
IIT Delhi student stranded at midnight as bus stops midway in Rajasthan, shares ordeal
An Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi student said he was stranded at 2am along with other passengers after the private bus he boarded was pulled over mid-route for not paying road taxes for over a year.Manas Jajodia detailed the incident in a now-viral LinkedIn post. He had booked a private bus from Delhi to Laxmangarh through redBus, paying Rs 900 for a single sleeper seat. The journey, however, took an unexpected turn.advertisementJajodia said the bus was stopped near Shahjahanpur by Rajasthan Police in the early hours of the morning, who found it had been operating without clearing road taxes for over a year. All passengers, including women, children, and elderly people, were asked to deboard and left stranded without assistance.
'After two hours stranded on the roadside, I was forced into another bus that had no available seats, just standing space,' he said, adding, 'Some people had to board a bus that didn't even go to their destination. They were dropped off 60 km away and had to find their own way from there.'The student also slammed redBus support as he claimed the responses were generic and unhelpful throughout the ordeal. He questioned how such buses, operating illegally, are listed on travel platforms without basic verification.advertisement'There was no backup. No refund. No accountability,' he wrote, adding, 'This isn't just about Rs 900. It's about safety and trust in public transport.'Jajodia questioned the absence of emergency protocols in such situations and called for stricter checks on bus operators listed on third-party platforms.'This isn't just about Rs 900. It's about trust, safety, and responsibility in public travel. If you're running a platform that connects people to travel services, the bare minimum is to ensure those services are legally compliant and safe. We deserve better,' Jajodia said as he concluded his post. Take a look at the post here: In a follow-up post, Jajodia said he was initially offered a partial refund, 15 per cent from the operator and 25 per cent from redBus. A full refund was issued only after he strongly objected. 'It shows how outrage is needed for what should have been done in the first place,' he said, adding that he is still unsure if any real steps have been taken to prevent such incidents.redBus, in the comments section of the post, said, 'Manas, as discussed over the call. Please be assured! Appropriate action will be taken to ensure such issues are curbed in the near future. We hope to serve you better.' advertisement Several social media users said that such incidents raise serious questions about the checks in place for listed travel services. Must Watch

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Indian Express
39 minutes ago
- Indian Express
TRAI is not calling: Scammers impersonating officials are fooling even the smartest
In a chilling case from Chandigarh, an elderly woman lost over Rs 2.5 crore to fraudsters who posed as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They accused her of links to criminal activity and claimed an FIR had been filed against her. The situation escalated when others – posing as CBI officers and even the Chief Justice of India – joined the call, and threatened that her number would be deactivated. Intimidated and confused, the woman ended up sharing her bank details, leading to massive losses. Chandigarh Police are investigating the case. TRAI is a body that regulates telecommunication services and conserves the interest of the aid providers and customers. Priyanka Kulkarni, manager, telecom, media and technology, growth advisory at Aranca, said, 'As telecom fraud evolves in India, TRAI impersonation scams have reached an 'industrial scale'. According to her, scammers combine advanced technology with psychological manipulation to deceive even the most vigilant consumers. 'These scams typically begin with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls from international or spoofed numbers (often starting with +65, +67, +670, +8, +85, or +977) leveraging India's low international call termination charges to flood users with convincing threats,' she said. Kulkarni shed light on how these scammers operate. They use Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems to deliver pre-recorded messages in Hindi or English, claiming to be TRAI officials and warning that the recipient's SIM card will be blocked or their number is linked to illegal activities like money laundering. 'Some calls even point to problems with (Know Your Customer) KYC verification or billing, demanding immediate resolution through sharing personal data,' she said. What makes these scams particularly convincing is their multi-layered approach, Kulkarni said. 'Scammers 'escalate' the situation and victims are transferred to 'officials' speaking in regional dialects to build trust, and are then shown fake government documents as proof. They're sometimes held in long video calls to prevent outside interference and pressured into making urgent payments or sharing data,' Kulkarni said. Shubham Singh, a cyber security expert, explained how the scam operates at multiple levels: 🎯Caller ID Spoofing: Fraudsters use technology to make it appear as if the call is coming from a government or TRAI-like number. 🎯Fake Warnings: Victims are told their SIM will be blocked due to illegal activity or non-verification. 🎯Fake Offers: Scammers offer benefits (like free upgrades or refunds) and ask for OTPs or personal data. 🎯Phishing Links: SMS containing malicious links that appear to be from official portals or apps. Fraudsters clone official websites, and victims are tricked into believing the sites are legitimate, leading them to share their credentials. 🎯Social Engineering: They manipulate victims emotionally, fear of losing mobile service to rush decisions. Priyanka said scammers target sensitive personal and financial data of the victims like Aadhaar numbers, PAN card numbers, bank account details, credit or debit card details, One-Time Passwords (OTPs), and other KYC (Know Your Customer) credentials. Financial theft: Scammers use stolen bank or card details to withdraw money directly or make unauthorised purchases in the victim's name. Identity theft: With access to Aadhaar, PAN, and bank information, fraudsters create fake identities to open accounts, apply for loans, or commit other crimes. SIM swapping: Using KYC data, scammers get a duplicate SIM issued to intercept OTPs and bypass two-factor authentication, gaining access to banking, email, and social media accounts. Continued extortion: Victims are blackmailed with fake legal threats like 'digital arrest' and are coerced into sending more money under pressure. Not every message that says it is from TRAI or your telecom provider is real and knowing the difference can save you from serious trouble. Start with the sender: Genuine messages always come from official, easily recognisable sender IDs, not from random mobile numbers or foreign codes. Watch the language: Scammers often try to create urgency and panic using phrases like 'your number will be disconnected today!' and fill messages with bad grammar or odd formatting. Real messages are clear, calm, and professional. Remember what real officials don't do: Neither TRAI nor your service provider will ever ask you for your Aadhaar, OTPs, or bank details over a call or text. If they do, it's a scam. Trust your instincts: If something feels off, too aggressive, too urgent, or just unusual, it probably is. Take a moment, verify before you act. Singh listed steps users should have in mind to stay safe from scams: 🎯Never share OTPs or banking details: No official will ever ask for your OTPs, PINs, or bank account info over a call. 🎯TRAI doesn't make personal calls: TRAI or telecom companies do not call users to verify numbers, ask for Aadhaar, or threaten disconnection. 🎯Don't click on strange links: If you get a suspicious link via SMS or WhatsApp, don't open it, it could lead to phishing or malware. 🎯Double-check from official sources: For any telecom-related notice or clarification, visit 🎯Use the TRAI DND app: Enable Do Not Disturb (DND) through the official app to reduce spam calls and messages. 🎯Install a caller ID app: Apps like Truecaller can help identify known scam numbers or shady callers before you answer. 🎯If you fall prey to such scams, report them via the Sanchar Saathi Portal. It is an official platform by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to help users detect and report telecom fraud. Visit: 🎯'Report a Cyber Fraud' to flag suspicious activity. 🎯'Report Suspected Mobile Connection' if someone else is using your identity. 🎯Check your mobile records: See how many SIM cards are issued in your name. 🎯Instantly request disconnection of any unauthorised numbers/ 'Regulatory vigilance alone isn't enough,' said Neehar Pathare, CEO of 63SATS Cybertech. He stressed the need for collaboration between regulators, service providers, cybersecurity experts, and users. 'We must authenticate sender IDs, adopt AI-driven fraud detection, and scale digital awareness,' he said. The Safe Side: As the world evolves, the digital landscape does too, bringing new opportunities—and new risks. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, exploiting vulnerabilities to their advantage. In our special feature series, we delve into the latest cybercrime trends and provide practical tips to help you stay informed, secure, and vigilant online.


Indian Express
39 minutes ago
- Indian Express
23-year-old BTech graduate robs Uber, Rapido cab drivers in Delhi to repay debt, arrested
A BTech graduate aspiring for the Staff Selection Commission's Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exam was arrested for allegedly robbing bike taxi drivers in Delhi after booking their services on Rapido or Uber apps, the Delhi Police said on Thursday. According to the police, the accused, identified as Javed Khan, 23, who hails from Rajasthan, allegedly committed the thefts at gunpoint on two occasions by taking the drivers to isolated spots at Gandhi Vihar and then fleeing with their motorbikes, phones, and cash. Khan has been staying in Delhi at a cramped location in Mukherjee Nagar since 2024, along with other students aspiring to be bureaucrats. He told the police that he decided to rob Rapido and Uber drivers to repay his debt of Rs 35,000 that he owed to a friend, Rahul. The police said that the first robbery took place early on May 31, in which Javed booked an Uber bike service from New Delhi railway station to Gandhi Vihar. His modus operandi was to ask the driver to cancel the ride and take him to the destination offline under the pretext that the driver could keep the fare commission, the police said. 'As soon as the rider arrived at 1.30 am, Javed told him that he would cancel the ride, to which the driver agreed. Around 2.30 am, when they reached Gandhi Vihar Drain, an isolated place near Yograj Colony, Khan held a country-made pistol at the waist of the driver, Sonu, and threatened him to stop the motorcycle,' said an officer. 'The accused then robbed him of the motorcycle, a mobile phone, and cash Rs 2,000 at gunpoint and fled away on the looted motorcycle,' Raja Banthia, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), said. In another similar incident, Rapido driver Pradeep Singh told the police that he got a booking from Nizamuddin Railway Station to Gandhi Vihar on Monday, said an officer. However, on reaching the railway station, the 'customer', Javed Khan, cancelled the ride, and on reaching an isolated area, Singh was robbed of Rs 600 cash and his mobile phone, he added. Tracking the CCTVs from NDLS to Gandhi Vihar in Timarpur, the Delhi Police traced Khan to the Sankalp Bhavan area on Wednesday. Khan is a resident of Bharatpur, Rajasthan, the police said. On interrogation, Khan revealed that he was in debt and was prompted by his friend to resort to crime so that he could repay his loan. 'Rahul provided him a country-made pistol with 17 live cartridges of .315 bore. and chalked out a plan for Khan to rob online motorcycle riders during odd hours. As per his planning, Khan booked the rides from different railway stations in late-night hours,' DCP Banthia said.


India.com
44 minutes ago
- India.com
This Indian billionaire publicly supports Vijay Mallya, calls former RCB and Kingfisher owner a ‘punching bag', his name is..
Vijay Mallya, who is facing fraud and money laundering charges had interacted with podcaster Raj Shamani recently. He spoke on all the topics he talked about for many years. The discussion about his podcast started surfacing on social media platforms this morning. While replying to Harsh Goenka's post Vijay Mallya claimed that the banks had recovered Rs 14,100 crores from him. In his post, Mallya thanked Goenka for speaking in his favour and added that he has been facing 'blatant discrimination'. Harsh Goenka's Post On Vijay Mallya Taking a part in ongoing discussion, Chairman of RPG Enterprises, Harsh Goenka stated, '' Vijay Mallya lived the high life, yes. Defaulted, yes. Unlike most others, his ₹9,000+ crore dues are now reportedly settled. Meanwhile, bigger defaulters walk free with much fatter haircuts from banks. If dues remain, the banks should clearly say so. If not, why is he still a political punching bag? Justice must be fair, not selective.'' Thank you Harsh. The Union Finance Ministry has confirmed in writing that Banks have recovered Rs 14,100 crores from me against a DRT judgement debt of Rs 6,203 crores. Why the blatant discrimination ? — Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) June 5, 2025 Vijay Mallya's Reaction On Post The former owner of Kingfisher Airlines and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wrote, '' Thank you Harsh. The Union Finance Ministry has confirmed in writing that Banks have recovered Rs 14,100 crores from me against a DRT judgement debt of Rs 6,203 crores. Why the blatant discrimination ?'' On this, Goenka responded with a folded hands emoticon. Netizens Reaction On Discussion User name Gargi Rawat said, '' This is true sir. But as you stated, he's a political punching bag.'' Another user named as Mahesh Poddar said, ''We often forget he created world class airline KINGFISHER in no time. Many airlines failed like this too. Appreciate your public stance.'' Disagreeing with them another user named Balkrishnan B R said, ''Just to remind you, Vijay Mallya is also walking free and still living the high life in the UK. UK is a safe haven for all our criminals.''