Enforcement of helmet rule nets Rs 2.28 crore in Andhra's NTR
Citing alarming statistics, the High Court noted that over 660 motorcyclists lost their lives in road accidents across the state in 2024. Check posts were set up at major entry points, including Prakasam Barrage, Ramavarappadu, and Kanakadurga Varadhi. Since January, police have issued nearly 90,000 challans for various violations such as riding without helmets, driving on the wrong side, and lacking valid licences. Officials said 62,128 challans issued in 2025 have already been paid, yielding Rs 2.28 crore in revenue. In comparison, of the 1.33 lakh e-challans issued last year, only 43,622 were cleared, bringing in Rs 1.88 crore. The remaining challans from 2024 remain unpaid.
'There has been a marked improvement in helmet usage,' said traffic police officials, noting the use of enhanced penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act. Enforcement is also being aided by CCTV surveillance and advanced cameras at key traffic signals. 'We identify violators using vehicle registration numbers and send notices. In some cases, commuters are fined on the spot,' they added.
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Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Birkenstock lawsuit: craft and commerce of India's knockoff market
At Agra's bustling Sardar Bazaar or Delhi's Palika Bazaar, it's not unusual to find a pair of open-toe leather sandals selling for Rs 1,000. They look strikingly similar to the signature sandals made by Birkenstock, the German footwear brand, whose retail price in India is in the Rs 5,000-Rs20,000 range. This everyday sight recently became central to a high-profile intellectual property dispute when Birkenstock took legal action against some Indian manufacturers for allegedly producing and selling counterfeit versions of their signature sandals. What happened? In May, Birkenstock filed a civil lawsuit in Delhi High Court against four traders, four factories, and two individuals based in Agra and Delhi, accusing them of manufacturing and distributing footwear that closely resembled Birkenstock's registered designs. Following the complaint, the court appointed local commissioners to conduct raids at the identified premises, during which large consignments of counterfeit sandals were seized. The court also issued temporary injunctions restraining the accused parties from producing or selling footwear bearing Birkenstock's trademarks or design likeness. The case is scheduled for its next hearing on October 6. Birkenstock sandals are known for their cork footbeds and minimalist design, providing comfort and durability. They gained more pop culture currency after actor Margot Robbie wore a pair in the pupular 2023 movie Barbie. The 'first copy' business in India India's role as both a manufacturing hub and consumer market for counterfeit fashion goods has long posed challenges for global brands. From luxury handbags to sportswear and footwear, 'first copies' or 'dupes' are readily available across informal markets and increasingly on online platforms. A significant portion of India's population harbours a strong desire to emulate global fashion trends and own branded goods. However, India is also a highly price-sensitive market, and when a 'first copy' offers a nearly identical aesthetic of a luxury product for a fraction of the price, there is a ready demand for it. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in a 2022 report prepared in collaboration with the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), identified India as a key origin country for counterfeit goods traded globally, alongside China, Turkey, and the UAE. According to a 2022 study by CRISIL and the Authentication Solution Providers' Association (ASPA), as many as 31% of Indian consumers admitted to knowingly purchasing counterfeit products, with apparel and footwear being the most common categories. The same report has also estimated that counterfeit goods make up about 25-30 per cent of India's retail market. The country's informal retail sector, characterised by busy street markets and small shops, provides a highly effective and widespread distribution network for these goods. The digital age has added a new dimension, with e-commerce platforms and social media (especially Instagram and Whatsapp) becoming major channels for selling counterfeits. Terms like 'AAA' quality or 'first copy' are used to market these items, leveraging influencers to promote them without explicitly using copyrighted terms. The artisan and the market Seen along with another footwear controversy in India recently — Prada using Kolhapuri sandals' design, initially without credit — the trend points to a unique problem facing India's artisans. India's traditional centers, like Agra for leather goods or various textile hubs, have a long history of craftsmanship. Their infrastructure and skilled labour are often leveraged by market forces to produce lookalike products, sometimes for local consumption and sometimes for export. Also, while big brands like Birkenstock have the resources to pursue legal remedies, small artisan communities like those involved in the Kolhapuri chappal trade have historically struggled to protect their work on international platforms. The law, and the limits of protection Under Indian law, brands can protect their products through the Trademarks Act, 1999, and the Designs Act, 2000. These allow the right for legal action, court injunctions, and the seizure of counterfeit stock.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
‘Project, Kajal, Darshan': Chhangur Baba's Codewords For Religious Conversion Revealed
Last Updated: UP's STF uncovered a code system used by Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba for illegal religious conversions. Baba and his aide Neetu were arrested. The Uttar Pradesh's Special Task Force (STF) has revealed a web of code words used by self-styled godman Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba to orchestrate a massive illegal religious conversion racket, luring several people, mostly women, with incentives, financial aid, promises of marriage or forced through intimidation. According to the STF probing the case, Chhangur Baba used several codewords— Project, mitti palatna, kajal lagana and darshan— at various stages to convert one's faith and hide the true nature of his illegal activities, India Today reported. In this secret lingo, 'project" referred to women, ' mitti palatna" meant religious conversion, ' Kajal lagana" meant manipulation and ' darshan" referred to introducing the victims to Chhangur Baba. On July 5, Chhangur Baba, the alleged mastermind of a religious conversion gang, was arrested along with his aide, Neetu alias Nasreen. The two are residents of Madhpur in Balrampur district, bordering Nepal. Chhangur's arrest is currently under UP ATS custody for a 7-day remand till July 16. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing financial irregularities, including suspicious transactions worth over Rs 106 crore spread across 40 bank accounts, along with at least two properties reportedly worth crores. Who Is Chhangur Baba? Chhangur Baba is the alleged mastermind of a large illegal religious conversion racket based in Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh. As reported earlier, he had worked in gemstone sales and gained popularity after spending some time in Mumbai. Additional Director General (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said the accused ran a massive network that allegedly targeted girls from a particular religious background, with alleged caste-based 'conversion rates". Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has lauded the arrest, saying that early findings from the investigation indicated the accused was involved in activities that were not only against society but also against the country. Modus Operandi According to the STF, the accused told the investigators that he used several code words to communicate with his gang. Explaining the modus operandi, he told investigators that his aides would lure young people and ask them to convert their religion by luring them with financial incentives, foreign travel, jobs and scholarships. The operation is reported to have been supported by nearly Rs 100 crore in foreign funding, according to officials. Investigators found that the money was used to buy several luxury properties, bungalows, expensive vehicles, and showrooms. More than 40 bank accounts, some under false names, were used to transfer the funds, pointing towards money laundering. As per Amar Ujala, to influence people, Chhangur Baba would first offer small amounts of cash (Rs 100 to Rs 200 per day) along with basic jobs like cleaning or caring for animals at his residence. He then gradually pressured them to convert. Two accused, Mehboob and Naveen Rohra, were said to be in charge of this part of the operation, which generated income while expanding the reach of the network. The report mentioned that a man named Sanchit, who worked as a cleaner for Chhangur, claimed that he was offered Rs 5 lakh to convert. When he refused, he was falsely implicated in a rape case, according to Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) statement as cited in the report. view comments First Published: July 13, 2025, 15:58 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
" Mitti, Kajal, Darshan": Chhangur Baba's Code Words For Conversion "Project"
Project, mitti palatna, kajal lagana and darshan - these were the code words Jamaluddin alias Chhangur Baba used at various stages to convert one's faith as he lured several people, mostly women, with incentives, financial aid, promises of marriage or forced through intimidation. While "project" referred to women, " mitti palatna" meant religious conversion. " Kajal lagana" meant manipulation and " darshan" referred to introducing the victims to Chhangur Baba. These details were revealed by the Uttar Pradesh's Special Task Force (STF) on Saturday and emerged at a time the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is also probing the case, said 18 bank accounts linked to Chhangur Baba saw transactions worth Rs 68 crore. Around Rs 7 crore was deposited in these accounts in a span of three months. On July 5, Chhangur Baba, the alleged mastermind of a religious conversion gang, was arrested along with his aide, Neetu alias Nasreen. The two are residents of Madhpur in Balrampur district, bordering Nepal. A non-bailable warrant was issued by a court against Jalaluddin, while the police had declared a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for his arrest, an official statement said. MODUS OPERANDI According to the STF, Chhangur Baba, during the course of investigation, said he used several code words to communicate with his gang, in a bid to hide his activities. Explaining the modus operandi, Chhangur Baba told investigators that his aides would lure young women and men and ask them to convert their religion by luring them with financial incentives, foreign travel, jobs and scholarships. On Saturday, the STF said, a 16-year-old girl from Faridabad alleged she was one of the victims of the fraudster. The minor alleged she was trapped by one Aamir Hussain, who lives near her house, on the pretext of love. She said she met Hussain through his sister Neha Khan in 2023. The girl said Hussain took her to Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi, where he introduced her to Chhangur Baba. The fraudster allegedly made her offer namaz and asked her to marry Hussain after converting to Islam. He also showed her "big dreams"; he gave her an amulet and asked her to dip it in water and drink the water. Hussain has been arrested. THREAT OVER REFUSAL TO CONVERT A man who claimed to have worked as a sweeper at Chhangur Baba's premises also alleged he was forced to convert to Islam by the fraudster. Sanjeet Kumar said he was six to seven months into the job when Chhangur Baba offered him a lot of money, saying it would be sufficient to ensure the sweeper's child gets married and is taken care of. Chhangur Baba said the money will help him purchase a car and a house, and improve his standard of living. Kumar said when he refused the offer, Chhangur Baba threatened him. The accused threatened him, saying he had spent a lot of money on him, and that he would get shot. The victim was forced to flee the place that night, he said. GLOBAL TRANSACTIONS WORTH CRORES Meanwhile, ED said it has gathered details of 18 out of 40 bank accounts linked to Chhangur Baba. Sources in the probe agency said these 18 accounts recorded transactions worth Rs 68 crore. These accounts received around Rs 7 crore through global funding in a span of three months. Efforts are being made to gather details pertaining to the accused's Income Tax Returns, the sources said. Chhangur Baba once used to sell rings and amulets on his bicycle. He later became a village head. Based on the documents found so far, it was confirmed that funds worth Rs 106 crore were deposited into his 40 different accounts, NDTV earlier reported. All this money came from Islamic countries of the Middle East, as per the probe. Last week, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the "initial probe" revealed that the activities of the accused are "not only against society but also against the nation". (With inputs from Mukesh Sengar in Delhi)
