Who is Happy Passia? What are the criminal charges against the gangster behind 14 grenade attacks in Punjab
United States-based Indian gangster Happy Passia, alias Jora, was arrested on April 17 from California's Sacramento by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He is alleged to have collaborated with Pakistan's ISI and is suspected to have ties with Khalistani extremist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
Notably, Happy Passia originally hails from Passia village in Amritsar district. Declared as one of the most wanted criminals by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), after a series of terror attacks across Punjab that targetting police stations and public institutions, he is accused in multiple cases.
A wanted criminal in 17 criminal cases, he faces several charges, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act, and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The NIA placed ₹ 5 lakh reward on him in connection with the 2024 Chandigarh grenade attack. A total of 16 grenade attacks were reported in Punjab in the concerned period. The blasts took place at police posts, religious sites, and residences of public figures, including BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia.
It is alleged that Happy Passia provided weapons, funds, and logistical support to operatives to attack a house in Sector 10, Chandigarh on September 11 last year. He executed the strike with the help of Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda.
Passia reportedly used an illegal human trafficking network to illegally get into the United States in 2021 via Mexico border.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Telangana HC clears businessman in Rs 40L Deccan Club fraud case in Secunderabad
HYDERABAD: The Telangana high court has quashed criminal proceedings against a West Bengal-based businessman who was named as one of the prime accused in a financial fraud case involving the Deccan Club in Secunderabad. The case, registered in 2017 at Tukaramgate police station, revolved around the alleged misappropriation of approximately 40 lakh by former staff members of the club, including the system administrator and the accountant. The accused were alleged to have manipulated the club's accounting software to divert cash payments made by members, effectively siphoning off funds that were never reflected in the club's accounts. The businessman, who had no official or managerial role in the club, was named in the chargesheet solely on the basis of a confession by another accused, who claimed he had received a portion of the embezzled funds. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad In her ruling, Justice K Sujana observed that there were no specific, direct, or credible allegations tying the petitioner to the misappropriated funds. The chargesheet, she noted, contained contradictions, including uncertainty over whether the funds were received by the petitioner himself or his father-in-law. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Abiti in una casa indipendente? Ecco perché installare una pompa di calore Aira Scopri di più Citing lack of prima facie evidence and speculative assertions, the court concluded that continuing the proceedings would constitute an abuse of the legal process. Accordingly, the judge quashed all charges against the petitioner and closed the pending miscellaneous applications related to the matter. According to the prosecution, the petitioner allegedly used the diverted money to purchase heavy vehicles. However, the defense argued that the petitioner was wrongfully implicated, and there was no direct link between him and the financial operations of the club. The fraud came to light during an internal audit, which exposed how the accused insiders cancelled original cash payment entries in the system and re-entered them as credit or debit card transactions. This tactic created a false reconciliation of accounts while ensuring that actual cash never reached the club's coffers.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Express View on Jane Street episode: Raise the red flags
In recent years, alongside the dramatic increase in the number of Indian households entering the stock markets, the derivatives segment has also witnessed a huge spurt in trading. Within derivatives, index options account for a sizeable share of trade. An earlier study by Sebi, the stock market regulator, noted that while 91.1 per cent of individual traders had lost money in the futures and options segment, it was the foreign portfolio investors and proprietary traders who had earned the profits, most of which were made by 'algo entities'. In April last year, reports mentioned a legal dispute involving the US-based Jane Street Group, which belongs to the algorithmic trading community, 'for alleged unauthorised use of their proprietary trading strategies in India'. Sebi followed up these reports with a preliminary inquiry to determine if there was any market abuse. Following its investigation, on July 3, the stock market regulator banned the Jane Street Group for manipulative trading practices and ordered the impounding of its unlawful gains, which it estimated at Rs 4,843 crore. In its interim order, the stock market regulator has detailed the modus operandi of the Group, the strategies it drew on in its trading. It notes that the Group operated an 'intra day index manipulation pattern'. This involves dealing in segments across equities, futures and options simultaneously. The interim order notes that the 'intensity and sheer scale of their intervention' and the 'reversal of these large and aggressive trading…' was 'without any economic rationale, other than the concurrent activity in and impact on their positions in the Bank Nifty index options markets'. The Group also engaged in an extended 'marking the close' strategy, an approach where large buy or sell orders are placed in 'the final moments of a trading session, with the specific intent of influencing the closing price of a security or index to its advantage'. As per the order, on at least 21 days, the Group has 'prima facie engaged in illegal manipulation'. In February, the National Stock Exchange cautioned the Group, saying that it had been 'consistently engaging in trading patterns that raised serious concerns over market integrity'. Sebi notes that the Group ignored the 'regulatory red flags', and continued with its strategies. At a time when millions are entering the stock markets, the regulator must ensure that the integrity of markets is maintained. That its surveillance and monitoring systems are able to effectively track transactions at all levels and raise red flags. Regulatory action must be swiftly taken to protect the sanctity of markets.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
4 of an Indian-origin family killed in US after a mini truck hits their car
A US-based Indian-origin family of four with roots in Hyderabad died Saturday night in a car crash in Green County, Alabama, while returning to Dallas after visiting relatives in Atlanta during the Fourth of July weekend. The victims were identified as Venkat Bejugam, his wife Tejaswini Cholleti and their two children, Siddarth and Mrida Bejugam. A mini truck allegedly racing down the wrong lane collided head-on with their car, causing it to burst into flames, reports said. Due to the severity of the burns, authorities are conducting forensic examinations, including dental record verification and DNA testing, to confirm the identities of the victims before releasing the bodies to kin. The family lived in Sutton Fields, a community in Aubrey, near Dallas. Non-profit TEAM Aid, which assists expats in repatriation of bodies , is coordinating with the victims' relatives and friends for logistical support. Further updates are expected once the repatriation process is completed, said a member of Team Aid.
