Latest news with #Aadhar
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Fraudsters duping devotees in the name of ‘darshan' in temples across Maha
PUNE: A series of incidents across major temples in Maharashtra have exposed malpractices ranging from black marketing of darshan passes to fake QR codes and portals to misuse of VIP entry; all of which have exploited the faith (and desperation) of devotees seeking a satisfying spiritual experience. While these cases were reported separately, taken together, they reveal a disconcerting pattern that has forced temple authorities and district administrations to revisit the systems that are presently in place. Indian devotees gather at The Shani Shingnapur Temple in Ahmednagar, some 200kms east of Mumbai on April 2, 2016. Angry villagers blocked a group of women activists from entering the inner sanctum of a temple in western India, despite a court order mandating Hindu women's right to worship / AFP PHOTO / STR (AFP) At the Jyotirlinga shrine in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik, Nashik rural police arrested five men for black marketing of darshan passes wherein they used fake identities to book multiple passes—officially priced at ₹200—only to subsequently sell them at ₹800 to ₹1,000 apiece. Having worked at flower stalls near the temple, the men used the familiarity to approach devotees unfamiliar with the online pass booking system. Mahesh Kulkarni, police inspector at Trimbakeshwar police station, said, 'Many devotees don't know how to book online passes. These accused would offer to help such devotees under the pretext of selling flowers.' Initially, they helped the devotees book passes for free while selling flowers but soon realised that they could exploit the system to their advantage. With no mechanism to crosscheck identity cards during online booking, the accused began mass booking passes and reselling them at inflated prices. The police found out that one of the accused, Shivraj Aher, booked over 1,000 passes in this manner. The accused had also created a WhatsApp group through which the passes were sold. Investigators suspect that more people may be involved in this racket. Purushottam Kadalag, trustee at the Shri Trimbakeshwar Devasthan Trust, said, 'The accused benefitted from the loopholes in the online darshan pass system. We are also in the process of learning and after this incident, we have decided to crosscheck the issued passes with the respective identities (id's) of the devotees. Also, we will soon introduce an Aadhar card number-based darshan pass system to avoid such incidents in future.' In Shani Shingnapur, devotees were misled by fake websites and QR codes offering services such as VIP darshan, online puja, abhishek and oil offerings - none of which were authorised by the temple trust. The cybercrime unit has registered an FIR, and identified at least five such fraudulent platforms. Somnath Gharge, superintendent of police, Ahilyanagar district, said, 'These were cloned websites designed to siphon donations. Devotees thought that they were contributing to the temple but were transferring money to private accounts instead…' Whereas Pandharpur has seen multiple cases of fraud. In January, a self-styled priest was booked for charging ₹11,000 from devotees for easy darshan of Lord Vitthal. In March, seven devotees were conned into buying fake darshan passes; the authorities found them to be fake while scanning. Similar such incidents prompted the Solapur district administration to ban VIP darshan during this year's Ashadhi Wari. Solapur district collector Kumar Ashirwad said that the ban on VIP darshan is part of a broader effort to ensure fairness and maintain order. 'This year, we declared a no-vehicle zone from Chauphala to the Vitthal temple. Golf carts were provided for senior citizens, but VIP darshan has been completely banned. Violations will invite action under the Disaster Management Act,' he said. The ban came after reports that private agents were charging astronomical fees from all manner of devotees for 'VIP access', creating a law-and-order risk. In Tuljapur, a similar situation unfolded at the Tuljabhavani temple with VIP passes being misused. The passes, issued by trustees, were being resold by agents for a profit. So much so that in May this year, the Dharashiv district administration scrapped the VIP pass system and introduced a ₹200 online pass issued directly by the temple trust. While the aforementioned cases are separate, the common thread tying them together is the use of digital manipulation, emotional exploitation, and gaps in oversight. In almost all cases, devotees were contacted through WhatsApp groups, social media, and fraudulent websites—channels that are difficult to regulate in real time. For many devotees who had saved for months and travelled long distances, these experiences were not just financial setbacks but also the cause of great emotional distress. Instead of blessings, they were left with a sense of betrayal. Temple trusts and local authorities have since issued advisories urging devotees to use only official websites or government-authorised platforms for bookings and donations. Devotees have been warned against scanning QR codes from messages or social media posts. Overall, these incidents have triggered calls for stronger verification systems, improved transparency, and tighter digital security across religious institutions. With the holy Hindu month of Shravan having just begun, there is now a crying need to ensure that the faithful are not targeted in the name of devotion.
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘Dog Babu' issued residence certificate in Bihar's SIR process, DM orders probe
Amid the confusion among people over the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise of electoral rolls in Bihar that got over on July 25, a canine named 'Dog Babu' was issued a residence certificate in Masaurhi area of Patna district from the State RTPS (Right to Public Service) portal. The residence certificate was required by the Election Commission (EC) among 11 certificates as proof for inclusion in the electoral rolls during SIR of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. State assembly polls in Bihar are due in October-November later this year. Later, Patna District Magistrate Thiyagarajan S.M. said the certificate has been cancelled and ordered a probe into it with a report sought within 24 hours. Assuring this, he said action will be taken against the employees and officials found guilty. 'The matter is very serious and some mischievous elements have made such an attempt. The certificate was issued on July 24 at 3.56 p.m. and it was immediately cancelled within two minutes at 3:58 pm,' the DM said while speaking to the media on Monday. The Masaurhi Sub-Divisional Magistrate has submitted his report in which it was found that the application for the 'residential certificate was submitted with Aadhar card of a Delhi-based woman and action will be taken against all guilty officials and employees'. Golden retriever The residence certificate (No: BRCCO / 2025/ 15933581) issued in the name of 'Dog Babu' has the photograph of a golden retriever, his father's name is mentioned as 'Kuta babu' and mother's name as 'Kutiya Devi' and he is listed as a permanent resident of 'Mohalla: Kaulichak, Ward No: 15, Post Office: Masaurhi, Pin Code: 804452, Police Station: Masaurhi, Block: Masaurhi, Division: Masaurhi, District: Patna, State: Bihar'. The certificate was issued on July 24, a day before the SIR exercise of electoral rolls was over. The certificate was issued from the State RTPS (Right to Public Service) portal, which is an online platform established by the Bihar government to provide various public services to its citizens. It is part of the e-District mission mode project under the National e-Governance Plan. The portal enables citizens to apply for and access essential services like caste, income and residence certificates online, streamlining the process and ensuring timely delivery. The issued certificate bears digital signature of Revenue Officer Murari Chauhan. When the residence certificate issued in the name of 'Dog Babu' went viral on social media on Monday with several cryptic comments following it, the Patna district administration in a social media post said that an FIR has been registered against the applicant, the computer operator and the officer who issued the certificate. Earlier, social activist and Swaraj India member Yogendra Yadav took a dig at the residence certificate issued in the name of a dog in Patna in a social media post in which he said: 'Look at this through your own eyes that a dog gets his residential certificate done in Bihar on July 24th and this is the same certificate considered by Election Commission for SIR of electoral rolls in the state while Aadhar and Ration cards are being called fake'.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Supreme Court to hear case against Bihar SIR today: What is the case about?
The Supreme Court of India is set to hear the pleas challenging the revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar on Monday, July 29. The plea before the top court challenges the Election Commission's decision to undertake a special intensive revision ahead of the assembly elections in the state. The plea before the top court challenges the Election Commission's decision to undertake a special intensive revision ahead of the assembly elections in the state. (Vipin Kumar/ Hindustan Times) The matter is expected to be heard by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi. The plea before the apex court argues that the SIR in Bihar could result in the disenfranchisement of a certain segment of Bihar's population. Also Read | Supreme Court to review Delhi's old vehicle ban today: What's the policy and why was it paused? "The petition submits that the SIR order dated June 24, 2025, if not set aside, can arbitrarily and without due process disenfranchise lakhs of citizens from electing their representatives, thereby disrupting free and fair elections and democracy in the country, which are part of the basic structure of the Constitution," states Association for Democratic Reforms, the NGO challenging the revision. The NGO has also questioned the exclusion of Aadhar and ration cards from the list of acceptable documents during the electoral roll revision. The Election Commission of India, however, has defended the exercise. In its affidavit before the court, the poll body has justified the revision and stated that the exercise will add to the "purity of the election by weeding out ineligible persons." Also Read | Bihar electors' number may dip for 1st time since 2005 "The entitlement to vote flows from Article 326 read with Sections 16 and 19 of the RP Act 1950 and Section 62 of the RP Act 1951, which contains certain qualifications with respect to citizenship, age, and ordinary residency. An ineligible person has no right to vote, and thus, cannot claim a violation of Articles 19 and 21 in this regard," said the polling body. What is Bihar SIR? The Election Commission of India launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar on June 24. This decision comes ahead of the highly anticipated assembly elections in the state. As per ECI, the objective of the exercise is to update and clean up the electoral booths through house-to-house verification by Booth-Level Officers across Bihar. The exercise has been criticised by the opposition governments at the state and central levels. In the monsoon session of the Parliament, INDIA bloc MPS have challenged the exercise, stating that the SIR is removing "genuine voters" from the electoral rolls. A month after the exercise started, the Election Commission has stated that around 35 lakh voters in the Bihar electoral rolls have been flagged as missing. As per the press release issued on Sunday, many have moved to other states, some are deceased, some have not submitted the forms, and few have refused to register.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
ADQ-Sheikh Tahnoon vehicle eyes $200 mn stake in Aadhar Housing Finance
An investment vehicle backed by Abu Dhabi's ADQ, linked to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, is in advanced talks to acquire a 10-12% stake in Aadhar Housing Finance from Blackstone for $200-225 million. This follows Blackstone's near $2 billion capital commitment via a continuation vehicle. The deal highlights strong investor confidence in India's affordable housing sector and Aadhar's growth potential. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Mumbai: An investment vehicle backed by Abu Dhabi sovereign investor ADQ and partly owned by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan is in advanced discussions to buy a minority stake in Blackstone-backed Aadhar Housing Finance , said people in the know. Sheikh Tahnoon is the United Arab Emirates national security adviser as well as ADQ $200-225 million investment (Rs 1,750-2,000 crore) will be made through the secondary sale of shares for a 10-12% stake in the affordable housing finance company, which held an IPO in 2024. A formal announcement is expected in the coming weeks, said the people mentioned cited will follow a larger, near $2 billion (Rs 17,335 crore) capital commitment, by Blackstone along with two of its sponsors or limited partners (LPs). This will be through the transfer of most of Blackstone's existing three-fourths shareholding into a new 'continuation' vehicle, similar to what it did in Mphasis in declined to comment about the identity of the new investor or any other details. ADQ //didn't respond to the weekend, the company made a public disclosure that Blackstone funds BCP Asia II Holdco VII Pte, Blackstone Capital Partners (CYM) IX and Blackstone Capital Partners (CYM) IX AIV-FLP have made an open offer to buy 113.5 million Aadhar shares, translating to astake, from public shareholders as per regulations at Rs 469.97 open offer was triggered as Blackstone is flipping a majority share (about 64%) of its shareholding from one set of funds to two new funds of the firm at Rs 425 apiece, to ensure continuity. The value of this secondary transaction is Rs 12,000 crore ($1.4 billion). If the open offer is fully subscribed, Blackstone will pay a further Rs 5,335 crore ($620 million) in Financial is helping with the open offer. Blackstone may have to sell some stock to comply with the ceiling of 75% non-public shareholding, if the offer is fully stake sale to the new Abu Dhabi vehicle is also expected to be at a similar Friday, Aadhar closed at Rs 496.90 for a market value of Rs 21,469.03 crore. In the past month, it has appreciated 12.11% in anticipation of a transaction. Year to date it is up 18.63% on the back of a robust performance. The company reported a 19% increase in net profit to Rs 237 crore in the first quarter ended funds, in which a private equity group sells assets from one of the funds they manage to a newer one also managed by the firm, are widely prevalent in the west. It's catching on in India with Chrys Capital and Multiples launching similar structures for some of their investments such as National Stock Exchange (NSE), Vastu Housing Finance, Quantiphi and APAC Financial to investment bank Jefferies, buyout groups have used this strategy, regarded as controversial by some analysts, to exit $ 41 billion of investments in the first six months of 2025. Such transactions hit a record 19% of all sales by the industry for the period, up 60% from a year developed markets, funds have been struggling to find external buyers or list holdings and return capital to investors. In growth markets like India, they argue that companies like Aadhar have a significant growth runway left for a fund to stay invested and ride the upside. Typically, a fund with a 10-year lifespan will have a three-to-five-year investment the IPO, even though several strategic financial groups or funds approached Blackstone to either partially or fully exit Aadhar, a transaction could not be concluded due to valuation mismatches, said people with knowledge of the matter.'Blackstone has been a committed partner to Aadhar since 2019, playing a key role over the past six years in strengthening its position as India's largest affordable housing finance company. That is what made it do an Mphasis with Aadhar too,' said an executive in the know. 'The fundamentals of the affordable housing segment remain strong giving it the confidence to stay invested and even rope in new, high-profile investors.'The industry is likely to see a five-year CAGR of 17-18%.The management and the board will stay in place. Under Blackstone's six-year ownership, Aadhar's AUM has ballooned to $3 billion, 1.2x that of its nearest than ADQ, Abu Dhabi has several sovereign investment funds, including ADIA, Mubadala and AI-focused MGX. The oil-rich emirate has been keen on betting large sums to back new vehicles as it positions itself as a hub of global capital. For example, in 2024, ADQ and Chimera Investment--part of the sprawling business empire of Sheikh Tahnoon–launched Lunate, which has emerged as one of the hottest new asset managers of the region, which has invested in close to 30 deals in one year. Lunate also owns Alterra, a $30 billion climate fund, with international groups BlackRock, TPG and Brookfield. ADQ has committed $6.5 billion to Alterra. Lunate includes Alterra in its assets under management.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Muslim hawker assaulted in Meerut; attempt to create fear, says opposition
After a Muslim cloth peddler was brutally assaulted at Fatehpur Narayan village, under Kithor police station limits, in Meerut district, opposition parties alleged on Sunday that the incident was a targeted attack designed to create fear. While villagers and police claimed Arif was mistaken for a thief, the victim's wife alleged that they were being forced to modify the complaint by the police. 'We have submitted a petition; the case is yet to be registered. My husband, who was selling clothes, was beaten, and now we are being pressured to change the petition by the Sub-Inspector,' said Tausima, the victim's wife, in a viral video. The Hindu reached out to the Meerut police, including the Circle Officer, but failed to get any response. Mob attack The incident happened on July 26. The victim, along with one companion, was selling clothes in the village when 10-15 people gathered and began calling him a thief, demanded his Aadhar card, and proceeded to beat him up. He was taken to Meerut Medical College for treatment. 'This incident shows that there is a complete breakdown of law and order in the state. No one has the right to take the law into their hands; some people emboldened by the dispensation are attempting to create a Jangal Raj kind of situation in U.P.; it is a lynching attempt that aims to create fear,' said Imran Masood, Lok Sabha MP and a senior Congress leader. Lok Sabha MP from Ghazipur, Afzal Ansari, said, 'I condemn this incident, it is clear that the accused have no fear of the administration and rule of law. They know no proper action will be taken, and this encourages them to attack poor Muslims.'
