Latest news with #Godara
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Court refuses bail to cyber fraud who targeted Navy officer in 'digital arrest' case
MUMBAI: The sessions court has refused bail to a 35-year-old man arrested for playing a central role in defrauding a retired Navy officer of ₹7.2 lakh in December 2024. According to the police, the accused had told the officer that he was implicated in a money laundering case involving NCP leader and former minister Nawab Malik, and he had to pay up if he wanted to cancel the 'warrant' against him. Court refuses bail to cyber fraud who targeted Navy officer in 'digital arrest' case Additional sessions judge Avinash P Kulkarni refused bail to the accused, Ugraram Ghamaram Godara, a farmer from Bikaner in Rajasthan, and held that his participation in the crime was 'active and deliberate'. The court added that releasing him on bail at this stage of the investigation would not be appropriate. According to the police, on December 24, 2024, the victim, a 54-year-old ex-Naval officer, got a phone call from someone posing as a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) official. The official claimed that the naval officer's Aadhaar-linked number had been misused to transfer illicit funds abroad and that he was under investigation in the Nawab Malik case. The police said that the naval officer then received a video call from someone pretending to be a member of the Delhi Police, who claimed that an arrest warrant had been issued against him. The caller threatened that a 'digital arrest' would be executed unless he paid a sum to cancel the fictitious warrant. Alarmed, the victim transferred ₹7.2 lakh to a State Bank of India account, only realising later that he had been defrauded. He then called the cybercrime helpline, and the Cuffe Parade Police Station registered an FIR against the unknown person. The police investigation traced ₹22,500 to the accused and revealed that he had given the bank account details where the victim transferred the money. The police added that he had also sent his driver to withdraw the cash from ATMs. The accused however argued that he had no direct role in the offence and the amount traced to him was not significant. He was willing to comply with all bail conditions and said that he had lost his wife and needed to support his young daughter and elderly father. The prosecution strongly opposed his plea, submitting that Godara was part of a broader syndicate and had been instrumental in the crime. The court noted that Godara not only knew the individuals whose bank accounts were being used to receive the money, but had also spoken to them before each transaction. According to the police, Godara had sometimes even accompanied them to banks or instructed them to withdraw funds. The court said that this indicated a central role in the execution of the fraud. The court held that the seriousness of the crime lay not just in the amount involved, but in the 'sophisticated modus operandi' of the accused. 'This is a serious cyber-economic crime which threatens the financial credibility of the country,' said the court.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Time of India
With 12 new names, cops release list of 25 most wanted criminals
1 2 3 J aipur: Rajasthan Police Friday released a fresh list of 25 most wanted fugitives in the state, with 12 new names added and rewards running into lakhs announced for their capture. ADG (Crime) Dinesh MN said the arrests of these suspects are now a top priority, with clear instructions sent to police commissioners in Jaipur and Jodhpur, range IGs, district SPs, and units of GRP, ATS, and SOG. The updated list features criminals wanted for serious crimes ranging from murder and dacoity to arms trafficking, narcotics and extortion. Among the names on the list is Rohit Godara alias Rawataram, wanted in 20 cases including murder and robbery, with a reward of Rs 1 lakh from the Police Headquarters and Rs 5 lakh from the NIA. Mahendra alias Sameer Meghwal is named in 25 cases, including attempted murder and violations of the Arms Act, with a Rs 2 lakh bounty from PHQ and Rs 5 lakh from the NIA. Virendra Singh Charan carries a Rs 5 lakh reward from the NIA for nine cases of murder and loot, while Satvinder alias Goldy Brar is wanted in seven cases and carries rewards totalling Rs 5.5 lakh from different agencies. Anmol alias Bhanu, accused in 13 cases, has a reward of Rs 1 lakh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Better hearing starts here Amplifon Book Now Undo Godara is a main henchman of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi who oversees the laters operations in Rajasthan and has been wanted in Rajut Theth and Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi murder case along with several extortion cases. Godara is a main henchman of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi who oversees the latter's operations in Rajasthan. He was wanted in the Rajut Theth and Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi murder cases, along with several extortion cases. Goldy is a long-time associate of Bishnoi, and Charan works closely with Godara. Shyamsunder alias Sanwaria, linked to 12 cases under the NDPS Act and attempted murder, also carries a Rs 1 lakh bounty; and Sunil, son of Kalu Meena, wanted in seven NDPS cases, has the same reward. The list includes seasoned offenders such as Anil Pandia, wanted in 39 cases and carrying rewards from Gujarat Police and Sikar SP; Subhash Moond alias Subhash Baral from Sikar with 29 cases; and Mokham Singh from Beawar Sadar, with the highest count—62 cases of murder, attempted murder, and robbery. Other fugitives include Rahul Swami and Mahendra Saran, alleged operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Ajay Singh alias Ajju Bana of Kota, and several from Jodhpur, Sikar, Bhilwara, and Pratapgarh. Dinesh has also directed all range officers to identify their 10 most wanted criminals locally and submit monthly progress reports. This, he said, would maintain constant pressure on criminal elements and reinforce the police force's zero-tolerance policy.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Viral X post defends India's LGBTQ2+ rights record amid Canadian deportation controversy
The queer artist facing deportation threat Indian-origin Canadian journalist Rupa Subramanya recently sparked discussions online after commenting on the case of a queer artist in Canada facing deportation to India. Posting on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Subramanya challenged claims that India is inherently unsafe for LGBTQ+ individuals. 'India is the only country that I know that officially recognizes a third gender. I know many openly gay, trans, and queer individuals thriving in business, the arts, and beyond. So I'm calling this guy's bullshit for what it is,' said Rupa Subramanya on X. The case of queer artist Tarun Godara Tarun Godara, a queer artist living in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, is facing the threat of deportation to India after a Canadian federal court recently rejected his appeal to remain in the country. Godara, who has called Canada home for more than eight years, fled India after experiencing violence and assault because of his sexuality. Speaking to CBC News, he shared his deep fear of being forced to return, saying, 'I'm scared that it could be any day.' Despite filing for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds earlier this year, Godara received a deportation notice from the Canada Border Services Agency. A temporary extension allowed him to stay while his case was under judicial review, but the recent court decision found 'insufficient evidence' that he would face persecution if deported. Godara has sought help from federal officials, including Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe, and has expressed that leaving his chosen family in Canada would be devastating. Social media reactions Rupa Subramanya's comment sparked swift and divided reactions across social media platforms. One user, presumably Indian, wrote, 'This is something we should be truly proud of. Baring a few, the majority population are pretty non-chalant about the queer community.' However, another user pointed out, 'Rupa, you were born in India and chose to live in Canada. Your aspirations were honoured, right? So why can't this man aspire to be safer? And please do not be disingenuous, one can imagine many scenarios of violence and intimidation for queer people in India.' A third user commented, "This is something we should be truly proud of. Baring a few, the majority population are pretty non-chalant about the queer community." Around the world, more than a dozen countries legally recognize a third gender or non-binary identity on official documents such as passports, ID cards, or birth certificates. Countries like India, Nepal, Germany, Australia, Canada, and Argentina allow individuals to choose options beyond 'male' or 'female,' including designations like 'X,' 'other,' or 'third gender.' However, the legal criteria and implementation vary widely—some nations allow self-identification, while others require medical certification or restrict recognition to intersex individuals.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Tarun Godara? Queer artist in Canada facing deportation to India - here's why court rejected his appeal
Queer artist Tarun Godara is facing deportation to India after Canadian federal court rejected his appeal citing 'insufficient evidence', CP24 reported. Godara has lived in Sudbury for over eight years and left India after allegedly facing violence and assault because of his sexuality. His hopes to stay in Canada were dashed when a judge ruled there was 'insufficient evidence' that he would face persecution if deported, leading to the rejection of his review. 'I'm scared that it could be any day,' CP24 quoted Tarun saying. 'Every weekday, I go and check my mailbox around 5 or 6, and it feels good not to have any mail in there," he added. Who is Tarun Godara? Tarun Godara is a queer, gender non-conforming artist who has been a part of the Sudbury, Canada, community for over eight years. Originally from India, he fled the country after allegedly enduring harassment, threats, and violence due to his gender expression and sexuality. According to a GoFundMe campaign launched by friends describes the risks he faces if forced to return to India saying that deportation would mean 'going back to a place where his well-being and personal freedom are not protected. He is in serious emotional distress, and extremely fearful of losing the life, support system, and safety he has built here.' Godara has repeatedly sought help from federal officials, including Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe, who confirmed her office is supporting him and plans to meet with him soon to discuss his case further.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Will turn you straight': Indian gay man in Canada faces deportation, says he's already receiving homophobic messages on social media
Visual artist Tarun Godara has lost his last appeal to stay in Canada and is facing deportation to India after eight years of residency. In several interviews to Canadian media, he said he fears for his life in India as he has already started receiving homophobic messages on social media telling him that once he's in India, he will be "turned straight". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'I'm receiving a lot of hate and homophobic messages from India on my Instagram, telling me that when I go back, they'll turn me straight, or just like death threats. These are people responding to news articles about my case," Tarun Godara said to the Toronto Star. The 33-year-old said coming to study at a Canadian college in 2017 was a relief from his closeted life in India. He said he was sexually assaulted by two men in 2013 when he was 19. His work permit did not get renewed in Canada, and his sexual orientation was not a reason not to send him to India as court ruled that "being teased and mocked does not necessarily amount to persecution" and he is safe to be deported to India as he has run out of legal status in Canada after staying therefor seven years. Both of his Godara's parents work for the government in India but Gidara said he had a tormented childhood living in constant fear. His elder brother convinced his parents to send him to Canada after learning that he was gay. Godara got a three-year postgraduation work permit after his graduation in 2019 and has worked as a cook, server, art instructor and barista to support himself while selling his drawings and paintings through a local gallery and creating public murals with other artists. Why Godara's work permit was not extended in Canada It was caught between old rules and new rules. Godara applied to extend his work permit in July 2022, a month after Canada launched a special program to let international students extend their non-renewable permit. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now When he applied, he was told that his application would be processed under the new program. But in December 2022, he was told that his application was refused under the old rules. His second application was also rejected as the special program had expired by that time. Court said he could not prove he was raped in India because of his sexual orientation 'The Applicant did not submit as part of his (pre-removal risk assessment) application that the assailants of the sexual assault targeted the Applicant for the discriminatory reason of him being gay,' wrote Judge Glennys V McVeigh. "Nor was that inference argued or made clear. Therefore, the Officer reasonably found that 'there is little information and evidence before me to indicate that (the Applicant) was persecuted in India due to his sexuality. ' '
