Police jawan killed, 3 injured as IED planted by Maoists explodes in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur
Security forces during a recent anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur. (Ritesh Mishra/ HT Photo)
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The Print
31 minutes ago
- The Print
Haryana Police flag 91 bank branches in state where cybercriminals operate ‘mule accounts'
According to an official statement, police teams have initiated phased verification, inspection, and legal action after identifying these branches. Among these, 26 branches are in Gurugram and 24 in Nuh district, officials said on Tuesday. Chandigarh, Aug 19 (PTI) Haryana Police has identified 91 bank branches in the state where suspected 'mule accounts' are being operated by cybercriminals for large-scale transactions, as part of its crackdown against cybercrime. Special teams of the Cyber Crime Wing are conducting a detailed examination of the records of these branches to find out whether negligence or collusion by bank staff is facilitating cybercriminals. 'The teams are scrutinising lapses in KYC compliance, procedural violations in account opening, the role of bank employees, and any sign of negligence,' the statement said. As part of the drive, raids were conducted in Karnal and Yamunanagar districts on Tuesday, during which bank records were thoroughly checked and suspicious accounts examined. In Yamunanagar, teams of the Cyber Crime Wing traced a current account of a firm that was officially shut down in March, yet transactions worth Rs 43 lakh were carried out afterwards. Nationwide, eight complaints have been registered against this account, the statement further said. Another current account was found to have been opened on a false address, and transactions worth Rs 2 crore were made in just three months. This account has 33 complaints filed against it across the country. 'The role of account holders and the bank staff concerned are under scanner… This operation will not remain confined to just two districts. Similar raids will be extended to other suspicious bank branches in the coming days,' the statement said. Haryana Police chief Shatrujeet Kapur on Tuesday said a robust and multi-pronged strategy has been devised to clamp down on cybercrime. This includes strict monitoring of bank branches, rapid analysis of suspicious transactions, regular raids, and ensuring adherence to banking regulations, he said. The DGP emphasised that protecting citizens' hard-earned money from falling into the trap of cybercriminals is a top priority. Alongside police, banks have equal responsibility, and hence accountability of bank officials and cyber nodal officers is being fixed, he stressed. Inspector General, Cyber, Shibas Kabiraj said cybercriminals often pose as bank officials, police officers, government agents, or representatives of reputed companies to make fraudulent calls, send suspicious links, or trick people into downloading suspicious apps. 'In such situations, citizens must never share their OTP, ATM PIN, UPI PIN, passwords, or personal documents like Aadhaar and PAN, nor scan any unknown link or QR code,' he said. Kabiraj said banks and government agencies never ask for money transfers or sensitive information over the phone. 'Citizens must stay alert to emerging scams such as 'digital arrests, where fraudsters intimidate victims over video calls while posing as law enforcement officials, something no genuine police or agency ever does.' PTI SUN NSD NSD This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Print
32 minutes ago
- The Print
Missing MP lawyer found in UP's town on Nepal border after 12 days
'Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel finally traced Archana Tiwari in Lakhimpur-Khiri town on the Indo-Nepal border after 12 days of hectic search,' SP (Railways) Rahul Kumar Lodha said. Tiwari, who was heading to Katni from Indore on the intervening nights of August 7-8 for Rakshabandhan festival, did not reach her destination and was missing since then. Bhopal, Aug 19 (PTI) A female lawyer and civil judge aspirant, Archana Tiwari, who was reported missing while travelling on a train nearly two weeks ago, was traced in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Khiri town on Nepal border on Tuesday, a police official said. Cops are bringing her back to Bhopal and after recording her statement, details of the entire episode will be known, he said. Tiwari's kin earlier suspected that she was a victim of human trafficking and sought a CBI probe, but Lodha did not say anything about this angle. According to police, the last location of the 29-year-old lawyer was traced to Itarsi station. After that, her mobile phone was found switched off. Tiwari was a practicing lawyer at the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. She was also preparing for a civil judge examination. She left for Katni on August 7 by the Narmada Express train, but did not reach her destination. Tiwari's family members later lodged a missing person complaint at the Rani Kamalapati GRP police station in Bhopal. Police searched for clues in areas ranging from Rani Kamalapati station to Itarsi and Katni, and scanned CCTV cameras of stations and surrounding areas. Lodha said Tiwari's last location was Itarsi station. PTI MAS RSY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Bill to ban online money gaming likely to be tabled in Parliament today
The Union government is expected to introduce new legislation that will completely prohibit online money gaming, in what will close a legal vacuum that created inconsistent regulation across states and left millions of users — especially children and young adults -- vulnerable to predatory platforms and financial exploitation The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 is likely to be introduced in the ongoing session of parliament, people aware of the matter said.(PTI) The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 is likely to be introduced in the ongoing session of parliament, people aware of the matter said. The legislation proposes a ban on platforms or games where users pay money or stakes with expectations of monetary returns, according to a draft seen by HT. The proposed law explicitly excludes e-Sports from this definition. ALSO READ | Online gaming rules are not enforceable govt tells court 'The immersive and addictive nature of online games, particularly with monetary incentives, has led to significant mental health issues among users — especially children, adolescents and young adults,' MeitY stated in the proposed law. 'Clinical evidence and field studies have shown a rise in anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and behavioural problems linked to prolonged gaming.' Online gaming covers a broad spectrum, from casual mobile games and educational apps to money-based fantasy sports and poker platforms. Several states have targeted the latter category, citing their constitutional authority to regulate gambling and betting. ALSO READ | 50-year-old uncle held for murdering minor nephew over online gaming However, this piecemeal approach has created legal confusion over what constitutes games of skill versus chance. The regulatory gaps have allowed operators to relocate between states or move offshore. At present, India has no federal regulation on online gaming. But a patchwork of laws exists, with the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh banning online money gaming outright, while Sikkim and Nagaland require registration for operators, and others like Telangana restricting certain forms of online gambling The central bill also links online money gaming to wider risks including fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and, in extreme cases, terror financing. The bill seeks to draw a sharp line between e-Sports and social gaming on one hand, and gambling-style online money games on the other, according to the proposal formulated by the ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity), seen by HT. ALSO READ | Allahabad HC asks UP govt to form panel over online gaming, betting regulation Anyone found offering or facilitating online money games could face up to three years imprisonment or fines reaching ₹1 crore, or both. Repeat offenders face harsher mandatory punishments. Advertising such platforms has also been criminalised, with penalties extending to two years imprisonment and fines up to ₹50 lakh or both. 'The proposed framework has effectively erased the long-standing and judicially recognised distinction between games of skill and games of chance. Even though the IT Rules amendments in 2023 had moved away from this binary, it still had the provision for recognizing some online money games as 'permissible'. What we now see in the bill is a complete prohibition: the definition of online money games is so wide that it captures all forms of games involving money. In such a regime, it no longer matters whether a game is skill-based or chance-based. The distinction is irrelevant,' said Rahil Chatterjee, senior associate at Ikigai Law. Financial institutions have been barred from processing payments linked to money gaming, a move aimed at choking off both domestic and offshore operators that bypass state laws. If a company is found guilty of violating the law, not just the company but also the people in charge of running that part of the business will be held responsible and face punishment, the proposed law states. The legal greys have also involved money laundering concerns. The Enforcement Directorate investigation recently held a sweeping crackdown into celebrities promoting online gaming platforms that facilitate illegal betting. The agency has been questioning film stars, cricketers, influencers, and representatives of big tech companies as part of a broader crackdown on money laundering associated with betting apps. The ministry, in its note, added that a growing number of individuals have fallen victim to financial losses due to online money gaming, 'sometimes resulting in extreme outcomes such as suicide, as widely reported in national and regional media.' 'In many cases, players are lured into a cycle of gaming with little awareness of the risks or legal protections,' the ministry said. 'Such content not only undermines Indian cultural values but also creates long-term behavioural conditioning among impressionable users.' To enforce these provisions, the bill provides for creating a new authority on online gaming or designating an existing authority, which will categorise and register games, issue compliance directions, and respond to user complaints. It will also have power to recommend blocking illegal services under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. ALSO READ | ₹18-crore 'online gaming' scam busted, 8 arrested in Kharar 'The authority to be set up under the bill has a very limited role. It can only determine whether a particular game qualifies as an online money game, but it has no power to permit or regulate such games once classified. And because all money games stand prohibited, the concept of a permissible real money game no longer exists. Importantly, the authority is designed merely to assist the central government, not to function as an independent regulator,' added Chatterjee. The law, once enacted, will extend across the country and apply even to services offered from outside India. Officials have been given wide powers to investigate, search, seize and block platforms in violation of the provisions. Popular fantasy sports platforms like Dream11, real-money rummy sites and cash-prize quiz apps could face prohibition under the legislation, while professional tournaments for games like BGMI and FIFA Mobile would be deemed legal. Officials at Meity did not respond to a request for comment.
