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Allahabad HC cites ‘Shariat’ to refuse protection to Muslim woman and Hindu live-in partner being threatened by woman’s family, imposes fine on the couple: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Allahabad HC cites ‘Shariat’ to refuse protection to Muslim woman and Hindu live-in partner being threatened by woman’s family, imposes fine on the couple: Details

On 23rd February 2024, the Allahabad High Court ruled that it cannot protect the live-in relationship of a legally wedded Muslim woman with another man, as this amounted to a crime according to Sharia. Justice Renu Agarwal gave this verdict on a plea filed by a married Muslim woman and her Hindu live-in partner fearing for her life against threats from her father and other relatives. The Court said that it cannot support and protect the ‘criminal act’ of the woman.

The High Court observed that the petitioner Muslim woman was already married, and had not acquired any divorce decree from the appropriate authority from her husband before getting into a live-in relationship with a Hindu man. The court said, “She is living with petitioner number 2 in contravention of the provisions of Muslim Law (Shariat), wherein legally wedded wife can not go outside marriage and this act of Muslim women is defined as Zina and Haram. If we go to the criminality of the act of petitioner number 1, she may be prosecuted for the offence under sections 494 and 495 IPC, as such relationship is not covered within the phrase of live-in relationship or relationship in the nature of marriage.”

The court further observed that the petitioner Muslim woman had not applied for conversion of her religion as well. The court said, “She is Muslim by religion and she has not moved any application to the authority concerned for conversion of her religion under sections 8 and 9 of the Conversion Act.”

The petitioner Muslim woman Saleha was married to Mohsin. 2 years ago, Mohsin married another woman and started living with her. Then Saleha moved to her parents’ house. Later, she did not go back to Mohsin citing domestic abuse and moved into a live-in relationship with a Hindu man. She then received death threats from her parents and other family members. Thereafter, she filed a plea in the court seeking protection.

It was a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution with prayer for issuing the writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondents (the State authorities and private parties including the woman’s husband) to not disturb the married life of the petitioners. The court has said that it cannot protect this relationship as it is a crime under Sharia law. The court dismissed the plea with a cost of Rs. 2,000, and directed the petitioners to deposit the costs before the mediation centre of the court within 15 days from the date of the order.

Notably, under the Sharia Law, a Muslim woman in marriage with a Muslim man cannot go into a live-in relationship with anyone else unless she gets a divorce from her first marriage. However, a Muslim man can have four marriages at a time.

Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale gets booked merely for asking how many false cases are filed under stringent SC/ST atrocity act

OpIndia Staff
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Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale gets booked merely for asking how many false cases are filed under stringent SC/ST atrocity act

On Thursday (29th February), a case was lodged against Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale for demanding an impartial assessment of all cases registered under the SC/ST Act in the past 5 years.

As per reports, the police complaint was filed by a man named Premnath Jagatkar in Parli city in Beed district of Maharashtra. Ketaki Chitale participated in the ‘Brahmin Ekya Parishad’ conference in Parli, which was held on 25th February this year.

During the event, she claimed that filing false cases under the SC/ST Act has become a racket and sought a probe into all such cases filed in the past 5 years.

The Marathi actress remarked, “Atrocity is a side business of making money. There’s a racket of atrocity. Many times false atrocity cases are filed.” She also lashed out at the Maratha reservation movement led by Manoj Jarange Patil and reportedly dubbed it as a ‘fair of fools.’

On Friday (1st March), a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Ketaki Chitale under Sections 295A (hurting religious sentiments) and 502(2) (enmity between classes) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The actress has not been arrested so far in connection to the case. It must be mentioned that Ketaki Chitale spent more than a month behind bars in 2022 for posting an allegedly offensive remark against NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on social media.

She was arrested on 15th May of that year for a Facebook post where she had shared a verse, allegedly written on Pawar, calling him a person who hates Brahmins. At that time, cases against her were filed in multiple police stations in Mumbai and its suburbs.

Meta banned from using the company name “Meta” in Brazil

OpIndia Staff
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Meta banned from using the company name “Meta” in Brazil

A Sao Paulo-court has ordered Facebook’s parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. to stop using the name “Meta” in Brazil within 30 days. The verdict was announced by the Sao Paulo State Court of Justice on Wednesday, February 28. The court heard the matter after a local computer services provider with the same name filed a lawsuit, saying that it has been damaged by third parties confusing the two companies.

The court in Sao Paulo ruled that Meta will have to pay 100,000 reais ($20,201) per day if it fails to comply with the decision within 30 days. Meta, which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp apart from Facebook, can file an appeal against the decision.

The lawsuit was filed by Barueri-based firm Meta Servicos, which registered its brand in the late 2000s with Brazils’s National Institute for Intellectual Property. The firm said in its complaint that since Mark Zuckerberg’s company changed its name to Meta in 2021, the Brazilian company had been wrongly included in more than 100 lawsuits, and had Instagram profiles disabled for over impersonation.

The Brazilian company mentioned during the trial that the number of cases mistakenly filed against Meta Servicos has increased from 27 to 143 during the duration of the trial.

The court’s ruling comes after a seven-month long court battle over trademark rights between the social networking giant and Meta Serviços.

In the ruling, the judges said that the Brazilian firm’s trademark registration has existed for over a quarter of a century and that foreign companies must comply with local regulations if they wish to operate in Brazil.

Meta, which was formerly known as Facebook, changed its name to Meta in 2021 as a part of re-branding. With the company looking to focus more on building the “metaverse”, a shared virtual environment, it decided to name itself “Meta” to align the brand name with the future vision.

Politics of caste and class: How Rahul Gandhi is pushing the country into the fire through his divisive politics

चंदन कुमार
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Politics of caste and class: How Rahul Gandhi is pushing the country into the fire through his divisive politics

Bihar used to have a leader. People recognise him as Lalu Yadav. Now he’s a convicted criminal and prisoner as well. In the course of his leadership days, he used to speak about caste. He used to elicit applause when he talked about the backward castes in speeches. During rallies, people would die with sticks. Not only did they discuss ‘eliminating brown hair’, but they also drew a line of discrimination against Bhumihar-Rajput-Brahmin-Lala (Kayastha) caste people seeking government positions.

What was the outcome? Bihar was pushed decades back. The state, formerly renowned as the “bowl of pulses and oilseeds,” began to bear the burden of migration and continues to struggle. People once associated with sugar and rice mills are now obliged to work as labourers in other states. Morton Toffee and Cookies, a global brand, had earlier manufactured in Bihar and ruled the hearts of countless people including foreigners. Now, what happened to Bihar? What was once pride has turned into abuse.

What impact has it had on Lalu, throughout this entire episode? Did his family move to another state for work? Does anyone have the audacity to abuse his son by calling him ‘Bihari’? When Lalu Yadav was proven to be a criminal, did his wife and children return to the peon quarters where he rose to become Chief Minister? No.

The political ladder that led Lalu Yadav to the helm of power continues to benefit him and his family. If anyone is suffering, it is the common people of Bihar.

Rahul means inflammatory and divisive politics

What Lalu did in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi is disseminating the same poison throughout the country. Raking up caste, creed, forward and backward. He is doing this with the sole goal of getting a government bungalow in the country’s most exclusive power circle, Lutyens’ Delhi. He is well aware that he is not getting power in the Centre anytime soon, thus he wants to retain his parliament membership and secure a bungalow to maintain his authority as Congress’ prince. His advantage in this is obvious. It is also evident that voters, like those in Bihar, would suffer losses for decades to come.

If you want to get the hang of Rahul Gandhi’s virulent and poisonous politics, you need to understand one word: Naxalbari. Not far from Bihar, this village is located in the state that is currently ruled by Mamata Banerjee. The infectious disease disseminated from this village is extremely deadly, whether in Hindi or English… The violent ideology of the Left is named after it.

This vicious and bloody game that began in Naxalbari is still being played in remote areas of the country. Despite all of the expense and the policy of collaborating with security services, the plague known as Naxalism has yet to be eradicated. Instead of ‘I’ll give you a pistol, kill him,’ it began with the seeds of ‘tyrant-victim’. The effect is so devastating that the same so-called victim now bombs his own children’s school. He cuts the throats of his own community members and friends, labelling them ‘informers’.

Rahul Gandhi is carrying on the work the ‘intellectual leftists’ did earlier. They are planting the seeds of a bloody game by coining jargon like “farmers victims,” “industrialists as oppressors,” “small traders versus government GST,” “companies as employee exploiters,” and so on. It is clear that, like the brainless liberals, they will simply enjoy the best parts of this gory game and will not partake. Those who succumb to their plot will perish, and their families will suffer.

The Congress prince always names grandmother Indira Gandhi. Unfortunately, he could not learn anything from her. Indira was the one who sparked anti-Hindi sentiment in Tamil Nadu. Congress, as well as the rest of the country, knows what happened. In the southern part of India, Congress not only faded, but regional parties thrived in their states. If Rahul Gandhi had known all of this, he would not have sparked the Amul-Nandini controversy.

Incite conflict between states or companies. Rahul Gandhi believes this will enhance his 2-4 votes. He failed to comprehend, even after witnessing his comrade Thackeray’s political demise. If he had understood, why would the people of the country bestow a ‘unique’ name upon him?

Bungalow and throne: The sole goal of Congress’s prince

How many castes live in the country? What percentage of the population belongs to these castes? What is the size of the backward population? How many persons from what caste are IAS/IPS/Doctors/Engineers? Which caste owns the media, and who does the job? Why should Gujaratis give jobs to Marathi people? Why are Gujarati milk and curd sold in Karnataka? Why is there injustice against impoverished people 24 hours a day? Who has been unkind to the farmer? Who is persecuting India’s tribals, who have first rights to the country’s water, forests, and lands?

If you have read, heard, or seen even one of the points mentioned above, instantly connect it with Rahul Gandhi. It is unnecessary to seek information such as when, where, and who was targeted. There is no need since, apart from Rahul Gandhi, no other leader in our country is repeating such hackneyed, divisive statements.

Today’s leaders, whose forefathers and grandfathers poisoned society, set fire to their states and dominated regional politics, are now struggling to find jobs, earn a living, and prosper. On the contrary, Rahul Gandhi is attempting to incite every part of society since he has started feeling that he is the ‘prince’ of the country since he thinks that his father-grandmother ‘sacrificed’ their lives for the country and thus he has first right over the country.

Rahul Gandhi simply forgets that, despite holding the position of Prime Minister, his forefathers received a salary and benefits in exchange. The person sitting in the Prime Minister’s chair benefits the country; even to this day, he is living in this delusion. In addition, if the argument of death/murder is used to establish the right to the PM’s chair, who knows how many physicians, engineers, IAS, and IPS lost their lives while doing their jobs? So, should children start viewing these government positions as their inheritance?

It is not fair that Rahul Gandhi has always done and continues to do the wrong thing. Kudos to him on the issues with which he has so far not poisoned society. Owaisi and other hardline Muslim leaders continue to question how many people of each religion/religion/sect serve in the country’s army and police. Rahul Gandhi has not resorted to this (yet). For this he deserves applause.

However, there is a subtle distinction between ‘have not done’ and ‘will not do’. In light of health concerns, his mother, Sonia Gandhi, is now striving to save her Parliament membership through the Rajya Sabha. The cause is the same: a government bungalow. After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the day Rahul Gandhi realises he is no longer deserving of a prince, even inside Congress, he will stoop to further low beyond caste divisions. He will entice everyone-Muslims, Christians and Sikhs with his poison. It is obvious that even then, only he will benefit; if anyone suffers for decades, it will be the voters.

Rahul Gandhi is not the first, nor will he be the last. You may remember the names of many such leaders, who are known as ‘Janata Ke Sevak’, but after a while, their contribution to democracy was reduced to occupying a parliamentary chair and a bungalow in Delhi. Today, ‘Prince’ Rahul Gandhi’s politics has been confined to the mere upkeeping of a chair and a bungalow.

Bengaluru blast: Shocking CCTV footage of the explosion released, NIA team to visit Rameshwaram cafe, at least nine people injured

OpIndia Staff
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Bengaluru blast: Shocking CCTV footage of the explosion released, NIA team to visit Rameshwaram cafe, at least nine people injured

Disturbing CCTV footage has surfaced from the Rameshwaram cafe in Bengaluru’s Whitefield, showing a typically busy day at the well-known venue, followed by an explosion that left at least one woman lying on the floor and numerous other people running for their lives hours after the bomb blast that injured at least nine people. Low-intensity Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were utilized in the explosion which happened at roughly 12:30 pm on 1st March, confirmed Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

While earlier it was reported as a cylinder blast, now it is confirmed that it was a bomb blast, indicating terror link.

A closed-circuit television camera mounted over a counter at the cafe recorded the seconds shortly before and after the incident. A waiter is ready to place a meal on the counter while customers are waiting for a table when the explosion tears through part of the cafe. Debris drops from the ceiling and when the smoke clears a female is spotted on the floor while another person tumbles while trying to get away. Afterwards, she turns and tries to stand up, but fails.

Servers milled around the counter before the explosion turned the video screen white and smoke plumes rose. Many people’s clothes were torn by the blast’s impact and multiple individuals sustained wounds. The injured were taken to the hospital when the police and Fire Brigade units cleared the scene.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is scheduled to visit the explosion site in Kundalahalli as per Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Teams of police, fire department, forensics and a bomb disposal squad rushed to the scene. They were observed examining the explosion’s aftermath. The residents were drawn in as they noticed broken glass and furniture scattered across the cafe’s floor. Furthermore, a group of forensic specialists has begun gathering evidence and a dog squad also showed up at the place.

“An IED was used to cause the low-intensity blast. It has been recovered from the spot. Many suspects are on the radar,” claimed sources. The two primary perspectives that the agencies are examining are corporate competition and terror. “The eatery chain was doing good business. Signals were picked last week that rivals may try to tarnish their image,” sources added.

A police official stated, “We received a call about a cylinder blast in Rameshwaram cafe. Immediately, a fire engine was rushed to the spot. The incident occurred between 1.30 and 2 pm. We are probing it from all angles,” earlier in the day. However, it was later revealed to be an IED blast. Karnataka Chief Minister also mentioned, “We have learnt that someone had kept a bag there. We are examining the CCTV footage. We are still investigating. Police are at the spot. It was a low-intensity blast.” The suspect had breakfast at the cafe and left the bag, he added.

According to sources, police informed the chief minister that they didn’t find any other explosives except the one in the bag discovered on the property. The person who put the bag inside the cafe, according to Siddarmaiah, stole a token from the cash register. He noted that the cashier was under interrogation. The Chief Minister responded, “It’s unknown and investigations are in progress,” when asked whether the incident was a terrorist act.

He alleged, “It was not a large-scale blast, it was an improvised explosive blast. Such things have happened earlier too, it should not happen. Let’s see what it is. In recent times, such blasts have not taken place other than the incident in Mangaluru during BJP rule. This is the first such incident during our government.”

Siddaramaiah unveiled that CCTV footage showed a man placing a bag inside the cafe. He assured, “CCTV footage from the cafe is being examined. It has come to be known that someone had left a bag at the cafe. The accused in the incident will be punished,” while talking to the media in Mysuru.

A consumer and staff member were among the injured. The Chief Minister explained that their injuries weren’t critical. Hotel employee Farooq (19), an employee of Amazon (23), Mohan (41), Nagashree (35), Momi (30), Balaram Krishnan (31), Navya (25), and Srinivas (67) are the nine people injured in the blast.

Bharatiya Janta Party Lok Sabha MP Tejaswi Surya informed that he talked to the owner of the cafe who affirmed that the blast had happened due to a bag that a ‘customer’ left at the cafe. “Just spoke to Rameshwaram Café founder Sri Nagaraj about the blast in his restaurant. He informed me that the blast occurred because of a bag that was left by a customer and not any cylinder explosion. One of their employees is injured. It seems to be a clear case of a bomb blast,” he wrote on social media.

While the authorities look into the explosion, the area has been cordoned off. Notably, numerous Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) modules have previously been neutralized in Bengaluru. Many ISIS agents who were active there in the past have been eliminated.

Sanaul Islam from Kerala arrested in Afghanistan for ties with terror group ISKP, detained in Kandahar Jail

OpIndia Staff
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Sanaul Islam from Kerala arrested in Afghanistan for ties with terror group ISKP, detained in Kandahar Jail

A terrorist from Kerala on the way to join the ISKP has been arrested in Afghanistan. The terrorist named Sanaul Islam is from Ullattupara in Malappuram, and he is currently detained in Kandahar jail, as per reports. Islam was arrested after an investigation by Afghan intelligence agencies.

Afghan govt has informed India about the arrest, and discussions between authorities in the two countries are going on over the further steps to be taken. As per Afghan investigators, Sanaul Islam reached Afghanistan through Tajikistan, and his intention was to join the terror group Islamic State of Khorasan Province, which is active in Afghanistan. Afghan authorities have also released a photograph of Sanaul in detention.

Sanaul was arrested after his connections with ISKP was revealed by investigators. As per reports, when confronted by police, he could not explain the purpose of his visit to Kandahar, prompting an investigation by the General Director of Intelligence (GDI) of the Afghan Interim Govt. Police then handed him over to GDI for further probe.

As per unconfirmed reports, Sanaul Islam has confessed that he has connections with the ISKP. He also allegedly revealed that he travelled to Kandahar on the instructions of an official in India to meet certain individuals.

Kerala has emerged as a hotspot for recruiting Islamic State terrorists. As per Afghan officials, at least 11 Indians linked with ISKP have been either killed or nabbed in Afghanistan since 2014, and majority of them are from Kerala.

SHAUTS illegal conversion: SC grants interim bail to Vice Chancellor, other senior officials charged with coercing individuals into adopting Christianity

OpIndia Staff
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SHAUTS illegal conversion: SC grants interim bail to Vice Chancellor, other senior officials charged with coercing individuals into adopting Christianity

The Supreme Court on Friday (1st March) granted anticipatory bail to the Vice Chancellor and senior officials of the Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Science (SHUATS) in an illegal mass religious conversion case.

A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also declared the court’s previous protection order effective, providing relief to the officials involved.

Notably, in December 2023, a vacation bench of the Supreme Court of India delayed the Allahabad High Court’s judgment instructing the Vice Chancellor and other officials of SHAUTS to surrender to the court by December 20, 2023. The SC also granted interim protection from arrest to the SHAUTS University VC, the Director, and the accused professors.

In the same order, the High Court declined to dismiss a formal complaint against the Vice Chancellor and other officials for allegedly using their positions as well as other inducements to force a woman to become a Christian.

Notably, in its contested ruling, the High Court emphasized that no true religious body would tolerate such malpractices. The bench, comprised of Justice Rahul Chaturvedi and Justice Mohd. Azhar Husain Idrisi stated that no legitimate religious institution, whether a church, temple, or mosque, would condone such wrongdoing by priests or spiritual leaders.

“No God or true Church or Temple or Mosque would approve such type of malpractices. If someone on his own, has chosen to get him converted to a different religion, it is totally another aspect of the issue. In the instant case prevailing upon a tender mind of a young girl providing gifts, clothing, and other physical amenities and then asking her to get her baptized is an unpardonable sin,” said the high court.

The FIR, filed in November 2023, claimed that the victim, a lower-middle-class woman, was enticed into Christianity through presents and clothing, with the accused, including the SHUATS VC, reportedly pressuring her to bring more women for conversion and unlawful activity. The victim claimed she was also subjected to frequent sexual exploitation.

The court found that the victim, encouraged by a senior clergyman, was duped into adopting Christianity in exchange for steady employment. Despite the accused’s claim that the victim concocted the narrative in retaliation for her job loss in 2022, the court considered the charges serious and terrifying.

UP police had aggressively resisted any form of compensation for them, claiming that they had acquired more than Rs 34 crores from several foreign countries and utilized it for unlawful conversion.

“During the course of Investigation, it has been found that since 2005 around Rs 34,44,54,855.00 has been received in the FCRA account of SHUATS from various countries including USA, Afghanistan, Japan, Libya Iraq, Germany, Canada, Guyana, Uganda, Ethiopia, Bahrain, Netherlands, Philippines, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Australia, Nepal, Bhutan and Nigeria,” it had told top court.

While legal procedures continue, the Supreme Court’s issuance of anticipatory bail provides temporary relief to the Vice Chancellor and other SHUATS officials.

Bengaluru: CM Siddaramaiah confirms that it was IED blast in Rameshwaram Cafe, Whitefield

OpIndia Staff
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Bengaluru: CM Siddaramaiah confirms that it was IED blast in Rameshwaram Cafe, Whitefield

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has confirmed that it was a low-intensity IED blast at the popular Rameshwaram Cafe in Whitefield, Bengaluru, reported India Today.

Visuals shared by India Today channel showed a patch of blood, along with nuts, bolts, and metallic objects at the blast location. CM Siddaramaiah later stated that the blast was a bomb blast, from a low intensity device.

Earlier media reports about the incident had reported it as a ‘cylinder blast’. However, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya stated that he has spoken to the founder of the popular coffee chain and he has confirmed that it was not a cylinder or boiler blast, but a customer had left a bag inside the cafe.

9 people have been reportedly injured in the blast.

CM Siddaramaiah confirmed the news while speaking to mediapersons in Mysuru. It is now confirmed that the blast was intentional, aimed to target people and cause harm.

Forensic officials and bomb disposal squad are already at the location, carrying out investigation at the site. 9 people have been reportedly injured in the blast.

This is a developing story. Details will be updated as they emerge.

‘Partners in I.N.D.I. alliance have become Gandhi’s monkeys over the Sandeshkhali issue’: PM Modi attacks TMC and opposition allies in West Bengal

OpIndia Staff
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‘Partners in I.N.D.I. alliance have become Gandhi’s monkeys over the Sandeshkhali issue’: PM Modi attacks TMC and opposition allies in West Bengal

On Friday (1st March), Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public rally in West Bengal’s Arambagh. In his speech, he criticised the ruling Trinamool Congress party (TMC) in the state and its other allies in the I.N.D.I. alliance including Congress. Pointing out the silence of opposition parties over the Sandeshkhali issue, PM Modi said that the opposition parties are behaving like Gandhi’s monkeys over this issue. He said that they have shut their eyes, ears, and mouths when it comes to reacting to this issue.

PM Narendra Modi said, “The country is seeing what Trinamool Congress has done with the sisters of Sandeshkhali. The whole country is angry. The soul of Raja Ram Mohan Roy must have been pained by what happened in Sandeshkhali…the party was protecting the TMC leader and the police had to arrest him yesterday after the BJP leaders exerted pressure on the government.”

He added, “A Trinamool leader crossed all limits…when the mothers and the sisters of Sandeshkhali made their protest louder, sought help from Mamata didi, what did they get in return? Didi and the government did everything to shield the Trinamool leader.”

PM Narendra Modi said, “All the BJP leaders in the state fought a battle day and night. They fought a battle for the dignity of mothers and sisters. They endured the lathi charge. Faced difficulties. It was due to the pressure of the BJP and the power of the people of West Bengal that the West Bengal police yesterday had to arrest the accused (Sheikh Shahjahan). This criminal TMC leader was absconding for almost two months in the TMC regime in this state. There must be someone who would be saving him. Will you forgive such a party TMC? Will you not avenge the atrocities inflicted upon the mothers and sisters? Give a befitting reply to every impact by your votes.”

He added, “Today, the people of Bengal are asking the Chief Minister Didi – is the vote of some people more important than atrocities against women in Sandeshkhali? She should be ashamed of this. My friends from Bengal, I was astonished the most by looking at the other leaders in the I.N.D.I. alliance. Top leaders in the I.N.D.I. alliance have shut their eyes, ears, and mouths when it comes to talking about the Sandeshkhali issue – just like the three monkeys of Gandhi. Patna, Bengaluru, Mumbai – god knows where else they meet together. But tell me, have the leftist parties and Congress ever dared to ask the chief minister and the government of this state about the Sandeshkhali issue?”

He further said, “They did not even have a look at the victim sisters from Sandeshkhali. Do you remember what the national president of the Congress party said? He said, ‘Arey chhoddo, Bengal mein toh yeh sab chalta rheta hai’. Isn’t it an insult to Bengal, its culture and tradition?” (Meaning: Leave it. These things keep happening in Bengal.)

Prime Minister further said, “This is the truth of the I.N.D.I. Alliance bloc. They shield the corrupt, the dynasts and those who believe in appeasement politics. TMC has set a new model of corruption…have you seen the bundles of notes found in TMC leaders’ houses? Have you ever seen that much money even in movies?”

Notably, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday (27th February) while speaking at TV9 Bharatvarsh’s ‘What India Thinks Today’ conclave that such things keep happening in West Bengal and its not relevant for a national debate. He made these remarks when he was asked about what his and the Congress party’s stand is on the Sandeshkhali horror.  

ED freezes assets worth Rs 508 crores in Mahadev Betting App case, says network was operated from Dubai

ANI
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ED freezes assets worth Rs 508 crores in Mahadev Betting App case, says network was operated from Dubai

 The Enforcement Directorate has seized Rs 580.78 crore in assets related to the Mahadev Online Betting app case, asserting that its activities are being operated from Dubai.

The ED’s action occurred as the agency conducted raids at 15 locations targeting individuals suspected of involvement in money laundering networks associated with Mahadev Online Book in Kolkata, Gurugram, Delhi, Indore, Mumbai, and Raipur.

During the operation, the ED said it retrieved cash worth Rs 1.86 crore, valuables worth Rs 1.78 crore and also frozen and identified proceeds of crime worth Rs 580.78 crore. The searches also resulted in the seizure of a large amount of incriminating evidence, including digital data and the identification of assets.

The agency is investigating a case against “Mahadev Online Book”, which is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites to enrol new users, create user IDs and launder money through a layered web of Benami bank accounts.

The ED initiated an investigation on the basis of First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by Chhattisgarh Police. Subsequently, other FIRs registered by Visakhapatnam Police and other states were also taken on record.

An ED investigation into the matter has revealed that “the operations of Mahadev Online Book are being run from Dubai and it operates by franchising ‘panel and branches’ to their known associates on a 70 per cent to 30 per cent profit ratio.”

“The main promoters of Mahadev Online Book are also partners and promoters in multiple such online betting books like ‘Reddy Anna’ and ‘Fairplay’. Large-scale hawala operations are done to syphon off the proceeds of betting proceeds to off-shore accounts,” said the agency.

In the course of further investigation, the ED successfully identified other major players involved with the promoters of Mahadev Online Book.

“It was found that one Hari Shankar Tibrewal, who hails from Kolkata but is currently residing in Dubai, is a huge hawala operator and has partnered with the promoters of Mahadev Online Book. ED conducted searches at his known premises and at the premises of his associates. The searches revealed that Hari Shankar Tibrewal owned and operated one of the illegal betting websites, such as SkyExchange.

“He, through his Dubai-based entities, was investing the betting proceeds in the Indian Stock market by way of the Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) route. He had also employed many of his associates as Director in various companies which were involved in layering of the betting proceeds by investing them in the stock market. He was also involved in large-scale hawala movement of the betting funds,” said the ED.

Accordingly, security holdings worth Rs 580.78 crore in the name of the entities beneficially owned by Hari Shankar Tibrewal have been frozen by ED under PMLA 2002.

Earlier in this case, movable properties totalling Rs 572.41 crore were seized and frozen during searches conducted under the PMLA, 2002. Two provisional attachment orders have been issued, attaching movable and immovable properties valued at Rs 142.86 crore.

Prosecution complaints dated October 20, 2023, and January 1 of this year have been filed in the case. Nine accused have already been apprehended in connection with the case. Thus, total attachment and freezing in the case stand at Rs 1,296.05 crore.

The move comes almost a month after the federal agency arrested two individuals, Nitin Tibrewal from Kolkata and Amit Agrawal from Raipur. Both accused were arrested in the second week of January.

Earlier, the ED had arrested alleged accused Asim Das, Bheem Singh Yadav, Chandrabhushan Verma, Anil Kumar Agrawal, Sunil Dammani, and Satish Chandrakar. The agency stated that the illicit funds generated by the app were used to bribe politicians and bureaucrats.

In November last year, the ED had also conducted searches against the money laundering networks linked with the alleged Mahadev Book Online Betting App, which led to the recovery of cash worth Rs 5.39 crore and a bank balance of Rs 15.59 crore.

Several celebrities and Bollywood actors have also been summoned by the agency for questioning regarding their connections with the online betting platform and the payment methods involved.

ED has filed two charge sheets in the Mahadev app case, including against the main promoters, Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal. The two promoters were recently detained in Dubai based on an Interpol red notice, and ED is working on their deportation or extradition to India.

The first charge sheet alleges that Chandrakar spent around Rs 200 crore in cash for his wedding in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, in February 2023. The agency claims that private jets were hired to transport Chandrakar’s relatives, and celebrities were paid for performances. The projected proceeds of crime in this case are estimated at Rs 6,000 crore.

The agency filed the second charge sheet before a special court in Raipur on January 1 of this year.

The about 1,700-1,800 page fresh charge sheet specifically named five accused, including alleged cash courier Asim Das, police constable Bheem Singh Yadav, and Shubham Soni, a prominent executive linked to the app, among others.

Das and Yadav were arrested by the agency in November last year, just before the first phase of polling for the assembly polls in Chhattisgarh.

Soni, who had claimed to be the owner of the app, earlier issued a video statement and sent an affidavit to the ED claiming to have “proof” about kickbacks paid to politicians and their linked persons for allowing the app to run its illegal businesses without any legal action.

ED previously asserted that Mahadev app promoters paid approximately Rs 508 crore to former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel. These claims, made just before the state assembly polls, were denied by Baghel, who labelled them as attempts to malign his image. The Congress party termed it vendetta politics by the Centre.

Chandrakar and Uppal, originally from Bhilai town in Chhattisgarh, are associated with the Mahadev online betting app, which is accused of facilitating illegal betting websites.

(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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