Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday criticised the Centre’s foreign policy saying the results of frequent foreign travels were seen during and after ‘Operation Sindoor.’ Khera said, "No country called Pakistan a terrorist state." While speaking to ANI, the senior Congress leader said, "The result of our failed foreign policy was seen post-Pahalgam, during Operation Sindoor. No country called Pakistan a terrorist state; this is the result of your failed foreign policy. Then you launched Operation Sindoor, and no country gave a statement in your favour. Now, after Operation Sindoor, Kuwait has lifted visa restrictions on Pakistan. Iran, UAE, and Gulf countries are signing MoUs with Pakistan, and the most shocking thing is that yesterday, Russia signed an MoU with Pakistan to revive its very old steel mill, under which Pakistan will get 2.6 billion dollars from Russia." He added, "This is the result of your failed foreign policy." #WATCH | Delhi: Congress leader Pawan Khera says, "The result of our failed foreign policy was seen post-Pahalgam, during Operation Sindoor. No country called Pakistan a terrorist state; this is the result of your failed foreign policy. Then you launched Operation Sindoor and… pic.twitter.com/alnbvnMGg9 — ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2025 Khera also slammed BJP leader Sambit Patra’s criticism and defended Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and emphasised on Congress's right to question the government. He further said, "The questions asked by Revanth Reddy are the same ones their BJP leaders have been asking. Their senior leader, Subramanian Swamy, is asking these questions. It's the taxpayer's money that the Prime Minister uses to travel across the world. So we have every right to know what the result of your foreign trips is. It's the taxpayers' money with which you empowered the brave Indian Army and forces. Yesterday, the IAF chief said that every project is delayed. Every taxpayer needs to know the answers. Where have you failed?" Earlier in the day, BJP MP Sambit Patra targeted Revanth Reddy for commenting on the destruction of Rafale jets during Operation Sindoor. Speaking during a press conference at BJP headquarters, Patra said, “Yeh jo Pakistan ke Babbar hain, woh Hindustan ke Gabbar hain (These so-called 'Babbar' of Pakistan are actually the 'Gabbar' of Hindustan).” He also questioned Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Revanth Reddy, and Jairam Ramesh for not questioning Pakistan about destroyed airbases and number of terrorists killed. On Thursday, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy highlighted that Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge attended the all-party meeting and encouraged full support to the Centre, and emphasised on fighting with Pakistan and merging Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) with India. (With inputs from ANI)
30 May,2025 06:27 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentDelhi Police Special Cell started questioning the alleged Pakistani spy arrested from Deeg, Rajasthan. Interrogation revealed that the accused spy returned to India one week before the Pahalgam attack. The interrogation so far has revealed that Kasim has received about 2 lakh Pakistani rupees in different instalments from Pakistan in exchange for spying. During the interrogation, Kasim said that he had deleted all the data from the phone. He has said that when the spies started getting caught in India post the Pahalgam attack, he deleted the data from his phone. However, the police will get the phone forensically examined to verify his claims. The police are waiting for the forensic report of his mobile phone to identify his contacts in Pakistan. The police are trying to trace Kasim's call detail record (CDR) to know his contacts in India. According to police sources, Kasim's relatives live in Pakistan. Taking advantage of this, he went to Pakistan and came in contact with Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI. The interrogation revealed that the ISI told Kasim that his brother Anees works for them. ISI asked Kasim to join them like his brother did, as he is a 'Maulvi' and people trust him. As per police sources, his brother is absconding. As per the sources, the accused was given proper training in spying. He was training in making contact with the army and how not to get caught. Post Operation Sindoor, police across states are nabbing Pakistani spies. On May 18, Haryana Police arrested several individuals alleged to perform espionage activities for Pakistan. Among the recent arrests, YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, accused of spying against India, has made the headlines. On May 26, Haryana's Hisar District Court sent Jyoti into judicial custody, and the first hearing of her case is scheduled on June 9. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 May,2025 05:29 PM IST | New Delhi | ANICME3, a tusker that crossed over from Chhattisgarh into the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra earlier this month with another elephant, was sighted near a village close to Saoli Range in Chandrapur district on Thursday, a source from the Maharashtra forest department told mid-day.com. On Friday, both the elephants entered the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), making it the first wild elephant sighting there after more than 50 years. Wildlife Conservationist Sagnik Sengupta, who is also the co-founder of NGO Stripes and Green Earth (SAGE) Foundation, told mid-day.com that on Friday, ME3 was sighted in the Kolsa Range of TATR, close to Pangadi Gate. Sengupta also pointed out that for the past one year, CME3 has been covering new territories, which neither he nor any other elephants did. Last year, the tusker had reached up to Kagaznagar in Telangana. "Since 2024, I have been keeping track of CME3 and it is evident that as he explores nature, he can move to any area without leaving a trace for anyone. Last year, it explored up to Kagaznagar in Telangana and this time the tusker entered the core of Tadoba. Since its entry to Maharashtra on the morning of May 4, it was seen on and off at places, and a couple of days ago, the elephant was seen inside the Gadchiroli town. Though he has caused seven human fatalities, all were chance killings and none deliberate. Even videos show that if he is not disturbed, he will not cause any damage," Sengupta further stated. According to the conservationist, considering the vegetation and availability of water in Tadoba, there are chances that the tusker may stay at the reserve for a few days, but it will definitely return to Gadchiroli and Chattisgarh. "As wild elephants are a new species in the TATR landscape, and given the high tourism, any over-adventurous behaviour by gypsies should be avoided, as it could lead to an unfortunate incident. Monitoring and advising people to maintain distance is now a priority," added Sengupta.
30 May,2025 05:14 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavDefence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday issued a strong warning to Pakistan, saying it would face the full force of the Indian Navy if it engages in any “evil” activity, a statement issued by the Defence PRO said. Speaking aboard India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, Singh praised the Navy’s role in Operation Sindoor and made it clear that India would not hesitate to respond to terrorism. “Operation Sindoor is not just a military action, but India’s frontal assault against terrorism, and if Pakistan resorts to anything evil or unethical, it will, this time, face the firepower and ire of the Indian Navy,” said Singh while addressing officers & sailors onboard India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the Goa coast on May 30. Rajnath Singh called the Indian Navy’s actions a “frontal assault against terrorism” and said the Carrier Battle Group had effectively kept the Pakistani Navy confined to its ports during the operation. “If Pakistan tries anything wrong again, it will face the wrath of the Indian Navy,” he said. The Defence Minister also stated that Pakistan must stop using its soil for terrorist activities and hand over individuals like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, who are both UN-designated terrorists and wanted in India for their role in attacks such as the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He referred to Tahawwur Rana, recently extradited to India, as an example of India’s resolve to bring terrorists to justice, the official statement said. On the subject of dialogue, Rajnath Singh was firm: “If there are to be any talks with Pakistan, it will only be about terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Nothing else.” He praised the Indian Armed Forces for their speed, precision, and coordination during Operation Sindoor. The Indian Air Force targeted terror bases, while the Navy carried out missile and torpedo tests from both the western and eastern coasts within 96 hours of the Pahalgam terror attack, demonstrating India’s preparedness. Rajnath Singh emphasised that the operation was not over, calling it a pause and a warning. “If Pakistan makes the same mistake again, our response will be harsher,” he said, according to the statement. He also stressed India’s readiness in modern warfare, highlighting advances in cyber security, data dominance, and strategic deterrence. Singh said that the Indian Navy is not just a guardian of the Indian Ocean but a growing strategic force, representing India's rise on the global stage. Rajnath Singh was joined on board by the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi; Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh and other senior officials of the Indian Navy.
30 May,2025 05:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday during his visit to Bihar hailed Operation Sindoor. While addressing the people of Bihar, PM Modi emphasised that he had returned to the state only after fulfilling his promise to retaliate and destroy terrorist camps under Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attacks. PM Modi on Friday was addressing a rally in Karakat, Bihar. While he was addressing the public, he said, "Even the name of the land, Sasaram, carries the name of Ram. The people of Sasaram know the customs of Lord Ram. 'Praan jaaye par vachan na jaaye'... Just a day after the dreadful terrorist attack in Pahalgam, I made a promise to the nation from the soil of Bihar that the hideouts of the masters of terrorism would be reduced to dust and that they would face a punishment beyond their imagination. Today, I have come to Bihar. I have returned after fulfilling my promise." Speaking on the Pahalgam terror attack which shook the country, PM Modi pointed out that many innocent civilians had lost their lives in the heinous act of terror unleashed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. PM Modi added that "Pakistan and the world have seen the power of the "sindoor" of daughters of India." Slamming Pakistan while delivering his speech, Modi asserted that the terrorists have always felt safe under the protection of the Pakistan army. However, India had its own way of dealing with them. They were brought to their "knees" by the Indian forces, he added. "The power of 'Sindoor' of the daughters of India... this was seen by Pakistan as well as the world! The terrorists considered themselves safe under the protection of the Pakistani Army... our forces brought them to their knees in one stroke," the Prime Minister said. Along with praising Operation Sindoor and celebrating its success, the Prime Minister also mentioned how administration and defence service personnel are working to counter Naxalism in Bihar and other parts of India. Hailing the centre's fight against Naxalism and red terror, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the day is not far when the Maoist violence will be completely eradicated from the country. The Prime Minister stated that those advocating Naxalism had no confidence in Dr BR Ambedkar, but even in such circumstances, CM Nitish Kumar did his utmost to promote development in Bihar. PM Modi stated that before 2014, 75 districts in India were impacted by Naxalism, which has now been reduced to 18. During his visit to Bihar, he was joined by the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Samrat Chowdhary at the rally. Before addressing the public, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation of multiple development projects worth over Rs 48,520 crore. A major highlight is the foundation stone laying for Stage II (3x800 MW) of the Nabinagar Super Thermal Power Project in Aurangabad district, valued at over Rs 29,930 crore. The project is expected to significantly boost electricity generation, industrial development, and employment in the region. PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for key road infrastructure initiatives, including the four-laning of the Patna-Arrah-Sasaram section of NH-119A, six-laning of the Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata highway (NH-319B), the Ramnagar-Kacchi Dargah stretch (NH-119D), and a new Ganga bridge between Buxar and Bharauli. In addition, he has inaugurated the four-laning of the Patna-Gaya-Dobhi section of NH-22 and road upgrades at Gopalganj Town on NH-27. In the rail sector, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation the third rail line between Son Nagar and Mohammad Ganj, constructed at a cost of over Rs Rs1,330 crore, aimed at enhancing rail capacity and regional connectivity. On Thursday, PM Modi held a roadshow in Patna on Thursday evening. People were present in large numbers and greeted him enthusiastically. PM Modi waved to people, many of whom were carrying the Tricolour. They also raised slogans. People, having their homes along the route, came to the rooftops and balconies to have a glimpse of PM Modi. PM Modi also took part in the inauguration of the New Terminal Building of Jayprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna on Thursday evening. In the inauguration ceremony, he was accompanied by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Minister of Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu. Built at a cost of around Rs 1,200 crore, the terminal which has been inaugurated by the Prime Minister will cater to one crore passengers annually. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of the new civil enclave at Bihta Airport, a Rs 1,410 crore project aimed at serving the rapidly expanding educational and residential areas near Patna. (With ANI Inputs)
30 May,2025 04:31 PM IST | Karakat | mid-day online correspondentThe Supreme Court (SC) of India on Monday directed that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for postgraduation programme (NEET- PG) be conducted in a single shift instead of two shifts. This verdict overturned the earlier decision of the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to conduct the exams in two shifts on June 15, reported PTI. A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Sanjay Kumar, and NV Anjaria stressed that conducting the examination in two shifts could lead to ‘arbitrariness’. Both the question papers could differ as they cannot have the same level of difficulties, developing potential disadvantages for some candidates, the court stated. "Any two question papers can never be said to be having an identical level of difficulty or ease,” the bench said. The decision comes in response to multiple petitions filed by the United Doctors Front (UDF) and other aspiring candidates, who argued that the two-shift format is unfair as the difficulty of the question paper will differ, creating complexities of scores. The petitioners emphasised that such format will prioritise ‘luck factor’ over merit. The NBE justified that the two-shift plan will reduce the logistical challenges, which includes the reduction of examination centres from 1,000 to 450. This reduced number of exam centres follows the 2024 recommendation of the committee to conduct exams in government and TCS-approved centres. The apex court dismissed this justification, stating that with over two weeks remaining before exam date, NBA has sufficient time to implement the arrangements for a single-shift examination. "We are not ready to accept that in the entire country and considering the technological advancements, the examining body could not find enough centers to hold the examination in one shift,” the court observed. Additionally, the bench has directed NBE to maintain transparency in the examination process. This includes identifying secure centres and maintaining fairness for all candidates. The NEET-PG 2025 exam is scheduled to be held on June 15, and the registered candidates will get their admit cards on June 2. The results are anticipated by July 15. The Supreme Court verdict is an effort to develop transparency and fairness in the medical entrance examinations. Earlier, the court had directed to publish raw scores and answer keys to prevent malpractices such as seat blocking. (With inputs from PTI)
30 May,2025 03:35 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentOn Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Rekha Gupta, asserting India's firm stance against terrorism, said that Operation Sindoor would continue with full force, warning that any threat to the nation would be met with a "befitting reply,” reported news agency ANI. Speaking at the Tiranga Shaurya Samman Yatra held at Kartavya Path, Gupta described the moment as one of national pride. The yatra was held to honour the sacrifices and valour of India's armed forces and redefine the nation's resolve against terrorism and external threats. "It is a matter of pride for us. Operation Sindoor is not going to stop. If the terrorists raise their eyes on us, our armed forces, our government, and Prime Minister Modi are ready to give them a befitting reply,” Gupta further said. Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, lost their lives. In a swift and decisive retaliation, the Indian forces eliminated over 100 terrorists across the border in Pakistan. Though Pakistan launched a counteroffensive, India responded with force, leading to a ceasefire and reasserting its defence posture. Delhi Minister Ashish Sood, who also participated in the yatra, said, "The precision with which our armed forces have destroyed the terrorist sites in Pakistan under the leadership of PM Modi, the entire country is proud of them. The entire country is standing with them." Another Delhi Minister, Kapil Mishra, who participated in the yatra, said, "Ghar ke andar ghus kar maarne ka nirnay poori duniya mein keval ek vyakti ne kiya hai aajtak, voh hai PM Modi. We are celebrating the valour of the armed forces and PM Modi." Speaking to ANI, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh said the entire country is standing with the armed forces. "Today, PM Modi reached Adampur and encouraged our armed forces. The world is acknowledging the strength of our forces," he stated. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, and other senior leaders and workers also joined the yatra in the national capital. In a major public outreach, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a nationwide Tiranga Yatra on Tuesday to honour the valour of Indian soldiers and inform citizens about Operation Sindoor's recent success. BJP's 'Tiranga Yatra', which commenced today, will continue till May 23. According to party sources, ex-servicemen, social workers, and prominent public figures will lead the marches in various states, underscoring the message of unity, patriotism, and national pride. On May 12, BJP President JP Nadda held a key strategy meeting at the party headquarters with the general secretaries and senior party leaders on the yatra. Sambit Patra, Vinod Tawde, and Tarun Chugh have been tasked with coordinating the campaign across regions. Moreover, BJP officials also plan to hold press conferences across the country and engage social media influencers to amplify the campaign's message digitally and reach younger audiences, reported ANI. Through the Tiranga Yatra, the BJP aims to remind citizens of India its resolute stand against terrorism and foster a deeper sense of nationalism and unity across the country. The Tiranga Yatra campaign kicked off in Delhi with a symbolic march featuring a 108-foot-tall national flag. It began at Kartavya Path and will conclude at the National War Memorial, with thousands, including BJP workers, citizens, NGOs, RWAs, religious leaders, and social organisations gathered to pay tribute to soldiers and the armed forces. (With inputs from ANI)
30 May,2025 03:13 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIndia on Thursday once again made it clear that talks with Pakistan can only happen if it stops cross-border terrorism.New Delhi's comments came in response to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressing willingness to hold peace talks with India to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, terrorism, water and trade. "We would like to reiterate that terrorism and talks cannot go together," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing. His assertion came when asked about Sharif's comments in Tehran this week that Pakistan wants to hold peace talks with India.Jaiswal also emphasised that India will only hold talks with Pakistan on the issues of handing over of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and on terrorism. Pakistan needs to hand over to India the terrorists, whose list we submitted to them some years ago, he said."As far as the Indus Water Treaty is concerned, it will remain in abeyance till the time Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support to cross-border terrorism just like Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: 'terror and talks cannot go together, terror and trade cannot go together, and water and blood cannot flow together." India on April 23 announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.The measures were announced a day after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. India carried out precision strikes on nine terror infrastructures early on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Pakistani attempts were strongly responded to by the Indian side by inflicting heavy damages to a number of key Pakistani military installations including air bases, air defence systems, command and control centres and radar sites. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on May 10 announced that India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
30 May,2025 02:51 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe states of Punjab and Haryana will conduct state-wide civil defence exercise on Saturday as part of the nationwide initiative known as "Operation Shield," as announced by officials on Friday. These drills will incorporate sirens, blackouts, and emergency scenarios, all designed to assess the preparedness of local authorities and citizens in the event of attacks or disasters, according to the news agency ANI. Punjab's Special Director General of Police, Sanjeev Kalra, stated that the exercise would encompass all districts and simulate large-scale emergencies commencing at 6 pm. "The drill is a part of Operation Shield and is being conducted in all districts of the bordering states on the Western border. The civil defence exercise will be conducted by 6 pm on Saturday," Kalra stated, reported news agency ANI. He added that a detailed meeting had already been held with the district administrations to prepare for the exercise. As part of the drill, sirens will be sounded and blackouts will be enforced to mimic real-life emergency conditions. "Blackout measures, rescue measures and fire services are a part of the drill. The representatives of the armed forces will also be involved in it," Kalra informed, reported ANI. In neighbouring Haryana, similar preparations are being made. Haryana Joint Secretary Sunita Mishra said that civil defence exercise will begin at 5 pm on Saturday and follow guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). A total of 32,000 volunteers will take part across the state. "The mock drill will be conducted throughout Haryana on 31st May. We will also be following the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The drill will prepare us for any future contingencies. 32,000 volunteers will also participate in the drill. We are training and briefing these volunteers. The activities will be done after 5 pm," she said, reported ANI. Earlier, the civil defence drill, scheduled for May 29, has been postponed due to administrative reasons. However, the dates for the same are yet to be announced. A statement released by the Gujarat Information Department read, "It is hereby intimated that the Civil Defence Exercise 'Operation Shield', which was planned to be held on May 29, 2025, is hereby postponed due to administrative reasons. It is requested that necessary directions to all the Controllers of Civil Defence and other stakeholders may be issued accordingly. Next dates for the exercise shall be issued subsequently." Additionally, the civil defence exercise has also been postponed in Rajasthan and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, according to ANI. Earlier on Wednesday, as per the orders from the Government of India and under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, a civil defence exercise was scheduled to be conducted in Gujarat on Thursday at 5:00 PM. Regarding the Operation Shield drill, Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department (Gujarat), Jayanti Ravi, on Wednesday, virtually reviewed preparations made by the district administration. Along with this, she also gave necessary instructions to all the District Collectors for the successful implementation of a drill. Further, Jayanti Ravi said that during this exercise, various actions like ensuring the readiness of the local administration regarding civil security; taking the services of young volunteers like NCC, NSS, Bharat Scout and Guide; setting up a hotline between the Air Force and the Civil Security Control Room regarding enemy aircraft and missile attacks; activating the air raid siren; ensuring complete darkness and ensuring public safety and their property will be taken. Operation Sindoor targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including one Nepalese national. (With ANI inputs)
30 May,2025 02:45 PM IST | Chandigarh | mid-day online correspondentA court in Uttarakhand has convicted all the three accused in the high-profile Ankita Bhandari murder case, news agency ANI reported. The Additional District and Sessions Judge Court Kotdwar found Pulkit Arya and his associates, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, guilty under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 354A (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. The verdict follows a thorough trial in the case. Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at a resort in Rishikesh was brutally murdered in 2022, triggering widespread outrage across the Himalayan state.The sentencing is yet to be scheduled, with the prosecution pushing for the maximum punishment, reported ANI.Meanwhile, the victim's mother, Soni Devi, broke down while speaking to ANI, and urged the people of Uttarakhand to continue supporting the family and demanding capital punishment for the accused.“May the criminals be sentenced to death...I appeal to the public of Uttarakhand to keep on supporting us and come to the Kotdwar court to boost our morale," she said.The victim, a resident of the Pauri district, was employed in Vanantra Resort. Arya, who is the resort’s owner, along with Bhaskar and Gupta, had murdered Bhandari by pushing her into the barrage.Her was recovered from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh on September 24, 2022, six days after she was reported missing. A special investigation team (SIT) headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police P Renuka Devi was initially probing the case.The first hearing in the case began on January 30, 2023, in the Kotdwar Court. Following the SIT probe, a 500-page charge sheet in the case was filed in the court by the prosecution. After the charges were framed against Arya, Bhaskar, and Gupta, the testimony of the prosecution started from March 28, 2023.The SIT had made 97 witnesses in this case, of which only 47 important ones were produced in the court. In the hearing that lasted for about two years and eight months, the witnesses, including the investigator, were examined in the court on behalf of the prosecution. (With ANI inputs)
30 May,2025 02:36 PM IST | Kotdwar | mid-day online correspondentThe Delhi High Court on Friday refused to grant interim bail to Arvind Dham in a money laundering case in view of allegations against him. He has been in custody since July 2024. His regular bail has been pending before the High Court since February 2025. The Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s allegation is that there are multiple thousand crores of proceeds of crime. Justice Ravinder Dudeja refused to grant interim bail, given the seriousness of the allegations levelled against him. However, the court has expedited the bail hearing and listed the matter on July 15. Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa submitted that Dham should be granted interim bail during the pendency of his petition, which has been pending since February 2025. He has been in custody for the past 11 months and has a history of medical illness. Special counsel Zoheb Hossain opposed the submissions made on behalf of the accused. Special public prosecutor (SPP) Manish Jain, along with Snehal Shard, appeared for the ED. The bench refused to grant him the relief. Dham was arrested in July 2024 by the ED in a money laundering case linked to alleged bank fraud. Earlier, the CBI had registered a case against the Amtek group. There are allegations of bank fraud of around Rs. 20,000 crores. On June 20, 2024, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at 35 places in Delhi, NCR, and Maharashtra against Amtek Group in connection with a huge bank fraud case involving more than Rs 20,000 crores in several listed companies. These companies were finally taken over in an NCLT proceeding at a nominal price, leaving a consortium of banks with a nominal recovery. Raids were conducted across Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai and Nagpur under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Amtek Group led by Arvind Dham, Gautam Malhotra and others. The alleged fraud led to a massive loss to the exchequer of approximately Rs 10-15 thousand crores, said the ED. ED investigation started based on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) First Information Report (FIR) in one of the group entities, ACIL Limited, and as per the Supreme Court's directions to investigate the fraud. Further, ED said its investigation revealed that loan funds were siphoned off to invest in real estate, foreign investment, and new ventures. As per the agency, fictitious sales, capital assets, debtors and profit were shown in group concerns to get more loans so that it doesn't get NPA. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 May,2025 02:02 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIADVERTISEMENT
