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Fragile ceasefire, lasting threat: Why India can't relax on oil security

Fragile ceasefire, lasting threat: Why India can't relax on oil security

India's energy economy and state finances have suffered since 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, because of lack of adequate stock and dependence on foreign fuel
S Dinakar Amritsar
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One would expect India's policymakers and refiners to rest easy after Washington hemmed, in a patchwork fashion, a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on Monday night, which may prove too delicate to offer a lasting solution to peace in West Asia.
Two-and-a-half hours into the ceasefire, Israel accused Iran of raining missiles and prepared to strike back. It's a fragile cease fire. 'But looking beyond the ceasefire, the deeper challenge remains — a lasting peace would require rapprochement between Israel and Iran,'' said Vandana Hari, a Singapore-based energy expert.
For now, a sense of calm has prevailed over markets. With

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8.5 lakh mule bank accounts used by cyber frauds, CBI raids 42 places
8.5 lakh mule bank accounts used by cyber frauds, CBI raids 42 places

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

8.5 lakh mule bank accounts used by cyber frauds, CBI raids 42 places

New Delhi: The CBI said on Thursday that it detected around 8.5 lakh mule bank accounts across over 700 branches of different banks, which were being used by cyber scammers. The agency filed an FIR and conducted raids at 42 locations in Delhi, UP, and Rajasthan in connection with the use of these mule accounts in cyber frauds. Nine individuals, including three Delhi residents named Lovkesh Shakya, Savan Kumar, and Vishal, were arrested. Farman Beg and Purushottam from Uttarakhand, Shubham Kamboj and Umardeen from UP, and Yousuf and Ashok from Rajasthan are also among those who have been arrested so far. The CBI's action comes as part of its operation Chakra V. The CBI initially registered a preliminary inquiry to unearth the conspiracy involving mule accounts, the role of bankers, and the middlemen. "The inquiry revealed that more than 700 branches of various banks across India opened around 8.5 lakh mule accounts. These accounts were opened without proper KYC norms, customer due diligence, or initial risk assessment," the CBI's statement said. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The branch managers of the banks also failed to conduct enhanced due diligence for certain suspicious transaction alerts generated by the systems. Some of the banks also failed to send acknowledgements to customers, which would have indirectly verified the addresses of the account holders. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The guidelines issued via the RBI master circular and certain internal guidelines issued by the banks were also violated," the statement added. Hence, an FIR was registered for offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and use of forged documents, as well as for criminal misconduct by bank officials under the Prevention of Corruption Act. During the searches, several incriminating documents, digital evidence, mobile phones, bank account opening documents, transaction details, and KYC documents were seized. Individuals, including middlemen involved in opening mule bank accounts, were also identified. These accounts, the CBI said, were being used in a range of crimes, including those carried out by impersonation, fraudulent advertisements, investment traps, and UPI-based financial baits. "The cyber fraudsters are being helped by the commissions and omissions of certain bank officials, agents, aggregators, bank correspondents, middlemen, and e-Mitras who are facilitating the opening of mule accounts used for receiving and transferring proceeds of cyber frauds as well as enabling withdrawals from such accounts," the agency said.

Mumbai unit of DRI nabs Surat man for evading import duty worth Rs 44 crore on walnuts imported from Chile
Mumbai unit of DRI nabs Surat man for evading import duty worth Rs 44 crore on walnuts imported from Chile

Indian Express

time2 hours ago

  • Indian Express

Mumbai unit of DRI nabs Surat man for evading import duty worth Rs 44 crore on walnuts imported from Chile

Officials of the Mumbai unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Wednesday arrested a Surat-based businessman for allegedly evading import duty worth Rs 44 crore by showing under-valuation of walnuts imported from Chile. The accused, Sneh Kakadiya, was taken to Mumbai on Thursday on a one-day transit remand. Sources said that following a tip-off, the DRI officials maintained a watch at Surat airport and arrested Sneh as soon as he arrived there. Sources said Sneh and his father are proprietors of different firms in Surat and Mumbai, and are involved in the import of inshell walnuts from Chile. A case against Sneh and his father Dipak Kakadiya was registered with the Mumbai unit of DRI. Sources said the accused had misdeclared the original value of goods, using manipulated invoices. They said the accused had routed the walnuts to the UAE from Chile. Once in the UAE, he allegedly presented lesser value of the goods in the invoices of the firm based in the Middle East nation. Later, the same goods were imported to India showing manipulated invoices, said the sources. During investigation, DRI officials found actual invoices issued by the Chile company, the sources added. Sources in DRI said the consignments were knowingly undervalued at a very low rate before the Customs. The goods, which, on an average, cost more than USD 2.7/Kg, were undervalued at a cost of around USD 1.50/Kg. This involved clearance of more than 3,610 Metric tonnes of inshell walnuts, thus evading a significant Customs Duty worth Rs 44 crore, said the sources. Inshell walnuts are those from which the outer covering has not been removed. During investigation, it was found that Sneh had committed cognizable and non-bailable offence under Section 135 (1) (a) and (b) of the Customs Act, 1962, punishable under section 135 (1) (a) (i) (A) and 135 (1) (b) (i) (A). He was produced before a court by DRI officials and was sent to transit remand for a day.

UK Mobile Bank Starling Looking to Buy a US Lender in Expansion
UK Mobile Bank Starling Looking to Buy a US Lender in Expansion

Mint

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  • Mint

UK Mobile Bank Starling Looking to Buy a US Lender in Expansion

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