Latest news with #RaviGupta
New Indian Express
23-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Cyber impostor uses Telangana Home Secretary's DP to extort Rs 50K
HYDERABAD: The Telangana State Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has registered a case against a cybercriminal for attempting to extort money from a 61-year-old businessman by impersonating Home Secretary Ravi Gupta on WhatsApp. According to the complaint, the victim received a WhatsApp voice call on June 19 from a +92 series number, typically associated with Pakistan. The caller ID displayed the name 'CBI Vikram' with the display picture of Ravi Gupta, the current home secretary of Telangana. The call lasted nearly eight minutes. A woman, claiming to be from cybercrime authorities in Canada, informed the businessman that his daughter had been arrested in a drug-related case. When he requested to speak to her, the caller refused, claiming she was undergoing third-degree interrogation, and even played background sounds of people crying to make the threat seem real. The caller then demanded Rs 50,000 for the daughter's release and shared a PhonePe number for the transfer. 'I asked to speak with my daughter, but she kept threatening me. I almost believed her and thought of sending the money,' the complainant said. He eventually disconnected the call and contacted his daughter in Canada, who confirmed she was safe at home. Realising it was a scam, he reported the incident to the police. A case was registered under Section 66-D of the IT Act and Sections 308(3), 318(4), 319(2) and 338 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
New Indian Express
22-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Tapgate accused misled review panel, former Telangana CS Santhi Kumari tells SIT
SIT focus on phones tapped before 2023 polls The SIT had earlier recorded the statements of former Principal Secretary (Home) Ravi Gupta, Director General of Police Dr Jitender, and former Intelligence chief Anil Kumar. According to sources, the accused had claimed that all these officers were members of the 'review committee' and had approved the list of phone numbers submitted for surveillance. Prabhakar Rao, the prime accused in the case, reportedly told the SIT that phones were tapped based on orders from 'higher officials'. The sources stated that the SIT inquiry is focusing on phones tapped up to a fortnight before the 2023 Assembly elections. The SIT is reportedly examining the entire list of tapped phones and trying to identify who gave the orders to surveil around 1,600 phones in the state, including those belonging to politicians, business personalities, film celebrities, IAS and IPS officers, and journalists. Sources from the SIT stated that they are investigating the entire tapping episode using the available data from service providers and the Telecom Department. The sources also said that SIT is going through the call records obtained by Prabhakar Rao, Praneeth Rao and other accused from March 2023 to the end of November 2023. The SIT is also trying to identify why the accused obtained call records data from the service providers and on whose orders this was done. The SIT officers are calling victims to record statements as witnesses by showing the Call Detail Records (CDRs) which were taken by the accused officers under key codes such as CAT 1, CAT 2, CAT 3 and so on. The SIT is also inquiring with the victims whether there was any intimidation, extortion, or other problems created by the accused officers between March 2023 and November 2023. If such activities are reported, the SIT is also accepting complaints from the victims and including these in the CRPC 161 statements. The SIT is likely to record the statement of former DGP M Mahender Reddy. Prabhakar Rao reportedly stated to the investigation officer that his appointment was made by Mahender and that he followed instructions from higher officials. Meanwhile, the SIT is also set to record the statement of Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay at a convenient time, likely Monday or Tuesday, as a witness, as his phone was also allegedly tapped by the accused officers.
News18
17-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Even Israel's Famed Air Defence System Is Not Enough To Stop Hypersonic Missiles
Last Updated: According to defence expert Ravi Gupta, the only strategy against hypersonic missiles is to launch multiple supersonic interceptors, hoping one successfully hits the target As Israel and Iran traded strikes for the fifth consecutive day, their fiercest face-off yet, the conflict has spotlighted the vital role—and limits—of air defence systems like the Iron Dome amid rising missile threats. Israel's Iron Dome has played a key role in intercepting a barrage of rockets and missiles fired by Hamas, Hezbollah, and even Iran, shielding civilian areas from major damage. However, with the growing use of more sophisticated threats—such as hypersonic and ballistic missiles—the Iron Dome, along with other systems like Arrow, is facing increasing pressure, raising fresh concerns about the limits of current defence capabilities in the face of evolving missile technology. In October 2024, Iran launched around 200 ballistic and hypersonic missiles, raising concerns about the efficacy of current defence systems against such advanced weaponry. Ravi Gupta, a former spokesperson and scientist at DRDO, explained that while ballistic missiles can be detected and intercepted due to their prolonged presence in the air after launch, tracking and neutralising hypersonic missiles is much more complex. These missiles travel at speeds starting from 5 Mach, making them extremely difficult to intercept with current technology. Why Hypersonic Missiles Are Difficult To Intercept Iran's hypersonic missiles have inflicted substantial damage in various parts of Israel, underscoring the lethality of these weapons. Hypersonic missiles, which can travel up to 10 Mach, are challenging to detect and engage. The speed of a hypersonic missile, which can reach around 6173 kilometres per hour, makes interception nearly impossible with existing systems. The aerial distance between Israel and Iran is approximately 2,000 kilometers. Some missiles can travel at speeds up to Mach 10—ten times the speed of sound—posing a significant challenge to air defence systems. Gupta noted that intercepting a hypersonic missile would require either a hypersonic air defence system or a faster interceptor missile capable of speeds between 10 and 25 Mach, neither of which are currently available. At present, no country possesses an interceptor capable of reliably countering such high-speed threats. A single supersonic interceptor missile is insufficient to engage targets moving at hypersonic speeds. The only strategy against hypersonic missiles involves deploying multiple supersonic interceptors, hoping that at least one might hit the target. Why Ballistic Missiles Can Be Intercepted According to Gupta, ballistic missiles may vary in range, but all operate on the same basic principle. Once launched, they travel into the exoatmosphere—essentially into space—and then descend along a parabolic trajectory, dictated by the laws of physics, to strike their target. As they re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, their speed can reach up to Mach 25, placing them firmly in the high hypersonic category. Since ballistic missiles travel through the air for a significant duration, radar systems can detect their launch early. This allows for the calculation of their likely impact point, enabling the launch of anti-ballistic missiles to intercept them mid-flight. According to Gupta, when a ballistic missile begins its descent, it drops like a stone under the influence of gravity, with none of its rocket motors active for manoeuvring. This makes it impossible to spoof or divert. However, it can still be intercepted using a well-timed anti-ballistic missile. Does Israel Have A Solution for Ballistic Missiles? Israel has only one solution for ballistic missiles—and it lies in the strength of its layered air defence system, which is highly effective against short-range rockets, drones, and missiles. The country also deploys anti-ballistic interceptors like David's Sling, Arrow-2, and Arrow-3 to counter short and medium-range ballistic and cruise missiles. Additionally, the US supplied Israel with the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system in 2024. These systems are currently being used to intercept ballistic missiles launched by Iran, capable of targeting them both within the atmosphere and in the exoatmosphere. However, when it comes to hypersonic missiles, no nation has found a concrete solution yet.
Business Standard
12-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Aamukh Capital Launches with First Investment in GoodGudi, Backing Bold Indian Founders at Inception
PNN Gurugram (Haryana) [India], June 12: Aamukh Capital, a pioneering venture platform built to be the "first believer" and "first cheque" in a founder's journey, today announced its official launch. With a unique dual-engine investment strategy and a strong conviction-first philosophy, Aamukh Capital aims to empower visionary Indian founders to build solutions that are "Built in Bharat, for the World." "We are thrilled to officially launch Aamukh Capital and begin our mission of igniting India's next generation of breakout founders," said Anurag Sharma, Founder and Managing Partner of Aamukh Capital. "We don't just write capital; we build systems for belief, investing from our own balance sheet in every deal we recommend. Our conviction-first approach means we are deeply committed to the founders we partner with, providing not just financial backing but also unwavering support from day one." This philosophy underpins its distinctive approach to fostering innovation and accelerating growth: * The Discovery Program: This initiative provides non-dilutive micro-capital to student and idea-stage founders, nurturing innovation at its earliest inception and fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs. * The Signal Series: Designed to back high-momentum, post-Product-Market Fit (PMF) startups, this program deploys cheques ranging from ₹1 Cr to ₹10 Cr at strategic inflection points, accelerating their scale and market penetration. "We've launched Aamukh Capital because we feel there's a significant gap in the market for mid-sized deals, and that's precisely where our dual model comes into play," said Ravi Gupta, Chief Advisor of Aamukh Capital. "Our unique approach allows us to engage with founders from the very earliest stages and then scale our commitment as they demonstrate traction, bridging the gap between micro-capital and larger institutional rounds." Aamukh Capital is proud to announce its very first investment in GoodGudi, a groundbreaking company pioneering a fast lifestyle retail format. GoodGudi offers a unique shopping experience for lifestyle and aspirational products across all age groups, poised to redefine the retail landscape in India and beyond. Anurag Sharma, Founder and Managing Partner of Aamukh Capital, says, "GoodGudi perfectly embodies the 'Built in Bharat, for the World' ethos we champion at Aamukh Capital. Their rapid traction and clear understanding of the modern Indian consumer's desire for affordable, design-led lifestyle products are incredibly impressive. This is exactly the kind of conviction-driven opportunity at an inflection point that our Signal Series is designed to support." GoodGudi's leadership also shared their enthusiasm for the partnership: "Partnering with Aamukh Capital is a significant milestone for GoodGudi. Their belief in our vision from such an early stage and their conviction-first philosophy is exactly what we needed to propel our growth. We are eager to leverage their support as we build GoodGudi into a leading lifestyle retail destination," said Sagar Yarnalkar, Co-Founder of GoodGudi. Aamukh Capital is committed to empowering founders who are building impactful solutions from India, for a global audience. The firm invites visionary entrepreneurs to connect and join them on this exciting journey of discovery and impact. About Aamukh Capital: Aamukh Capital is a conviction-first venture platform dedicated to being the first believer, the first cheque, and the earliest conviction partner in a founder's journey. Through its Discovery Program and Signal Series, Aamukh Capital provides capital and strategic support to student, idea-stage, and post-PMF startups in India, with a mission to empower founders to build solutions that are "Built in Bharat, for the World." About GoodGudi: GoodGudi is pioneering a fast lifestyle retail format, offering a unique and aspirational shopping experience across diverse lifestyle products for all age groups. Founded in 2023 by Anurag Gupta, Sagar Yarnalkar, and Chandan Kumar, GoodGudi aims to establish over 40 retail outlets within the next 24 months. The brand specializes in offering high-quality utility-focused products across various categories, including home utilities, travel accessories, gifts, fashion accessories, personal care items, kitchenware, stationery, children's products, and toys.
Mint
02-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Sugar industry seeks ethanol price revision as blending share drops to 28 pc
New Delhi, The sugar industry has demanded a revision of ethanol procurement prices and extension of blending targets beyond 20 per cent, as the sector's contribution to the national ethanol programme has declined sharply from 73 per cent to just 28 per cent. The industry has also demanded accelerated promotion and manufacturing of Flex-Fuel Vehicles to boost ethanol demand and ensure market preparedness for higher blending, National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories said in a statement. The demand was made by the industry delegation, led by Ravi Gupta, Chairman of IFGE's Sugar Bioenergy Group, and expert Member on the Board of NFCSF, in a meeting held at the PMO recently, it said. In 2022-23 season , NFCSF said the sugar industry reached a significant milestone by diverting 43 lakh tonnes of sugar towards ethanol production, enabling the supply of 369 crore litres of ethanol, which accounted for 73 per cent of total ethanol blended with fuel across the country. However, in 2023-24, ethanol supply from sugar-based feedstocks declined to 270 crore litres, contributing only 38 per cent to the national blending programme. "This is projected to fall further to 250 crore litres in 2024-25, making up just 28 per cent of the total blending target of 900 crore litres," it said in a statement. The main reason for this drop is that ethanol procurement prices have not been increased in line with the rise in the Fair and Remunerative Price of sugarcane, making ethanol production less profitable for sugar mills. Although there is potential to divert up to 40 lakh tonnes of sugar into ethanol this year, only 32 lakh tonnes are expected to be diverted. "This shortfall is due to the gap between ethanol prices and better returns from selling sugar directly in the domestic market," NFCSF said. As a result, India's ethanol production capacity of 952 crore litres per year including 130 crore litres from multi-feed distilleries is being under-utilised. The Ethanol Blending Programme has emerged as a vital solution to the longstanding issue of surplus sugar stocks under the National Policy on Biofuels – 2018, which set an ambitious target to divert 60 to 70 lakh tonnes of excess sugar annually towards ethanol production. Since the policy's inception, India's ethanol production capacity has expanded significantly from 518 crore litres in 2018 to 1,800 crore litres in 2025. Correspondingly, the ethanol blending rate with petrol has risen sharply from 4.22 per cent to 18.61 per cent as of April 30, 2025. Sugar production has reached 286.9 lakh tonnes as on April 30 of the ongoing 2024-25 season, out of which 30 lakh tonnes have been diverted for ethanol. The industry has additionally suggested evaluating the possibility of blending ethanol in diesel as a future strategy to expand ethanol use across fuel types. NFCSF noted that diverting sugar to ethanol does not reduce the actual production of sugar but helps to manage surplus sugar stocks, stabilise market prices, improve the financial health of sugar mills, and ensure timely payments to farmers. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
