
Despite SC, HC orders, house of murder accused's father demolished in Uttarakhand

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Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tech support scam: ED exposes Tricity's fake IT firms
1 2 Mohali: In a high-stakes midnight crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided multiple fake call centres across Chandigarh and the Tricity region, unmasking a sprawling web of cyber deception that targeted foreign nationals under the guise of tech support. The raid continued until Thursday morning. Sources in the ED revealed that these firms had no authentic records of promoters, directors, or employees and had set up front websites falsely advertising technical services. The investigation also exposed that most employees hired at these centres lacked any real technical expertise and were unaware of the true nature of their operations. According to ED officials, the scam had an international footprint. Shell companies were floated abroad to route illegally earned funds back into India using foreign payment gateways. A significant portion of these earnings was also funnelled through hawala transactions, bypassing the official banking system. One of the prime targets in the raid was a Zirakpur-based firm, FSAL Technology, which allegedly offered fake tech support services under the names of globally reputed brands such as Microsoft, HP, and Arlo. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Operating through a fictitious US-based entity called "Bios Tech", FSAL Technology had no licence or authorisation to represent these companies. Further scrutiny revealed that the firm also created a spoof website imitating "Geek Squad", a popular American tech support company, to mislead unsuspecting users. Two more companies — Terraspark and Visionaire — reportedly owned by an individual named Sahu Jain, were also found engaged in similar fraudulent activities. These firms too claimed to offer IT and tech support services to overseas clients, with no regulatory clearances or genuine backend operations. ED officials stated that incriminating evidence, including digital devices, fake website templates, call recordings, and financial records, was seized during the raids. Initial estimates suggest that crores of rupees may have been siphoned off through these operations. The enforcement agency has initiated proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Information Technology Act. "More arrests and interrogations are likely in the coming days as we analyse the recovered documents and trace the financial trail," said a senior ED officer involved in the probe.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
States rally behind AP in fight for industrial alcohol regulation
Vijayawada: The state govt has sparked a debate over regulatory control of industrial alcohol following a high-profile seizure linked to illicit liquor production. Inspired by Andhra Pradesh 's decisive action, several states are preparing to push the Centre for jurisdiction over industrial alcohol — a domain traditionally under central authority. AP recently invoked a Supreme Court ruling to file criminal cases against individuals illegally transporting spirit intended for spurious liquor. In a major crackdown recently, excise and prohibition officials arrested 36 individuals and seized over 2,232 litres of diverted spirit, alongside counterfeit liquor bottles and packaging materials. Investigations unearthed a well-organised supply chain: spirit obtained under industrial pretenses like hand sanitizer production was rerouted for illegal liquor manufacture. Two repeat offenders confessed to sourcing ethanol via a Telangana-based pharma firm exploiting its RS-III license and pandemic-era permissions. The company—granted temporary sanitizer production rights during Covid-19 — allegedly misused them by diverting undenatured ethanol to operators in Andhra Pradesh. The network extended beyond Andhra Pradesh, with supporting materials like empty liquor bottles, brand labels, and caps being procured from Mumbai-based vendors— underscoring its scale and sophistication The Palakollu case prompted other states to seek input from AP authorities, who have since been approached for guidance and invited to lead a seminar on regulatory powers over industrial alcohol. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Clearance Sale: Exclusive handcrafted handbags - now 70% off Handmakers Report Read Now Undo However, the issue took a new twist after the arrival of GST regime. While the states continue to demand for control, the Centre made it clear that it has complete power to regulate, tax and penalise industrial alcohol. The states got the final relief with the latest Supreme Court judgement in Uttar Pradesh Vs Lalita Prasad and others case in 2024. A judgement by a nine-member judge (Constitutional bench) finally said that states would continue to have power on industrial alcohol to regulate the mechanism of supply of alcohol to industries and also potable alcohol.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
SC tears into HC judge for bail to actor Darshan
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday raised an objection to Karnataka high court order granting bail to actor Darshan in the Renukaswamy murder case and said that the reasoning given by HC to justify relief is troubling it. Reserving the order on Karnataka govt plea for cancellation of bail, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan observed, "In a lighter vein, don't you think the high court has basically dictated an order acquittal of all seven? There are ways and ways of assigning reasons. The manner in which the Karnataka high court has dictated the order, very sorry to say, but does the high court dictate the same type of orders in all bail applications? What is troubling us is the approach of the high court! Look at the manner in which bail application is dealt. ..That is the understanding of the learned judge? And that too from the high court? We can understand a session judge committing such mistakes. A high court judge committing such a mistake?" The bench said the way in which the bail order was dictated by Karnataka high court, it seemed the court had handed over a judgment of acquittal in favour of the accused persons which was not required. Darshan, along with other accused, are charged with the murder of Renukaswamy, who was allegedly kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by the actor's accomplices after he apparently sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda, a friend of Darshan. Renukaswamy's body was found in a drain on June 9. As per the police, Darshan paid Rs 50 lakh to four men involved in the planning and execution of the gruesome crime, including arranging for Renukaswamy to be brought to Bengaluru.