Billionaire Businessmen Arrested In Multi-Crore GST Fraud Case In Noida

In a breakthrough in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud case, the Noida Police on Wednesday said it has arrested two Haryana-based "billionaire businessmen" who allegedly masterminded the multi-crore revenue loss to the exchequer.

The accused are in the business of metal scrap and have collectively caused a revenue loss of around Rs 25 crore to the exchequer, a senior police officer said.

Known as the "GST scam", the case came to light in June 2023 and pertains to revenue loss to the exchequer through input-tax credit (ITC) being claimed by thousands of bogus companies that were floated using forged documents.

The police investigation has shown the involvement of hundreds of bogus firms and transactions of around Rs 10,000 crore by those, and more than two dozen people have so far been arrested in the case, according to officials.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shakti Mohan Avasthy said a few months ago, a team from Noida's Sector 20 police station busted a racket and arrested some suspects who were allegedly behind floating around 2,600 bogus companies.

"In pursuance of that case, the masterminds of the racket who fraudulently claimed ITC from the government and caused revenue loss to the exchequer were arrested on Wednesday. The masterminds are billionaire businessmen and have been identified as Sanjay Jindal and Ajay Sharma," Avasthy told reporters here.

"Jindal runs a company by the name of AS Brownie Metal and Alloys located in Sonipat district of Haryana. He fraudulently claimed Rs 16.9 crore worth of ITC. This amount was later frozen by enforcement agencies. Sharma used six companies to cause a revenue loss of Rs 8.57 crore. This amount was also frozen later by the GST department following a report by the Noida Police," the officer said.

Avasthy, who has been leading the investigation in the matter since it came to light, said both the accused are "billionaire businessmen" and have "huge businesses" in Sonipat.

Jindal and Sharma were wanted by the Noida Police for long and carried a reward of Rs 25,000 each on information leading to their arrest, the DCP added.

"Jindal and Sharma are the masterminds of the racket. They were the real beneficiaries of this fraud business of floating bogus companies and claiming ITC on their behalf. So far, we have arrested 32 people in connection with the case and some more linked to it will be held soon," he said.

Police said an FIR was lodged at the Sector 20 police station under Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating), 467, 468, 471 (all related to forgery) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).

Last month, the Noida Police attached assets worth approximately Rs 12 crore of the gang members involved in the GST "scam", including immovable properties at multiple locations in Delhi.

The case came to light in June 2023 after thugs applied for the registration of bogus companies by fraudulently using the PAN details of a journalist and got two firms registered --" one in Punjab and one in Maharashtra -- while the request for a third such company to be registered in Delhi was rejected by the GST authorities.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Karnataka Student Thrashed For Talking To Hindu Girl, Case Filed: Police

In yet another incident of moral policing in Karnataka, a student from a minority community was allegedly thrashed for talking to a Hindu girl in the Yadgir district, police said on Wednesday.  

The incident took place on March 18 when he was returning home from college. 

He told the police that he was conversing with a girl from the Hindu community over the phone when a group of nine people attacked him near the Gogi Mohalla.

He said that they confined him in a room for five hours and assaulted him. The student said they brandished a knife and threatened to kill him. 

The police have filed a case and further investigation is underway.

Earlier in January, an inter-faith couple in Karnataka's Haveri was subjected to harassment and threats by a group of nine individuals.

The incident took place just days after six men barged into the room of a lodge and assaulted a couple for the 'crime' of being together despite following different faiths.

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"No Electoral Value": Naveen Patnaik's Aide Amid BJP-BJD Alliance Buzz

The BJP and BJD do not need each other to win elections, but some things are beyond politics and the two leaders -- PM Narendra Modi and CM Naveen Patnaik -- want to come together for "a greater cause", said VK Pandian, the close aide of the chief minister.

Speaking at a media conclave in New Delhi on Tuesday, he said Chief Minister Patnaik and PM Modi share a great friendship.

"Somebody wants to join an alliance because they want to have an impact on the electoral map. Here is a chief minister who is so popular in the state and he gets 3/4th majority every time. In the recently concluded panchayat elections, which are fought on party symbols, he got 90 per cent of the seats. The second party is the BJP with 5 per cent of seats. So, Mr Naveen Patnaik does not need an alliance to come back to serve the people. I would say the same thing about Mr Narendra Modi, the honourable PM," Mr Pandian said.

"...there are some things beyond politics. It is a mark of great statesmanship, that's how I put it. Two great leaders wanting to come together for a greater cause. It has significance as two great people coming together as a mark of statesmanship. That's how I see it, and even the chief minister thinks that way. It has no electoral value either for the BJD or the BJP," he added.

Mr Pandian said the PM and the chief minister see some things that are beyond politics.

"BJD does not need BJP to form government in the state, and BJP may not need BJD to form government at the Centre. That's why I made it very clear that it has to do with two individuals who share a great friendship and they see some things are beyond politics. A rare mark of statesmanship," he said.

Asked about the status of the alliance, he said, "If anything happens, we will all get to know... I told the logic behind this whatever talk (over the alliance) has happened." Pandian's statement comes amid weeks of speculations about an alliance between the state's ruling party and the main opposition, ahead of the simultaneous elections to 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state and the 147-member assembly.

Earlier, state BJP leaders rejected the speculations on several occasions, asserting that they would fight the elections on their own and oust the BJD government.

The BJP and BJD were in alliance for 11 years, from 1998 to 2009. Over the last decade, the BJP decimated the Congress to emerge as the main opposition party in the state.

However, the BJD often extended support to the BJP in Parliament on crucial legislations and even helped Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw get elected to Rajya Sabha from the state.

In the 2019 elections, BJD won 12 of the 21 Lok Sabha seats, while the BJP secured eight and Congress managed one seat. In the assembly, the BJD bagged 113 seats, the BJP won 23 seats, the Congress secured nine seats, the CPI(M) won one, and also an Independent candidate won.

Reacting to Mr Pandian's statement, the Congress said the two parties have been in an "undeclared alliance" over the last 10 years.

"So, the Congress is the only alternative in the state. I appeal to the people of Odisha to support Congress in the upcoming elections," state Congress Sarat Pattanayak said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Watch: Mushfiqur's 'Broken Helmet' Celebration Mocking Mathews, SL Viral

Veteran Bangladesh cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim's broken helmet celebration following the ODI series victory over Sri Lanka added another chapter in the rivalry of the two cricketing nations. The celebration was a reference to Sri Lanka's Angelo Matthews getting timed-out due to a helmet issue when the two sides faced each other in the Cricket World Cup 2023. This was also a response to Sri Lanka cricketers celebrating their T20I series victory over Bangladesh with a timed-out celebration. The video of the celebration has gone viral on social media with various users commenting on the gesture.

Rishad Hossain played an attacking innings of 48 after substitute Tanzid Hasan Tamim hit 84 off 81 balls Monday, steering Bangladesh to a four-wicket win and a 2-1 ODI series victory over Sri Lanka.

Set a modest target after Janith Liyanage's unbeaten 101 guided Sri Lanka to 235 all out in 50 overs, Bangladesh raced to 237-6 in 40.2 overs.

Rishad remained unbeaten on 48 off just 18 balls.

Roar of the L̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ Tigers

P.S.: Don't miss Mushfiqur's celebration with the helmet.
.
.#ThatWinningFeeling #BANvSL #FanCode pic.twitter.com/UhPkvfeTMn

— FanCode (@FanCode) March 18, 2024

The hosts were in danger when Wanindu Hasaranga forced Mehdiy Hasan Miraz, the last recognised batsman, to give a catch to Pramod Madushan for 25, with Bangladesh still 58 runs away from victory.

But Rishad dispatched the first ball he faced over midwicket for six and did not look back.

He hit four sixes and five fours in his whirlwind innings before Mushfiqur Rahim, 37 not out, finished the game with a boundary off Maheesh Theekshana.

Tanzid led the initial charge, replacing Soumya Sarkar in the second innings as a concussion sub, despite Lahiru Kumara wreaking havoc with 4-48.

(With AFP inputs)

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PSL Final: Islamabad United Clinch Title With Win Over Multan Sultans

Multan Sultans vs Islamabad United Live: Seven-down Islamabad United are chasing a target of 160 runs against Multan Sultans in the final of the Pakistan Super League in Karachi on Monday. They are three wickets down. After opting to bat, the Mohammad Rizwan-led Multan Sultans were off to a poor start as they lost wickets at regular intervals with Imad Wasim taking a five-wicket haul for Islamabad. Multan were three down inside 10 overs with Mohammad Rizwan back in the hut. Then, in the middle overs too, Multan lost a flurry of wickets until Iftikhar Ahmed struck 32* off 20 balls to take them past 155. Usman Khan (57) was their top-scorer. (LIVE SCORECARD | LIVE STREAMING)

Here are the LIVE Updates of Multan Sultans vs Islamabad United PSL Final

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"Electoral Bond An Experiment, Done With Checks And Balances": RSS Leader

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Sunday said the electoral bonds is an "experiment" and it will be determined later how beneficial and effective it has been.

The RSS Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) on Sunday re-elected Dattatreya Hosabale for the post of 'Sarkaryavah' (general secretary) for three years.

The Election Commission on Thursday released the electoral bonds data, with a number of billionaire tycoons and lesser-known entities being among the buyers.

From steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal to billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal's Airtel, Anil Agarwal's Vedanta, ITC, Mahindra and Mahindra, and lesser-known Future Gaming and Hotel Services were among the prominent buyers of the now-scrapped electoral bonds for making political donations.

Asked about concerns being raised on the electoral bonds issue and claims that they were purchased to get favours, Dattatreya Hosabale said the Sangh has not yet discussed about it as the electoral bonds is an "experiment".

"It has been done with checks and balances and it is not that electoral bonds have suddenly been introduced today, it (such scheme) was brought earlier also. Whenever a change is introduced, questions are raised. Questions were also raised when the EVMs (electronic voting machines) were introduced," he said.

"It is natural that questions will be raised by people when new things come up. But time will tell how beneficial and effective the new system is. Hence, the Sangh thinks it should be left for experiment," Dattatreya Hosabale said.

Asked about the 10-year rule of the Narendra Modi government, he said the RSS welcomes Uniform Civil Code, adding that a resolution demanding its enactment was passed several years ago in the outfit's 'Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha'.

"It has been implemented in (BJP-ruled) Uttarakhand. We would like it to be implemented across the country. But there are certain details like succession, adoption, marriage and other issues that need to be discussed and then they can move ahead," Dattatreya Hosabale said.

People have seen the progress the country has made in the last 10 years and even renowned international experts and political thinkers have reiterated that the current century is India's century, he said.

"Something good must be happening for them to say this. Anyway, people will give their verdict on June 4 (Lok Sabha poll vote counting day)," he said.

On a query on whether the cut off date in the Citizenship Amendment Act must be extended from the current December 31, 2014, the RSS leader said it can be done by the authorities if the need arises.

Asked about the disputes pertaining to the places of worship at Mathura and Kashi, he said Hindu saints and the Vishva Hindu Parishad have raised the issue and have also said the type of agitation depends on the problem.

"What was done for the Ram Janmabhoomi movement should not be done for everything. It is not necessary. The matter is in court. If it is resolved by the court then there is no need for agitation," he added.

Hindu society will do whatever has to be done regarding Kashi and Mathura under the guidance of the religious-social leadership, Dattatreya Hosabale, who was addressing a press conference, said.

To a query on the RSS' definition of "minority", he said the concept is there in the Constitution.

"We all need to (have) rethink over it. Because, this country belongs to all and the method or idea of calling (communities) minority has been going on for decades. Those who are Hindu in the traditional sense, those who are considered as Hindus as per the Hindu Code Bill, are organized by the Sangh," he claimed.

Asserting that Muslims and Christians are considered minorities in India, Dattatreya Hosabale said, "The RSS has always opposed the politics of minoritism. The country is one and this is how it should continue is what the Sangh always says." The annual three-day 'Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha' of the RSS began at the 'Smriti Bhavan' complex in Reshimbagh area of Maharashtra's Nagpur city on Friday.

The meeting is taking place in Nagpur, the headquarters of the RSS, after six years. A total of 1529 representatives of various RSS inspired organisations attended the meeting that concluded on Sunday.

During the meeting, Dattatreya Hosabale appointed six joint general secretaries for the 2024-2027 period. These are Krishna Gopal, Mukund ji, Arun Kumar, Ramdutt Chakradhar, Atul Limaye and Alok Kumar.

BJP president JP Nadda also attended the ABPS meeting on Sunday.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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For Newlyweds Pulkit Samrat And Kriti Kharbanda, Wishes From Celebs

Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda, who shared pictures from their wedding on Saturday, got a whole lot of love from Bollywood celebrities. Kriti Sanon commented on the post, "Congratulations you two." Ananya Panday dropped multiple heart emojis and wrote "Congratulations." Sobhita Dhulipala wrote, "Congratulations Pulkit Samrat, Kriti Kharbanda! What beautiful moments." Mouni Roy's comment read, "Heartiest congratulations." Bobby Deol wrote, "Congratulations." Malaika Arora dropped heart emojis and wrote, "Congratulations." Richa Chadha, Pulkit's Fukrey co-star, wrote, "Badhaaiiii again." TV star Gauahar Khan wrote, "The love story I was rooting for! God bless. Congratulations Pulkit and Kriti." Sophie Choudry's comment read, "Congratulations guys! Love and happiness forever." Rakul Preet Singh wrote, "Congratulations." Singer Armaan Malik added, "Congrats you two." Actor Aditya Seal wrote, "Oh wait what! Wow congratulations you guys."

Sharing pictures from their wedding, Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda wrote, on Saturday, "From the deep blue sky, to the morning dew. Through the low and the high, it's only you. From the start to the end, in every now and every then. When my heart beats different, it's got to be you. Constantly, consistently and continually, You."

Check out the post shared by the newlyweds here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kriti Kharbanda (@kriti.kharbanda)

Kriti Kharbanda and Pulkit Samrat have co-starred in the 2018 film Veerey Ki Wedding. They also shared screen space in the comedy film Pagalpanti, which released in 2019. Kriti Kharbanda worked with Pulkit Samrat in Bejoy Nambiar's Taish, which also featured Harshvardhan Rane, Jim Sarbh, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Abhimanyu Singh.

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