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New India Co-operative Bank scam probe unearths NPAs
More than 2000 accounts linked to the New India Cooperative Bank scam have turned into non-performing assets (NPAs), the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has said. EOW conducted a preliminary enquiry into these NPA accounts following a complaint by an account holder. The complainant alleges that nearly R400 crore worth of loans have turned into NPAs. This revelation comes in addition to the Rs 122 crore embezzlement case, in which the EOW has already arrested seven individuals. The fresh probe into the NPA accounts has unearthed shocking claims — that loans were allegedly granted to ineligible individuals by former Vice Chairman Hiren Bhanu and his wife, Gauri Bhanu, who is the acting Chairman. The Bhanu couple, who are wanted in the Rs 122 crore scam, are currently believed to be abroad. EOW sources confirmed that one such account from 2014 has officially turned into an NPA. Their investigation spans accounts from 2010 to 2024. According to the complainant, the Bhanus allegedly approved dubious loans in exchange for hefty commissions. Initially, the EOW’s focus was solely on the Rs 122 crore fraud. However, after receiving the complaint about the NPA accounts, the agency has expanded the scope of its investigation. “We will investigate whether rules were violated in granting these loans, which significantly affected the bank’s financial health. We plan to register an FIR in this case,” said an EOW officer. What are NPAs? An NPA (or non-performing asset) is a loan or advance overdue for more than 90 days. It becomes a non-performing asset as it stops generating income for the bank. RBI adopted the 90-day rule in 2004 to align with global standards. NPAs are further classified based on how long payments have been overdue. Source: groww.in
10 April,2025 07:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan
50-year-old builder shot at by two bike-borne assailants in Mumbai
An incident of firing has been reported from the Chembur area of Mumbai on Wednesday, in which a Navi Mumbai builder has sustained injuries. The incident took place at the Diamond Garden signal, within the jurisdiction of Chembur Police Station, at 9.50 pm. According to the police, two bike-borne assailants shot at 50-year-old Sadruddin Khan, a resident of Parsik Hill, Belapur, when he was traveling towards Panvel on the Sion-Panvel highway. Khan has been admitted to Zen Hospital, and his condition is reported to be stable, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 6) Navnath Dhavale said.
09 April,2025 10:47 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan
Maharashtra
Elderly woman killed after car driven by doctor crashes into her at hospital
An elderly woman was killed after a car driven by doctor crashed into her at a hospital in Boisar area of Palghar district in Maharashtra, the police said on Wednesday. According to the police, the 73-year-old woman, identified as Chayalata Vishwanath Aarekar, lost her life in an accident at Taps Hospital in Boisar on Wednesday morning. The incident took place at around 7:30 am, and the car involved was driven by Dr. R.K Das, a hospital doctor, the officials said. The police said that Chayalata had gone to the hospital to accompany her husband for treatment. The doctor told the police that while trying to apply the brake, he mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead, causing the car to hit the woman. The entire accident was captured on the hospital’s CCTV camera. WarningA 73-year-old woman lost her life in an accident inside TAPS Hospital in Boisar, Mumbai, on Wednesday morning. The vehicle involved was being driven by a doctor, who has since been arrested by the Tarapur police. The woman had accompanied her husband to the hospital for… pic.twitter.com/ghNNTBxa6n — Mid Day (@mid_day) April 9, 2025 Police confirmed that the doctor was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. Following the incident, the Tarapur police arrested Dr. Das and have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident, an official said.
09 April,2025 07:02 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish Vaktania
Thane court sentences man to 20 years in jail for raping minor girl
A Thane district court in Maharashtra has convicted a man and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl in 2019, reported the PTI. According to the PTI, in his order on Tuesday, District Judge and Additional Sessions Judge NK Karande at Bhiwandi court convicted the 30-year-old accused, under relevant sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on him. In the order, the judge noted that the prosecution has successfully proved all charges against the accused, a resident of Bhiwandi town, beyond reasonable doubts. During hearing, Special Public Prosecutors Vijay Munde and Kadambini Khandagale told the court the accused barged into the home the 14-year-old girl on August 22, 2019, when she was alone, and raped her at knife point and fled, as per the PTI. This was the second sexual assault on the girl by the accused with the first one taking place eight days ago, they told the court, quoting the complaint filed by the victim. Advocates Munde and Khandagale told the media that five witnesses, including the victim, her mother and grandmother, were examined by the court in the case to prove charges against the accused, the news agency reported. After the end of the trial, the court pronounced the accused guilty and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. Five men get 20 years in jail for gangrape of mentally unwell 16-year-old girl in Mumbai In an another case, last month, five persons were sentenced on Friday to 20 years in jail for raping a 16-year-old mentally unwell girl in Mumbai, according to the PTI. Special Judge MH Pathan convicted the five accused for gangrape under provisions of Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The reasoned order has not been made available as yet. The girl had gone missing on October 21, 2016 after which a probe began following the registration of a missing person case, the prosecution said, as per the PTI. After being traced four days later, the girl told police she was raped by the accused multiple times. The girl got pregnant and had to undergo an abortion, the prosecution said. The victim was first sexually assaulted by one of the accused, a rickshaw driver who was known to her. Later, the accused kidnapped the victim and raped her repeatedly between October 21, 2016 to October 25, 2106 near Marve Beach, as per the prosecution, the PTI reported. (with PTI inputs)
09 April,2025 03:10 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
No vindictive action taken against anyone for re-sharing Kunal Kamra video: HC
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said the Maharashtra government has not taken vindictive action against any person for re-sharing or re-uploading stand-up comic Kunal Kamra's video in which he indirectly passed a "traitor" jibe at Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice M S Karnik made the observation while refusing to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a 25-year-old law student questioning the government's action against Kamra and also the Mumbai hotel where the controversial comedy show was shot. The court also noted the aggrieved person (Kamra) has already filed a petition in the HC seeking to quash the FIR lodged against him at a Mumbai police station over his critical comments against Shinde, who heads the ruling Shiv Sena. "The person aggrieved is before this court. He is not poor or illiterate. Why are you (present PIL petitioner) fighting his cause? He has taken action for relief," the HC observed. The PIL, filed by law student Harshwardhan Khandekar, contended filing FIRs against a comedian for expressing his political views was violative of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. His lawyer Amit Katarnwaware said several politicians belonging to a party which is an ally in the state's ruling coalition have warned of action against anyone who shares or uploads Kamra's video containing jokes directed at Shinde. Public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar told the bench the government has not taken any action against any person who has shared or uploaded the video. The court took note of this statement and observed there have been no instances where state authorities have taken any "vindictive" action against any person who has shared the video made by Kamra (36), who himself uploaded it last month. "It is also pertinent to note that the aggrieved person (Kamra) has already approached this court seeking to quash the FIR. He has also got interim protection from arrest from the Madras the HC," the bench pointed out. In respect of the vandalism of the studio where the stand-up show was shot, an FIR has been lodged and the accused persons have been arrested, it maintained. "In view of this, we are not inclined to entertain this PIL at this stage and hence the same is disposed of," the court said. Late last month, 12 Shiv Sena workers were arrested for vandalising the Mumbai studio where Kamra's comedy was shot. They were later granted bail by a city court. During the show, Kamra had taunted Shinde, without taking his name, using a modified version of a popular Hindi song from the 1997 film "Dil To Pagal Hai" where he called him a "gaddar" (traitor). The comedian referred to Shinde's early profession in Thane before he entered politics and also made references to his rebellion against then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022. Kamra's petition seeking to quash the FIR is due for hearing on April 16. 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
09 April,2025 02:16 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI
Maharashtra: Palghar man kills son-in-law after dispute
The police on Wednesday said that a 75-year-old man allegedly axed to death his son-in-law in Maharashtra's Palghar district following a monetary dispute and then fled, reported news agency PTI. The incident took place in the Wada area on the intervening night of Monday-Tuesday. The 42-year-old deceased used to take money from people promising to get them jobs but would not fulfil it. He had also taken money from his father-in-law due to which the latter got annoyed and there used to be frequent quarrels between them, Wada police station's senior inspector Dattatreya Kindre said, reported PTI. During one such fight two months back, the accused attacked his son-in-law with a sickle and a case was then registered with the police. On the intervening night of Monday-Tuesday, the accused went to the house of his son-in-law and when he was fast asleep, the accused allegedly attacked him with an axe and fled, the official said, reported PTI. After being alerted, the police rushed to the spot and sent the body to a government hospital for post-mortem. Based on a complaint by a relative of the deceased, the police on Tuesday registered an FIR against the accused under section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the official said, reported PTI. Efforts were on to nab the accused, the police added. Woman and boyfriend hammer cab driver to death for blackmailing, surrender In another case, a 19-year-old private sector employee from Navi Mumbai and her boyfriend allegedly killed a cab driver with a hammer after he blackmailed her with a video and demanded sexual favours, an official said on Tuesday, reported PTI. The accused duo was arrested after they surrendered before police in Sangamner in Ahilya Nagar district on April 6, following which Navi Mumbai Police was informed about the murder, reported PTI. The deceased, identified as Surendra Pandey (43), was a cab driver for the accused woman, Rhea Sarkanysingh, reported PTI. Originally from Punjab, Rhea had recently moved to Ulwe in Navi Mumbai. She had secured a job in a private firm, where she met Vishal Shinde (21), the official said, reported PTI. Pandey had offered Rhea accommodation as she was searching for a place to stay. On April 2, Shinde visited Rhea, and during their time together, Pandey secretly recorded a video of the couple. He then began blackmailing Rhea and demanding sexual favours, the official stated. Rhea confided in Shinde about the blackmail, which led to a confrontation. In the ensuing scuffle, the two allegedly killed Pandey by striking him on the head with a hammer, police said, reported PTI. After the murder, the pair fled the scene in a cab and drove to Pune, where they were involved in a minor accident. They travelled to Sangamner, Shinde's hometown, where they informed his parents about the crime. Shinde's parents persuaded them to surrender to the police, the official said. The duo surrendered at the Sangamner police station, after which the local police alerted Navi Mumbai Police. Upon visiting Pandey's residence, the police discovered his decomposed body, reported PTI. Both accused have been arrested and brought to Navi Mumbai. They are currently in police custody until April 15, and further investigations are underway, the official said. (With inputs from PTI)
09 April,2025 12:55 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai: Man loses Rs 61 lakh in investment scam; 3 held
An official on Tuesday said that the Mumbai police have arrested three persons for providing their bank accounts to cyber fraudsters, who duped a share trading professional of over Rs 61 lakh by promising attractive returns on investment, reported news agency PTI. The North Regional Cyber police busted the racket and arrested the trio, identified as Lachen Shopie, Bhimbahadur Pradhan and Ramesh Kumar Abhimanyu, reported PTI. The trio provided their bank accounts to cyber fraudsters, who would use them to park the siphoned-off money from the investment scam, he said. The complainant in the case, Sunilkumar Sajjankumar Mishra (51), was added to a WhatsApp group last year through an unknown number. The group functioned like an online share market coaching platform, he added, reported PTI. Mishra invested Rs 61.31 lakh as he was promised a 30 per cent return. Later, when he contacted the customer care number, he was informed that a 21 per cent tax payment was required for withdrawing the amount, reported PTI. Finding this suspicious, Mishra refused to pay the tax. However, he failed to get the invested amount either. Based on the technical surveillance and investigation, police identified and detained the three accused, the official said, adding that the police suspect a larger network of cyber criminals was involved in similar investment scam. Seven staffers booked for defrauding tech firm of Rs 4.83 crore in Nagpur In another incident, seven employees of a technology firm in Nagpur have been booked for allegedly defrauding the company of Rs 4.83 crore, police said on Sunday, reported PTI. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act in connection with the fraud that took place between December 2023 and February 2025, an official said. The fraud came to light when the general manager of the company, Hexaware Technologies, discovered discrepancies during a routine data check by the quality team, he said, reported PTI. The official said a probe revealed that some employees were processing fraudulent refunds without receiving faulty products from customers, causing losses to the company. According to company protocol, refunds can only be issued when customers return faulty products purchased via e-commerce platforms, reported PTI. The official said a group of employees allegedly exploited the system by creating fake customer accounts and issuing refunds, reported PTI. Seven employees collectively siphoned off Rs 4.83 crore, he said, adding that further probe is underway. (With inputs from PTI)
09 April,2025 10:34 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Hydroponic weed of over Rs 9 crore, gold worth Rs 54L seized at Mumbai airport
In two separate operations, the Customs department arrested three passengers from the Mumbai International Airport and seized from them hydroponic weed worth Rs 9.53 crore and gold pieces valued at Rs 53.83 lakh, officials said on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI. The Mumbai Customs officials on April 6 apprehended a passenger, who arrived from Bangkok at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and seized from him hydroponic weed weighing 9.532 kilograms, an official said, reported PTI. The contraband was concealed in the trolley bag of the passenger, he said. In another case, two passengers travelling from Dubai to Mumbai were arrested for smuggling 21-karat crude gold in the form of pieces, weighing 789 grams, he said, reported PTI. The gold was concealed in their undergarments, he said. Nigerian national held with MD drug valued more than Rs 80 lakh In another case, police arrested a Nigerian national for allegedly possessing a banned Mephedrone drug valued at Rs 80.4 lakh in the Palghar district of Maharashtra, an official said on April 5, reported PTI. Police seized 402 grams of Mephedrone (MD) from the accused, identified as Ifeanni Nwafor, on April 3. He is currently residing in the Rehmat Nagar area of Nallasopara, reported PTI. An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the NDPS Act. "We are investigating the source of the seized drugs and trying to identify the network involved, including who the accused was planning to sell the contraband to," a police officer said. Two held with mephedrone worth Rs 65,000 in Nashik Two persons were arrested for alleged possession of mephedrone (MD) worth Rs 65,000 in Maharashtra's Nashik city, police said on Saturday, reported PTI. Based on a tip-off, the anti-narcotics cell intercepted the accused when they arrived to sell the contraband at Nandur Naka on Friday night, an official said. He said that 13 gm of MD worth Rs 65,000 was recovered from the duo. A case has been registered against the accused, Jai Phirke (25) and Ankush Shantaram Chaudhari (24), under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985, and further investigations were underway, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
09 April,2025 10:05 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Navi Mumbai: Couple kills cab driver who ‘blackmailed’ them
A 19-year-old woman, a private sector employee from Navi Mumbai, and her boyfriend were arrested after allegedly hammering a cab driver to death. According to the woman, the cab driver blackmailed her with a video and demanded sexual favours. The accused couple was arrested after they surrendered before the Sangamner police in the Ahilya Nagar district on April 6, following which the Navi Mumbai police were informed about the murder. The deceased cab driver has been identified as Surendra Pandey, 43. Police have identified the woman as Rhea Sarkanysingh, a resident of Ulwe. Originally from Punjab, she had recently moved to Navi Mumbai. She had secured a job in a private firm, where she met Vishal Shinde, 21, a police officer said. According to the police, cab driver Pandey had offered Sarkanysingh accommodation as she was searching for a place to stay. On April 2, Shinde visited Sarkanysingh, and during their time together, Pandey allegedly recorded their video and later began blackmailing the woman and also demanded sexual favours. Sarkanysingh informed Shinde about the blackmail, and the duo confronted Pandey. In the ensuing scuffle, the duo killed Pandey by striking him on the head with a hammer, police said. After the murder, the pair fled to Pune, where they were involved in a minor accident, said police. The couple later travelled to Shinde’s hometown Sangamner, where they informed his parents about the crime, who persuaded them to surrender, said the officer mentioned above. The duo was arrested and brought to Navi Mumbai. They are currently in police custody until April 15, and further investigations are underway, said police. 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
09 April,2025 08:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Agencies
Saif Ali Khan attack case: Nailed by fingerprint
The Bandra police on Tuesday filed a detailed charge sheet in the Saif Ali Khan attack case at the Bandra Magistrate Court. The 1200-page document includes the forensic report confirming that one of the fingerprints found at the crime scene matched that of the accused, Shariful Fakir Islam. The charge sheet features statements from nearly 70 witnesses, including actor Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, their domestic staff, and others. Police investigations revealed that the accused, Shariful Islam, is a Bangladeshi national who entered India illegally seven months ago without a valid visa or passport. It details how the accused fled the crime scene, travelling from Bandra to Dadar and then to Worli. Police tracked him using footage from about 35 CCTV cameras along the route. The charge sheet also mentions that the knife used in the attack was recovered during the investigation. According to police, the incident occurred around 2 am on January 16 at the Sadguru Sharan building in Bandra West. The accused initially attempted to enter through the main gate but was blocked by fingerprint recognition at the entry system. He then went around the back, climbed the building via the duct area, and accessed the first floor. A police officer said, “Shariful climbed up to the 8th floor using the staircase and entered Saif Ali Khan’s flat. He was carrying a knife, a hacksaw blade, and a hammer in his bag. He attacked the caretaker, Eliyama Philip, with the knife and demanded Rs 1 crore.” While attacking the caretaker, Saif Ali Khan intervened and caught Shariful from behind. “The accused tried to stab Khan without realising who he was. His motive was robbery—he didn’t know he was attacking Saif Ali Khan. Once he realised what had happened, he panicked and fled,” the officer added. Shariful then made his way to the National College bus stop, changed his clothes, and slept there until 7 am. In the morning, he walked to the Bandra Talao area and dumped the knife and his clothes into the talao. He later loitered outside Bandra railway station for about 20 minutes. When it started raining, he went to Dadar, bought headphones, ate bhurji pav, and then walked back home to Worli. Upon seeing news reports about the attack and realising that CCTV footage had identified him, Shariful fled his home again. He changed locations and went to Thane, where he had previously worked at a restaurant. A police source told mid-day, “Shariful’s fingerprint matched one found in the duct area. The forensic lab has submitted the report, along with other key evidence including CCTV footage tracking the accused from Bandra to Worli.”
09 April,2025 07:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar Sharma
SSR death: CBI seeks transfer of hearing on closure report to designated court
A court on Tuesday permitted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to seek transfer of the hearing in the closure report submitted by the agency in actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case to a designated court. The central probe agency had last month filed its closure report in the death case before the Bandra metropolitan magistrate's court. The actor was found hanging in his apartment in Mumbai's Bandra area on June 14, 2020 at the age of 34. In the conclusive medico-legal opinion to the CBI, forensic specialists at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had dismissed the claims of "poisoning and strangling" made in the case, the CBI had said in its report. On Tuesday, the agency informed magistrate K C Rajput that it would move an application before the chief judicial magistrate to transfer hearing in the case to the Esplanade magistrate's court, which is designated to hear CBI cases. Magistrate Rajput permitted the same and said the agency is directed to approach the appropriate court to seek the transfer of the case. The central agency had taken over the probe from the Bihar police, which had registered an abetment of suicide case on a complaint filed in Patna by the actor's his father K K Singh. In his complaint to the Bihar police, his father had alleged that Rajput's rumoured girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and her family members misappropriated his son's money, a charge denied by her in television interviews. The CBI had recorded the statements of Rhea Chakraborty and others in his close circle, and collected the actor's medical records. Chakraborty had also filed a complaint against Rajput's sister Priyanka and one doctor alleging that they were responsible for the actor's death. The CBI closure report absolved all the persons named in the two FIRs. 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
08 April,2025 09:21 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI