazon Prime.

Even though the movie has poor ratings (4.9 stars out of 10 on IMDB), he requested people to watch the film on the OTT platform simply because ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ glorifies the Congress party and its role during the Quit India Movement of 1942.

Jairam Ramesh thought it would be a good idea to link the freedom movement exclusively with the Congress and disseminate such a narrative, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

He said in a tweet, “When the Mahatma launched the Quit India movement 82 years ago under the aegis of the Indian National Congress, Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Azad, Prasad, Pant and many others were jailed. The movement went underground, enabled in part by the Congress Radio.”

“The newly-released OTT movie Ae Watan Mere Watan is a stirring ode to the role played by the Congress Radio in the Quit India Movement. Usha Thakkar’s book on this subject is another very powerful resource,” Jairam Ramesh further claimed.

The veteran Congress leader also spread canards about former Jan Sangh leader Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. Interestingly, a few months ago, the Congress ecosystem was claiming that OTT platforms in India as Netflix and Amazon Prime has fallen prey to ‘Hindutva politics.’

“Facing pressure in India from pro-government supporters and right-wing groups, Netflix and Amazon back down on daring films,” wrote one mens rea.

One Ashish Dikshit tweeted, “Netflix and Amazon buckle under pressure from Modi’s party and government in India

Western propaganda newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post were also at the helm of casting aspersions about the creative freedom of OTT platforms under the Narendra Modi government.

“New: Under pressure from the Hindu right, Netflix and Amazon in India drop projects touching on political, social issues and documentaries. After “Tandav,” Amazon’s head went into hiding and surrendered passport. Netflix execs feared risk of arrest,” claimed one X user in November last year.

“Netflix in India under pressure from conservative Right!” another user said while sharing one newspaper report from The New York Times.

“This section of cinephiles champions free speech when films w problematic themes face criticism on social media & they label mere criticism as anti-free speech. but today Nayanthara’s Annapoorani got removed from netflix due to sanghis pressure & all of them have gone mute,” one user brazened out in a tweet in January this year.

Congress veteran Jairam Ramesh is now asking people to watch a movie on Amazon Prime despite the Congress ecosystem claiming a few months ago that the same OTT platform has bowed down to Hindutva and ‘right-wing’ conservatism.

‘The film ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ has been directed by Kannan Iyer and was released on Amazon Prime on 21st March 2024.

CPI(M), money laundering, and undisclosed bank accounts: Karuvannur loan scam unearthed by ED in Kerala and its impact on Lok Sabha Elections

Anurag
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CPI(M), money laundering, and undisclosed bank accounts: Karuvannur loan scam unearthed by ED in Kerala and its impact on Lok Sabha Elections

As the Lok Sabha elections are approaching, the multi-crore Karuvannur loan scam has become a significant issue for the Left Democratic Front (LDF)-led Kerala Government. Notably, the Enforcement Directorate recently recorded the statements of CPI(M) Thrissur district secretary MM Varghese, ex-MP PK Biju, and Thrissur Corporation councillor PK Shajan. Reports suggest that the statements were recorded during the second investigation phase. This was the second time the ED questioned Varghese after November 2023.

Furthermore, the Income Tax department has also questioned Varghese, after which the department froze one of the bank accounts of the CPI(M) Thrissur district committee. Reportedly, the transactions of the said account did not appear in the party’s annual returns. Contrary to the department’s findings, the party claimed the bank accounts were transparent. Interestingly, the IT department also noticed a recent withdrawal of Rs 1 crore from the same account.

The development came when ED informed the High Court and the Department of Revenue that they found similar fraud in “many other Co-operative societies in Kerala”. These Cooperative societies are often seen as the financial backbone of the state’s rural economy. Thousands of depositors were shaken after money laundering was discovered in CPI(M)-controlled Karuvannur Service Co-operative bank. ED had found five undisclosed bank accounts of CPM leaders in the bank.

In its report submitted to the Department of Revenue, ED shared a list of 12 Cooperative banks where similar irregularities were observed. The banks listed by ED are Thumboor Service Co-operative Bank, Nadackal Service Co-operative Bank, Mavelikkara Service Co-operative Bank, Moonilavu Service Co-operative Bank, Kandala Service Co-operative Bank, Perunkavilla Service Co-operative Bank, Mylapra Service Co-operative Bank, Chathannoor Service Co-operative Bank, BSNL Engineers Co-operative Bank, Koni Regional Service Co-operative Bank, and Marayamuttam Service Co-operative Bank.

Furthermore, the abovementioned 12 Co-operative societies have been booked on fraud charges by Kerala Police. ED said in its report that the depositors and borrowers were quite distinct. The agency said, “In reality, such activity of the Co-operative societies is that of the finance business and cannot be termed Co-operative society. It was also found that Co-operative societies are engaged in granting loans to the public.”

The agency added, “All this is done without any approval from the Registrar of Societies and in violation of the Co-operative Societies Act.” The ED referred to Section 56(o) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. It states that no Co-operative society shall carry out banking business in India unless it is a Co-operative bank with a licence issued by the Reserve Bank. Furthermore, ED mentioned that RBI noticed that some “Co-operative Societies/primary Co-operative credit societies are accepting deposits from non-members/nominal members/associate members”.

The agency added, “Other than the board of directors of Karuvannur Service Co-operative bank, the policy matters and the sanctioning of the loan was controlled and regulated by the political sub-committee and parliamentary committee of CPM, which also maintained separate minutes for the sanction of the loans”.

“During the investigation, it was also revealed that illegal loans had been sanctioned to various people at the direction of high-profile political leaders of the CPM,” the agency said.

During the investigation, ED found that the illegal loans taken and not repaid as of 31st December 2022 were obtained from the secretary of Karuvannur Service Co-operative Bank. The total, including accrued entries, was Rs 343 crore, including the principal amount of Rs 188 crore. ED pointed out that due to the illegal diversion of the loan, the depositors were unable to withdraw the money from their accounts, leading to suicides and multiple complaints. Over 400 statements were recorded by the ED during the investigation, and the agency raided 20 premises.

The politics around the loan scam

Financial misappropriation and money laundering in the Left-led bank in Karuvannur are among the major issues being discussed on the sidelines of the Lok Sabha Elections in the state, especially in Thrissur. The Kerala High Court recently criticised the ED for delaying the probe. Congress accused the BJP of attempting to save the prominent left leaders in the matter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought the issue to the nation’s attention and warned that strict action would be taken against those involved. He also promised to return the money seized by the agency to the investors soon.

PM Modi is scheduled to visit Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kerala on 15th April. He is expected to visit Karuvannur to campaign. Reportedly, the Special Protection Group (SPG) has sought a report from the Intelligence Bureau about the security arrangements in the region.

The multi-crore Karuvannur loan scam

In July 2021, a Rs 100 crore scam was reported in a Co-operative bank controlled by members of the ruling communist party in Kerala. As per an Asia Net report, a financial mishandling between 2014 and 2020 occurred at Karuvannur Service Co-operative Bank. The governing committee of the bank, with 12 CPM members, was disbanded after the details of the scam were released in the public domain. The Iringalakuda police have registered a case against six employees, including the bank secretary. The Bhartiya Janata Party’s state unit complained to the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department. They have also alleged the involvement of top CPM leaders in the scam.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024

The polling for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will start on 16th April 2024 and will be in seven phases. Polling is Kerala will take place in the second phase on 26th April. The last phase of polling will take place on 1st June 2024. The results will be announced on 4th June 2024.

Gujarat: Vadodara based famous ‘Huseni Samosa’ used to actually sell beef-stuffed samosas; Yusuf, Naeem, and four others arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Vadodara based famous ‘Huseni Samosa’ used to actually sell beef-stuffed samosas; Yusuf, Naeem, and four others arrested

On Saturday (6th April), Gujarat Police raided a samosa shop in Vadodara, and arrested six persons, including Yusuf and Naeem Sheikh for selling samosas stuffed with beef. The police conducted a raid at the ‘Huseni Samosa’ in the Chhipwad area and seized the stock. Police investigation revealed that the owners of this samosa shop were operating without a license as well.

FSL tests were conducted on hundreds of kilograms of beef stuffed samosas seized during the raid. The police were acting on the information shared by a local animal activist Neha Patel. Patel told the police that the shop in question was quite popular in the city, and she learnt that they were selling beef stuffed samosa to unsuspecting customers. Following this, she informed the police who then raided the shop.

According to Panna Momaya, DCP (zone 4), the tests proved that the stuffing of samosas had beef, after which six persons were booked and arrested.

The accused include Yusuf and Naeem Sheikh, the owners, as well as employees Hanif Bhathiyara, Dilawar Pathan, Moin Habdal, and Mobin Sheikh. According to officials, many people in the city ate these beef samosas.

Speaking to TOI, DCP Momaya said, “The owners used to prepare the kaccha samosas (not fried) in big quantities every day and supply them to the shops across the city where they were fried and sold to the customers. The Sheikhs used to sell them to retail shop owners as meat samosas.”

The accused operated from a five-story facility with one room transformed into a deep freezer to keep beef and other meat. Yusuf Sheikh told the police that he joined his father’s samosa business. However, investigations revealed that they did not have a license to run the shop. Meanwhile, the police are looking into how long the owners of Huseni Samosa have been selling beef-laced samosas. The six accused in the case were sent into one-day police custody by the court on Sunday.

It is pertinent to recall that a similar incident was reported in  Gujarat last year. As OpIndia reported in May 2023, one Ismail Yusuf and another accused were booked by Surat Police for selling beef-stuffed samosas and for slaughtering cows. Yusuf ran a snack shop in Kosadi village of Mangrol panchayat and was selling beef stuffed samosas to unsuspecting consumers. Back then, the police stopped a suspicious auto rickshaw and searched it. Following the search, the police seized 2 Kg of beef samosas and arrested Ismail Yusuf.

The accused had admitted to buying beef and stuffing it in the samosas he sold. The FSL official’s certificate confirmed the presence of beef (cow meat) in the seized samosas. Following this, the Gujarat police registered an FIR against the accused.

“I am a proud Hindu”: Kangana Ranaut rubbishes rumours after Congress leader says the actor consumes beef

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“I am a proud Hindu”: Kangana Ranaut rubbishes rumours after Congress leader says the actor consumes beef

Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut clarified on Monday that she neither consumes beef nor any other kind of red meat, saying that she is a “proud Hindu”.

“I don’t consume beef or any other kind of red meat, it is shameful that completely baseless rumours are being spread about me, I have been advocating and promoting yogic and Ayurvedic way of life for decades now such tactics won’t work to tarnish my image. My people know me and they know that I am a proud Hindu and nothing can ever mislead them, Jai Shri Ram,” Kangana said in a post on X on Monday.

Kangana’s post comes after ‘rumours’ spread online claiming that the actress eats beef. Some users on social media even dug out an old tweet of Kangana from 2019, in which she had written about her yogic lifestyle.

However, the post wasn’t worded in the first person. It said, “There is nothing wrong with eating beef or eating any other meat. It’s not about religion! It’s not a hidden fact that Kangana turned vegetarian 8 years ago and chose to be a yogi. She still doesn’t believe in just one religion. On the contrary, her brother eats meat.”

Earlier, Maharashtra Leader of Opposition, Vijay Wadettiwar, also alleged that Kangana Ranaut had once tweeted that she liked and consumed beef and the party has now given her a ticket to contest the upcoming elections.

Kangana recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. The party has fielded Kangana from the Mandi constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“My beloved Bharat and Bhartiya Janta’s own party, Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) has always had my unconditional support, today the national leadership of BJP has announced me as their Lok Sabha candidate from my birth place Himachal Pradesh, Mandi (constituency) I abide by the high command’s decision on contesting Lok Sabha polls. I feel honoured and elated to officially join the party. I look forward to be a worthy karyakarta and a reliable public servant,” Ranaut wrote in a post on X while announcing her political foray.

On the acting front, Kangana will be next seen in ‘Emergency’, which also marks her first solo directorial. (ANI)

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

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