Latest news with #Thevar
Time Out
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
What it's like to dine at a two-Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in Singapore
It felt like it wasn't too long ago when we celebrated the debut of Singapore's first contemporary Indian restaurant. Chef Manogren Thevar's eponymous restaurant opened its doors in 2018 on Keong Saik Road, and after picking up two Michelin Stars, three Knives from The Best Chef awards and a spot on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants along the way, he's now ready for something new. Enter Thevar 2.0 – a well-rebooted version of the original, now located at Mohamed Sultan Road. It's twice as big for one, seating 28 guests in the main dining hall, two to three at a cushy chef's table and up to 10 in the private dining room (which is fitted with its own kitchen, restroom and private entrance). The minimalistic, sanctuary-like space is a subtle callback to Chef Mano's childhood home in Penang, with terracotta walls and Chettinad-inspired motifs embedded in its pillars and rugs. While the design of the restaurant is muted, the menu and flavours are anything but. Yes, it's the same signature items that greet you in the $298 tasting menu (though we hear new sharing dishes are on the way), but if you've got a real penchant for South Indian cuisine like us, and even if you don't, a meal at Thevar is not to be passed up. Expect nothing less than spot-on seasoning, complex spice blends and stellar presentation. Chef Mano brings his classical French training to the table – his creations are never so vibrant that they overwhelm, nor so restrained that they feel pared back. My meal kicks off with a flavour-packed snack trio of rainbow trout atop crispy idli, chaat studded with juicy Tomberry tomatoes and my favourite of the lot – pork belly and sambal aioli wrapped neatly in a betel nut leaf. Chef's take on pani puri is at once strikingly similar to yet worlds apart from the iconic snack, using a dehydrated carrot juice tart shell encasing pomegranate, tomato and buttermilk bits, elevated with a hint of feta cheese. And when it comes to the appetisers, it's an impossible fight between the lobster ishtu and abalone khichdi. The lobster arrives in an addictive yuzu-coconut stew, topped with pumpkin seeds and puffed rice for added texture. And as for the khichdi, let's just say I have no issues polishing off every tender morsel of Jeju abalone and pearl couscous in my bowl. I initially steer clear of the Mysore spiced lamb rack for fear that it might be too gamey, but one bite from my dining companion's plate is enough to change my mind. Perfectly charred with a medium rare centre and served with spiced condiments and a side of fragrant biryani and raita, it's no wonder the dish is a beloved classic. That said, the Tajima wagyu makes for a brilliant alternative, and you get the same pairing sauces of sorrel chutney, mango and pineapple achar for acidity, and a delightful touch of sweetness from the butternut squash masala. Desserts are certainly not an afterthought as well. I enjoy the peach and paneer ice cream with rose granita, especially for the refreshing sprigs of mint leaves on the side. The roasted dates kulfi is more akin to a typical restaurant dessert, weaving in familiar flavours like banana milk cream, pecan crumbles and parmesan. At Thevar, you get the sense that Indian cuisine in Singapore has evolved far beyond the usual messy fix-ups of biryani and ghee-laden curries. At the same time, Chef Mano's plates tell us that culinary refinement doesn't have to come at the cost of punchy, feel-good flavours. The only way to put this to the test? Bite the bullet and book a table. Or you can wait for the communal sharing menu to drop in a couple of months. Thevar is open from Tuesday to Saturday at 16 Mohamed Sultan Rd, Singapore 238965.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Time of India
Former loan recovery agent arrested for extortion, blackmail scam via apps; police say pan-India racket exposed
1 2 3 4 Pune: A 29-year-old resident of Vashi in Navi Mumbai has been arrested by the Pimpri Chinchwad police in connection with cheating and blackmailing people through fake loan apps, which he allegedly executed on the instructions of handlers based in Singapore. The arrest, said the police, throws open a pan-India loan fraud racket. Accused Isaki Thevar of Vashi, who worked as a loan recovery agent, has been duping people through at least eight fake loan apps, police officers told TOI, adding that the apps have at least 10,000 complaints registered against them across the country as determined from the national cybercrime portal. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Investigations further revealed that the suspect and his handlers used Pakistani cellphone numbers to cheat and blackmail several victims. A Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police team led by senior police inspector Ravikiran Nale arrested Thevar last week in Mumbai. As many as five laptops, seven SIM cards, and a mobile handset have been recovered from the possession of the accused. Nale told TOI that in June this year, a woman from Mahalunge MIDC received a link about a loan app from an unknown cellphone number. When she clicked on the link, the crooks gained access to her cellphone. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The all new SP125 that comes with advance technology & features Honda Learn More Undo They then told the woman that she had taken a loan of Rs5,400 from them and demanded that she return the sum. The woman ended up transferring Rs9,000 to different UPI IDs, but the crooks continued to ask for Rs15,000 more. They sent the woman her morphed photographs and threatened to share these with her relatives if she did not pay up. "When the woman did not give them more money, the crooks went ahead and shared her images with her relatives. She then approached the police to lodge a complaint," Nale told TOI. Assistant police inspector Pravin Swami of the cyber police said that when the police team took down the details of the loan app, it was revealed that it had been developed in Navi Mumbai. "Our team went to Mumbai last week and took Thevar into custody. When we checked his laptop, we found at least eight loan apps on it. There were at least 10,000 complaints about these apps from different parts of the country," Swami said. Swami added that their probe revealed Thevar was in contact with handlers from Singapore, for whom he developed these apps. "Thevar worked as a loan recovery agent and was aware of the process needed to run loan apps. He helped handlers obtain permissions to operate these apps by uploading fake documents, like forged permission letters from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)," the officer said. According to Swami, the handlers from Singapore used to send links about these apps to different cellphone numbers in the country and gain access to cellphones of victims who clicked on these links. "Thevar and other suspects involved in the crime used to morph photographs and blackmail victims," said Swami, adding, "The gang used Pakistani cellphone numbers to threaten people." The officer said that it appears the crooks have blackmailed and extorted money from several people all over India. "Our investigations are ongoing," he said. Swami also said the Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police have gotten all these fake loan apps deleted from a popular online store. "In the last few months, we have managed to get at least 20 fake loan apps deleted this way," Swami told TOI. Pune: A 29-year-old resident of Vashi in Navi Mumbai has been arrested by the Pimpri Chinchwad police in connection with cheating and blackmailing people through fake loan apps, which he allegedly executed on the instructions of handlers based in Singapore. The arrest, said the police, throws open a pan-India loan fraud racket. Accused Isaki Thevar of Vashi, who worked as a loan recovery agent, has been duping people through at least eight fake loan apps, police officers told TOI, adding that the apps have at least 10,000 complaints registered against them across the country as determined from the national cybercrime portal. Investigations further revealed that the suspect and his handlers used Pakistani cellphone numbers to cheat and blackmail several victims. A Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police team led by senior police inspector Ravikiran Nale arrested Thevar last week in Mumbai. As many as five laptops, seven SIM cards, and a mobile handset have been recovered from the possession of the accused. Nale told TOI that in June this year, a woman from Mahalunge MIDC received a link about a loan app from an unknown cellphone number. When she clicked on the link, the crooks gained access to her cellphone. They then told the woman that she had taken a loan of Rs5,400 from them and demanded that she return the sum. The woman ended up transferring Rs9,000 to different UPI IDs, but the crooks continued to ask for Rs15,000 more. They sent the woman her morphed photographs and threatened to share these with her relatives if she did not pay up. "When the woman did not give them more money, the crooks went ahead and shared her images with her relatives. She then approached the police to lodge a complaint," Nale told TOI. Assistant police inspector Pravin Swami of the cyber police said that when the police team took down the details of the loan app, it was revealed that it had been developed in Navi Mumbai. "Our team went to Mumbai last week and took Thevar into custody. When we checked his laptop, we found at least eight loan apps on it. There were at least 10,000 complaints about these apps from different parts of the country," Swami said. Swami added that their probe revealed Thevar was in contact with handlers from Singapore, for whom he developed these apps. "Thevar worked as a loan recovery agent and was aware of the process needed to run loan apps. He helped handlers obtain permissions to operate these apps by uploading fake documents, like forged permission letters from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)," the officer said. According to Swami, the handlers from Singapore used to send links about these apps to different cellphone numbers in the country and gain access to cellphones of victims who clicked on these links. "Thevar and other suspects involved in the crime used to morph photographs and blackmail victims," said Swami, adding, "The gang used Pakistani cellphone numbers to threaten people." The officer said that it appears the crooks have blackmailed and extorted money from several people all over India. "Our investigations are ongoing," he said. Swami also said the Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police have gotten all these fake loan apps deleted from a popular online store. "In the last few months, we have managed to get at least 20 fake loan apps deleted this way," Swami told TOI.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Time of India
Man arrested for loan app scam; nat'l racket exposed
Pune: A 29-year-old Vashi resident has been arrested by Pimpri Chinchwad police in connection with cheating and blackmailing people via fake loan apps, which he allegedly executed on instructions of handlers based in Singapore. The arrest throws open a pan-India loan fraud scam. Accused Isaki Thevar, a loan recovery agent, has been duping people through at least eight fake loan apps, police officers told TOI, adding that at least 10,000 complaints have been registered against the apps across the country. Investigations revealed that the suspects used Pakistani cellphone numbers to cheat several people. A Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police team led by senior inspector Ravikiran Nale arrested Thevar last week from Mumbai. Five laptops, seven SIM cards, and a mobile handset have been recovered from him. Assistant police inspector Pravin Swami of cyber police said, "Thevar helped handlers obtain permissions to operate these apps by uploading fake documents, like forged approvals from RBI." He said handlers from Singapore sent links for apps to contact numbers in India and access people's phones. TNN
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Cyber cell busts loan app racket; accused linked to Chinese network
The Pimpri-Chinchwad cyber cell police have arrested a 29-year-old man from Vashi for allegedly operating fraudulent loan apps in collaboration with individuals based in China and Singapore, officials said on Saturday. The accused, identified as Isaki Rajan Thevar, is a resident of Vashi and originally hails from Tamil Nadu. He was arrested on Thursday following a complaint filed by a bank employee from Mahalunge, who fell victim to one of the scam apps between June 11 and June 22, 2025. He was arrested on Thursday following a complaint filed by a bank employee from Mahalunge, who fell victim to one of the scam apps between June 11 and June 22, 2025. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) According to the police, the victim received a WhatsApp link for a loan app called Credit Pilot. Upon clicking the link, the app reportedly gained unauthorised access to her mobile device and misused her personal documents to approve a fraudulent loan. Although she had borrowed ₹5,000, the accused allegedly forced her to pay ₹9,000 under duress. The harassment continued, with threats to share morphed obscene photos and videos with her friends and family if she failed to pay an additional ₹15,000. When she refused, the accused sent doctored images to her relatives via WhatsApp, prompting her to approach the police. Following technical analysis and tracking of IP logs, investigators traced the origin of the Credit Pilot app to Mumbai. A cyber police team then rushed to Vashi and arrested Thevar. During the raid, officers seized five laptops, seven SIM cards, two debit cards, and his mobile phone. API Pravin Swami of the cyber cell said, 'During the analysis of the seized laptops, we found several other fraudulent loan apps including Creditkeeper, Inlonecredit, Newlone, Ligallone, Fastcash, Handycash, and Instalone. These apps may have been used to cheat thousands of users across the country.' The police further revealed that over 10,000 complaints have been registered nationwide against these apps. Preliminary investigation confirms that the accused was providing technical support, banking infrastructure, and digital tools to a network operated in collaboration with Chinese and Singaporean nationals. Police said further investigation is underway to trace the full extent of the racket and its foreign links.
Business Times
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Times
Thevar 2.0 shows off mod-Indian cuisine in a new light
NEW RESTAURANT Thevar 16 Mohamed Sultan Road Singapore 238965 Tel: 9750 8275 Open for dinner Tues to Sat: 6 pm to 11 pm; lunch on Sat: 12 pm to 2.30 pm POOR Grandma Thevar. She got played. While her name may have been invoked when her precocious progeny Mano needed an origin story for his fledgling mod-Indian restaurant back in 2018, he doesn't really need her anymore. It's not a bad thing. Two Michelin stars and a steady creative evolution later, what comes out of Thevar's kitchen now is his (and his team's) and his alone. Namely, a deliberate, confident, follow-my-own-path playbook that isn't bound by tradition or even authenticity. The spirit of Thevar restaurant may be Indian, but other than that, anything goes. Besides, if Thevar's granny knew he was turning pani puri into carrot-derived candy shells filled with fruity bursts of ginger and tomato, she might have whacked him in the head. And so it is that we enter Thevar 2.0, which sees the chef Thevar moving into his new digs at Mohamed Sultan with the verve of a guy who finally got his own apartment after having crashed at his friend's place for the past seven years. After making do – and doing well – at Meta's hand-me-down premises in Keong Saik, you can see Thevar's delight in turning the new place into his personal universe. Cue discreet South Indian design features and tiny artworks, mood-lit dining room, shiny kitchen and even a happy 80s playlist featuring A-ha and Blondie. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Thevar 2.0 may mark a new chapter, but it is also the completion of its first. Much of the current menu originated in Keong Saik, the weary surroundings of which couldn't do justice to the sophisticated collection of precision bites developed over the years. Now, the decor matches the food, and the whole combination packs a punch. A trio of snacks to start the meal. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT The menu price is still the same at S$298, and since we haven't been back in a long while, even the old signatures feel fresh. Namely, an opening snack of crispy-melty, deep-fried piece of pork belly, smeared with sambal aioli and wrapped in a betel leaf. It's part of a trio that sets the tone for the meal – inventive, yet familiar. A chewy idli pancake gets a Nordic twist with dill yoghurt and cured ocean trout; and a miniature chaat explodes in a mix of crunchy shell, tart tamarind, tomberry tomatoes and other little bits and bobs. Thevar himself isn't there when we visit – he's briefly hospitalised at the time – but the well-oiled team led by head chef Shan delivers without a single hiccup. Vadai with smoked eel. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT Vadai is pressed into a mahjong tile shape and topped with smoky grilled eel for the token Japanese twist, but still a worthy bite. And then, of course, there's the old favourite of Chettinad chicken roti – pulled chicken curry that's creamy and rich and stuffed into a taco of lightly toasted naan, which holds its shape and texture as you polish it off. Lobster in ishtu sauce. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT A plump lobster tail has a ceremonial bath in turmeric water before being set in an ishtu sauce – a spiced, creamy coconut gravy with a hint of yuzu and cubes of nashi pear and pumpkin seeds for crunch. Little buns are convenient sponges for the remaining sauce. Indian abalone porridge. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT Good as it is, it's outshone by an incredibly tender piece of Jeju island abalone that must have been given better massages than a cow in Kobe. Steamed till it gives up all resistance and is left with just enough bite, it's laid over a bed of Indian khichdi made with koshihikari rice that's infused with heady spices. Think Korean abalone porridge with a Bombay accent. Mysore spiced rack of lamb. PHOTO: THEVAR The meal is such that you still have room for lamb biryani, a tender Mysore-spiced lamb rack served with three condiments – spicy sorrel chutney, homemade achar and a marsala-scented butternut puree. A dollop of fruity-bitter raita is served separately like a shy neighbour, but this is a party for everyone: Mix everything up with the excellent lamb and the biryani rice on the side. The delicate basmati is mixed with bits of meat, cranberries and nuts, and the only thing wrong about it is the stingy amount. Pre-dessert of soursop sorbet and rose granita. PHOTO: JAIME, BT For dessert, a waif of a pastry chef brings out a pre-dessert of soursop sorbet on rose-flavoured granita, which hides little surprises of aloe vera, grapes and mangosteen. It's perfumed, fruity, slightly bitter and is a refreshing prelude to the main dessert. We're challenged to detect the savoury element in the scoop of kulfi ice cream made with roasted dates and coffee. It turns out to be fried onions, but we just can't tell. No matter. This quirky combination that tastes like banana cake and not-too-sweet ice cream with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese actually works. Petit fours of financier, mochi and caramel tart. PHOTO: JAIME EE, BT The final sweet ending is worth the wait – a cardamom-spiced financier, fruity cream-filled mochi and a sticky-chewy toffee caramel tart. So far, so flawless, but herein lies the crux: Technically strong, Thevar 2.0 also feels safe in its comfort zone. As it progresses, it needs to grow, break more barriers and take some risks. Either way, Grandma would be proud. Rating: 7.5
