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‘The Hindu’ journalist Mahesh Langa granted bail in GST fraud case, but would continue to stay in custody, here’s why

OpIndia Staff
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‘The Hindu’ journalist Mahesh Langa granted bail in GST fraud case, but would continue to stay in custody, here’s why

On Thursday, 9th January, the Gujarat High Court granted bail to ‘The Hindu’ journalist Mahesh Langa who was arrested for GST tax evasion amounting to Rs 6.64 lakhs. Langa is believed to have evaded tax through bogus claims of Input Tax Credit (ITC).

This notably is the first relief for the journalist who is facing multiple criminal charges filed against him at the DCB police station in Ahmedabad. However, he would continue to stay in jail as he is facing charges in 5 more cases relating to tax evasion.

“The authorities will release the applicant only if he is not required in connection with any other offense for the time being. If the breach of any of the above conditions is committed, the Sessions Judge concerned will be free to issue a warrant or take appropriate action in the matter,” the bail order released by Justice MR Mengdey read.

Langa’s advocate noted in the court that his client had been in jail in this particular case since October 8th and that he was willing to pay back the evaded GST amount. He also said that there was a delay in filing the FIR in the case and he was running a firm identified as DA Enterprises.

He said that the FIR filed in the case was not maintainable and that there was a separate mechanism to be followed to treat the accused in such cases under the GST Act. “The maximum punishment for the offense under the GST Act is a year’s imprisonment. The arrest was politically motivated as he was a journalist,” he added.

As per the reports, the state and the Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence have opposed the bail application. Though the bail has been issued to Langa, he will continue to stay in judicial custody as four more cases have been filed against him.

Arrest, lavish lifestyle and GST fraud

Langa was arrested on 8th October in this case under sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (forged document), 474 (punishment for possessing forged document), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Later, reports suggested that Langa led a lifestyle far beyond his salary, amassing crores of rupees over the past two years. Mahesh leveraged his position as a journalist to engage in blackmail, settlements, and illicit business activities, reportedly earning millions through these means. Additionally, his name had surfaced concerning the leak of sensitive government documents.

Despite an annual salary reportedly only in the lakhs, a recent Ahmedabad Crime Branch search at his home uncovered Rs 20 lakhs in cash. Police also recovered expensive jewelry and documents related to property holdings. It was also reported that Mahesh and his wife frequently visited luxury hotels like the Oberoi and Taj Man Singh. As per the revelations, he and his wife stayed in such establishments over 98 times in the past year without covering any of the costs themselves.

Investigations further revealed that the lavish lifestyle of the journalist was primarily funded through around 220 shell companies. He also frequently traveled by chartered flights, with fares amounting to lakhs. He even has a history of hosting an extravagant birthday party, inviting prominent businessmen and city officials. For this event, he reportedly paid a Rs 5 lakh advance for the hall and gifted gold coins to each guest.

It was also learned that Langa acquired government documents but did not use these for journalism. He rather used the documents to blackmail officials and government bodies. As Mahesh Langa was first brought for questioning by the Crime Branch, he claimed that he was being targeted by the government because of his work as a journalist, but this defense failed, and he was arrested.

During the investigation, it was determined that Langa had been in contact with specific officials, with chat logs to back this up located on his devices. A further police investigation found that Mahesh had gotten documents and other private information about the Gujarat Maritime Board, triggering a search of the GMB office in Gandhinagar.

After seizing several documents and materials, the Gandhinagar police registered another FIR against him at the Sector 7 police station. Another FIR was filed against Langa on 30th October after the authorities conducted massive raids against Langa across Gujarat. The FIR was filed by Pranav Shah, director of an advertising company named Khushi Enterprises, who claimed that Langa defrauded him of Rs 28 lakh, allegedly failing to return funds provided for specific work. 

The first FIR against Langa pertains to the GST scam, while the second was filed by Gandhinagar police, which alleges that he exploited his position as a journalist to leak government documents. The second case is related to the Gujarat Maritime Board and it is a sensitive case due to national security concerns linked with it. The third FIR addressed the Rs 28 lakh fraud accusation, adding another accusation to the complex case against him. The fourth case involved the creation of four fake e-way bills and in December, the journalist was again arrested in a separate tax fraud case by the Rajkot police.

Pakistan: TTP abducts 16 employees of Pakistan’s Atomic Energy Commission, seeks prisoner release in exchange

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: TTP abducts 16 employees of Pakistan’s Atomic Energy Commission, seeks prisoner release in exchange

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has reportedly abducted 16 employees of the Atomic Energy Commission. As per reports, the militants have released a video of the abducted staffers stating that they will be released in exchange for the release of TTP prisoners in Pakistan’s jails.

The staffers were kidnapped while working for some mining projects for the Atomic Energy Commission in Pakistan’s Lakki Marwat area, a volatile region in the violence-ridden Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The abduction happened in the Qabul Khel Atomic Energy mining project in Lakki Marwat. The vehicles that the employees were using were set ablaze by TTP militants.

Some reports emerging from Pakistan have mentioned that some of the victims are labourers while some are employees and staff members of the Atomic Energy Commission.

The Pakistan government has claimed that they have managed to ‘rescue’ 8 of the kidnapped persons. However, TTP has rejected the claims.

In a video released by the TTP, the employees were seen requesting the Pakistani authorities to negotiate with their abductors and save their lives.

The Lakki Marwat area is in the region bordering Afghanistan and has been a hotbed of TTP activities. Multiple instances of kidnapping and assault against Pakistani security personnel have happened in the region.

The TTP kidnappings happened just a day after Baloch rebels vandalised a police station, robbed a bank and seized a government office in Balochistan, another unstable region in Pakistan that is seeking independence from the Pakistani state.

UK’s ruling Labour Party adopted document that ‘broadened’ the definition of Islamophobia, claimed terms like ‘grooming gang’ are anti-Muslim racism

Shraddha Pandey
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UK’s ruling Labour Party adopted document that ‘broadened’ the definition of Islamophobia, claimed terms like ‘grooming gang’ are anti-Muslim racism

The Labour government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the United Kingdom has been facing significant backlash over its handling of the Pakistani Muslim grooming gangs also called rape gangs. PM Starmer not only rejected the demands of a national inquiry into the historical child sexual exploitation but also deemed demands for a national inquiry into Pakistani rape gangs a “far-right” position. Amidst backlash over dismissing a burning demand for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, the Labour Party’s adoption of a definition of Islamophobia which essentially implied that criticising Pakistani Muslim grooming gangs/rape gangs is ‘racist’ against Muslims, has sparked criticism.

The outrage stems from the Labour Party’s adoption of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims (APPG) definition of Islamophobia in 2019. The APPG’s definition of Islamophobia suggesting that talking about grooming gangs is racist and exposes Muslims to the possibility of ‘hate crimes’ hints at why the Labour government is reluctant to address the issue of grooming gangs.  No wonder the Labour Party’s political correctness has suppressed discussions, criticism and actions against such Islamist crimes.

Excerpt from Labour Party’s Islamophobia policy (Source: labour.org.uk)

The definition of Islamophobia adopted by the Labour Party and its decision to go berserk against those criticising Pakistani Muslim grooming gangs and demanding an inquiry into their crimes, instead of acting against the Jihadi paedophiles suggests that Labour’s position has inhibited open discussion about grooming gangs due to fears of being labelled Islamophobic. OpIndia has reported how for years, the Labour Party played Muslim appeasement politics over the rape gangs issue and the police did not act against rape Jihadis out of the fear of appearing ‘racially insensitive’ or ‘Islamophobic’ so much so that in many cases, the police ended up arresting the victims and their families instead of the Jihadi perpetrators.

All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims’s definition of Islamophobia

Back in 2018, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims proposed that there should be a ‘legally binding’ definition of Islamophobia. While there already are laws covering religion-based hate crimes and discrimination, the definition sought to expand the scope of what was deemed criminal under the existing legal framework, particularly in the context of criticism directed towards Muslims.

“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness,” the definition proposed by the APPG on British Muslims co-chaired by Anna Soubry and Wes Streeting reads.

In their Foreword to the APPG report, Wes Streeting and Anna Soubry advocated for the definition of Islamophobia to be adopted by the government, statutory agencies, and civil society organisations. This would allow them to challenge Islamophobia through various channels such as politics, policymaking, media, society, and education.

The APPG contended that the revised definition would prevent unfavourable sentiments that would not be considered crimes by police. It is “required in order to bring about a transformation in social etiquette.” The APPG on British Muslims also said that the new definition of Islamophobia should set “appropriate limits to free speech” when talking about Muslims, and create “tests… for ascertaining whether contentious speech is indeed reasonable criticism or Islamophobia masquerading as ‘legitimate criticism.’” 

The APPG, however, failed to elaborate on who exactly will decide if the criticism is “reasonable” or ‘Islamophobic’. The APPG asserted that criticising Islam amounts to anti-Muslim racism. It said that terms like ‘Asian grooming gangs’ or ‘Bin Laden’, (notice the inverted commas used by the APPG) are a modern-day iteration of “anti-Islam tropes”

“From the numerous victim forms we were able to collect, we found a number of themes which served to reinforce the evidence presented to us by academic experts and community activists. We found that the racialisation of Muslims has palpable consequences with both Asian, Black and white convert Muslims being targeted for abuse on grounds of their Muslimness. We also found that age-old stereotypes and tropes about Islam, such sexual profligacy and paedophilia or Islam and violence, and their modern-day iteration in the ‘Asian grooming gangs’ or ‘Bin Laden’ labels re-emerge in discourses and dispositions which heighten vulnerability of Muslims to hate crimes,” the propaganda report by APPG on British Muslims read.

Moreover, the APPG on British Muslims also listed certain “contemporary examples of Islamophobia”. In its desperation to muzzle any voice of criticism against Muslims or Islam, the APPG deemed even accusing Muslims of exaggerating or inventing Islamophobia, genocide of Muslims, as an example of Islamophobia. This simply means that even Muslims play false victimhood which they do in most cases if not all, exaggerating isolated incidents of criticism or violence against a Muslim person or group as a targeted attack on the entire community, you cannot call them out because if you do, you will be declared ‘Islamophobic’.

These examples included: “Accusing Muslims as a group of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Muslim person or group of Muslim individuals, or even for acts committed by non-Muslims. Accusing Muslims as a group, or Muslim majority states, of inventing or exaggerating Islamophobia, ethnic cleansing or genocide perpetrated against Muslims. Accusing Muslim citizens of being more loyal to the ‘Ummah’ (transnational Muslim community) or to their countries of origin, or to the alleged priorities of Muslims worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.”

The APPG on British Muslims also asserted that “denying Muslim populations the right to self -determination e.g., by claiming that the existence of an independent Palestine or Kashmir is a terrorist endeavour,” is also Islamophobic. Apparently, if the Labour government adopts this definition, Starmer would declare India and Israel as Islamophobic.

The UK’s parliamentary body perhaps wanted non-Muslims to basically genuflect before the Muslim community and accept any and every demand Muslims make and dare not criticise them.

 “Applying double standards by requiring of Muslims behaviours that are not expected or demanded of any other groups in society, eg loyalty tests,” the APPG said in complete disregard of the fact that Islam hardly attaches any importance to concepts like nationalism or patriotism rather loyalty towards the Muslim Ummah transcending beyond countries or regions barriers, is deemed paramount.

The next example cited by the APPG outrightly whitewashes the Islamic Jihad to subjugate non-Muslims across the world. In a way, if one criticises Islamic terrorists attacking non-Muslims in the UK to spread Islamic dominance, it is Islamophobic.

Similarly, for nearly four decades Pakistani Muslim men with Afghani and Bangladeshi Muslims in many cases specifically targeted white Christian, Hindu, Sikh and other non-Muslim girls, groomed and raped them out of sheer hatred for kafirs as they see them as  “fair game”, those criticising grooming gangs should not criticise Muslims even though the crux of the crime lies in the religiosity of the perpetrators and not essentially their race.

Source: APPG on British Muslims

“Using the symbols and images associated with classic Islamophobia (e.g. Muhammed being a paedophile, claims of Muslims spreading Islam by the sword or subjugating minority groups under their rule) to characterize Muslims as being ‘sex groomers’, inherently violent or incapable of living harmoniously in plural societies,” the report reads.

Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch joined by others has criticised the definition of Islamophobia created by APPG on British Muslims and the Labour Party’s adoption of the same. Since the Labour Party has adopted this flawed definition of Islamophobia, the Labour government has also attempted to formally adopt this definition. In August 2024, it was reported that the Labour government was considering adopting the APPG for British Muslims’s definition of Islamophobia. It was seen how the fears of appearing Islamophobic and racially insensitive prevented UK authorities from effectively acting against Pakistani Muslim groomers/rapists for years and now the Labour Party which has adopted the flawed Islamophobia definition is dismissing those criticising Muslim grooming gangs as “far-right” in an apparent attempt to make the Muslim community sacrosanct to criticism.

In the context of Pakistani Muslim grooming gangs, it was seen that in many cases, instead of arresting the rapists, the police ended up arresting the victims and their families. This was commonly due to a failure to probe the grooming part, in most cases a deliberate cover-up to avoid appearing Islamophobic, culturally insensitive and racially prejudiced, with young victims being treated as offenders for small violations while still in contact with their abusers.

While in many cases, the victims were blamed for the horrific crimes committed against them by Pakistani grooming gangs, the political discourse around the grooming gangs and their crimes in the UK indicates that the appeasing politicians feared racial profiling and the supposed spread of ‘Islamophobia’. It must be recalled how Sarah Champion, a Labour Party MP had to apologise for an article published in The Sun in 2017 wherein she wrote that “Britain has a problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls”.

Notably, the issue of child sexual abuse at the hands of grooming gangs led by British Pakistani men has been a serious issue demanding attention for years. In the late 90s, young girls, a minimum of 11 were picked up, raped, beaten, sold, and even killed by grooming gangs or rape gangs for a full forty years. One of the exposures in a similar instance in Rotherham found that 1,400 children had been sexually abused over 16 years by British Pakistani men. A detailed report on this case can be read here.

She pointed out that the child sexual exploitations being reported in the UK involved “predominantly Pakistani men” adding that the apprehension of getting labelled ‘racist’ was hindering the investigation by the authorities. “These people are predators and the common denominator is their ethnic heritage.”

Champion was not only made to apologise under the pressure of Muslim appeasing politicians like Jeremy Corbyn but also resign from her position as the shadow minister.

UP: Akeel allows his friends to rape his wife for money in Bulandshahar and watch the videos in Saudi Arabia, case filed

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Akeel allows his friends to rape his wife for money in Bulandshahar and watch the videos in Saudi Arabia, case filed

An appalling incident has come to light from Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahar where a man allowed his friends to rape his wife and record the videos of the act which he used to watch.

According to reports, the man named Akeel works as an automobile mechanic in Saudi Arabia. He married the victim in 2010 and has 4 children from the marriage. In her complaint to the police, the woman said that her husband used to visit her once or twice a year. However, he hasn’t visited her for the last three years.

The last time he came to visit her, he allowed his friends to rape her. However, his friends continued to rape her even after he returned to Saudi Arabia and have been paying her husband money for that. The victim revealed that her husband makes his friends record the video of her rape which he watches sitting in Saudi Arabia.

When the victim confronted her husband regarding this, he reportedly threatened to divorce her. Therefore, she kept it to herself enduring the abuse for three years. She was even threatened by her husband’s friends that they would leak her videos if she told anyone about it. The victim reportedly tried to complain to her husband’s family about the matter but they did not support her.

The victim’s brother reportedly said that her family only came to know about the incident after she had a fight with her husband who came to visit her recently. That’s when she decided to tell her family about the abuse.

The 35-year-old victim, who is currently one month pregnant, met Bulandsheher SSP Shlok Kumar to file a complaint. A case has been registered by the police in the matter under relevant provisions.

Who in India is going to be most affected by Meta’s decision to do away with ‘fact checking’

Rukma Rathore
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Who in India is going to be most affected by Meta’s decision to do away with ‘fact checking’

Meta’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mark Zuckerberg recently announced significant changes to the company’s moderation policies and practices. This decision is attributed to the evolving political and social environment, as well as a commitment to promoting free speech. Notably, the social media platform will phase out its fact-checking program with established partners and introduce a community-based system akin to Community Notes on X (earlier Twitter).

Meanwhile, a tangible feeling of panic has enveloped fact-checkers in India as well, following the development. Several fact-checking organizations that have emerged in India over the past few years depend significantly on financial support from Meta. Consequently, any repercussions stemming from the company’s position in the United States may potentially jeopardize the future of many of these platforms. A senior executive from a fact-checking organization stated, “This is possibly the biggest existential threat many fact-checkers will have to contend with,” reported The Indian Express.

The current cessation of Meta’s third-party fact-checking program is limited to the United States, however, fact-checkers in India foresee that similar changes will soon be implemented in the country. They interpret the company’s strategic shift towards a more President-elect Donald Trump-friendly approach as a move likely to endure for at least the next four years. There are two significant concerns of financial resources and audience reach in the event that this situation unfolds.

Fact-checkers have expressed that for various Indian entities, involvement in Meta’s third-party fact-checking program is their only means of financial sustenance. The loss of this funding could force them to shut down their operations. Additionally, these fact-checkers depend on Meta’s platforms for visibility. Facebook and Instagram serve as the primary channels for directing traffic to their websites. The removal of their content from these platforms could drastically reduce the number of visitors to their sites.

Meta engages with fact-checkers certified by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), who analyze and rate the veracity of posts on Meta platforms based on original reporting. Meta has formed alliances with 12 such fact-checking partners, including notable publishers like PTI, AFP, India Today Fact Check and The Quint, as well as a selection of smaller organizations, in India.

As of now, it is uncertain if Meta will extend its decision to discontinue fact-checking partnerships in India. A company spokesperson added, “We are ending our third-party fact checking program, and over the next couple of months we’ll phase in a more comprehensive Community Notes system, in the US. There are no changes to other countries at this time.” Furthermore, it is unclear how such a system would comply with regulations like the EU’s (European Union) Digital Services Act, which requires online platforms to implement strategies to address illegal content and allegedly protect users.

Meta’s New Beginning

Meta’s recent actions are perceived as a strategic shift by the company in preparation for the upcoming Trump era. Mark Zuckerberg mentioned a series of content-related modifications to Meta’s platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Threads. A primary highlight of this is the termination of the third-party fact-checking program in the United States. He declared, “We’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies and restoring free expression on our platforms.”

Zuckerberg further conveyed, “More specifically, here’s what we’re going to do. First, we’re going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes similar to X, starting in the US.” Meta in a blog post added, “Once the program is up and running, Meta won’t write Community Notes or decide which ones show up. They are written and rated by contributing users. Just like they do on X, Community Notes will require agreement between people with a range of perspectives to help prevent biased ratings.”

“We intend to be transparent about how different viewpoints inform the notes displayed in our apps, and are working on the right way to share this information. People can sign up today (Facebook, Instagram, Threads) for the opportunity to be among the first contributors to this program as it becomes available,” it informed.

“We’ve seen this approach work on X, where they empower their community to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context, and people across a diverse range of perspectives decide what sort of context is helpful for other users to see. We think this could be a better way of achieving our original intention of providing people with information about what they’re seeing and one that’s less prone to bias,” Joel Kaplan, Meta’s chief global affairs officer proclaimed.

Meta has indicated that it will begin the rollout of its Community Notes strategy over the upcoming two months, with further enhancements planned for the rest of the year. This initiative will entail the discontinuation of content demotion based on user fact-checking and the introduction of what the Joel Kaplan described as “a considerably less obtrusive label” that guides users to additional resources.

Alongside the cessation of its fact-checking program in the United States, Meta has disclosed its intention to transfer its content moderation team from California to Texas, a decision that is widely viewed as a gesture towards the fresh Trump presidency. Furthermore, the company has strengthened its ties with the incoming presidential administration by appointing Dana White, the founder of UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) and a notable supporter of Trump, to its board of directors.

The company has also contributed $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, aiming to foster a constructive relationship with the administration following a period of strained interactions. Earlier, Zuckerberg had made a trip to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence located in Florida. Meta also appointed Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican, to the position of president of global affairs.

Indian fact-checker organizations affiliated with IFCN

International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) official website declared, “Signatories of the IFCN Code of Principles are subjected to the established vetting process and evaluated by external assessors. Through this process, an organization must exhibit a commitment to nonpartisanship and fairness, transparency of sources, transparency of funding and organization, transparency of methodology, and a commitment to open and honest corrections.”

As expected, many fact-checking organizations from India are featured on the website. The list of “verified signatories of the IFCN Code of Principles who are active” included mutliple names from the country: Boom, Digital Forensics, Research and Analytics Centre (D-FRAC), Digiteye, Factly Media & Research, Fact Crescendo, First Check, India Today Fact Check, News Mobile, Newschecker, Newsmeter (Fifth Estate Digital Private Limited), THIP (The Healthy Indian Project) Healthtech Pvt Ltd, TV Today Network Limited – The Lallantop, Telugupost.com, The Quint, Vishvas News and Youturn. If the updated Meta policy adjustments are enforced in India, then the company will snap ties with these platforms.

Press Trust of India is currently undergoing a renewal process as IFCN informed, “Verified signatories are reminded a month prior to their expiration date with a notice to start their renewal process and the IFCN offers them a three months period to complete their renewal process. The renewal process is subject to a new assessment and approval by IFCN’s advisory board in reference to IFCN’s Code of Principles.”

“Due to the high volume of applications, some of the signatories that have expired may be undergoing the renewal process. To confirm which organization is undergoing renewal, please reach out to us at [email protected]. Thank you for your understanding,” the network added in relation to the expired entites which had FactChecker.in, Pravda Media Foundation and The Logical Indian in its roster from India.

Alt News and IFCN

Alt News, a self-identified fact-checking site in India, was a signatory partner of the IFCN until April 2020. However, its parent company Pravda Media Foundation was found in the “expired” list. “This badge (IFCN displayed over logo) confirms Pravda Media Foundation was deemed compliant with the IFCN principles when subjected to the established vetting process and evaluated by external assessors. Through this process, an organization must exhibit a commitment to nonpartisanship and fairness, transparency of sources, transparency of funding and organization, transparency of methodology, and a commitment to open and honest corrections,” the webiste stated.

The most recent accreditation to Alt News was granted on 26th April 2019 which ended on the corresponding date the following year. The accreditation granted by IFCN remains valid for a duration of one year. Interestingly, IFCN reported that Alt News, might have possibly contravened a clause of the its code, in June 2019. The provision that Alt News could have breached pertains to the organization’s nonpartisanship policy.

The former was notified on 7th June by a netizen that Pratik Sinha, Alt News’s co-founder, was violating the neutrality regulation. Pratik Sinha had confirmed his association with Jan Sangharsh Manch, a civil rights outfit founded by his late father Mukul Sinha, in his X profile. Notably, it has since been removed from there. Furthermore, it was highlighted that Jan Sangharsh Manch has organized political events and is linked to the political party referred to as the New Socialist Movement. It is also known for its stance against the ruling party in India.

How non-partisan is IFCN 

The IFCN claims to be a global consortium of organizations focused on combating false information across mass media and social media platforms. However, a review of their dubious history unveiled otherwise. IFCN had indicated that it was investigating possible infractions by Alt News, in 2019 after it was discovered that its founder, Pratik Sinha, along with directors Nirjhari Sinha and Murlidhar Deomurari are associated with the Jan Sangharsh Manch. Furthermore, the leadership of the Jan Sangharsh Manch played a pivotal role in founding the New Socialist Movement, which was registered as a political party with the Election Commission in 2007.

Afterward, Baybars Orsek, the director of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), announced that they had posed a series of inquiries to Alt News and alleged that there was no basis for any further action after evaluating the responses. It appeared that IFCN did not make any attempts to verify the explanation presented by the platform. A brief investigation would have easily exposed the narrative it was attempting to establish. However, the primary purpose of the entire exercise or rather charade was to absolve Alt News of any culpability.

America First Legal (AFL) utilized social media platforms to reveal the collaboration between the Global Engagement Centre (GEC) of the US State Department and private media organizations in disseminating deep state propaganda, in 2023. It obtained documents related to the GEC through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The organization previously initiated legal action against the private entities that allegedly conspired with the US federal government to implement mass surveillance and restrict the free speech of American citizens.

AFL added that numerous conservative Americans were singled out for their statements related to vaccine mandates, election integrity and Covid-19 vaccinations, on social media. It highlighted that GEC of the US State Department is working with ‘fact checkers’ backed by George Soros and associated with IFCN, to shape the global media narrative. AFL stated that the fact-checkers, coordinating with GEC, also recieve money from notable organizations such as Omidyar Network, Google, Facebook and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

OpIndia already shed light on a systematic approach taken by the Left lobby, in 2021, in alliance with their corporate sponsors, to bolster unreliable networks and groups with the intent of commandeering certain narratives to preserve their narrative monopoly. The IFCN serves as a prime example of this strategy, having lauded Alt News, whose founders are known for their extensive record of spreading false information and were its partners. Their ideological affiliations are also well established.

The IFCN-accredited fact-checker Boom Live also demonstrated a propensity for spreading false narratives. It disseminated a conspiracy theory regarding the transfer of Justice Muralidhar shortly after it happened. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 2018 released a substandard research paper that sought to link the rise of fake news to nationalism. They were ultimately forced to retract their story after OpIndia published a series of articles that successfully debunked their findings.

A key reason for the BBC’s inaccuracies was their reliance on biased fact-checkers during their research process. This was a direct result of their dependence on IFCN-accredited fact-checkers. As a result, when researchers utilize IFCN for their studies, they frequently arrive at flawed conclusions, which can lead to the complete withdrawal of their work. While the analysis contained multiple shortcomings, a glaring issue was their reliance on biased sources regarding fake news.

Moreover, IFCN in the past refused accreditation to certain media organizations based solely on political disagreements. OpIndia and Facthunt were denied the same for reasons that clearly reflected a bias. The minimal consideration they give to fact-checking is further illustrated by the behavior of their accredited fact-checkers, who often promote misinformation and misclassify authentic occurrences as false.

Conclusion

IFCN does not serve as a genuine mechanism to combat misinformation. Its primary function appears to be supporting the Left’s influence over public dialogue while masquerading as a defender against fake news. It was particularly troubling that Meta had chosen to collaborate exclusively with IFCN-accredited fact-checkers in its efforts to address misinformation.

More importantly, it is noteworthy that the Poynter Institute, which manages the IFCN, also owns the Tampa Bay Times, a media organization that supported Hillary Clinton in her 2016 presidential campaign. The IFCN, while asserting its role as a non-partisan repository of fact-checking organizations, has a considerable political leaning and a similar duplicity is clearly evident in its actions.

The implications for the credibility of the IFCN are yet to be fully assessed in light of Meta’s recent decision to break off its association with fact-checkers after X. However, no drastic change can be expected as it is designed to support leftist agendas and present their version of truth via preferred fact-checkers. Nonetheless, Meta’s action is perceived as a refreshing step that could yield significant results in countering the left’s misinformation campaign.

At the very least, it will prevent Meta from remaining an echo chamber for leftist propaganda and will provide ordinary citizens with an opportunity to raise their voices. It now remains to be seen whether this same development will also be rolled out in India.

Adani Group collaborates with ISKCON for ‘Mahaprasad Seva’ at Maha Kumbh 2025, to serve meals to devotees during entire duration of the Mela

OpIndia Staff
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Adani Group collaborates with ISKCON for ‘Mahaprasad Seva’ at Maha Kumbh 2025, to serve meals to devotees during entire duration of the Mela

The Adani Group has announced that it has joined hands with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to serve meals to devotees at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj starting next week. The two organisations will offer Mahaprasad Seva to the devotees during the entire duration of the Maha Kumbh Mela, from January 13 to February 26.

Talking about the initiative, Adani group chairman Gautam Adani posted in Hindi on X, saying, “It is my good fortune that in Maha Kumbh, in collaboration with @IskconInc, we are starting ‘Mahaprasad Seva’ for the devotees, in which free food will be provided to lakhs of people with the blessings of Maa Annapurna.”

Gautam Adani met Guru Prasad Swami, the Chairman of ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC), on Thursday in regard to the initiative.

Speaking about the Mahaprasad Seva in collaboration with ISKCON, Adani said, “With the blessings of Maa Annapurna, free food will be provided to lakhs of devotees. Today, I got the opportunity to meet Guru Prasad Swami ji of ISKCON and I deeply experienced the power of dedication towards seva. In the true sense, seva is the highest form of patriotism. Seva is meditation, seva is prayer and seva is God.”

On the other hand, Guru Prasad Swami said, “The Adani Group has always been a shining example of corporate responsibility and social service. What makes Gautam Adani ji outstanding is his humility — he never waits to be called but moves forward to serve selflessly. We are extremely grateful for his contribution. His work inspires us to give back to the society and unite in the service of humanity.”

As per reports, the Mahaprasad Seva will be offered to 50 lakh devotees and the meals will be prepared in two kitchens in and outside the mela area. The food will be distributed at 40 places in the Maha Kumbh area and 2,500 volunteers will be involved in this initiative.

Pakistan’s passport ranked among the weakest in the world, ranked 103rd in Henley Passport Index

ANI
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Pakistan’s passport ranked among the weakest in the world, ranked 103rd in Henley Passport Index

Pakistan’s passport has been ranked among the weakest in the world, securing the 103rd spot in the Henley Passport Index 2025, a significant drop from its position in the previous year, as reported by The News International.

This year, Pakistan shared the same rank as Yemen, offering visa-free access to only 33 countries–starkly contrasting the leading passports globally. The Henley Index, which ranks the passports of 199 countries based on their visa-free travel accessibility, relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), The News International reported.

According to The News International, the passport ranking highlights a concerning reality for Pakistani citizens, with Pakistan now falling behind other nations in terms of global mobility. In comparison, Singapore holds the top spot, with its passport granting visa-free access to 195 countries. Following closely behind are Japan and several European nations, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, which now rank third with access to 192 destinations. Countries like Finland and South Korea, once higher on the list, also dropped a place in the past year.

Iraq (104th), Syria (105th), and Afghanistan (106th) are among the countries with weaker passports than Pakistan. Meanwhile, nations such as Somalia, Nepal, Palestine, and Bangladesh rank just above Pakistan. Somalia holds the 102nd position, only one spot ahead of Pakistan.

The News International reported that in 2024, the Pakistani passport was already ranked as one of the worst globally, positioned at 104th place. However, the 2025 rankings mark a slight improvement, albeit still reflecting limited travel freedom for Pakistani nationals. This low ranking highlights the challenges Pakistani citizens face in accessing global opportunities and raises questions about the country’s diplomatic relations and passport strength.

As the Henley Passport Index underscores the growing divide in global mobility, the Pakistani passport’s poor ranking serves as a reminder of the barriers many face in a world where travel is increasingly seen as a sign of international connectivity and opportunity.

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

UK: Rotherham grooming gang victim turned activist says police asked her to delete posts on child sexual abuse

OpIndia Staff
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UK: Rotherham grooming gang victim turned activist says police asked her to delete posts on child sexual abuse

As the Labour government in the UK is facing the heat after the Pakistani Grooming Gangs scandal resurfaced, the British authorities seem to be making every effort to dodge accountability by suppressing free voices talking about the exploitation of British children that went on for decades.

Recently, a victim of the Rotherham child sexual abuse scandal alleged that she was asked by police authorities to take down her posts about the scandal. Sammy Woodhouse, a 39-year-old woman, posted on X (Twitter) that she was asked by South Yorkshire Police to delete her posts and not to report on Rotherham professionals. She said that the information she posted was received directly from the South Yorkshire Police over 6 months ago yet she was asked to delete it.

Woodhouse is herself a grooming survivor. She fell victim to the grooming gangs in Rotherham at the age of 14 when he met her abuser named Arshid Hussain. At that time, Woodhouse was not aware that Hussain was the ringleader of a drug-dealing criminal gang that abused teenage girls. Hussain groomed Woodhouse and made her believe that he loved her.

However, the relationship soon turned abusive. According to Woodhouse, Hussain used to beat and rape her and even threatened to kill her if she dared tell anyone. He impregnated her at the age of 15. She was only able to escape after Hussain got arrested for an offence. Woodhouse accused police of having a ‘lazy attitude’ when she went to them to report Hussain.

Several victims of the Pakistani Grooming gangs like Sammy Woodhouse have come out with their testimonies accusing police of apathy and inaction in relation to complaints of sexual abuse by the Pakistani Grooming gangs across cities in the UK. The Grooming gangs comprising largely of men of Pakistani descent, were active in several cities of the UK including Rochdale, Rotherham, Oxford, Telford, Leeds, Birmingham, Norwich, Burnley, High Wycombe, Leicester, Dewsbury, Middlesbrough, Peterborough, Bristol, Halifax, Newcastle, Huddersfield, and Hull.

The terror of these grooming gangs that began in the 1980s continues till date. These gangs worked in an organised manner targeting young, impressionable girls. They manipulated them and gained their trust. These innocent girls were then abused by sexual predators en masse and were supplied across chains of abusers.

The grooming gangs sexual abuse scandal has stirred a global debate compelling the ruling Labour Party government to address the issue. The issue caught the global eye after business tycoon Elon Musk, targeted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accusing him of being complicit in the sexual abuse of British children. Musk criticised the British government for failing to act in cases of child sexual abuse.

A bill was introduced by the opposition in Parliament on Thursday demanding an inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal. However, it failed to go through due to a lack of support from the government.

Faridabad: Mutilated body of Hindu youth found, family says Fakruddin, Anwar, Idris and others killed him because he was witness in a rape case

OpIndia Staff
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Faridabad: Mutilated body of Hindu youth found, family says Fakruddin, Anwar, Idris and others killed him because he was witness in a rape case

In Faridabad, the mutilated body of a missing Hindu youth was found on Wednesday, 8 January. The young man’s body was identified as that of a man named Deepak Kumar, who was reported missing by his family since December 16. Deepak’s body was abandoned in the bushes near Sector 62, and as per reports, the body had been badly mutilated and was in a decomposed condition. Some fingers and toes were also missing.

The victim’s family lives in the same Sector 62 area. The victim’s brother Dileep has informed that Deepak was last seen on December 16. They have been searching for him for weeks. Upon information about the body, the family came and confirmed the victim’s identity.

Police spokesperson Yashpal Singh informed that a missing person case had been filed, and police were searching for Deepak since December 16. As of now, Deepak’s body has been sent for postmortem in the Badhshah Khan Civil Hospital.

Deepak was witness in a case involving a minor girl, says family

A copy of the complaint by Deepak’s brother, Dileep, was shared on social media. In the complaint, Dileep has mentioned that he has complained against some persons named Fakruddin, Idris, Anwar, Azad, Sohail, and others. They had an enmity with Deepak because, as per Dileep’s complaint, Deepak was the main witness in a case involving a minor girl where the above persons were accused.

Replying to the post, Faridabad Police stated that they have taken cognisance of the issue and have constituted teams to search for the accused persons.

Some media reports had also reported that Deepak’s body was found beheaded.

Sambhal Jama Masjid committee moves Supreme Court seeking to prevent use of well outside the mosque for Hindu religious purposes

ANI
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Sambhal Jama Masjid committee moves Supreme Court seeking to prevent use of well outside the mosque for Hindu religious purposes

The Committee of Management, Shahi Jama Masjid, Sambhal, on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking direction to the District Magistrate to ensure that the status quo is maintained with respect to the private well situated near the stairs/entrance of the mosque.

The mosque committee urged the top court to issue directions to the DM and not to take any steps/actions with regard to the investigation of the well, and open the well-constructed outside the structure without due permission from this court.

“District Administration, Sambhal is conducting a purported drive to revive old temples and wells in the city with reports indicating that at least 32 old unused temples have been revived and 19 wells have been identified which are being made operational for public prayers/use,” the application stated.

“The District Administration, in its purported drive for the so-called revival of old temples and wells, is giving publicity to the proposed public access being granted to the use of the well, claiming the said wells to have religious significance,” it added.

It also stated that posters have also been put up around Sambhal and near the mosque indicating purportedly the location of historical wells and therein the mosque has been shown as a temple.

The mosque committee said that it has apprehensions and has already given a legal notice on December 16, 2024 to the District Administration in this regard.

“The District Magistrate has stated, as per news reports, that the well is not within the mosque and the interim order passed by this court is only with respect to things inside the mosque. While the petitioner disputes this, what is apparent is that the said private well is situated at the entrance of the mosque and partly inside it, and opening the same for Hindu prayers will result in mischief and disturb the fragile harmony and peace in the area at the moment,” added the application.

Actions of the District Administration are in no manner aimed towards maintaining peace and harmony as directed by this court, although an assurance in this regard was given by the state, as reflected in the order of November 29, 2024, the Mosque Committee said.

The petitioner urged the top court to direct the District Administration to not disturb the status quo as prevailing with regard to the private well of the mosque and not to open the same to Hindu prayers.

In November 2024, the top court had stayed the trial court proceedings in the case, directing it to not to hear the matter until the petition filed by the mosque committee against the survey order is listed in the Allahabad High Court.

Tensions in Sambhal had simmered after the local court ordered a survey of the mosque on November 19. Opposing the court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid people clashed with police, resulting in the death of four persons.

The survey followed a petition filed by some persons in the local court, claiming that the site of the mosque was previously a Harihar temple, dedicated to Kalki, the last incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and built in 1526 after demolishing the temple.

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

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