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UK: Indian-origin man Aravind Sasikumar stabbed to death by his flatmate Salman Salim in Southampton Way, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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UK: Indian-origin man Aravind Sasikumar stabbed to death by his flatmate Salman Salim in Southampton Way, arrested

On Friday, June 16, a 38-year-old Indian man Aravind Sasikumar was stabbed with a knife in Southhampton Way, Camberwell, in the United Kingdom. According to the police, the deceased victim hailing from Kerala was allegedly killed by his flatmate Salman Salim.

The Metropolitan Police said that Aravind Sasikumar was found with knife wounds after cops were called to a private residence on Southampton Way in Camberwell. The police added that the deceased victim’s family has been informed and is being supported by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.

Accused Salman Salim and the deceased victim were flatmates and shared community facilities with other Keralites residing there.

According to the police, Sasikumar died on the spot on Friday at around 1.31 a.m. On Saturday, June 17, accused Salman Salim, 25, was produced before Croydon Magistrates’ Court.

“This is a tragic incident, and my thoughts are with the man’s family as they come to terms with this awful news,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, local policing commander in Southwark and Lambeth. “We will do everything possible to hold those guilty accountable,” Addoh added.

“We sent numerous resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, medics in two fast response cars, an advanced paramedic, and an incident response officer,” a London Ambulance Service spokesperson said.

The spokesperson further stated, “We also dispatched a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance, which included a paramedic and a doctor in a car. “Sadly, despite our crews’ best efforts, a man was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Harriet Harman, MP for Camberwell and Peckham, called the crime a “horrific murder” and offered her “deepest sympathy.”

“Horrific murder in Southampton Way/Coleman Rd. Deepest sympathy to bereaved family. Contact police if you have any info that can help bring whoever did this to justice. Call police on 101 quoting ref 494/16JUN or contact Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111,” Harman tweeted on Friday.

An Irish-Indian student, Grace Kumar, from Nottingham, and an Indian woman from Hyderabad, Tejaswini Reddy, from Wembley, were killed in stabbing incidents earlier this week. 

Yamuna Nagar: Maulvi drugs and rapes married woman, extorts Rs 3 lakh

OpIndia Staff
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Yamuna Nagar: Maulvi drugs and rapes married woman, extorts Rs 3 lakh

A 41-year-old woman from the Farkpur Police Station area has filed a complaint against a Maulvi named Dilshad, alleging he drugged and raped her. She further said in her complaint that Maulvi allegedly extorted Rs 3 lakh from her using an obscene video that he recorded during the sexual assault. A case based on her complaint has been filed at Woman Police Station under the Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana against three people under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

In her complaint, the woman said that her husband was an alcoholic. She wanted him to stop. Meanwhile, a carpenter named Sajeb from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, visited her house for some work. He told her about Dilshad Maulvi, who could help her. She took Maulvi’s number from Sajed and talked to him. In January 2018, Maulvi visited her when her husband was out for the job. Maulvi offered her spiked water to drink and then sexually assaulted her.

The woman further said the accused made an obscene video of her and blackmailed her. So far, he has taken Rs 3 lakh from her and asked for Rs 2 lakh more. When she refused to pay, he sent the video to her friend and friend’s husband. Later, she found out that it was a gang that blackmailed people. Sajeb, Maulvi, and another man named Mohit were involved in the gang.

An investigation into the matter is underway. OpIndia tried to talk to the concerned police station but could not connect.

US: Woman sues hospital, doctors who removed her breasts at 13 after influencers made her believe she is a transgender

OpIndia Staff
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US: Woman sues hospital, doctors who removed her breasts at 13 after influencers made her believe she is a transgender

An 18-year-old woman named Kayla Lovdahl in the United States is taking legal action against ‘Kaiser Foundation Hospitals’ and four doctors involved in a ‘transition procedure’, which resulted in the removal of her breasts at the age of 13.

She has filed a lawsuit in California State Court, asserting that the medical professionals prioritised financial gain over her well-being. The victim accused the doctors of pushing her into believing she was transgender and facilitating the ‘transition procedure’ for profit.

According to court documents filed on Wednesday (June 14), Lovdahl informed that she was influenced by online influencers at the age of 11. This led her to entertain the mistaken belief that she was transgender.

Her parents, unsure of how to handle the situation, sought assistance from medical professionals who swiftly affirmed their daughter’s transgender identity.

Lovdahl further added that she was prescribed hormone blockers and testosterone without undergoing a proper psychological evaluation by the age of 12. She also underwent a single 75-minute transition evaluation.

The victim recalled the doctors telling her family, “It is better to have a live son than a dead daughter.'” According to her, the procedures she underwent were driven by ideology and profit, amounting to medical abuse.

Doctors paid no heed to mental health issues before the transition procedure: Kayla Lovdahl

At the age of 17, Lovdahl de-transitioned back to a woman and now holds the doctors responsible for their negligence, asserting that she was never truly a transgender.

The victim pointed out that any reasonable physician could have determined that she would not maintain a permanent transgender identity.

The lawsuit emphasised that the doctors should have recognized her mental health issues and paid attention to medical studies indicating that transitioning might not significantly improve the mental well-being of young girls.

Victim accuses hospital of medical negligence, seeks unspecified damages

“There is no other area of medicine where doctors will surgically remove a perfectly healthy body part and intentionally induce a diseased state of the pituitary gland to misfunction based simply on the young adolescent patient’s wishes,” it added.

Moreover, Lovdahl accused the hospital and doctors of failing to provide her with proper informed consent, which would have involved comprehensive therapy—an essential step that she claims was overlooked.

Lawyers representing the victim have described the procedures as “an insane form of child abuse.” Attorney Charles Limandri stated, “We believe cases like this are the best way to stop them, especially in liberal states like California, where reckless ideologues are pushing this radical agenda.”

Reportedly, Kayla Lovdahl is seeking unspecified damages for the physical and emotional wounds she has suffered for undergoing a ‘gender transition procedure’ at 13.

NGO in Mumbai lodges complaint against Adipurush makers for hurting religious sentiments of Hindus

OpIndia Staff
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NGO in Mumbai lodges complaint against Adipurush makers for hurting religious sentiments of Hindus

Film director Om Raut’s Adipurush starring Prabhas and Kriti Sanon has stirred controversy ever since its theatrical release on June 16. The cinematic retelling of the Hindu epic Ramayana has been criticised for inappropriate character design, storyline, dialogues etc. Now the film has invited further trouble as the president of NGO Sangharsh on Saturday (June 17, 2023) lodged a written complaint against the makers of the film Adipurush at Andheri Police Station in Mumbai. The complainant Maske has demanded that a case be registered against the producer-director of the film for hurting Hindu religious sentiments.

In his letter submitted to the police, Maske pointed out the various “misrepresentations” of the characters of Ramayana. “Hindus have been insulted as Lord Hanuman is seen talking in cheap language. When Mata Sita left for Vanvas, she was wearing Gerua (saffron) attire while in the movie she is seen wearing a white saree. White saree is worn by Hindu widow women,” the complaint stated. 

It further claimed that the film Adipurush depicted Lord Rama as a fighter, however, he is Maryada Purushottam. The complaint goes on to claim that Ravana’s Lanka was depicted as being constructed of stones, while in truth, Lanka was built of gold. And when Ravana attempts to abduct Mata Sita, he is represented perched on a bat, despite the fact that Ravana had a Garuda.

Letter submitted to Andheri Police by Sangharsh NGO president Prithviraj Maske (Image via Twitter)

“So you are requested to take legal action against the producer and director of Adipurush,” the letter stated.

It is notable that on Friday, Vishnu Gupta, National President of the Hindu Sena filed a PIL against the movie, asserting that it has mocked the Hindu epic Ramayana, Hindu God and Goddesses, and the Hindu culture. The plea seeks directions to remove the objectionable scenes related to the Hindu gods Ram, Ravana, Sita, and Hanuman. It alleged that the depiction of these deities in the film is inaccurate and inappropriate and contrary to depictions of religious characters as found in Ramayana.

The movie ‘Adipurush’ witnessed an unprecedented opening day at the box office, setting new records for earnings. However, alongside its commercial success, the film has also faced an escalating controversy. Critics have labelled the film’s dialogues as “tapori” or street-smart, with even the portrayal of characters like Ravana and Indrajit being criticised as lacking depth. This departure from expectations has surprised audiences, given that renowned writer Manoj Muntashir penned the script for director Om Raut’s ‘Adipurush’. Nonetheless, Manoj has defended his approach, asserting that he intentionally crafted relatable dialogues to connect with the audience.

‘Erroneous interpretation of information collected under RTI’ – RBI dismisses claims of missing notes

OpIndia Staff
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‘Erroneous interpretation of information collected under RTI’ – RBI dismisses claims of missing notes

On July 17, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) refuted the claims of missing banknotes based on information collected under the Right To Information Act (RTI), 2005. The RBI said the reports were based on erroneous interpretations of the information collected under the RTI Act, 2005 from the printing presses.

Furthermore, RBI added that there is a robust system in place for the reconciliation of banknotes printed at the presses and supplied to RBI that includes protocols to monitor the production, storage, and distribution of banknotes.

Full statement of RBI

The RBI said, “The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has come across reports circulating in certain sections of the media alleging missing banknotes printed by banknote printing presses. The RBI emphasises that these reports are not correct.

These reports are based on erroneous interpretations of information collected under the Right to Information Act 2005 from the printing presses. It may be noted that all banknotes supplied from printing presses to RBI are properly accounted for. It is further informed that there are robust systems in place for the reconciliation of banknotes printed at the presses and supplied to RBI, which include protocols to monitor the production, storage, and distribution of banknotes.

Therefore, public members are requested to rely on the information published by RBI from time to time in such matters.”

Misleading media reports claimed Rs 500 notes worth 88 cr missing

On June 16, media houses, published reports based on RTI reply sent to activist Manoranjan Roy suggesting the printing presses or mints issued 8,810.65 million pieces of newly designed Rs 500 notes, but RBI only received 7,260 million pieces that tune to Rs 88,032.5 crores.

The reports claimed that 1,760.65 million pieces of Rs 500 notes “mysteriously” disappeared, and no one knew the whereabouts of these notes. The so-called missing notes included 210 million pieces of Rs 500 notes printed in the Nashik mint between April 2015 and March 2016.

The information was collected from three government mints: the Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran (P) Limited, Bengaluru, Currency Note Press, Nashik, and Bank Note Press at Dewas. These presses print the notes and send them to RBI for distribution. As per the information collected, 375.450 million pieces of newly designed Rs 500 notes were printed by Nashik Press between April 2015 and December 2016, but RBI collected 345 million pieces.

The report further claimed that RTI’s reply suggested newly designed Rs 500 notes were supplied to RBI, but its annual report does not mention receiving any such notes. The reports further claimed The Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran (P) Limited, Bengaluru, supplied 5,195.65 million pieces, and the Bank Note Press, Dewas, supplied 1,953.000 million pieces in 2016-17, but RBI received only 7,260 million pieces.

In a statement to the Free Press Journal, Roy said, “The apex bank is indifferent to the harm caused to the Indian economy with such a huge mismatch in high denomination Indian currency notes printed in the mints and the total received in the RBI vaults. The missing 1,760.65 million pieces are no joke. It raises security concerns about our Indian economy and its stability.” He said to have written to the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau and the Enforcement Directorate to investigate the matter.

Quoting senior RBI officials, FPJ said they had defended the mismatch as huge logistics in the printing and supply of currency notes are involved. However, the report asserted it was “strange” that it took so long for the notes to reach the vaults.

Roy’s previous claims of mismatch

This is not the first time Manoranjan Roy has claimed a mismatch in data of printed notes and what RBI has received. Matters regarding the mismatch were reported from the UPA era. As per reports from 2018, Roy received RTI data for 2000-2011 and claimed over 23,000 crores were “missing” due to the mismatch. At that time, NDTV tried to connect the dismissal of Roy’s petition by the Bombay High Court to demonetisation. The report noted, “Within 75 days of the petition getting disposed of (August 23, 2016), Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation of the ₹ 500 and ₹ 1,000 denominations, on November 8, 2016,” quoting Roy’s advocate.

Two groups of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s supporters fight over selfie, Congress sympathisers claim he was attacked over wrestlers’ allegations: Fact Check

OpIndia Staff
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Two groups of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s supporters fight over selfie, Congress sympathisers claim he was attacked over wrestlers’ allegations: Fact Check

In Gonda, a program of BJP Minority Morcha was organised on Saturday, 17th June 2023. BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh attended the event. However, there was a ruckus at the event, and the convoy of Singh was caught in between the fight of two groups. Reportedly, the supporters of the two pradhans clashed with each other while taking selfies. The matter escalated to such an extent that stones were pelted from both sides.

Video clips of the incident appeared on social media. However, Congress sympathisers on social media portrayed it as if people in Gonda were protesting against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for the allegations of sexual harassment raised against him by wrestlers.

Ayush Jain who identifies himself as a Rahul Gandhi fan posted on Twitter, “BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh received a warm welcome in Gonda, UP. Stones, sticks, shoes, slippers, eggs, and tomatoes were thrown at his convoy.”

Another Twitter user Arjun Yadav wrote, “Youth pelted stones at Brij Bhushan Singh’s convoy. Sir, you can escape from the police, you can escape from the court, How will you avoid the public?”

Similarly, Rajendra Vishwakarma wrote, “In the eyes of Modi ji, he is a clean man – in the eyes of the rest of the public, he is only a rapist. Brijbhushan Saran’s convoy attacked in Gonda!!”

However, the propaganda peddled by such social media users is false. As reported by news agency ANI, the ruckus erupted between two groups, at the venue of an event of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Gonda, and had nothing to do with the allegations against him. The incident occurred when two groups of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s supporters clashed with each other reportedly over clicking selfies.

The clash broke out between two groups during a programme organised by the BJP Minority Front in Baraon gram panchayat under the Katrabazar assembly constituency. After the programme ended, the head and former head of Ibrahimpur gram panchayat got into a scuffle while trying to take selfies with Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh while he was getting down from the stage. Then their supporters started fighting among themselves.

The chairs were broken on the spot. The police quickly took control of the situation. Both the groups that clashed are supporters of MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and were raising slogans during the BJP Minority Morcha conference.

While they were pelting stones at each other, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh left the venue through them. Therefore, in the video, it seems that the convoy was being attacked. But that is not true, he was just passing through a fight between two groups of his own supporters. The fight was over taking selfies with him, and had nothing to do with the allegations of some wrestlers against Singh, as some social media users were claiming.

West Bengal: TMC leader Mustafa Sheikh killed in Malda by former TMC workers who recently joined Congress, one Abdul Mannan arrested

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: TMC leader Mustafa Sheikh killed in Malda by former TMC workers who recently joined Congress, one Abdul Mannan arrested

Amid the ongoing violence ahead of the Panchayat elections in West Bengal, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was brutally murdered in Malda on 17 June. Mustafa Sheikh, the former village head of Sujapur, was attacked and killed by a group of people, who are alleged to be Congress party members. The victim’s family has accused the assailants, who were previously associated with the TMC, of beating and lynching Mustafa Sheikh with bamboo sticks. According to reports, one 48-year-old accused Abdul Mannan has been detained.

Local villagers took to the streets, blocking roads to protest against the murder of the TMC leader.

Mustafa Sheikh was beaten to death with bamboo sticks around noon when he was on his way home after offering Namaz at a mosque. According to the family, the assailants are former TMC workers who were angry after not getting tickets for the upcoming Panchayat polls.

The Congress party has denied any involvement in the incident, stating it was an internal conflict within the TMC. Kali Sadhan Roy, the district executive committee chairman of Congress, distanced the party from the crime.

Sabina Yasmin, TMC leader and the state minister, shed light on the sequence of events. She revealed that the attackers were members of the TMC but had recently switched allegiance to the Congress party after being denied tickets for the upcoming panchayat elections. According to her statement, Mustafa Sheikh was attacked by the Congress candidates immediately after he had finished offering namaz.

She called it a ‘political murder’, saying that the attackers killed the TMC leader for not getting TMC tickets, and later they joined Congress and got tickets there.

The State Election Commission has requested a detailed report from the district collector regarding the incident. They are keen to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident on the day of scrutiny. Additionally, a report on the unrest has also been requested.

Mustafa Sheikh and his wife Jibu Bibi were former heads of the panchayat, but this time they didn’t file nominations, opting to concentrate on organisational matters.

Amidst the filing of nomination papers for the upcoming panchayat polls in West Bengal, the situation has become increasingly volatile. A staggering 2,36,464 nominations have been filed for approximately 74,000 seats. Unfortunately, this process has been marred by violence, resulting in five deaths and numerous injuries in various locations.

In a concerning incident, Union minister Nisith Pramanik’s convoy was allegedly attacked in the Behar district of Bengal. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused workers from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of instigating these attacks. However, the TMC vehemently denies these allegations. Nisith Pramanik expressed his dismay at the deteriorating law and order situation, citing instances of chaos, stone-throwing, and bomb hurling. He further claimed that TMC workers assaulted BJP party members and destroyed the nomination papers of their candidates. In response, the BJP has demanded the arrest of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, holding her responsible for the prevailing violence.

These unfortunate incidents highlight the recurring failure of the state government and administration in maintaining law and order. Instances of violence and political clashes during the panchayat election process have been reported from various parts of West Bengal. The escalating tensions between rival political parties raise concerns about the safety and security of individuals involved in the electoral process.

The murder of Mustafa Sheikh underscores the urgent need for effective measures to prevent such acts of violence and to ensure the peaceful conduct of elections. The State Government and administration must address these lapses, take swift action against the culprits, and establish robust mechanisms to maintain law and order in the state. Failure to do so undermines the democratic fabric of the region and jeopardizes the safety of its citizens.

Canada: Posters of pro-Khalistan rally glorifying 1985 Air India bombing mastermind Talwinder Singh Parmar come up at multiple places

OpIndia Staff
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Canada: Posters of pro-Khalistan rally glorifying 1985 Air India bombing mastermind Talwinder Singh Parmar come up at multiple places

Posters of a pro-Khalistan rally extolling the mastermind of the 1985 Air India bombing were displayed at multiple locations in Canada. They referred to Talwinder Singh Parmar as a martyr and advertised a car rally, scheduled for June 25. Furthermore, they also sought an investigation into “India’s role in the 1985 Kanishka bombing.”

According to the poster, the car rally will be held on June 25, which will start at 12.30 PM at The Great Punjab Business Centre at Malton in Toronto, and will end at Air India 182 Memorial at Humber Bay Park West in the same city. It further demands, “Investigate India’s role in 1986 Kanishka bombing,” a terror attack carried out by the Khalistani terror group Babbar Khalsa.

Retired Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) correspondent and author of ‘Blood for Blood – Fifty Years of the Global Khalistan Project’ also posted about the same on Twitter and denounced the Khalistanis. He wrote, “Ensuring that their reputation stays at rock-bottom, Canadian Khalistanis again pick as their poster boy the psychopath who bombed Air India, Talwinder Parmar. He murdered 331 innocents for nothing. And a grotesque twist, he’ll be honoured at the memorial to his victims.”

He observed that the demand that Canada “investigate India’s role” in the attack was just another absurd attempt to defend the country’s “worst mass murderer” and remarked that “the rally is about spreading a lie.”

On June 23, 1985, Air India Flight 182, which was travelling from Toronto to London with 329 passengers and crew, was blown in mid-air off the coast of Ireland. All of the lives on board were lost as a result of the blast. Sikh radicals were reportedly charged with the derailment of the flight, and one person was found guilty in 2003.

Three suspicious items were found by Canadian officials in Montreal during a routine stop, which set off a chain of events. Afterwards, the goods were taken off of the plane before it proceeded to London. However, the aircraft exploded while it was airborne, about 45 minutes short of its intended destination without any warning or distress calls being attempted.

Emergency rescue teams were dispatched to the spot as soon as the plane vanished from radar screens, but no survivors were discovered. Later, 131 bodies were pulled from the sea by the former.

Officials at the airline initially believed that Sikh extremists had detonated a bomb on the Air India flight. Two months after the fatal occurrence, two accused were eventually arrested. Talwinder Singh Parmar was accused by Canadian police of orchestrating the attack. He was charged, but the case was later withdrawn. He was killed by the Indian police.

Inderjit Singh Reyat, the other culprit and a Sikh living in Vancouver, pled guilty to manslaughter in relation to the bombing. He received a five-year prison term in 2003. Notably, he had already been given a 10-year prison sentence for his part in the bombing of two baggage handlers at Japan’s Narita Airport on the same day as the Air India Flight 182 tragedy. 

Although Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri, two further suspects, were apprehended in 2000, they were exonerated in 2005 owing to insufficient evidence. A Canadian commission was constituted in 2006 to look into the instance. The accident was caused by a “cascading series of errors,” according to the commission’s five-volume report, which was published in 2010.

It emphasised precisely how Canadian intelligence and security organisations engaged in “turf wars” and failed to exchange critical information with one another which resulted in the demise of so many innocents.

33 years after the horrific assault, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid respect to the 329 victims and called the atrocity the “single worst terrorist attack” in the history of his nation.

Pro-Khalistan actions have been concentrated in Canada, and they have accelerated recently. A strict warning was issued to Canada by Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar after Khalistan supporters recently celebrated the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at the hands of her two Sikh bodyguards Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, in Brampton. He warned that such events would be detrimental to bilateral relations.

Sikh separatists have regularly vandalised and desecrated temples, particularly in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom as well as attacked and damaged Indian High Commissions there which earned very strong responses from the Indian government.

Wine jug of Jesus, Prophet Mohammad’s prayer mat, Leonardo Da Vinci’s original paintings: How scammer Monson cheated people in Kerala and was finally sentenced in a POCSO case

OpIndia Staff
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Wine jug of Jesus, Prophet Mohammad’s prayer mat, Leonardo Da Vinci’s original paintings: How scammer Monson cheated people in Kerala and was finally sentenced in a POCSO case

Fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal was on Saturday sentenced to life imprisonment after a special POCSO court in Ernakulam found him guilty of sexually assaulting a minor girl. The special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case court held him guilty of sexually harassing his domestic helper’s minor daughter multiple times. Sections 376(2)(n) and 376(2)(f) of the IPC were imposed on him.

While Mavunkal has been convicted in the case of sexual assault of a minor girl, he also committed major crimes as a fake antique dealer, as he defrauded people claiming to be having many rare and antique items.

Monson Mavunkal is the infamous conman who sold antique artefacts

Monson Mavunkal is accused of allegedly swindling crores of rupees by selling fake antiquities. The Crime Branch of Kerala Police arrested him on November 6, 2021. Mavunkal had pretended to be a collector of artefacts and relics over the last several years and cheated people of over Rs 10 crore. As per a report, Mavunkal had claimed that his precious antique collection includes a throne of Tipu Sultan, the first edition of the Holy Bible, books used by Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji, the last Mughal emperor Aurangazeb and Mysore Sultan Tipu Sultan. Looking at the grandeur of the claims made by this con man, it becomes necessary to take an account of the special artefacts he allegedly possesses and fools people by making such false claims.

Monson Mavunkal deceived numerous individuals by posing as a self-proclaimed antique dealer. He employed impressive amounts of money and name-dropping of influential people to entice and ensnare his targets. Investigations later revealed that Monson’s persuasive words and demeanour were so convincing that he managed to obtain substantial sums of money, totalling crores of rupees, from unsuspecting individuals without providing any form of collateral.

However, not everyone readily accepted Monson’s claims at face value. Those who expressed scepticism found themselves invited to his heavily guarded residence in Kaloor, Kochi. To their astonishment, Monson unveiled an entire “antique” world before their eyes—a collection of “artefacts” that they had never known existed.

The display would lure anyone to buy these artefacts

Monson Mavunkal bolstered his credibility by maintaining round-the-clock security personnel and showcasing luxury cars parked in the driveway and front yard of his residence. He claimed to have received a staggering amount of Rs 2,62,600 crore in his Delhi bank account, purportedly the proceeds from selling artefacts to royalty in the Gulf countries. Monson entreated his guests to lend him money, citing the need to bypass the restrictions imposed by the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), which allegedly prohibited cash withdrawals from his account.

Exploiting his supposed connections with influential figures across various domains, Monson enticed his victims with promises of partnership in his proposed museum. Falling for his deceit, they handed over their money to him.

Allegedly, Monson managed to swindle several individuals out of Rs 10 crore using this method between June 2007 and November 2020. Frustrated by their unsuccessful attempts to recover their funds despite repeated efforts, the lenders approached the chief minister with their complaint. Investigating authorities have uncovered evidence indicating Monson’s close association with several prominent personalities, including leading actors, politicians, and senior government officials.

Monson Mavunkal’s antique list included items from the era of Jesus and Prophet Muhammad

Monson Mavunkal’s ability to blur the line between reality and mythology through his presented “antiques” should have raised suspicions. However, the meticulously crafted presentation and immersive ambience he created effectively erased doubts in the minds of many, including the well-educated and affluent, who found themselves believing in his fabrications and lost their money to him.

Among the exhibits showcased by Mavunkal were supposedly two of the 30 silver pieces Judas Iscariot received for betraying Jesus Christ, a fragment of the Holy Shroud, a stone jug attributed to the miracle of water turning into wine at Cana, Moses’ staff, Chhatrapati Shivaji’s personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita, the coronation ring of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, a purported 4,500-year-old sculpture, social reformer Sree Narayana Guru’s walking stick, a panchaloha-coated sculpture of Nandi (the sacred bull of Lord Shiva), the registration document of Mysore Palace, the throne of the Maharajah of Travancore, Sathya Sai Baba’s 1.5-kilogram golden footwear, paintings claimed to be by Raja Ravi Varma and Leonardo da Vinci, a clay lamp and prayer mat supposedly used by Prophet Muhammad, gold copies of the Quran said to have been used by Mughal emperors Akbar, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb, a fragment of St. Antony’s nail, hair allegedly belonging to Mother Teresa, St. Alphonsa’s habit, a Picasso painting purportedly made of 100 kilograms of gold, a 250-kilogram emerald, and a palm-leaf manuscript containing quotes from the Quran. These were just some of the “antiques” Monson displayed to his invited guests at his residence in Kaloor.

The complainants explained that it was the impressive nature of these exhibits that led them to trust Monson. He even went so far as to claim possession of a multi-crore chemical compound used in rocket launches, further boosting their faith in him. However, the investigation by the Crime Branch has uncovered significant inconsistencies in Monson’s claims. It has been revealed that all of the antiques showcased by him were fake.

Not a single item had any documentary proof of originality

Despite claiming to possess a vast collection of valuable artefacts, Monson failed to produce any documentation to authenticate their age or ownership. When the lenders who had provided him with Rs 10 crore demanded repayment, Monson assured them that he would sell some of the antiques from his collection to settle the debt.

However, he managed to deceive them once again by claiming that he was unable to travel overseas due to a travel ban. Consequently, the creditors, believing his explanation, attempted to find potential buyers and approached the royal families in Qatar and Dubai. Unfortunately, the royals insisted on proper documentation that would verify the age and ownership of the artefacts.

When pressed for the necessary paperwork, Monson refused to provide it. Instead, he handed them an order from the state police chief, supposedly guaranteeing the security of the valuables. This conman is now sentenced in a case of sexual assault on a minor girl.

NSA Ajit Doval lauds Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, says India would not have been partitioned if he had been alive

OpIndia Staff
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NSA Ajit Doval lauds Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, says India would not have been partitioned if he had been alive

On Saturday, June 17, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval said that if Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had been alive, India would not have been partitioned. He added that Netaji would not have settled for anything less than complete freedom and independence.

NSA Doval was speaking at the first Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Memorial lecture in Delhi. The event was hosted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

Ajit Doval stated, “The idea that came to his (Subhas Chandra Bose’s) mind was ‘I will fight the British, I will not beg for freedom. It is my right, and I will have to get it’. India would not have been partitioned in Subhas Bose was there. Jinnah said I can accept only one leader, and that is Subhas Bose”.

NSA Ajit Doval hails Subhas Chandra Bose for showing the audacity to challenge MK Gandhi

During his address, Doval lauded Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s valour and audaciousness saying that he had courage throughout his life. He hailed Bose’s tenacity in his commitment to the country. Doval hailed Subhas Chandra Bose for showing the audacity to challenge MK Gandhi.

“I am not saying good or bad, but there are very few parallels in Indian history and the world history of people who had the audacity to sail against the current and not an easy current,” Ajit Doval said.

Doval talked about when Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi backed Pattabhi Sitharamayya to become Congress President contesting against Subhash Chandra Bose. He recalled that despite having overwhelming support, Bose decided to resign due to his respect for Gandhi.

“But Gandhi was at the prime of his political career. When Gandhi wanted to support Pattabhi Sithamrayya to become Congress president and Subhash Bose had overwhelming support and the majority of people. But then he resigned and when he came out of the Congress he started his struggle afresh. He decided to escape from India. Getting into the attire of Afghan, quite difficult for a Bengali to do, he left for Kabul. He then moved to Russia, Germany where he met (Adolf) Hitler. He wasn’t very comfortable with his policies; he got 4000 Indians released who were jailed in Germany by Hitler. He then formed the Indian National Army,” Doval said.

NSA Ajit Doval stated when former British Prime Minister Clement Atlee, under whom the Indian Independence Act was signed, came to India in 1956, he stayed at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata. He added that the ideas of nationalism disseminated by Bose scared the British even after his death. 

“The then Governor asked Atlee why the British agreed to Independence in 1947 when there was no pressure. Gandhi had given up on the Quit India movement in 1942. There was no immediate pressure to leave. Just see how history has been unkind to Netaji. Atlee replied that it was because of Netaji. He said even though Netaji had died in 1945 in a plane crash in Taipei. Even after his death, they were afraid of the ideas of nationalism that it created, many Indians would have gone down that path,” the National Security Advisor said.

Doval further delved into Netaji Bose’s religious side as he said that Bose had a secular outlook but deep down he was a highly religious person.

“He believed in a strong economic framework for India, he supported planning. He was a highly religious man, and always carried Gita with him. Bose was secular in his outlook, but deep inside he was pious and devoted and did not make a display out of it,” Doval said.

Subhas Chandra Bose and his ouster from the Congress

Bose had been elected as the president in the Haripura session of Congress in 1938. Bose had been advocating opposition to the British government’s federal scheme as per the Government of India Act 1935. He had been proposing a mass movement for ‘Purna Swaraj’, unlike other elements within the party which were in favour of accepting the new concessions from the British. However, the old guard, including Mahatma Gandhi, refused to heed his words. Therefore he contested for re-election to the presidency of the next annual Congress session that was to be held in Tripuri.

Unlike today’s Congress party, there were real elections for the post of president during that time. He won against Gandhi’s candidate Pattabhi Sitarammayya (1,575 to 1,376 votes). In response, the entire CWC (Congress working committee) resigned. Thereafter, he was shunted out of the Congress party because he had the charisma and ability to win an election against the wishes of Mahatma Gandhi.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose mysteriously disappeared after a Japanese plane allegedly carrying him crashed in Taiwan on 18th August 1945. It is believed he died of third-degree burns. However, it was never confirmed.

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