Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out fresh searches on Friday in Maharashtra’s Nashik district as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation involving controversial self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, reported the PTI. Officials stated that a property linked to Kharat in Sharanpur town was raided, where documents and electronic devices are currently under scrutiny. This marks the second phase of action after initial searches on April 13 across residential and commercial premises tied to Kharat, his chartered accountant Prakash Pophale, family members, and several cooperative credit societies. During those operations, authorities seized Rs 42 lakh in cash and froze assets worth Rs 2.4 crore. The ownership of these assets remains unclear, according to the PTI. The ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on April 6, based on a Nashik police FIR. The charges include extortion, religious exploitation, and alleged drug-facilitated sexual assault involving multiple women, the news agency reported. SIT probe and multiple FIRs According to the PTI, the Maharashtra government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine both criminal allegations and financial irregularities linked to Kharat. Police have filed around a dozen FIRs so far, pointing to a widening investigation. Kharat was arrested in March by Nashik police following allegations by a married woman who accused him of repeated sexual assault over three years. He is currently lodged in a Nashik jail. Modus operandi Investigators revealed that Kharat allegedly operated multiple bank accounts in the names of third parties through cooperative credit societies. He reportedly listed himself as the nominee and linked his mobile number to control transactions, as per the PTI. The officials stated that he sold ordinary items marketed as “blessed” or spiritually empowered products, falsely promising healing powers. Funds collected from such activities, along with alleged extortion proceeds, were reportedly channelled into land investments via his chartered accountant, the news agency reported. Allegations of exploitation According to the SIT, Kharat exploited women by claiming supernatural abilities, allegedly threatening harm to their families or reputational damage if they resisted. These claims form a central part of the ongoing investigation. The case has triggered political controversy in Maharashtra, with images of Kharat alongside prominent political figures and alleged videos of misconduct circulating widely online. (with PTI inputs)
17 April,2026 01:35 PM IST | Nashik | mid-day online correspondentThe Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed states and Union Territories to step up action against the use of illegal chemicals for ripening fruits. The move comes amid concerns over the continued use of harmful substances like calcium carbide in markets. Ban on calcium carbide reiterated FSSAI has once again made it clear that the use of calcium carbide commonly known as “masala” is strictly banned for ripening fruits such as mangoes, bananas, and papayas in a post on X. FSSAI has ordered strict enforcement across states to intensify action against illegal fruit ripening agents, reiterating that the use of calcium carbide for artificial ripening of fruits such as mangoes, bananas & papayas is strictly prohibited. pic.twitter.com/OJ6JBqRn7u — FSSAI (@fssaiindia) April 16, 2026 The authority warned that this chemical can cause serious health issues, including difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, and skin ulcers. It is prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. Nationwide inspections to be intensified with strict actions To enforce the ban, FSSAI has asked all Commissioners of Food Safety and Regional Directors to increase inspections at fruit markets, mandis, storage facilities, and distribution centres. Special drives will be conducted, especially during the peak season of fruits, to ensure that traders are not using banned substances. Officials have also been told that the presence of calcium carbide near fruit stocks can be treated as evidence for legal action against food business operators. Enforcement teams can also use strip paper tests to detect acetylene gas in storage areas and ripening chambers. In addition, FSSAI warned against the use of synthetic colours and wax on fresh produce, which can also pose health risks. Concerns over misuse of ripening chemicals The authority also raised concerns about the misuse of ethephon solutions. While ethylene gas is allowed as a safe ripening agent under controlled conditions, some traders are directly dipping fruits in chemical solutions, which is unsafe and not permitted. FSSAI guidelines clearly state that fruits and vegetables should not come in direct contact with ethylene in liquid or powder form. The main reason behind the strict vigilance: Consumer safety The crackdown aims to ensure that fruits reaching consumers are safe and free from harmful chemicals. FSSAI has urged strict vigilance across the supply chain to prevent unsafe practices and protect public health.
17 April,2026 01:23 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at the residence of Punjab minister and MLA Sanjeev Arora, his son Kavya Arora, and his two business partners across Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab in connection with an ongoing investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Officials said the raids have been underway since early Friday, covering 13 premises in Haryana's Gurugram, Chandigarh, and Punjab's Ludhiana and Jalandhar. The raids covered residences and offices of Sanjeev Arora, his business partners Hemanth Sood of Ludhiana and Chandrasekhar Aggarwal of Jalandhar. UPDATE | Punjab | The Enforcement Directorate is conducting searches at 13 premises under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jalandhar. The raids covered residences and offices of Punjab MLA and Minister Sanjeev Arora, his business… https://t.co/D6cLPKB1nK — ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2026 According to officials, Arora is the promoter of Hampton Sky Realty Ltd, a firm engaged in large-scale real estate and infrastructure projects in Punjab. His son, Kavya Arora, who currently serves as the managing director, is also under the scanner, with searches being conducted at his premises. Investigators are examining allegations of multiple financial irregularities linked to the company, including illegal land-use changes, inflated and fraudulent sales bookings to manipulate share prices, insider trading, and the alleged round-tripping of funds from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Officials said Hemanth Sood, who runs a financial investment and stockbroker company, Findoc Finvest Private Limited, in Ludhiana, Gurgaon and Gujarat GIFT city, partnered with Sanjeev Arora and assisted him in the round tripping of his ill-got funds from the UAE and also in generating proceeds of crime from insider trading. Hemant Sood is also alleged to have assisted many more betting operators and hawala operators in laundering the crime money and round-tripping the same into India through the Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) route. They further pointed out that Chandra Sekhar Aggarwal, a Jalandhar-based businessman, originally started as a cricket bookie and later expanded his operations to hawala operations and started a bookie and betting platform by the name Khiladi Book and cheated thousands of poor people through betting platforms. "Chandra Sekhar Aggarwal's crime proceeds generated and parked in the UAE have also been brought back into India through Findoc and invested in real estate through Sanjeev Arora." Sanjeev Arora, officials said, is suspected to have been giving protection to the illegal betting operators in Punjab, through his political influence, to get a share of their profits and also using his companies and multiple entry operators to convert their unaccounted money into legitimate investments and thereby actively assisting in money laundering. They also added that Sanjeev Arora's companies are also under scanner for booking multiple fake export bills and round-tripping funds from the UAE, and also booking fake purchases from non-existing GST entities. 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.
17 April,2026 12:51 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIIn an effort to spotlight the rich yet overlooked reptile diversity of the northern Western Ghats, the Mhadei Research Center, on Friday, April 17, has unveiled a new poster titled ‘Some Endemic Snakes of Northern Western Ghats of India’. This initiative by the Mhadei Research Center aims to raise awareness about lesser-known snake species endemic to the Sahyadri ranges, a region globally recognised for its ecological significance. The northern Western Ghats, spanning parts of Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka, are considered a biodiversity hotspot, home to species found nowhere else in the world. Awareness about 18 uncommon snake species The newly released poster focuses on 18 such endemic and uncommon snake species found across the Sahyadris, covering key landscapes in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. These include protected areas such as Mollem National Park in Goa, Kali Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and Tillari Conservation Reserve in Maharashtra, along with other crucial habitats like Mhadei, Netravali, Bhimgad, Sharavti and Cotigao wildlife sanctuaries, and biodiversity-rich pockets such as Chorla, Amboli, Dodamarg and Karwar. Nirmal Kulkarni, herpetologist and director of the Mhadei Research Center, while briefing about reptile awareness, said, “Endemism refers to species that are restricted to a particular geographical region and are not found elsewhere. These snakes are an important part of the ecosystem but often remain overlooked.” He added, “This poster is a first step towards acknowledging the diversity that exists in these landscapes. We have included only 18 species that currently require urgent conservation attention.” The poster forms part of a wider awareness campaign and will be distributed across educational institutions, forest department offices, local panchayats and among snake rescuer networks. Supported by the Upadhaya Foundation, the project is the outcome of a year-long survey focusing on snake diversity and human-snake interactions in the region. Photographs featured in the poster have been contributed by Nirmal Kulkarni, Vikas Kumar, Daimler Pereira and Suchismita Sahu.
17 April,2026 12:32 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavWith the West Asia conflict now standing at a very critical stage, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty on Friday were trading in positive territory during the early hours. The indices on April 17 were supported by optimism around easing geopolitical tensions and fresh foreign fund inflows. Experts, while expressing their views on the market situation amid the ceasefire, said that the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has added to markets' optimism, with expectations that this could pave the way for renewed US-Iran negotiations, as per PTI. Sensex climbs 177 points The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 177.52 points to 78,166.20 in early trade. Whereas the 50-share NSE Nifty advanced 37.4 points to 24,234.15. Considering that the Sensex declined 122.56 points or 0.16 per cent to settle at 77,988.68 on April 16, Thursday, the marginal gain on Friday signifies that the dynamics of the stock market could remain highly volatile for the next few days. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 382.36 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data. Top gainers and losers While the market indices on Friday rose marginally, ITC, Adani Ports, Maruti, Trent, Power Grid and Hindustan Unilever were among the major winners. On the other hand, HCL Tech, Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance and ICICI Bank were among the laggards. Global markets In Asian markets, South Korea's benchmark Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were trading lower. Whereas the US markets on Thursday ended marginally higher. Expert Opinion V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited, said. "The resilience of the mother market, the US, and positive news relating to a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon bode well for the market." Hariprasad K., while speaking on the current market situation, said, "While US indices continue to scale record highs, supported by optimism around easing geopolitical tensions, Asian markets have opened lower, reflecting a more cautious interpretation of the same developments.” Wall Street extended its rally, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closing at fresh highs on the back of improving sentiment around a potential resolution in the Middle East, he said. An expert further added, "Reports of a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon have added to optimism, with expectations that this could pave the way for renewed US-Iran negotiations. However, Asian markets appear less convinced, trading lower as investors remain wary of how durable these developments are, especially given the fragile nature of geopolitical agreements in the region," as per PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
17 April,2026 12:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA man admitted to Kailash Deepak Hospital in Delhi's Anand Vihar was rescued after he climbed onto the ledge of a fifth-floor balcony and threatened to jump on Friday morning, Delhi Fire Service (DFS) officials said. Visuals from the scene showed the man perched on the ledge of the balcony, with a crowd gathered below. A person was also seen attempting to talk to the patient from a nearby window. It was not immediately known why the man was threatening to jump. There was no official word from the hospital authorities or police. "A call was received at 8.40 am, following which a fire tender was rushed to the spot," a DFS official said. The hospital staff, along with bystanders, tried to persuade the patient to come down. He was finally brought down after over half an hour, the official said. 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.
17 April,2026 11:46 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIDelhi Police on Thursday arrested a man for allegedly defrauding more than 500 women across the country of nearly Rs 2 crore, news agency ANI reported. The accused duped the victims by targeting them through dating and matrimonial applications, officers said. According to the Cyber Police of the South-West District, the accused has been identified as Anand Kumar, a resident of West Bengal. Officers further stated that he had been involved in honey-trapping, romance scams, and blackmailing for a considerable period. Police said that the accused created multiple fake accounts across social media platforms, posing as a doctor, businessman, or film producer, to gain the trust of women, ANI reported. A police officer said, "He would establish emotional connections with the victims by promising love and marriage. Later, he would fabricate stories such as medical emergencies, business losses, or urgent financial needs to extract money." In several instances, Kumar also allegedly blackmailed victims by threatening to circulate their private photos and videos online. He targeted over 500 women and cheated them of approximately Rs 2 crore over time, reported ANI, quoting the police. A victim's complaint, alleging a loss of around Rs 7 lakh, brought the case to light. Soon thereafter, the authorities traced and arrested Kumar from the 24 Parganas area of West Bengal using technical surveillance and digital tracking. While further investigation into the case is still underway, the authorities have recovered four mobile phones, eight SIM cards, debit cards, and gold jewellery from his possession. Delhi Police bust investment fraud racket Delhi Police, in coordination with Shahdara Cyber Police, busted an investment fraud racket involving Rs 10 lakh on April 11. Three accused, identified as Sumit, Sandeep, and Kamal Kumar, were arrested for allegedly luring people through WhatsApp groups with promises of high stock market returns. As per officers, the complainant was contacted in December 2025 and cheated of around Rs 10 lakh. After receiving the money, the accused neither provided any returns nor refunded the amount. The victim was later blocked from all communication platforms. During the investigation, the police traced bank accounts and digital transactions through technical analysis. Subsequently, raids were conducted in the Rohini area, leading to the arrest of three accused. (With inputs from ANI)
17 April,2026 10:07 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentDoctor, lawyer, film producer, model, businessman — behind many online personas is a 35-year-old man who allegedly duped over 500 women across the country of more than Rs 2 crore by using fake social media or dating app profiles, emotional stories and promises of marriage to lure victims into his trap. The accused, Anand Kumar, was arrested by a team of southwest cyber police for allegedly running an organised network of romance scams, honey-trapping and online blackmail targeting women through dating and matrimonial platforms, DCP (Southwest) Amit Goel said. 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
17 April,2026 09:51 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesPakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group’s co-founder Amir Hamza suffered bullet injuries in an attack by motorcycle-borne unidentified gunmen in Lahore on Thursday, police said. Hamza is regarded as LeT’s second in command after its chief Hafiz Saeed, who has been imprisoned 2019. 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
17 April,2026 09:45 AM IST | Lahore | AgenciesA team of Madhya Pradesh Police on Thursday reached Kochi to probe the marriage of a young woman (Mona Lisa) who came into the limelight during the Kumbh Mela and later married her friend, Mohammad Farman. The parents of the girl claimed that she is only aged 16 and registered a case Madhya Pradesh against Farman. 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
17 April,2026 09:37 AM IST | Kochi | AgenciesTamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday burnt a copy of the delimitation Bill and dubbed it a “black law”, alleging it seeks to make the Tamil people “refugees” in their own land. Stalin hoisted a black flag and burnt a copy of the Bill circulated by the Union government and raised slogans condemning the move. “Poradavom, Velvom ondraga” [Let us struggle, win together] was among the slogans raised by Stalin and others clad in black. The DMK, headed by Stalin, said that it will move the Supreme Court against the delimitation bill, if it is passed in the Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that no state — big or small, north or south, or east or west — will be discriminated against in the delimitation of constituencies.
17 April,2026 09:30 AM IST | Chennai | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
-1776412132930_d.png "Traders face action for using banned chemicals on fruits. Representational Image")
-1776410295268_d.png "Punjab minister and MLA Sanjeev Arora. PIC/X")
-1776406431265_d.png "Crowd watches as man stands on fifth-floor ledge in Delhi hospital. Representational Image")
