Despite promises of redevelopment, the residents of Santacruz’s Khotwadi are stuck in dire circumstances. The builder Transcon Iconic Pvt. Ltd. (previously known as Sanjay Construction and Finance Pvt. Ltd.) has failed to provide rent for homes and commercial spaces for the last six years, informs a Khotwadi resident Kunal Gupta (35). He is currently residing in Virar while he awaits the allotment of his house in the redeveloped society. The project, spearheaded by Aditya Kedia and Kirti Kedia of Transcon Developers, aimed to uplift the living standards of residents through modernisation and revitalisation efforts, Gupta tells Midday. However, the prolonged delay in providing compensation has left many families in financial straits, with no respite in sight. Like Gupta, several residents have been residing in different parts of the city as they are yet to be allotted housing in Sai Durga Cooperative Housing Society. Not only this, they have not received the due rent for their homes and commercial spaces for the past six years. How the community crisis unfolded 2005: Developer Transcon Iconic proposed a slum redevelopment program for Khotwadi situated near Milan International Hotel, Santacruz West. 2011: The slum was registered under Sai Durga SRA CHS Ltd. and the developers received an allowance to redevelop it. The directors of the company include Aditya Kedia, Kiriti Kedia, Rishi Todi and Irfan Sheikh.When this newspaper reached out to developer Aditya Kedia, he disassociated himself from the builder company by quoting “I am no longer a part of this project since 2023.” 2016: Resident Shrikant Morye (36) tells Midday, “In 2016, Kedia asked us to vacate the plot by promising that he would start the redevelopment and pay us rent.” Following this 250 slum dwellers agreed to the development of a 300 sq. ft room in a span of 2 years. 2018: The entire plot was vacated by the members of the society in 2018. However, promises made by the developers remain unfulfilled. 2024: For the past six years leading up to 2024, the slum members have been deprived of their transit rent which now amounts to Rs 16 crore. In response, Satish Lokhande, the CEO of the SRA Authority has blacklisted 150 SRA developers in Mumbai, including Transcon Iconica, which was added to the list in 2022. Also Read: Why is it so tough to find rental accommodation in Mumbai? Bureaucracy hand in glove with developers? Resident Sachin Naik (39) who currently resides in Vile Parle tells Midday, “Though the slum redevelopment of the Khotwadi is near completion - the construction of the rear building remains incomplete. Not only this, the developer has constructed smaller (269 sq. ft) rooms in Wings “A to F” as opposed to the promised figure of 300 sq. ft.” Additionally, the developers have also illegally constructed 50 more houses on the land without obtaining the consent of the residents, adds Naik. Disappointed with false claims, several complaints regarding various irregularities like inordinate delay in the construction of rehab buildings, non-payment of rent and unauthorised construction work beyond approval in the building were lodged by complainants Sheri Pradeep Tiwari, Shri Pradeep Laxman Singh Thakur and advocate Himanshu Satija. They have been constantly pursuing SRA and various offices at the government level to take action against the developers. Several tenants reached out to Lokhande for illegal construction. In response, the SRA office had called for an explanation from the developers from time to time. Additionally, a ‘Stop Work Notice’ was issued to the developers by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority. The developers had been informed about the illegal construction for the 2nd and 3rd floor of the sale wing and were directed to pull back the unauthorised work. Despite the notice, the developer failed to restore the property, informs Gupta. Residents are of the opinion that bureaucracy has been siding with the developers. “Despite multiple complaints, nothing changed. CEO Lokhande is working in the developer’s favour,” said Morye in a telephonic conversation. The residents have approached 50-60 officials at SRA but have received no redressal for their issues. At the time of publishing this story, this newspaper reached out to the CEO of SRA via telephone and email but received no response. However, SRA has granted permission to prosecute the developer under the Monopolistic and Restrictive Trade Practices Legislation (MRTP) Act, 1966 by lodging an FIR against them for non-compliance with instructions given in the notice, as per Pratap Mirchandani (SRA). Additionally, SRA has approved informing Designated Officer and Executive Engineer, BMC to initiate demolition of the illegal construction, according to the MRTP letter to Designation Officer HW Ward. Also Read: Mumbai housing dilemma: To buy or rent? Expert advice inside No respite in sight The hearing on the case has been going on for the last eight months. Non-payment of transit rent to slum members continues. Additionally, several corruption complaints remain pending, with no final orders issued yet, informs Gupta. Amidst the ongoing hearing and issuance of stop-work notices, the SRA Authority has granted permission for the conversion of a 36-flat wing in the rehab building into a sales shop. Over the past month, members have vehemently opposed this illegal action by the developer. However, the developer has resorted to seeking assistance from Santacruz police to suppress the voices of the impoverished slum dwellers, informs Morye. False complaints have been filed against members who are opposing the illegal acts of the developer and the SRA Authority, prompting swift action by the police. Residents express deep concern over the lack of response from Transcon Developers regarding their outstanding rent payments. Despite numerous attempts to communicate with the developers, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Moreover, there have been reports of intimidation tactics employed by the builders' representatives, adding to the residents' distress. "People are really in pain as the builder has not given them rent for their homes and commercial spaces for the past six years. This situation has put our lives at stake. We trusted the promises made by Transcon Developers, but now we are left struggling to make ends meet," shares a resident who wished to remain anonymous. The plight of Khotwadi residents highlights the urgent need for accountability and transparency in redevelopment projects. The community urges Transcon Developers to fulfil their obligations promptly and provide the necessary support to ensure a smooth transition for all residents. Residents are also appealing to the government for immediate action and assistance in resolving this matter and safeguarding their rights. Also Read: Mumbai: Builder ignores MahaRERA order, rents flat to 3rd party
19 April,2024 02:42 PM IST | Mumbai | Ainie RizviA Mumbai-based non-profit and non-partisan organisation Mark Your Presence and the popular dating application Tinder with Yuvaa have collaborated to launch the 'Every Single Vote Counts' awareness campaign across India ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The campaign is directed towards the youth, especially first-time voters and making them aware of their crucial civic right--the right to vote. Under the campaign, the dating platform has included in-app voting-themed stickers like 'Voting Partner Needed', 'First-time Voter', and 'I Voted', which allow users to display their "passion and encourage connection with others sharing similar values". The organisations, in their statement, said that the users of the application in India will be seeing 'Swipe Cards' from April 18 to May 15 which will provide them with information and suggestions on voting. Each of these cards leads the visitors to the website of Mumbai NPO Mark Your Presence for voter registration information. The campaign was launched after seeing an increase in the word 'voting' among the users of the dating application, the organisations said. Moreover, a recent survey also highlighted that political engagement among young adults in India was taken seriously. The survey found that 79 per cent of young adults are more likely to vote if accompanied by a friend or a date. Founder of Mark Your Presence, Chaitanya Prabhu expressed excitement about the partnership and said, "Together (the three collaborators), we share a collective dream of empowering young voices and celebrating their right to vote. By providing voter registration opportunities alongside avenues for personal expression, we're not just encouraging individual involvement, we are fueling a shared movement as millions of first-time voters prepare for the elections.” Aahana Dhar, Tinder's Communications Director in India, acknowledged the app's significant user base aged between 18 to 25 years old and said, "This collaboration is a great opportunity to encourage younger and newer voters to go to the ballot." She added that this campaign is also providing the youth a way of expression. Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in India The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in India will be held in seven phases which commenced today, on April 19 and shall conclude on June 1. The votes will be counted on June 4. The public will be voting to elect 543 representatives of the Lower House of the Parliament.
19 April,2024 01:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA 36-year-old Borivali resident recently became a victim of cyber fraud after he was targeted by a group of cyber fraudsters who posed as representatives of FedEx and police officials and siphoned off over Rs 15 lakhs. The Borivali man only realised the fraud days after the crime first happened and filed a complaint at North Cyber Police station on April 10. The mid-day had earlier reported that in a similar case, a Goregaon man was scammed of Rs 6 lakhs but timely police intervention helped recover the amount. The man, a resident of Borivali's Yogi Nagar, had received a call from fraudsters posing as representatives of FedEx and they later contacted him claiming to be officers of Mumbai Cyber Police's Crime Branch in Byculla and defrauded him under the pretence of conducting an investigation. According to the complaint, on April 6, the Borivali man was contacted through an unknown number and a computerised voice informed him that his parcel was returned to FedEx and asked the man to press 1 if he sought additional details. Upon doing so, he was connected with the fraudster who posed as a FedEx executive and told the man that one of his parcels had been intercepted by Mumbai Customs and they recovered three Thai passports, credit cards and 140 grams of mephedrone with four kgs of clothes from it. When the Borivali man pleaded innocence, the caller threatened to transfer the call to the Byculla cyber police crime branch and later connected him with another fraudster posing to be a police official. The fake official, under the pretence of conducting an investigation, instructed the Borivali resident to not discuss the matter with anyone over a Skype call. The official reasoned that it was a matter of national security and also said they would have to inspect his accounts under a money laundering case. The imposter then told the Borivali man to consolidate funds from various bank accounts into one and directed him to transfer it to the account provided by them with the assurance that the money would be returned upon completion of the probe and embezzled over Rs 15 lakh from him. Trusting the imposter, the victim followed his instructions but no such reimbursement occurred. The Borivali resident later confided in a close friend and realised that he was scammed and filed a complaint. The Cyber Police have recorded his statement and initiated an investigation after gathering all evidence regarding this matter.
19 April,2024 01:03 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanSenior BJP leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Thursday night called on Union minister Ramdas Athawale here and sought his support for securing victory in Shirdi and Ahmednagar South Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra for the ruling Mahayuti alliance, sources told news agency PTI. Sadashiv Lokhande of the ruling Shiv Sena is pitted against Bhausaheb Wakhchaure of the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Shirdi, while in Ahmednagar South, Sujay Vikhe Patil is the BJP nominee against Nilesh Lanke of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). District and taluka office-bearers of the Athawale-led RPI (A) from the two constituencies were present at the closed-door meeting held at the Union minister's Mumbai residence, reported PTI. The sources told PTI that Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil is the Mahayuti in-charge of Shirdi and Ahmednagar South and is entrusted with the task of getting both seats in the BJP-led alliance's kitty. Sujay Vikhe Patil, the son of Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, is the sitting MP from Ahmednagar South. Athawale, a BJP ally, had sought the Shirdi seat for himself and was unhappy that he wasn't consulted on naming the candidate. The sources said Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil sought cooperation of Athawale's supporters in the two constituencies to ensure victory of the Mayayuti nominees. The RPI (A) has pockets of influence in the two seats. The Mahayuti alliance consists of the BJP, the Shiv Sena and the NCP. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve on Thursday said that the undivided Shiv Sena did a lot for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, including getting Rs 200 crore sanctioned for Nandur Madhameshwar canal when former MP Chandrakant Khaire was district guardian minister in 1995-99. Khaire was defeated by AIMIM's Imtiaz Jaleel in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Addressing a press conference, Danve said the Nandur Madhameshwar canal significantly increased irrigation in Vaijapur taluka, adding that Khaire also got permission for widening of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-Waluj road. "He also did rigorous follow-up for the making of Dhule-Solapur (NH52) highway that passes through district. The Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor was also sanctioned in his term. Funds for the water grid project in Paithan was sanctioned by the Uddhav Thackeray led MVA government," Danve added, reported PTI. Danve said the city used to get water once in three days earlier when MVA was in power, while now (under Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP dispensation) it was once every nine days. (With inputs from PTI)
19 April,2024 10:58 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra had a 7.3 per cent turnout in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections up till 9 am in five constituencies. Nagpur, Ramtek (SC), Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur, and the Naxal-affected Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST) constituency in the state's east are among these seats. By 9 am Gadchiroli-Chimur had the highest turnout with 8.43 per cent of voters casting their ballots for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 followed by Nagpur which was at 7.73 per cent. Chandrapur's tally stood at 7.44 per cent while Bhandara-Gondia's tally was 7.22 per cent. Ramtek saw the lowest voter turnout by 9 am with the tally at 5.82 per cent. The average turnout across these constituencies was 7.3 per cent. The voting process for Maharashtra's 43 other Lok Sabha seats will be divided into four phases which will be held on April 26 and in May. The Vidarbha area, where these constituencies are located, has 95,54,667 voters. There are 48,28,142 males, 47,26,178 females, and 347 transgender voters, the PTI report further added. In Nagpur, senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari will face Congress' Vikas Thakre; in Chandrapur, BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar will face Congress' Pratibha Dhanorkar; and in Bhandara-Gondia, BJP's Sunil Mendhe will face Congress' Dr Prashant Patole, the report stated. Meanwhile, in the Naxal-hit Gadchiroli-Chimur constituency, BJP's Ashok Nete confronts Congress' Dr Namdev Kirsan, and in Ramtek, Congress' Shyamkumar Barwe faces Shiv Sena's Raju Parwe, the PTI report added. Certain assembly segments, notably those in the Naxal-hit area, will vote between 7 am and 3 pm, whilst other regions will vote until 6 pm. Lok Sabha Elections 2024 polling for the other 43 seats in Maharashtra The second phase of voting, scheduled on April 26, 2024, will take place in eight constituencies: Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Yavatmal Washim, Hingoli, Nanded, and Parbhani. On May 7, 2024, the third round of voting will be held in 11 constituencies, including Raigad, Baramati, Dharashiv, Latur, Solapur, Madha, Sangli, Satara, Ratnagiri Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, and Hatkanangle. The fourth phase will take place on June 4, 2024, for seats in Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Raver, Jalna, Sambhajinagar, Maval, Pune, Shirur, Ahmednagar, Shirdi, and Beed. The fifth and final phase of voting will be held on May 20, 2024, in 13 constituencies: Washim, Dindori, Nashik, Palghar, Bhiwandi, Welfare, Thane, Mumbai North, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South Central, and Mumbai South.
19 April,2024 10:44 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRichest Indian Mukesh Ambani on Saturday said the business community has the responsibility to build a stronger and more inclusive India, reported new agency PTI. Addressing an event organised by the Gems and Jewellery Exports Promotion (GJEPC) on March 30 in Mumbai, the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries also exuded confidence that the industry will reach its goal of touching USD 100 billion in exports in the next few decades. "All of us collectively in the business community have a responsibility to build a stronger, better and more inclusive India to fulfil the vision and the goal that our PM has set for us, that of a Viksit Bharat, a fully developed India in the next decades," he said, reported PTI. Ambani congratulated the gems and diamonds industry for the work they have done over the past few decades to reach USD 40 billion in exports and create over 50 lakh jobs in the country. From modest beginnings, the industry led by people from Palanpur made big strides, Ambani said, stressing that he is "proud" of the work. He said the Ambani family has its roots in Kathiawad and also hinted at the possibilities of working together with the Palanpuris. "Sometimes partnership between the Kathaiwadis and Palanpuris can make the opportunity bigger. The bigger the pie, the better for us," he said, reported PTI. Ambani also said that his daughter-in-law Shloka Mehta is the daughter of Russel Mehta of Rosyblue, among the pioneering companies in the sector, and added that the Ambani family is "fortunate" to have Shloka, who "radiates warmth and wisdom", reported PTI. Mehta was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at the event, which was also attended by Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais. The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is the apex body of the gem and jewellery industry in India. "As a businessman, I have to admire what you have achieved. You really represent the true meaning of entrepreneurship and enterprise," Ambani said in his address, reported ANI. "You are in an industry where, as India, we don't have diamonds, we don't produce gold, but through your enterprise and Indian talent, you have created a very large industry over the last four decades and have continuously been among the top three exports industries from India," he added, reported ANI. Ambani said the gems and jewellery sector has the potential to achieve USD 100 billion in exports in the time to come. At present, India's gems and jewellery sector contributes about USD 40 billion in exports annually and employs about 5 million individuals. "You now have the opportunity to really be the champions of Make in India. To add value; to represent Indian design and Indian concepts and Indian talent to the rest of the world," said Ambani, reported ANI. India's gems and jewellery exports was worth Rs 37.74 billion in 2022-23. (With inputs from PTI and ANI)
19 April,2024 10:36 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a provisional attachment order (PAO) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for assets worth Rs 113.5 crore linked to builder Lalit Tekchandani and his partners in a case involving defrauding potential homebuyers. The connected assets include a home in Aambey Valley, residential and commercial properties in Mumbai, land parcels in the Raigad district, and fixed deposits totalling Rs 113.5 crore. The agency has already frozen/seized investments in shares, mutual funds, and fixed deposits totalling Rs 43 crore, stated an IANS report. According to the report, the ED's probe, which began after two FIRs were filed in Mumbai, stated that Supreme Construction & Developer Pvt Ltd, represented by Tekchandani and others, received significant money from over 1,700 homeowners in a housing project in Taloja, Navi Mumbai. However, delays in the project prevented these homebuyers from receiving flats or refunds. ”The probe revealed that Supreme Construction collected funds amounting to more than Rs 400 crore from more than 1,700 homebuyers in a housing project at Taloja. Delays in the project left these homebuyers in the lurch without flats or refunds,” the report quoted the ED statement released on Thursday. As per the report, Lalit Tekchandani, arrested by the ED on March 18 under PMLA provisions, is still in judicial custody. During interrogation, it was discovered that cash collected from homebuyers was laundered for personal gain and used to create assets in numerous names, including those of family members, the report added. “His interrogation revealed that the funds received from the homebuyers were laundered by the builder for personal gains and creation of assets in various names, including family members,” the ED statement further stated. Despite leaving Supreme Construction as owner and director, Tekchandani allegedly disposed of the company's properties with the help of other accused individuals. Earlier in February, the ED had carried out searches at 22 locations in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai which were linked to builder Lalit Tekchandani and had freezer Rs 30 crore then. The ED, reportedly, had carried out the searches on February 7 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in a cheating case.
19 April,2024 09:01 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra Congress on Thursday demanded that the candidature of all the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena nominees be cancelled for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for allegedly using state transport buses for their election campaign. Congress’ state unit spokesperson Atul Londhe, in a letter to the chief electoral officer, said action should also be taken against officers of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) for allowing the use of its buses for election campaigning. Atul Londhe, Cong state spokesperson He alleged that since the start of the Lok Sabha election campaign, the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena have repeatedly violated the MCC and the Congress had filed a formal complaint about it with the Election Commission (EC). “The Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Shinde has violated the MCC by illegally displaying banners on the MSRTC buses while campaigning for the party,” he said. Londhe mentioned that the EC’s letter which has been sent to the cabinet secretaries, chief secretaries and chief executive officers of all the states bans the use of government properties and public undertakings for campaigning. “Despite the ban, MSRTC officials have allowed more than 1,000 buses to be used illegally for the election campaign of Shiv Sena candidates by allowing banners to be displayed on these buses,” he claimed. The banners prominently feature photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Eknath Shinde, Dy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and the bow and arrow symbol of Shiv Sena, Londhe alleged. MSRTC officials have not only violated the MCC, but also undermined the fairness and integrity of the election process, he 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
19 April,2024 07:15 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesThe Election Commission has finalised the candidate list for the first two phases of Lok Sabha elections polling which begins tomorrow. The general elections in Maharashtra will be held in five phases between April 19 and May 20 to elect 48 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The five phases of 48 seats include April 19 (5 seats), April 26 (8 seats), May 7 (11 seats), May 13 (11 seats) and May 20 (13 seats). The candidate list for the first two phases (April 19 and 26) has now been finalised. While the first list includes five seats of Ramtek, Nagpur, Bhandara-Gondia, Gadchiroli-Chimur and Chandrapur, the second phase includes eight seats of Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Yavatmal-Washim, Hingoli, Nanded and Parbhani. First phaseIn the first phase, elections today (April 19), a total of 97 candidates are in the ring, and among the five seats in Maharashtra, Ramtek has the highest, that is 28 candidates alone, followed by 26 in Nagpur, 18 in Bhandara-Gondia, 10 in Gadchiroli-Chimur and 15 in Chandrapur. Of the 28 candidates in Ramtek, 12 are independent and the rest belong to some party. While the Mahayuti that is the Shinde-led Sena and the BJP has Raju Parve as the candidate, the Maha Vikas Aghadi, a coalition of Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, NCP (SP), and a few more parties, has Shamkumar (Bablu) Daulat Barve (Congress) as the candidate followed by other smaller parties. There are only two women- Manjusha Sachin Gaikwad from the Akhil Bharatiya Parivar Party and Roshni Atul Gajbhiye from the Gondwana Ganatantra Party. Second phaseIn the second phase, elections for which are on Friday, April 26, a total of 204 candidates are in the ring, and among the eight seats in Maharashtra, Amravati has the highest, that is 37 candidates, followed by 34 in Parbhani, 33 in Hingoli, 24 in Wardha, 21 in Buldhana, 23 in Nanded, 17 in Yavatmal-Washim and 15 in Akola. Of the 37 candidates in Amravati, 24 are independent, and the rest belong to some party. While the Mahayuti and the BJP have Navneet Ravi Rana as its candidate, the Maha Vikas Aghadi, a coalition of Uddhav Sena, Congress, NCP, and a few more parties, has Balwant Baswant Wankhade (Congress) as the candidate, followed by other smaller parties. Of the 37, there are six female candidates. 97No of candidates in the first phase
19 April,2024 07:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarIn a scenario reminiscent from the movie “Newton,” where actor Rajkumar Rao's character is dispatched to oversee elections in a sensitive Maoist-affected area, over 460 polling officials have been airdropped into “sensitive” and “hypersensitive” booths in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli-Chimur Lok Sabha seat in Vidarbha region ahead of the first phase of polling on April 19. Election officials and state police have intensified security measures in Maoist-affected Gadchiroli, mobilizing 15,000 personnel for action. Gadchiroli police informed mid-day that security measures have been bolstered by 30-40% compared to the previous elections in the region, known for its high number of sensitive and hypersensitive polling booths. Unprecedented security arrangements include aerial surveillance by helicopters and real-time drone monitoring. Superintendent of Police (SP) Gadchiroli, Neelotpal, told mid-day, “Elaborate security preparations have been made ahead of polling day. This year, 87 companies (each comprising 100 personnel) of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are engaged in security, up from 74 companies in the last election. Of these, 47 companies are already deployed, with 40 more to be deployed from external assistance. Additionally, 1,500 more police personnel and 1,750 home guards have been summoned from other parts of the state. The total deployment on polling day will reach approximately 15,000.” According to SP Gadchiroli, the constituency comprises 948 polling booths (150 urban, 798 rural), of which 587 are classified as normal and 361 as critical. “All 361 critical polling stations will have CAPF deployment,” he added. Neelotpal said, “Six Mi-17 helicopters are conducting aerial surveillance, along with one exclusive air ambulance, totaling seven aircrafts. In the previous elections, only three aircrafts were deployed on the polling day. Thirty-five base camps will be served by choppers, with approximately 180 projected sorties. Additionally, a fleet of 130 drones will monitor from the skies.”
19 April,2024 07:00 AM IST | Gadchiroli | Dipti SinghThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) has allegedly attached properties belonging to Raj Kundra and his wife, actress Shilpa Shetty, worth about Rs 97.79 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a Bitcoin investment fraud case. According to ED sources, the attached properties include a residential flat in Juhu, currently registered under Shilpa’s name, a residential bungalow in Pune, and equity shares in Kundra’s name all worth about Rs 97.79 crore. Kundra, who spent two months in jail in connection with a pornography case, was granted bail in September 2021. The latest action by the ED is part of a money laundering case filed against Kundra based on multiple FIRs registered by Maharashtra and Delhi Police against M/s Variable Tech Pvt Ltd, including Amit Bhardwaj, Ajay Bhardwaj, Vivek Bhardwaj, Simp Bhardwaj, Mahender Bhardwaj, and several multi-level marketing agents. The FIRs allege that the accused collected significant funds in Bitcoins, approximately worth Rs 6,600 crore, from the public with false promises of a 10 per cent monthly return in Bitcoins. According to ED sources, Kundra received 285 Bitcoin from Amit, the mastermind and promoter of the Gain Bitcoin Ponzi scam, for setting up a Bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine. These Bitcoins were sourced from proceeds of crime collected by Amit from unsuspecting investors. Despite the deal falling through, Kundra did not return the 285 Bitcoins, presently valued at over R150 crore. Earlier search operations led to the arrest of three individuals—Simpy Bhardwaj, Nitin Gaur, and Nikhil Mahajan—who are currently in judicial custody. The main accused, Ajay and Mahendra, are still evading law enforcement. This marks the second attachment in the case, with earlier properties worth Rs 69 crore being attached by the ED. Rs 6,600 croreTotal cost of fraud
19 April,2024 06:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanADVERTISEMENT
