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Union Government rejects rumours of TikTok returning to India, clarifies that the Chinese app is still banned after the website became partially accessible

OpIndia Staff
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Union Government rejects rumours of TikTok returning to India, clarifies that the Chinese app is still banned after the website became partially accessible

Rumours ran rife on social media yesterday (22nd August) that the ban on the Chinese app TikTok has been lifted by the Indian government. Several social media accounts, as well as some media outlets, widely posted about the supposed lifting of the ban on the Chinese app.

Screenshot via X

The rumours started after the TikTok website became partially accessible to some users in India, causing excitement among its fans. The TikTok app, however, remained unavailable on the Google Play Store and the App Store.

Screenshot via X

Several accounts on X expressed excitement by posting popular memes over the rumoured comeback of the app in India.

Screenshot via X

The homepage of the TikTok website is visible to some users in India, but no further access is available. When the ‘Newsroom’ link on the website is clicked, a message appears, which reads, “You don’t have access to this page” and “Our services are not available in your country or region”.

Screenshot via TikTok Website

Similarly, when the ‘careers’ link on the website is clicked, it flashes a message saying “503 Service Temporarily Unavailable”.

Screenshot via TikTok Website

When one visits the TikTok website, its about page opens. However, there are no options to log in or sign in, which means it can’t be used in India. Similarly, as the app is still not available, it can’t be used from mobile devices. It is not confirmed whether one page of the website became accessible in India due to some technical glitch.

The only webpage of TikTok accessible from India

The Congress Party grabbed the opportunity to slam the Modi government. Former journalist and Congress leader, Supriya Shrinate, lashed out at the Modi government, claiming that the government deceived people by banning the Chinese app after the Galwan Valley clash. She added that soon the app will be running in India.

Screenshot via X

Putting all the rumours and allegations to rest, the government clarified that TikTok remains banned in India. The government did not issue any order for lifting the ban on the Chinese app.

In June 2020, the Ministry of Information Technology banned 59 apps, including TikTok, over security and privacy concerns. The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking its power under section 69A of Information Technology Act, with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 has ordered a block on the use of 59 apps saying that these apps are “engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order”.

Dharmasthala: Woman accepts giving fake testimony about ‘missing daughter’, fuelled conspiracy theory of ‘mass burial’ at the behest of 2 activists

OpIndia Staff
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Dharmasthala: Woman accepts giving fake testimony about ‘missing daughter’, fuelled conspiracy theory of ‘mass burial’ at the behest of 2 activists

On Friday (22nd August), an elderly woman named Sujatha Bhat conceded that her testimony of a missing daughter in Dharmasthala, which fuelled allegations of mass burial and sexual assault, was fabricated.

While speaking to a YouTube channel, Bhat informed that she was brainwashed into lying by activists Girish Mattannavar and T Jayanti. The duo had been campaigning to defame the temple town of Dharmasthala.

Sujatha Bhat had previously claimed that her ‘daughter’, Ananya Bhat, went missing in Dharmashtala in May 2003. She had alleged that the non-existent Ananya was an 18-year-old medical student who disappeared from the temple area.

Bhat also claimed that she was kidnapped, tied up and threatened not to return to Dharmasthala. She was allegedly told not to speak about her ‘ordeal’ publicly. She also claimed to be assaulted, treated at a private hospital in Bengaluru and remained in a state of coma.

“It is not true. There was never any daughter named Ananya Bhat,” the woman acknowledged. She further added that the picture presented as evidence of Ananya’s existence was also completely fake.

Sujatha Bhat conceded, “Some people told me to say it. I was asked to do it because of the property issue. That’s the only reason.”

Reportedly, she joined the defamatory campaign targeting the temple town due to a dispute over a parcel of land between the Dharmasthala temple administration and her grandfather.

Sujatha Bhat claimed that she never received or paid money in connection with her fake testimony. “Nobody demanded money from me,” she was heard saying.

She further apologised to the people of Karnataka for hurting their religious sentiments. “Yes, for the people of Karnataka, for the devotees of Dharmasthala…I ask the people of this state, and the whole country, to forgive me…” Bhat added.

In the meantime, the Special Investigation Team on Friday (22nd August) directed Sujatha Bhat to appear before its office in Belthangady.

17 sites searched, no skeletons of any woman yet

In the ongoing investigation into the sensational case, no human remains of any females (allegedly buried at the sites pointed out by a whistleblower) have been exhumed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The SIT started the process of digging at the sites pointed out by the sanitation worker on 29th July. Five sites, out of the total 13 sites identified by the sanitation worker, were dug up by the SIT by 30th July, but no human remains were discovered.

On 31st July, SIT exhumed some human remains at the sixth site. However, an official confirmed that they belonged to a human male.

The police reportedly found around 15 bones at the site, some of which were broken, but no skull was found. 

In addition to that, the SIT discovered a debit card belonging to a woman and a PAN card belonging to a man. When the investigation team tracked down the owner of the PAN Card, they reached his family.

The PAN Card reportedly belonged to a man named Suresh, from Nelamangala taluk in Bengaluru Rural district. His father told the team that Suresh was an alcoholic and died of jaundice in March 2025.

The Background of the controversy

The case started after the unknown man claimed that he was former sanitation worker employed by the Lord Manjunatha shrine in Dharmasthala, and that he was forced to bury dead bodies of women and minor girls in Dharmasthala.

He lodged a complaint with the police on 3rd June with some ‘evidence’, and a week later, he appeared before a court covered head to toe to conceal his identity, to testify to the allegations made in his complaint. He submitted some skeletal remains he claimed to have exhumed from one of the burial sites.

The ’masked man’ had alleged that he was forced to burry a large number of young women and minor girls after they were allegedly killed at Dharmasthala between 1995 and 2014. Following this, another complaint was filed by a woman whose daughter had gone missing while on a trip to the pilgrimage town of Dharmasthala.

Given the seriousness of the allegations, the Karnataka government ordered the formation of an SIT to probe the case on 19 July. The ‘masked man’ gave the SIT the locations of 13 ‘burial sites’, and the SIT started excavating at those places.

And as the SIT excavated one after another site, the entire case started to fall apart, as nothing was found at those places. The skull that the man had submitted at the court turned up to belong to a man. The skull was examined at two hospitals, and both tests confirmed that it belonged to a man who died 30 years ago.

The ‘masked man’ claimed that 60-100 bodies were buried at site number 13 at the depth of 16 feet. The SIT used Ground Penetrating Radar, which detected nothing. When the site was excavated, nothing was found.

Bangladesh: veteran journalist Bibhuranjan Sarkar found dead a day after he went missing, had sent his ‘final article’ to news portal before leaving home

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: veteran journalist Bibhuranjan Sarkar found dead a day after he went missing, had sent his ‘final article’ to news portal before leaving home

Veteran Bangldaeshi journalist-columnist Bibhuranjan Sarkar, who went missing a day ago, was found dead on Friday. Police recovered the body of 71-year-old Sarkar from Meghna River in Munshiganj.

He had been reported missing since Thursday morning. Police said that the body was found floating in the river near Kalagachhia. They matched it with the photograph of the missing journalist submitted by Ramna police, and informed the station immediately.

Bibhuranjan Sarkar worked as Senior Assistant Editor at Ajker Patrika and contributed regular columns to various media outlets. Before leaving home on Thursday, he sent his ‘last article’ to bdnews24.com, adding in a footnote, “This may be published as my final piece.”

Sarkar was missing after he left his residence on Friday morning saying that he was going to Ajker Patrika office. He had left his phone behind. When he didn’t return by evening, his family called the newspaper office, and were told that he didn’t went to the office that day.

After searching in various places and finding nothing, Bibhuranjan’s son Rit Sarkar filed a report at Ramna Police Station at night.

His final article, titled “Khola Chithi”, or Open Letter, was published in the opinion section of bdnews24.com on Friday. In the open letter, he wrote how he was labelled pro-Awami League despite receiving no benefit from the Sheikh Hasina government.

He wrote about his regrets, highlighting the financial uncertainty he faced during his long journalism career, his and his son’s illnesses, and the lack of proper appreciation for his doctor daughter and engineer son.

He wrote, “I have no success stories in my life. Even as a journalist, I have not been able to grasp any solid ground by trying to do so. I have a big deficiency somewhere or the other. I have not been able to overcome this deficiency.”

Given the circumstances, it has been speculated that the journalist died by suicide.

Born in 1954, Bibhuranjan Sarkar studied in the Bengali department of Dhaka University. He was a student union leader and was also involved in the leftist movement.

Union Govt sanctions 23 chip-design projects under Design Linked Incentive Scheme, Vervesemi Microelectronics announces advanced ICs

OpIndia Staff
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Union Govt sanctions 23 chip-design projects under Design Linked Incentive Scheme, Vervesemi Microelectronics announces advanced ICs

The Government of India has sanctioned 23 chip-design projects under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme as part of its effort to boost the country’s semiconductor design capabilities, the Ministry of Electronics & IT said in a statement. These projects, led by domestic startups and MSMEs, are receiving support to develop indigenous chips and System-on-chip (SOC) solutions for areas such as surveillance cameras, energy meters, microprocessor IPs, and networking applications. 72 companies have gained access to the industry-standard Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools for their chip design projects.

Amongst these- Vervesemi Microelectronics, a fabless semiconductor company, today announced its upcoming portfolio of advanced integrated circuits (ICs) designed to accelerate India’s semiconductor self-reliance and drive global innovation.

Founded in 2017, Vervesemi is among the first Indian companies to export semiconductor intellectual property (IPs) globally, with its proprietary machine learning-powered analog chain IPs embedded in products of leading international manufacturers. With a portfolio of 110+ IPs, 25 IC SKUs, 10 patents, and 5 trade secrets, the company is powering applications across space, defense, industrial, and smart energy, with multiple ICs currently under evaluation by customers worldwide.

Amongst the first cohort of the companies approved under the Government of India’s DLI Scheme and also approved under Chips to Startup (C2S) program, Vervesemi is committed to developing designed-in-India chips that strengthen self-sustenance and foster innovation.

Vervesemi’s roadmap includes several notable ICs designed to address critical applications. BLDC controller Application Specific Integrated Chip (ASIC) is being designed by Vervesemi under the MeitY-supported C2S Programme, aimed at small motor applications such as fans and appliances, further reducing import dependence with samples expected in 2026.

ASIC for Precision motor-control solutions, approved as a DLI-recognized project, is focused on silicon for EVs, drones, and industrial automation, also targeted for sampling in 2026.

Other significant products roadmap includes the following –

  • ASIC for multifunction data acquisition system for space and avionics, powered by advanced machine learning and designed for mission-critical aerospace applications, with engineering samples available in 2026.
  • ASIC for weighing scale and bridge sensor applications is enabling next-generation weighing systems and Force Touch devices with very high precision and reliability. This IC is being sampled with key partners across Asia, with engineering samples available at end of 2025.
  • ASIC for smart energy metering applications is being designed in India to deliver ultra-accurate, high-speed energy measurement and predictive maintenance capabilities. Featuring multi-channel sensing compliant with Class 0.2S precision standards, this IC ensures robust and reliable performance for next-generation smart energy systems with samples available at end of 2025.

Vervesemi’s ICs are powered by embedded machine learning, enabling self-healing systems, fail-safe reliability, and improved fabrication yields. This breakthrough extends performance, power efficiency, and precision beyond traditional boundaries; making Vervesemi chips smarter, safer, and more efficient.

“These innovations mark a turning point for India’s semiconductor ecosystem,” said Rakesh Malik, Founder & CEO of Vervesemi. “By building high-performance, Made-in-India ICs for strategic and consumer markets, we are not only driving import substitution but also showcasing India’s capability to lead on the global semiconductor stage.”

At Vervesemi, we integrate advanced signal-chain design with machine learning to deliver fault tolerance, adaptive calibration, and predictive diagnostics. Our multi-channel data acquisition and industrial application ICs set new benchmarks in precision, efficiency, and reliability across aerospace, industrial, and consumer markets,” said Pratap Narayan Singh, Founder & CTO, Vervesemi Microelectronics.

“India’s ambition to become a world leader in semiconductor design, envisioning a future where every device in the world has designed-in-India chip” said Smt. Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator(R&D), MeitY

Vervesemi Microelectronics is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in high-performance analog IPs and ASICs. With innovations spanning five foundries and over 20 technology nodes, Vervesemi delivers up to 10x improvements in performance, power, and area. Trusted by global manufacturers in 5G, Wi-Fi 6/7, energy, motor control, and aerospace, Vervesemi continues to pioneer designed-in-India semiconductor solutions for worldwide impact.

After being angry at India for buying Russian oil, Trump is now ‘very angry’ at Ukraine for disrupting Russian oil supply to Europe by bombing a pipeline

OpIndia Staff
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After being angry at India for buying Russian oil, Trump is now ‘very angry’ at Ukraine for disrupting Russian oil supply to Europe by bombing a pipeline

While US president Donald Trump keeps attacking India for buying Russian oil and have imposed 50% tariff with threats of more, he is now angry at Ukraine for disrupting supply of Russian oil to Europe. Trump said that he was ‘very angry’ at Ukraine for bombing a pipeline that carries Russian oil to central Europe.

Trump’s comments came in response to a note by his friend Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, calling the move unfriendly. He was referring of bombing of the Druzhba pipeline in Russia, which supplies Russian oil to Hungary, Slovakia and other countries in Central Europe. The pipeline goes through Ukraine.

Viktor Orbán wrote, “Five days ago, just before the historic meeting between President Trump and Putin in Alaska, Ukraine carried out drone strikes on the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia. This pipeline supplies Hungary and Slovakia, two countries that have no other means of importing crude oil. Hungary supports Ukraine with electricity and petrol, in return they bomb pipeline that supply us. Very unfriendly move! We wish President Trump every success in his pursuit for peace!”

Trump wrote a handwritten note below Viktor’s comments, saying, “Viktor – I do not like hearing this. I am very angry about it. Tell Slovakia. You are my great friend.”

The note was posted by Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party on Facebook.

Notably, the recent attack on the Druzhba pipeline was the third attack on it by Ukraine in this week. The pipeline was restored on 19 August, but it was again hit two days later, when the Unecha oil pumping station in Russia was hit on Thursday night. This has completely halted Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia, which are still importing large amounts of Russian oil.

After the third hit, Hungary and Slovakia have written to European Commission seeking EU action to stop Ukraine from attacking the Druzhba pipeline. “Given that in the past years, the EU and its Member States have provided hundreds of billions of Euros’ worth of support to Ukraine, we find Ukraine’s actions, which severely threaten the energy security of Hungary and Slovakia, completely irresponsible,” read the letter signed by Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár.

Péter Szijjártó posted on X saying, “The Druzhba pipeline is indispensable for our energy supply. Without it, providing oil to our countries is physically impossible. Such attacks are a direct and unacceptable assault on our energy security.” He alleged that with these attacks, Ukraine hurting Hungary and Slovakia, not Russia.

He further added, “Brussels must understand: they are the EUROPEAN Commission, not the Ukrainian Commission!”

In another tweet, the Hungarian foreign minister alleged that the attack on the pipeline was a clear attack on their energy security and another attempt to drag Hungary into the war. “It will not succeed! We stand for peace & our national interests,” he added.

Reportedly, the attacks on the pipeline have been conducted by the Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine. While Ukraine has not officially acknowledged the attacks, a video of the strike was posted on Telegram by Robert Brovdi, the head of Unmanned Systems Forces.

FBI raids house of Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton amid his criticism of tariff and foreign policy, old ‘national security’ case revived

OpIndia Staff
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FBI raids house of Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton amid his criticism of tariff and foreign policy, old ‘national security’ case revived

A team of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Friday morning raided the house of John Bolton, who was the National Security Advisor to the Trump administration during his first term. According to the New York Post, the raids were conducted by the FBI agents at Bolton’s house in Bethesda, Maryland, as part of an investigation ordered by FBI Chief Kash Patel.

Shortly after the raids, the FBI Chief Kash Patel posted a cryptic message on x, which said, “NO ONE is above the law…@FBI agents on mission”.

The investigation, which was launched years ago, reportedly involves classified documents. It was shut down by the previous Biden administration. Bolton has been at loggerheads with Trump since he was accused of disclosing classified information in his book titled “The Room Where it Happened” in 2020.

Trump unsuccessfully tried to stop the publication of the book, citing the inclusion of ‘national secrets’. He said that Bolton breached a non-disclosure agreement, which was signed by him as a condition of his employment in the first Trump administration. Subsequently, an inquiry was opened into the book in September 2020 by the Justice Department. However, the case was closed by the Biden administration.

A day before the raid, Kash Patel accused former FBI Director James Comey of authorising leaks of classified documents and “misleading Congress” before the 2016 elections.

The raid comes amid the vocal criticism by Bolton of the Trump administration’s national security and foreign policies. He has been appearing on TV channels criticising Trump over his policies, and has supported India’s stand on the tariff and Russian oil issue.

A day before the highly anticipated meeting between Russia and the US, Bolton described Trump’s decision to selectively impose tariffs on India for buying Russian oil and to exempt China, which also buys Russian oil, as a “lack of focus’ and “unforced error” by the Trump administration.

“Leaving India hanging out to dry as the only country to which punitive action has been taken obviously leads a lot of people to conclude that the United States has given up on India. I do worry that India is being driven closer to Russia and China,” Bolton said. He added that the US sanctions on Russia do not technically prohibit India from buying the Russian oil or even reselling it in the international market.

According to Bolton, Trump’s “lack of strategic thinking and priorities” has pushed India closer to Russia, which is against the interests of the US.

Bolton predicted that after the imposition of Trump’s tariffs on India, both China and Russia would try to draw India closer, which, according to Bolton, would have negative consequences for the US.

Notably, PM Modi had a telephone conversation with Putin last week, in which he invited the Russian President to India for the India-Russia Annual Summit, later this year. Besides, after a gap of seven years, PM Modi is expected to visit China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.

Digital hawala of JeM: Masood Azhar wants to raise Rs 390 crore to build over 300 Markaz in Pakistan, uses digital wallets to avoid FATF scrutiny

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Digital hawala of JeM: Masood Azhar wants to raise Rs 390 crore to build over 300 Markaz in Pakistan, uses digital wallets to avoid FATF scrutiny

India targeted numerous terrorist hideouts in Pakistan during “Operation Sindoor” including Muhammad Masood Azhar Alvi alias Masood Azhar, Jaish-e-Mohammed (Jaish or JeM). He has now formulated a plan to re-establish terrorist facilities in collaboration with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and 3.9 billion (390 crores) Pakistani rupees are to be used for this.

They have devised an ingenious method to raise funds to prevent suspicion from international agencies. The terrorists are now acquiring money through digital wallets instead of bank accounts.

Jaish’s strategy to evade organizations such as FATF

Pakistan is notorious for its support of terrorism. Consequently, it remained on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list for an extended period. Hence, the Islamic Republic proposed a plan that included measures against Jaish-e-Mohammed to address this issue. The former insisted that it does not financially support terrorists and mentioned its intention to monitor the bank accounts of Masood Azhar, his brother Rauf Asghar and his youngest brother Talha al Saif.

As a result of these actions, the terror state successfully exited the FATF grey list in 2022, however, its deceptive tricks did not go unnoticed by India. Outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed continued to thrive within Pakistan and their operations remained unabated. Terrorists required funds to sustain their activities and the scrutiny of Pakistan’s bank accounts made this increasingly challenging. Hence, Pakistani digital wallets like EasyPaisa and SadaPay have now been utilized, to circumvent this barrier.

Jaish to build 313 terrorist camps

ISI and Jaish are currently attempting to amass 3.9 billion Pakistani Rupees under the pretext of constructing mosques and markaz. These places have previously been utilized by the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Indian intelligence agencies suspect that a significant portion of this amount is allocated to support terrorism and procure weapons for terrorist activities.

Jaish aims to set up 313 new camps with this financial resource. The apprehension regarding India also contributes to the formation of these structures. The terror group is doing it to mislead India, in response to the destruction of its hideouts during the military action. The headquarters of Jaish, Markaz Subhanallah, was demolished in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Additionally, four other Jaish training camps, namely Markaz Syedna Bilal, Markaz Abbas, Mahmona Zoya and Markaz Sarjal were also obliterated. Over 100 terrorists were eliminated including Masood Azhar’s family members.

5 digital wallets of Jaish discovered

Money had been gathered through digital wallets registered under the names of family members of Masood Azhar. If there had been no bank transactions, Islamabad could have claimed that the funds received by Jaish had decreased while in truth, a significant sum is being funneled to the terrorists.

According to reports, five such wallets have been identified all of which are directly linked to Jaish. A SadaPay account was registered under the name of Masood Azhar’s brother, Talha Al Saif (Talha Gulzar) which was associated with the Pakistani mobile number +92 3025xxxx56, reported Aaj Tak.

This number was registered in the name of Aftab Ahmed, the commander of Jaish in the Haripur district. Additionally, an EasyPaisa wallet was connected to the mobile number of Masood Azhar’s son, Abdullah Azhar which is +92 33xxxx4937. Furthermore, there a wallet set up to provide assistance in Gaza. It was managed from the number +92xxxx195206 and was registered under the name of Khalid Ahmed. However, it was actually operated by Masood Azhar’s son, Hammad Azhar.

Donation campaign in mosques

JeM terrorists are also gathering donations from mosques during Friday prayers in addition to soliciting funds online. They present this money as assistance for Gaza, but in reality it is being utilized to support terrorist activities. A video featuring Jaish commander Wasim Chauhan (also known as Wasim Khan) emerged, showing him counting the amount after a Friday prayer.

A trust named “Al-Rehmat” managed by Masood Azhar and his close associates has also become a crucial part in this scheme. This trust has been taking funds through an account (account number 105XX9) at the National Bank of Pakistan which is operated under the name of Ghulam Murtaza. Annually, this trust contributes approximately 100 crore Pakistani rupees to JeM’s financial resources.

Social media to foreign countries: Jaish demands funds

Jaish has fully mobilized its active operatives and proxy network with plans to generate funds through platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp, according to recent intelligence reports. Information suggests that posters, provocative videos and letters authored by Masood Azhar are being consistently disseminated on these platforms from proxy accounts associated with Jaish as well as those directly managed by its commanders.

These posts assert that the terror group is in the process of developing 313 Markaz and each facility requires 12.5 million Pakistani rupees. This effort is not confined to Pakistan alone as Jaish also sought contributions from Pakistani citizens residing abroad. It is evident that these funds will be utilized for training terrorists, securing weapons and expanding the terror network.

Jaish exploits the network of digital wallets

According to a report by the Economic Times, the digital wallets utilized by Jaish such as EasyPaisa and SadaPay, offer the facility for wallet-to-wallet and wallet-to-cash transfers which is not available in traditional banking. This feature complicates monitoring efforts for international bodies like FATF.

The report indicated that Masood Azhar’s family manages between 7 to 8 wallets simultaneously and replace them every 4 months. When a significant sum accumulates in a wallet, it is segmented into smaller amounts for cash withdrawal. It is disclosed that approximately 30 new wallets are created each month.

Cybersecurity expert Amit Dubey stated that these digital wallets function similarly to “digital hawala,” enabling monetary transactions without relying on a banking network. This is why this network of Jaish manages to evade the clutches of investigative agencies and international monitoring organizations.

Jaish’s financial transactions reportedly occur through these wallets, amounting to around 80-90 crore Pakistani rupees at present. This money is utilized for purchasing weapons, operating training camps, supporting Azhar Masood’s family and acquiring luxury vehicles. A large part of this amount comes from the Gulf.

Read the report in Hindi here.

Sambhal mosque case: Supreme Court orders maintenance of status quo on challenge by Muslims to Allahabad High Court order, permitting survey of the disputed site

OpIndia Staff
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Sambhal mosque case: Supreme Court orders maintenance of status quo on challenge by Muslims to Allahabad High Court order, permitting survey of the disputed site

The Supreme Court on Friday (22nd August) ordered a status quo effective till Monday (25th August) in the Sambhal mosque case, during the hearing of a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Sambhal Mosque Committee. With the status quo order, any further developments in the case have been stayed till further hearing.

The plea filed by the Sambhal Mosque Committee challenged an order passed by the Allahabad High Court on May 19, 2025, upholding a decision of the civil court, which held that the suit with respect to the Sambhal mosque was not barred by the Places of Worship Act. The civil court also allowed the survey of the court and appointed a commissioner for that.

A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and A.S. Chandurkar passed an interim order of status quo and issued notice to the Hindu petitioners in the matter. Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the mosque committee, contended before the Apex Court that the High Court was not right in holding that the suit was not barred by the Places of Worship Act.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the Hindu side, submitted before the court that the issue relating to the said did not arise in the case as the Sambhal mosque, being an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monument, was not subject to the Act. He said that the plaintiffs (Hindu side) were only seeking access to the monument.

In support of his submission, Jain cited an order passed by another bench of the Supreme Court earlier in the day, wherein it was held that an ASI-protected monument is not covered by the Places of Worship Act. The Court asked Jain to produce the said order and ordered the status quo. “We will see that order. We do not want to pass inconsistent orders,” Justice Narasimha said.

Background of the case

The civil suit in relation to the Sambhal mosque was filed by eight Hindu plaintiffs, including Mahant Rishiraj Giri. The plaintiffs claimed that the mosque was built in 1526 after partially demolishing an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Kalki, Lord Vishu’s avatar. The plaintiffs sought the right to access and worship the sacred site.

The civil court allowed the suit, holding that it was not barred by the Places of Worship Act. Besides, it ordered a court-monitored survey of the site on November 19, 2024 and appointed an Advocate Commissioner for that. However, during the second round of the court-monitored survey on November 24, 2024, Islamist mobsters, who had gathered outside the mosque, engaged in violence and created communal disturbance. The Sambhal Mosque Committee moved the Allahabad High Court, claiming that the second survey was illegal as the court did not order it. The High Court upheld the decision of the civil court regarding the maintainability of the suit and the order of the survey.

After the violence by Islamists, the Supreme Court stayed the proceedings in the civil court pending the decision of the High Court on the Committee’s plea. In May 2025, I rejected the committee’s claims and upheld the civil court’s decision.

Raising slogan praising Pakistan without denouncing India is not sedition, says Himachal Pradesh High Court while granting bail to Suleman

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Raising slogan praising Pakistan without denouncing India is not sedition, says Himachal Pradesh High Court while granting bail to Suleman

The Himachal Pradesh High Court said in a bail order passed on 19th August, that raising pro-Pakistan slogans does not amount to sedition. The observation was made by a single bench of Justice Rakesh Kainthla while allowing the bail plea of an accused named Suleman.

The accused moved the court seeking bail after he was booked under Section 152 of the BNS by Paonta Sahib police in the Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh in May this year. Suleman was accused of sharing an AI-generated image of PM Modi with a slogan of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ written on it. The counsel for the state submitted before the court that the image was shared by the accused at a time when the relations between India and Pakistan were strained.

‘Hailing a country without denouncing one’s own country is not sedition’, says HC

The High Court observed that the act of the accused did not amount to sedition, as praising a country without denouncing one’s own country did not constitute the offence. “Hailing a country without denouncing the motherland does not constitute an offence of sedition because it does not incite armed rebellion, subversive activities, or encourage feelings of separatist activities. Therefore, prima facie, there is insufficient material to connect the petitioner with the commission of a crime,” the High Court stated in its order granting the accused a conditional bail.

“There is no averment in the complaint that hatred or discontent was brought towards the government established by law in India. The averments show that the words ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ were mentioned in the post,” the court added. The High Court said that the custodial interrogation of the accused was not necessary, and therefore, he should be released after submitting a sum of ₹50,000.

Suleman surrendered to the police on July 8, 2025. A chargesheet was filed by the police before the court on August 6, 2025.

Israel warns Hamas that ‘gates of hell’ will open on the terror leaders if they don’t release all hostages and lay down weapons, to move ahead with Gaza city assault

OpIndia Staff
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Israel warns Hamas that ‘gates of hell’ will open on the terror leaders if they don’t release all hostages and lay down weapons, to move ahead with Gaza city assault

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday warned Hamas that the “gates of hell” will open for the terror group if they don’t release all the hostages and agree to the Israel’s terms of ceasefire. The comment comes after the Israel government approved military plans to intensify operations in Gaza.

The statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter), signals a potential major escalation in the nearly two-year war, with plans focusing on taking control of Gaza City through heavy firepower, civilian evacuations, and ground maneuvers. In his post in Hebrew, Katz wrote: “We approved yesterday the IDF’s plans to defeat Hamas in Gaza – with intense fire, evacuation of residents, and maneuver. Soon the gates of hell will open on the heads of the murderers and rapists of Hamas in Gaza – until they agree to Israel’s conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and disarmament. If they do not agree – Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become like Rafah and Beit Hanoun. Exactly as I promised – so it will be.”

This rhetoric echoes the Israeli cabinet’s approval to take control of Gaza City despite Hamas threat to execute the remaining hostages. The approved plan involves mobilizing up to 60,000 reservists for a phased offensive aimed at conquering Gaza City, Hamas’s stronghold, while expanding humanitarian aid distribution in southern Gaza.

The Israel government has vowed to eradicate Hamas following the group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in over 250 hostages being taken.

Israeli forces already control about 75% of the Gaza Strip, according to military statements, with the operation targeting remaining urban areas, including tunnel networks and refugee camps.

Officials have outlined five key principles for ending the war: disarming Hamas, returning all hostages, demilitarizing Gaza, establishing Israeli security control, and creating an alternative civilian administration excluding both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas has responded by denouncing the plan as a “new war crime,” alleging it to be Israel’s blatant disregard for negotiations. The terror group has vowed fierce resistance while holding Israel responsible for endangering remaining hostages.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has emphasized that Israel does not intend permanent governance of Gaza, proposing a handover to unspecified “Arab forces” post-demilitarization.

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