On Thursday (20th August), the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government suspended 4 officials for fraud during voter ID registrations.
The development comes after the Election Commission of India (ECI) gave a 7-day deadline to the government to ensure action against the tainted election officers.
Sources told The New Indian Express that a complicance report has been sent to the ECI by the Chief Secretary Manoj Pant.
Although no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered, officials assured to conduct departmental proceedings.
It must be mentioned that Manoj Pant had previously attempted to prevent strict disciplinary actions against the tained officials.
He had claimed, “Such an action could have a demoralising impact not only on the individuals concerned but also on the broader team of officers engaged in electoral responsibilities and other administrative functions.”
ECI directs West Bengal govt to take action against officers who added fake voters to electoral rolls
Earlier this month, the Election Commission of India (ECI) suspended four election officials in West Bengal, who reportedly allowed fake voter applications to be registered by misusing their authority.
Their actions were exposed during a sample checking of voter application forms (Form 6) for routine updates to the electoral roll by the West Bengal Election Commission.
Two Electoral Registration Offices (EROs), namely Debottam Dutta Choudhary and Biplab Sarkar and two Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), namely Tathagata Mondal and Sudipta Das, were suspended by the ECI with immediate effect.
Besides, the ECI also directed an FIR to be lodged against the casual Data Entry Operator, Surojit Haldar.
The ECI has also ordered disciplinary proceedings against the officers without delay. The Commission said that the actions of the officers amount to criminal misconduct and, therefore, also ordered the filing of FIRs against all four officials.
Later, it gave a 7-day deadline to take action against state election officials accused of adding fake voters to the voter list.
The chilling murder of a Hindu student by a Muslim junior at the Seventh Day Adventist Higher Secondary School on 19th August has caused massive outrage across the city. Police have arrested the accused Muslim student and started an investigation into the incident.
As per reports, the Muslim student brutally stabbed the Hindu student in the school premises on the day of the incident. The victim succumbed to his injuries during medical treatment at night, the same day. This led to protests by the aggrieved family and members of the local Hindu community against the school administration.
The victim’s family accused the school administration of negligence. They alleged that the school authorities failed to take the injured student to the hospital in time after the incident, due to which his condition deteriorated and he succumbed to his injuries. The family further alleged that instead of taking the victim to the hospital, the school administration started cleaning the blood stains in the school premises with water. The police are also investigating to find out who cleaned the blood stains, which amounts to destruction of evidence and is an offence.
The school has a controversial past
The school has a controversial past. In 2016, the school was in the news after a teacher of the school mercilessly beat up a child studying in the 4th standard for merely talking to another student during an examination.
The teacher is said to have grabbed the child by the hair and brutally beaten him, and punched him in the face, due to which the child started bleeding. At that time too, protests were held in the school premises by the parents of the student.
After the pressure from the parents, the school administration was compelled to suspend the teacher named Moses Adla. It was alleged by locals that the teacher had previously beaten up four other students in a similar manner. A case was registered at Khokhara police station on the parents’ complaint, and action was taken against the responsible teacher.
The school was again embroiled in a controversy in October 2024, after the school administration took around 200 students on a trip without permission from the District Education Office. The trip was in clear violation of government rules. The District Education Office took cognisance of the incident and issued a legal notice to the school administration, and also complained to the police.
And now, after the murder of the Hindu student, the school administration is under the scanner once again. The grandfather of the deceased Hindu students has made some shocking revelations about the Muslim students studying in the school. He alleged that some Muslim students once brought mutton to the school and fed it to Hindu vegetarian students in the name of paneer. This also resulted in a huge uproar after the parents of the Hindu students and the locals came to know about it. It was alleged that the school authorities did not take any action in the matter.
Allegations against the school
After the murder of the Hindu student, the role of the school administration in the entire incident is being questioned. The victim’s grandfather told OpIndia that about two months before the incident, it was brought to the notice of the school administration that the victim was facing harassment by Muslim students. He added that the owner of the cab service in the school also revealed that there have been many incidents of Hindu students being attacked by Muslim students in the school. The cab service owner is also said to have recorded a video of one such incident, which he showed to the school authorities, but no action was taken. He also alleged that earlier Hindu students in the school were forced to change their religion to Christianity or Islam. His allegations of harassment of Hindu students by Muslim students were also corroborated by other parents and locals, who said that no action was taken by the school administration on complaints of harassment.
In addition to that, there are also allegations that the Moral Science syllabus in the school is designed to lure Hindu students to Christianity. The allegations also say that some people from the school administration offered to promote students to the next class without taking examinations in exchange for ₹2 lakh.
Who manages the school?
The school is run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church Organisation, which is a part of a global network. The headquarters of the organisation are located in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. ‘Ashlock Trust’, which operates under the educational wing of the ‘Seventh Day Adventist Church Organisation’, operates the school. Globally, this organisation runs 7,804 schools, colleges and universities.
Seventh Day Adventist Church
The rules of the school are governed by Christianity. Church rules are given priority in schools run by churches. The organisation that runs the Seventh Day school follows the ideology of the US-based church organisation. Globally, the ‘Seventh Day Adventist Church Organisation’ sets the rules for all schools, colleges and universities under it, which are then implemented by the educational institutions.
Who is the principal?
The principal of the Seventh Day Adventist High Secondary School, Ahmedabad, is ‘G. Immanuel’. Parents have stated that before the murder incident, many incidents of violence and bullying were brought to his notice, but he allegedly never paid attention to them or took any action. The school is affiliated with the ‘Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination’ (CISCE). This is a non-governmental organisation which has been controlling the educational activities of the school since 1990. Notably, G. Emmanuel is also currently serving as the President of CISCE.
Principal of the school CISCE website
This Seventh Day School is affiliated with both CISCE and the Gujarat Board. The school website mentions G Emmanuel is the principal of the school as well as the Chairman of the CISCE. Citing this as a conflict of interest, locals and parents have said that the CISCE would not act on their complaints against the school as long as Emmanuel is its head. No official statement has so far been made by G Emmanuel on the incident. A police investigation is going on into the matter.
The original Gujarati version of this report can be read here.
On 20th August, a pro-Palestine rally was organized by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. The demonstrators waved Palestinian and communist flags amid genocidal slogans such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as well as raised placards flashing “Free Palestine” among other slogans.
Journalists, artists, students, members of the Indian National Congress (INC), Samajwadi Party and various other opposition parties were present at the demonstration. The event was attended by the leftist-liberal ecosystem and their Islamist allies. Predictably, the self-identified “social media pest” Swara Bhasker, a vocal supporter of jihadis and an anti-Israeli advocate, exploited the opportunity to advance her pro-Hamas propaganda.
She claimed, “They (Palestinians) are striving to survive in order to protect their existence from destruction. The Israeli government has today openly declared that the genocide they are executing in Gaza constitutes a campaign to obliterate the Palestinians, their territory, their identity and their lives. This incident took place on 7th October (2023) during which 1200 Israeli citizens lost their lives, it is indeed sad when a person dies anywhere in the world. Nevertheless, to act as if history began on 7th October 2023 is a fabrication. This is a falsehood and an act of deceit.”
Swara insisted that the dispute between the two sides commenced in 1948 which has affected Palestine. “When discussing the 1200 Israeli lives, it is imperative to also consider the thousands of Palestinians that have perished since 1948. If one is to mention the 200 hostages taken by Hamas, it is essential to also highlight the 10,000 Palestinians who have been kidnapped by Israel and thrown behind bars for decades without any trial or formal charges,” she argued in a bizzare defense of the atrocities perpetrated by the terrorist group.
“We gather here today to express to the entire world and to align ourselves with those who are voicing this sentiment globally that every life on this planet, regardless of religion or ethnicity holds significance. Every child born into this world is of great importance. The lives of white children do not possess greater value than those from Asia, Africa or Latin America. It is not right to raise our voices in response to the deaths of white children in Ukraine while remaining silent about the same fate of Asian children in Palestine. This is dishonesty,” Swara added.
Ironically, while endorsing for equal value for life, she simultaneously contradicted herself by repeatedly undermining the Jewish lives ended and ruined by Hamas forever.
Swara blames everything under the sun except Hamas
The former actress then accused, “Israel has attained its goals through 80 years of propaganda which has been so effective that we often hesitate to articulate a basic truth and a historical fact about the suffering endured by the Palestinians.” She then referred to the holocaust and alleged, “No matter what misfortunes have befallen your community (Jewish) in a different location or continent, you can not seek revenge by moving to a third place.”
Swara claimed that every individual present at the rally agreed that the genocide of Jews, executed by the German Nazis in the 1930s and 40s, was an egregious act. “Yet, it is crucial to recognize that the persecution and atrocities committed against the Jews were largely perpetrated by the white populace of the Christian governments in Europe. Thus, why should the Palestinians, a brown Asian demographic be punished for these historical wrongs,” she asked.
She further contended, “This is a very straightforward and fundamental matter. I understand that this argument has been portrayed in a controversial light in the media. However, stating a historical truth does not violate any religious tenets. If one looks at the history of Palestine, it becomes clear that Jewish, Muslim and Christian populations have inhabited that area for centuries and lived harmoniously. This conflict is a result of the blemish on European history (holocaust) that they are attempting to erase by attacking brown people in an Asian nation. It is not antisemitic to point out this, it is a fact.”
Swara peddles more victimhood narrative
Swara Bhasker, who married Fahad Ahmad in 2023, reiterated the victimhood narrative and stated, “The inhumanity that has been inflicted on the people of Gaza after 7th October, the suffering they have experienced, the atrocities occurring and the severity with which the Israeli government conducts its operations have laid bare Israel’s propaganda. They are leveraging the Holocaust and the historical anguish of the Jewish community to facilitate their barbarity.”
“The situation faced by the Palestinians today should impart one significant lesson. We must summon the courage to affirm that, irrespective of Israel’s actions, we will preserve the existence of the Palestinian people, their legacy, their fight in our hearts, our speech, our thoughts, and our actions. Across the globe, governments are working to dissuade people from supporting the Palestinians. Yet, common citizens everywhere are making efforts and standing in solidarity with them,” she stressed.
“Today, I wish to emphasize that our campaign does not conclude here. We must all return and ensure that the narrative of Palestine is sustained daily through technology, social media, our phones, on trains and buses. Initiate even the smallest effort within your home. Even if it is just boycotting one item, even something minor, but do it with certainty. The more the Israeli and Zionist regimes attempt to erase Palestine’s existence and eliminate its people, the more we must strive to keep their voice and struggle alive in our hearts and on our lips,” Swara urged the ecosystem to continue to rage over the issue in India.
Her speech was concluded with the chants of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “free Palestine.” The audience was also addressed by director Saeed Mirza, and journalist P. Sainath and other social activists. They cited International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the nation’s defence minister to accuse Israel of war crimes and attempts to establish permanent authority over Gaza. They also criticized the Modi government’s foreign policy regarding the Jewish state and condemned the alleged ties between Hindutva and Zionism.
Hamas joins hands with Pakistan
Hamas which has been fervently defended by Swara allied with the terrorist state of Pakistan and its proxies shortly before the Pahlagam attack. They even arranged a rally named “Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation Al Aqsa Flood Conference” in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) which was attended by the top leadership of terrorist groups from both sides including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
“The fighters of Palestine and Kashmir now march as one,” announced a Jaish-e-Mohammed leader from the dais and threatened, “Blood will be spilled in Delhi, and Kashmir shall be torn from India.” The gathering, which coincided with Pakistan’s annual observance of “Kashmir Solidarity Day,” reportedly drew over 100 terrorists from other countries. There were many prominent Palestinians in attendance. Hamas also declared its first official presence in the PoK through its envoy.
Legal battle over Azad Maidan rally
The agitation transpired after weeks of legal battles in which the Mumbai Police repeatedly refused to allow the gathering to take place at Azad Maidan. The CPI(M) and other petitioners went to the Bombay High Court to ask for permission to hold the rally. The petitioners were strongly chastised by the court which highlighted that they should “deal with the issues inside the country first” and “be patriotic.”
“Our country has several issues to deal with, we don’t want anything like this. I am sorry to say, you are all short-sighted. You are looking at Gaza and Palestine. Why don’t you do something for our own country. Be patriots. Speaking for Gaza and Palestine is not patriotism. Speak up for the causes in our own country. Practice what you preach,” the bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad pronounced.
After multiple hearings, the court did, however, recognise the the fundamental right to peaceful assembly and ordered the authorities to grant them permission as long as law and order was upheld.
Azad Maidan riots
Azad Maidan first gained nationwide attention on 11th August 2011 when an agitation led by Raza Academy unleashed violence there in the name of protest against oppression of Muslims in Assam and Myanmar. The mob even attacked cops. Two people were killed and sixty-three injured as police had to resort to firing.
The Mumbai Police had been reassured by Raza Academy that the demonstration would only draw 1500 participants. Nonetheless, over 15,000 people gathered at the site and the number eventually rose to 40,000. The Muslim mob even vandalised the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial.
Many public properties had been damaged to the tune of about Rs 2.72 crores as a result of the unrest. It was also discovered that the police had not arrested the 35-40 Muslim young men involved in the riots until a week before Eid.
A woman named Divya Rana, who claims to be the Deputy Manager of The Times of India in Mumbai, has abused my mother as ‘r*ndi (prostitute)’, ‘hij*da’ (eunuch) and wished sexual assault on her.
She has threatened me with physical harm and vowed to destroy my life using the influence and power of her father, who is allegedly a Judge.
Rana issued these threats on Facebook over her disapproval of a post, which criticised the death of a 4-year-old child in Bengaluru due to rabies.
Facebook profile of Divya Rana where she claims to be Deputy Manager of The Times of India
The incident occurred on Thursday (21st August), soon after I shared a Facebook post, highlighting the death of a child four months after being mauled by stray dogs in Bengaluru.
The 4-year-old daughter of a street vendor contracted rabies and passed away on 17th August. Popular social media commentator ‘The Skin Doctor’ had posted about the incident on Facebook on 19th August.
I had shared his post with the caption, “We failed you, little girl. ‘Dog activists’, campaigning to keep stray dogs on the street, will not squeak a word about it.”
Screengrab of the Facebook post
Divya Rana, who claimed to be a ‘journalist’ and Deputy Manager, desceneded on my Facebook and warned me of consequences using her credentials.
She claimed that the news was incorrect and I would be penalised by law for sharing unverified information. I cross checked the details and found the news to be authentic.
The story of the child’s death due to rabies was extensively covered in the media, including ‘The Times of India.’
But this did not stop Divya Rana from issuing me a ChatGPT-generated ‘seize and desist notice’ in the comment section of the Facebook post.
— Dibakar Dutta (দিবাকর দত্ত) (@dibakardutta_) August 21, 2025
When I asked her to forward the legal notice to my official email ([email protected]), she resorted to time-wasting techniques.
I requested Divya Rana, the alleged Deputy Manager of The Times of India, to hurry up and send me the legal notice immediately. But, she threatened me with arrest for ‘defamation’ and sharing ‘false information.’
The ‘journalist’ continued, “A warrant has already been issued to Indian Express. Sending a legal notice to you as well.. you have admitted that you have shared this information based on posts shared by others and you do not have a valid facts . hence this calls for a notice...”
— Dibakar Dutta (দিবাকর দত্ত) (@dibakardutta_) August 21, 2025
“U will once u get arrested for defamation on social media and spreading false information based on what you heard but never validated,” Rana continued with her intimidatory techniques.
After I continued to insist on the ‘legal notice’ to be sent to my email ID, despite threats of arrest and warrant, the alleged Deputy Manager of The Times of India resorted to verbal abuse.
Divya Rana had no qualms about calling my 70-year-old mother ‘r*ndi (prostitute)’, ‘hij*da’ (eunuch), besides wishing to parade her naked in public. Not to forget, her threat of destroying my life using the power and influence of her Judge father.
My only mistake was that I raised the issue of the untimely death of a child due to a dog bite and subsequent rabies.
Screengrab of the abusive comment by Divya Rana
As a son, it is difficult for me to translate the abuses hurled at my mother. But here it goes-
Divya Rana: Dibakar Dutta, is your mother a r*ndi who comes to quell your sexual thirst? There is no rat’s ass but your mother’s ass. What is the rate of your mother? Harsh Verma is my father who is a judge. I will get your underwear removed and parade you naked, you son of a hij*a and randi. Do you even have an ass? Your face is ugly, and so is your talk. Ugh, you have such a disgusting face, the son of a ran*i mother. See, your mother is parading naked on the streets. Maderch*d, keep barking now. I will give you a legal response, you disgusting worm from the drain. Keep barking, I won’t even reply. I won’t even read.
I am left astounded by how Rana, through her alleged association with ‘The Times of India’ and her father’s alleged profession as a Judge, feels emboldened enough to threaten and abuse a common man without any fear of law.
Response of The Times of India and the lingering questions
After more than 16 hours since I first flagged the issue on Twitter demanding action from The Times of India, the newspaper responded on Saturday (22nd August).
It claimed that the person mentioned in my tweet is not an employee at ‘The Times of India’, but then automatically determined that it must be a ‘fake account’ of an actual staff member.
“The person mentioned in your tweet is not employed with The Times of India. This appears to be a fake account impersonating a TOI staffer,” the newspaper stated.
If Divya Rana is not employed by The Times of India, then how did you automatically determine that this is a 'fake account'?
Is it because her name is already on your employee list?
Okay, Let me give you the benefit of doubt and assume that it is not damage control… pic.twitter.com/WYtfxRKNYv
— Dibakar Dutta (দিবাকর দত্ত) (@dibakardutta_) August 22, 2025
And this raises questions whether Divya Rana is indeed the employee of the newspaper, and its response on X(formerly Twitter) is a post-damage control mechanism and attempt at mere face-saving.
At the time of writing, the profile of ‘Divya Rana’ is still active on Facebook and the cover image reads ‘The Times of India.’
While the newspaper has claimed to take ‘appropriate action’, it has not highlighted the specific nature of the action and urgent measures to undo damage to its reputation by a ‘fake account.’
The Guwahati Crime Branch on Thursday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against YouTuber Abhisar Sharma on a complaint of provoking communal sentiments. The complaint was lodged by a local residence named Alok Baruah after Sharma accused Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma of practising communal politics.
The FIR has been filed against Sharma under Sections 152 (sedition), 196 and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). According to the complaint, Abhisar Sharma ridiculed both the Assam and Union Governments in a recent video published on YouTube.
Complainant Alok Baruah stated that the remarks were made with mala fide intent to disrepute elected governments and have the effect of provoking communal sentiments. The complaint further alleged that such comments are capable of inflaming passions, creating distrust against lawfully established authorities and promoting enmity between religious groups.
Baruah said that “statements like government survives by Hindu-Muslim polarisation, it provokes communal sentiments.” The complaint added, “Perusal of the article published/circulated by Abhisar Sharma the accused clearly reveals that it contained statements ridiculing and denigrating the duly elected Governments of Assam and the Union of India, thereby, endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.”
The complaint further said, “The accused mocked ridiculed the principle of Ram Rajya, and openly accused the Chief Minister of Assam of communal politics, thereby attempting to create distrust and hatred against the government established by law and promoting enmity between different groups on the ground of religion, prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.” Complainant Baruah further alleged that the article published by Sharma was not mere criticism but amounts to excite disaffection, provoke public disorder, and endanger the unity and integrity of India. “The article published/circulated by the accused Abhisar Sharma is not mere criticism but amounts to an attempt to excite disaffection, provoke public disorder, and endanger the unity and integrity of India by portraying the State as corrupt, communal, and illegitimate, thereby, committed the offence punishable u/s Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS),” said the complaint.
‘India is fuelling Russian war machine’, ‘India is profiteering from Russia-Ukraine war’, ‘India is cozying up to Russia’ and whatnot. The Trump administration has assiduously been vilifying India for its Russian oil purchases.
Besides domestic utilisation, India has been buying discounted Russian oil, refining it, and reselling to European markets that have sanctioned Russia, and has essentially ensured that the world does not go through an energy supply crisis. While the US earlier backed India for its role in ensuring stability in global energy supply, suddenly, the Trump administration is furious with India.
US glossing over its substantial gains from the Russia-Ukraine war, while shamelessly villainising India
Recently, US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, dubbed India’s Russian oil purchases and resale of the same, as ‘arbitrage’. Bessent lamented that India made $16 billion in excess profits.
“We have planned to up the tariffs on India, these are secondary tariffs for buying the sanctioned Russian oil,” Bessent declared. Before 2022, he argued, India bought less than 1% of its oil from Russia. “Now, I believe, it’s up to 42%. So, India is just profiteering… they made $16 billion on excess profits, some of the richest families in India.”
Bessent’s ‘India buying sanctioned Russian oil’ comment came even though as per European Union Council Regulation 833/2014, refined crude is no longer ‘Russian’. In simple terms, India is indeed purchasing Russian oil, but what it is selling to Europe is its own refined petroleum products.
And yet, such is the desperation of the officials in Trump administration to blame India for the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, that Bessent overlooked the fact that the very intent behind the G7’s $60-per-barrel price cap was to keep Russian oil flowing while cutting Moscow’s windfall revenues.
Similarly, White House Advisor on trade adviser, Peter Navarro, also wrote an opinion piece in the Financial Times recently, trying put the sole blame of the Russia-Ukraine war on India, while giving a clean chit to China, Europe and the US itself.
“India acts as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs,” Navarro wrote, and further lamented that backed by India, Russia continues to hammer Ukraine, and in turn, American and European taxpayers are “forced to spend tens of billions more to help Ukraine’s defence.”
Both Navarro and Bessent audaciously vilified Indian corporates, but skipped mentioning how American oil companies have made record profits since the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in 2022.
From liquified natural gas (LNG) exports, arms sales, and several other war-driven opportunities, the US is apparently the biggest profiteer of Russia-Ukraine war. So much so, that if Trump genuinely wants to ‘punish’ those fuelling the supposed Russian war machine, he would want Europe to impose sanctions on the US itself.
Since the Russia-Ukraine war erupted in 2022, Europe has slashed its reliance on Russia gas, which supplied around 40% of its needs. A barrage of sanctions was directed against Russia to cripple its economy assuming that doing so would compel Moscow into ending the conflict on the West’s terms. While things have not played out that the US and EU planned, the US has filled this LNG supply gap, becoming EU’s top LNG supplier in 2023.
Interestingly, the US sold its cheap LNG to Europe at monumentally higher prices, often four times the US domestic rate citing ‘war-induced disruptions, benefiting from Europe’s urgent need for alternatives. It must be recalled that in 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the US for charging inflated prices. Even a senior EU official had pointed out that US is “the country that is most profiting from this [Russia-Ukraine] war” through high-priced LNG sales.
“In today’s geopolitical context, among countries that support Ukraine there are two categories being created in the gas market: those who are paying dearly and those who are selling at very high prices, “The United States is a producer of cheap gas that they are selling us at a high price … I don’t think that’s friendly,” Macron said.
In 2022, US oil and gas companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil registered record profits with a massive 125% jump from pre-war 2021. In 2022, the US companies provided 50% of Europe’s liquefied natural gas supplies, in addition, 12 % of its oil. Beset by boycotts, sanctions and the EU price cap, Russian oil and gas sales to Europe shrunk, while the US benefitting from the void, expanded its tentacles and used the same to assert its dominance in NATO as well.
In 2023, the US remained the largest LNG supplier to Europe, accounting for nearly 48% of total LNG imports with France, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK being major importers. In 2024, while Norway accounted for 33% of EU’s gas imports, the US was right behind, having a 16.5% share. In 2024, EU imported over 100 billion cubic meters (bcm) of LNG and the United States was the largest supplier of LNG to the EU, accounting for almost 45% of total LNG imports.
Beyond energy, the US also benefitted from Russia-Ukraine war through its defence exports. The US provided over $19 billion in military equipment to Ukraine, leading to rise in stock prices of American defence manufacturers like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. In fact, German defence contractor Rheinmetall has also benefitted from Russia-Ukraine war with its stock prices having soared 14 times since the war erupted in 2022.
Not to forget, the US shamelessly boasted that its defence supplies to Ukraine are bolstering American economy. Earlier, the US brought a $95 billion supplemental defence bill, with $60.7 billion allocated to Ukraine, promising that 64% of its funds will ‘rejuvenate the US defence industry.
Now, Donald Trump is selling its weapons to Ukraine through European nations at a 10% premium, essentially to fill America’s coffers while people from both Russia and Ukraine continue to lose life. Trump has even put a cost to US involvement in providing security guarantees to Ukraine. Basically, the US army is functioning as a mercenary for Ukraine. But the US wants the world to believe that not Washington but New Delhi is profiteering off the Russia-Ukraine war.
The hypocrisy of the Trump administration no knows no bounds. While America being a hypocrite is not surprising, Trump’s officials have added another feather on the cap by shameless acknowledging the double-standards.
The same US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent who accused India of profiteering from Russia-Ukraine war, was seen gloating over USA’s strategy of selling weapons to Europe intended for Ukraine with a 10% markup.
“We are selling arms to Europeans, who are then selling them on to the Ukrainians, and President Trump is taking 10 per cent mark-up on the arms. So maybe that 10 per cent will cover the cost of the air cover,” Bessent told Fox News.
US Treasury Secretary who accuses India of "profiteering" from its oil purchase from Russia, is gloating over the fact that the US is selling weapons to Europe intended for Ukraine with a 10% markup. Selling weapons that kill people and profiteering from it vs India buying… pic.twitter.com/0ImPlsCgYZ
As the Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is reported to have offered to purchase $100 billions worth weapons from US, Donald Trump will get a $10 billion cut, besides the taxes sellers will be paying to the US government.
U.S. is profiting from selling LNG and oil to Europe through increased market share, favourable price differentials, and strategic geopolitical gains. The shift away from Russian imports has made the U.S. a critical energy supplier, boosting revenues for American energy companies and supporting domestic industry growth.
While the US may have cut its Russian crude oil imports from Russia due to sanctions, it continues to trade with Russia in various sectors. Even three years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the United States has not fully cut off its trade ties with Moscow. The US has imported more than $24.5 billion worth of Russian goods since January 2022. This year alone, it bought $1.27 billion worth of fertilisers, $624 million in uranium and plutonium, and nearly $878 million in palladium.
Import of non-ferrous metals such as palladium and aluminium was valued at $876.5 million for the period January to November in 2024. Inorganic chemicals made up $683 million, followed by power-generating machinery at $79 million and cork and wood manufacturers at approximately $64 million.
Other commodities included nuclear reactors and machinery worth $80.81 million, prepared animal feed, iron and steel, and oil seeds, although these contributed smaller shares to the overall imports. The US government’s own data indicates that U.S. exports of goods to Russia fell to $528.3 million in 2024, while imports were worth an amount phenomenally higher. In the year 2023, the U.S. exports to Russia stood at around $598.8 million. Despite Russia enjoying a massive surplus and being involved in a war with Ukraine, there was never really a hiatus in the Russia-US trade.
In fact, during his meeting with the US President in Alaska on 16th August, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that US-Russia bilateral trade had expanded by over 20 per cent in the past few months, exposing Trump’s persistent claims that the US has been pressuring Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. Trump, Marco Rubio, Peter Navarro and Scott Bessent, none of them criticise China as harshly as they criticise India even as Beijing is the largest buyer of Russian oil and not India. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently not only admitted to having double standards regarding China and India, but also justified Washington’s hypocrisy.
But somehow, India buying Russian oil for essential domestic needs and ensuring that stable global energy prices is bad, and US selling weapons to kill people and earn from profits from it is a peacemaker, messiah, protector-in-chief and whatnot.
Perhaps, the chagrin of India not giving credit to Trump for India-Pakistan ceasefire in May, not nominating him for Nobel Peace prize, which he so desperately seeks, and not opening Indian agricultural and dairy markets for the US, is finding expression in the form of tariffs and anti-India commentary.
It is essential to mention that the US has a penchant for thriving off conflicts and chaos. Chaos, in fact, is a ladder for Washington to climb to the position where US gets to make profits and secure its strategic interests no matter what.
Trump administration thinks that it can arm-twist India into accepting a US-favouring trade deal and genuflecting before Donald Trump just as the failed state of Pakistan did. However, India refuses to succumb to America’s bullying, tariffs, sanctions, penalties, and even the hypocritical and outrageous rhetoric.
EU succumbed to US’s pressure tactics, India gets the blame for resisting Trump’s bullying
OpIndia reported earlier how the European Union capitulated before Trump in the US-EU trade deal and compromised the EU’s interests. Even in this trade deal, US did not skip squeezing maximum profits out of the trading ‘partner’ while giving little in return. Just the way he tried with India, Trump issued tariff threats against the EU, however, unlike India, the European Union chose sabotaging its own interests to be in Trump’s good books over its self-respect.
The EU signed a trade deal with the US on 27 July 2025, reflecting its capitulation before Trump’s tariff threats. Down from 27.5 per cent, the European Union agreed to a 15 per cent tariff on most of its exports to the US, while US exports to the EU face zero tariffs.
In addition, the EU committed to approximately $750 billion in U.S. energy purchases and $600 billion in investments, and increased purchases of U.S. military equipment. Trump’s aggressive negotiation tactics, including threats of levying higher tariffs and leveraging the EU’s reliance on US markets and security, pressured EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to agree to the one-sided terms. This, however, came at the cost of leaving European industries, especially automotive and pharmaceuticals, at a massive disadvantage.
Just as it was seen in the case of India in April this year, Trump had put a deadline for the EU as well, threatening to impose a 30 per cent tariff on European products in the absence of a trade deal by 1st August 2025. Trump had also threatened a massive 200 per cent tariff on European pharma products in the absence of a trade deal by 1st August.
Apparently, the EU’s capitulation had emboldened Trump, who thought that his tariff tactics would work against any country; however, India shattered his delusion. Had India opened its markets for US to make profit from, had India ditched Russia to appease White House, had India given credit for Trump’s imaginary role in stopping India-Pakistan conflict, had India nominated Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, India would not have been at receiving end to US’s harshness.
US continues to come up with one or another justification for its profiteering from the Russia-Ukraine war, and package its economic opportunism as measures-taken-out-of-necessity, while accusing India of benefitting from the Russia-Ukraine war.
A former Muslim woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district accused her relatives of gang rape after she returned to the fold of Sanatan Dharma.
This mosque has been the scene of arms smuggling and gang rape of young girls. Several explicit videos of Raees Ahmed, the mosque’s cleric even went viral on social media. OpIndia had talked to the victim and reported on the serious matter in March 2024. Now, the police have eventually arrested Raees Ahmed.
Rampur: Police have arrested Imam of Zeenat Masjid, Maulana Rahish with pistols and cartridges.
Earlier, a video from his mosque went viral where pistols, cartridges, and condoms were seen. In the background, a woman was heard alleging that a "s*x racket" was being run there.… pic.twitter.com/xe0FMCCj2j
“On 20th August, a young woman created a viral video accusing the imam of the mosque. In response to the video, a team was established under the direction of the City Officer which carried out a comprehensive investigation, including a site inspection.” the authorities stated.
As a result of the probe, on 21st August Raees Ahmed, son of Shafi Ahmed who resides in Parchai Kumhariya hamlet of Azimnagar police station area in the Rampur district was arrested by the Police of Civil Line Police Station.
“Cops recovered two 12 bore pistols, four live cartridges of 12 bore and one mobile device from the him. Legal action was initiated against the accused by registering FIR No. 316/25 under Section 3/25 of the Arms Act, Section 3/5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act and Section 66 of the IT Act against him at Police Station Civil Line, Rampur, in connection with the attempt of religious conversion and the viral dissemination of an obscene video.” the police added.
The police emphasized that the videos depicted a man engaging in indecent behaviour towards a woman and locally made firearms as well as ammunition were also visible in them. Immediate action was taken following the receipt of the information and a case was launched.
What did OpIndia’s report disclose
Raees Ahmed threatened the females who did “ghar wapsi” in the name of Allah’s wrath as he sat in front of firearms and pornographic literature, in one of the footage. In one of the videos obtained by OpIndia over social media, Imam Raees was seen interacting with a naked girl. Several illegal weapons and cartridges are found scattered in front of him. Condoms and obscene books with half-naked photos of models are also seen.
While speaking to OpIndia, the victim revealed that her maternal uncle was murdered. This murder was committed to gain control of 350 bighas of land. The victim accused her deceased maternal uncle’s relatives of murder, with Imtiaz as the main accused. It is claimed that after killing the girl’s maternal uncle, her mother was held hostage for 14 years. During this period, the girl’s mother is suspected of being raped for five years at Imam Raees’ mosque. The victim’s father died in 2012.
Another footage obtained by OpIndia shows the victim and Imam Raees sitting face to face. The victim questioned whether Muslims would kill her. The Imam replied, “Yes, we will definitely kill.” The goal is to repent of Allah. Do this: May Allah forgive me for whatever mistakes I have made. I become this by deception or fear, therefore Allah forgive me. The punishment of the grave is very rigorous. Allah is kind to His servants.
Another video of Imam Raees has gone viral on social media. In this video, the Imam mentions a Madrasa. The Imam stated that there were 800-900 girls who had travelled from far areas. When the girl recording the video inquired why those girls were not permitted to go out, Raees stated that if they were given permission, many would flee. Imam Raees further stated that once the first few instances of fleeing occurred, an extreme level of strictness was imposed. According to the Imam, girls can sit together and speak but are not allowed to go out.
OpIndia found two other videos. In both videos, Imam Raees is seen attempting to rape a girl. He first strips a sleeping girl’s clothes and then attempts to rape her. After a while, Imam Raees is seen in another video attempting to tie his pyjamas. He is also seen attempting to hide something in polythene. Another video shows Imam Raees scrolling and listening to a communal video.
The victim told OpIndia that Imam Raees kept her mother in his mosque for almost 5 years. It is said that during this time, he and several others gang-raped the victim’s mother. The victim alleges that all of these videos are from February 2024. The victim asserted that she is fighting for justice for her mother who due to her relatives and the Imam was gang-raped after being held captive for 14 years.
In a stern decision, a Special SC/ST Court in Lucknow sentenced a lawyer life imprisonment on Tuesday (19th August) after he was convicted of filing false rape cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The advocate named Parmanand Gupta used a Dalit woman working under his wife to file large number of fake rape cases against various men. The scam was exposed after the Dalit woman revealed everything after becoming approver in a case.
In a strongly worded verdict, Special Judge (SC/ST Act) Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi condemned the actions of Advocate Parmanand Gupta, who misused the law for personal gain, and convicted him under the provisions of the BNS and the SC/ST Act. Gupta pressured and used the Dalit woman to falsely implicate several persons whom he intended to extort money from or had personal enmity with. Grossly misusing the law, Gupta, with the help of the Dalit woman named Pooja Rawat, who used to work at a salon run by Gupta’s wife in Lucknow, filed several false cases in different courts against various persons.
Parmanand Gupta is a wolf in sheep’s clothing: Court
“…Parmanand Gupta is a criminal in the guise of an advocate. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, who disgraced the respectable profession of an advocate,” the court harshly remarked in its judgment.
The court noted that Parmanand Gupta made Pooja Rawat file false criminal cases involving serious offences like rape against innocent individuals, who had to face loss of reputation as well as immense hardships in defending themselves. The court added that Gupta should be given exemplary punishment, considering that the provisions invoked by him in his false cases were punishable with life imprisonment and fine, to harass his victims.
Rising cases of misuse of the SC/ST Act
Expressing concern over the rising cases of misuse the laws relating to rale and of the SC/ST Act, the court said that women, in collusion with unethical advocates, have been filing fake rape cases under the SC/ST to obtain for monetary gains.
The court quoted a 2024 judgment of the Allahabad High Court, in which the High Court directed that if cases filed under the SC/ST Act are found to be false, and filed “purely for financial gains”, then legal proceedings should be initiated against responsible persons.
How Parmanand Gupta and Pooja Rawat implicated people in false cases
Parmanand Gupta and Pooja Rawat filed dozens of criminal cases against various people. Since Rawat belonged to a backwards community, Gupta used her to invoke the stringent SC/ST Act against his rivals. Led by his greed, Gupta filed fake cases under the SC/ST Act using Pooja Rawat to obtain the compensation money. He promised her to split the compensation amount, but did not give her any money after receiving the compensation in her name.
A total of 12 such cases were filed by Pooja Rawat through Parmanand Gupta, in which she levelled serious allegations, including rape, against the accused persons, and invoked the SC/ST Act. During the trial of one of the cases, it was revealed that she was not even present at the alleged crime scene and had never even met the accused persons. Apart from this, Parmanand Gupta himself filed around 18 cases against various persons, a fact which was taken into consideration by the court.
The latest and 12th case filed by her stemmed from a property dispute between Gupta and his neighbours, Arvind Yadav and Awadhesh Yadav, residents of Vibhuti Khand in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. Gupta made Pooja to lodge fake FIRs of rape, sexual harassment, and offences under the SC/ST Act against his neighbours. However, during the investigation, the allegations made by Pooja were found to be false and fabricated.
Consequently, criminal proceedings were initiated against Parmanand Gupta and Pooja Rawat for falsely implicating people in criminal cases. The advocate representing the state also told the court that she has filed 11 similar cases against various persons.
However, during the trial, co-accused Pooja Rawat turned approver and testified against Gupta. She informed the court that Gupta pressured her to make false statements, which she repeated before the magistrate under coercion. She was granted a conditional pardon for cooperating with the court. After the trial, the court acquitted Rawat with a warning not to file false cases in future.
Allahabad HC orders CBI inquiry after noting a pattern of false cases
The matter came to light after some of the people falsely implicated by Gupta and Pooja Rawat approached the Allahabad High Court seeking the quashing of FIRs filed against them. The petitioner apprised the High Court that Parmanand Gupta and Pooja Rawat had been filing false complaints against various persons. They pointed out the fact that Pooja Rawat filed all these cases through the same lawyer, i.e. Parmanand Gupta. Taking serious note of the information provided by the petitioners, the High Court ordered a CBI inquiry into the matter.
“It is also apparent that the informant and her counsel are in collusion with each other and have lodged false FIRs against a large number of people for serious offences only to extract money from them. The present FIR is also such an FIR lodged to create pressure,” the High Court said in its order dated March 5, 2025.
Contempt proceedings were also initiated against the lawyer
In 2023, the Allahabad High Court initiated contempt proceedings against Parmanand Gupta after observing that he tricked and misled the court and concealed material facts on several occasions to obtain favourable orders. The High Court remarked that Gupta “grossly misconducted himself against the Bar Council Rules, professional ethics” and found him guilty of “playing fraud with the Court and interfering in the course of justice by misleading the Court”. “He has made efforts to pollute the stream of justice by his highly unprofessional conduct,” the High Court said ordering suo motu criminal proceedings against Gupta.
Court granted life imprisonment to Gupta
The Court imposed a hefty fine and granted him separate jail terms under the provisions of the BNS and the SC, ST Act. He was granted one year’s simple imprisonment and a fine of ₹ 10,000 under Sections 217/49 of the BNS. The court granted him 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment along with a ₹2 lakh fine under Sections 248/49 of the BNS. Additionally, the court granted him life imprisonment along with a fine of ₹5 lakh under Section 3(2) of the SC, ST Act. The court ordered the sentences to run separately and include the time already spent by him in prison.
The Madhya Pradesh government on Thursday, 21st August, demolished the 22 crore illegal mansion linked to the infamous Machhli family in Bhopal. The operation took place in Kokta Hathaikheda, where district administration teams and heavy police deployment carried out the action.
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: Following previous crackdowns on illegal properties, bulldozer action takes place at the Machhli family’s three-story mansion over drugs, love jihad, and arms cases. Around 200 police personnel are present at the scene pic.twitter.com/1ZCWQlvmyw
Officials said the properties belonged to a family accused of running a criminal empire involving ‘love jihad’ and a large-scale drug syndicate. Earlier, on 30th July, the administration demolished six illegal constructions and sealed the mansion for regulatory violations. Today’s demolition targeted another major property under tight security.
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: CM Mohan Yadav orders bulldozer action against the Machhli family’s illegal empire in Bhopal, demolishing a ₹22 crore mansion pic.twitter.com/nkHqPZ4ArE
The latest bulldozer action follows the arrest of Shahwar Machhli and his nephew Yasin Machhli on 23rd July. The duo was nabbed near Bhopal’s Gammon Mall with synthetic drugs and an illegal pistol. Investigations revealed they were key players in smuggling drugs from Rajasthan and Mumbai and supplying them to pubs and lounges in the city.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had recently issued a threat that his government would not leave any person behind who was engaged in ‘love jihad’ or the drug mafia. He said strict action would be taken against all such networks to ensure the safety of women and restore law and order. ‘No criminal will be spared. We will dismantle their entire network one by one,’ the CM said.
Background: The criminal activities of Machhli family
The Machhli family’s criminal activities have been under the scanner for decades. Originally involved in fish brokerage in Budhwara, the family shifted to Hathaikheda and, by the 1980s, built influence with political backing. They expanded into fish farming, illegal mining and eventually into narcotics and arms trade.
By the 2000s, the family built ties with the local Hindu community by sponsoring Durga Pandals and Devi Jagrans. When engineering and pharmacy colleges opened around Hathaikheda between 2005-2010, they began targeting students. They organised cricket tournaments and parties to lure the youth. Gradually, drugs became central to these gatherings, and students were pushed into addiction.
According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, Yasin Machhli emerged as one of the main operators. He not only ran drug supply chains but also trapped Hindu girls, exploiting them for drug delivery. He allegedly lured women into relationships, assaulted them and then used threats and blackmail to control them.
The authorities also found records of rave parties organized by Yasin on the outskirts of Bhopal. Entry charges for these parties varied between ₹10,000–₹25,000, and there were other charges for drugs. Police found videos during these parties, where noise music, drugs and sexual exploitation were the norms.
Yasin is accused of raping a girl
A rape case has been filed against Yasin Machli at the MP Nagar police station in Bhopal. He is reported to have raped a 29-year-old young woman. According to Sub-inspector Archana Tiwari, the victim who is employed at a private firm, lodged a complaint regarding the incident. She mentioned that the two met at a pub approximately one year ago, in her statement.
Yasin developed a friendship with her and their conversations became more frequent. He subsequently invited her to a five-star hotel under the guise of marriage where he violated her.
Yasin’s aide is son of a Congress leader
The network wasn’t limited to the Machhli family. Yasin’s close aide, Anshul Singh alias Bhuri, later revealed to police that he was the son of a Congress leader. He already had over 20 criminal cases against him, including attempts to murder, arms violations and smuggling. Based on his confession, another gangster, Taufiq Nizami, was arrested with weapons.
Earlier this year, Bhopal police also arrested two of Yasin’s associates, Saifuddin and Ashu, with cash and narcotics. Their statements led investigators to Shahwar and Yasin, confirming their direct involvement in large-scale drug trafficking across Madhya Pradesh.
For nearly five decades, the Machhli family flourished in illegal businesses under the cover of political patronage and social outreach. But the façade collapsed as multiple cases of drug peddling, arms trade, rape and forced religious conversions came to light.
In a significant decision, the Assam cabinet on Thursday decided to stop issuing Aadhaar to adults in the state. Announcing the decision after the weekly cabinet meeting, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the decision has been taken to prevent illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from obtaining Aadhaar numbers.
The CM said that Assam has already achieved saturation of Aadhaar, which means there are not too many adults in the states who have not been enrolled yet. However, the govt has decided to give an extension of 1 year for people from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and tea garden communities.
The CM said that while overall Aadhaar saturation in the state has reached 102%, it has not reached 100% yet in some tribal belt and tea garden areas, and therefore a year has been given for remaining adults in those areas to enrol for Aadhaar.
Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “More Aadhaar cards have been issued than the state’s population. To prevent misuse by infiltrators, we have decided that people above 18 will not be issued fresh Aadhaar cards. Only SC, ST, and tea garden communities are exempted because Aadhaar penetration among them is 96%, meaning 4% are yet to be covered.” Adults from these communities will also not get Aadhaar card after a year.
The CM said that this decision will be implemented from 1st week October. Therefore, if there are any adult without Aadhaar in Assam, they can apply before October.
He said that while the government has taken all steps to stop illegal immigration from Bangladesh, it can’t be sure that it has been completely successful. To prevent those who managed to infiltrate to obtain Aadhaar cards, no more Addhaar will be issued to people above 18 years of case, he said.
The CM said, “We have been catching and pushing back illegal immigrants from Bangladesh regularly. Just yesterday, we pushed back seven infiltrators at the border. We may not be able to push back all, but by closing Aadhaar enrolment, we are sending a strong deterrent signal that infiltrators cannot claim entitlements through Aadhaar.”
The CM added that in rarest of rare cases where an adult has not yet got an Aadhaar number and wishes obtain one, such persons may apply through the DC. Such Aadhaars will be issued only on approval of the DC, he said, adding, “the DC will decide only after discussion with the Foreigners’ Tribunal and the Special Branch. This will ensure strict scrutiny.”
Notably, illegal immigrants obtain Indian identity documents like Aadhaar cards, Voter Identity cards etc with the help of locals and corrupt politicians. After issue of Aadhaar to adults is banned, it will be very difficult for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to obtain the document in Assam.
