Suresh Raina to appear before ED on August 13 in illegal betting app case
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Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
New Roshan Talkies case: Court grants bail to alleged associate of Iqbal Mirchi
MUMBAI: A metropolitan magistrate court in Girgaon on Tuesday granted bail to 75-year-old businessman Abdul Kader, arrested last week for allegedly encroaching upon and demolishing the defunct New Roshan Talkies in Khetwadi—a property attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) during its money-laundering probe against late drug trafficker Iqbal Mirchi. Mumbai, India - February 6, 2017: Dramatic, Cinematic, Operatic Mumbai Heritage walk at New Roshan Talkies in Mumbai, India, on Monday, February 6, 2017. (Photo by Satyabrata Tripathy/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times) According to the VP Road police, Kader claimed ownership of the cinema hall without documents, executed a ₹15-crore sale agreement with a certain Govind Bansal, took ₹99 lakh as token money, and sold scrap from the site for ₹5 lakh to a certain U Dhani. The ED had attached the property in 2020 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). When it moved to take physical possession in December 2024, the structure had allegedly been razed two months earlier. Kader was arrested on August 6 after an FIR was registered the previous day under sections 329(3) (aggravated criminal trespass), 318(4) (aggravated cheating), 323(3) (dishonest or fraudulent concealment or removal of property) and 324(5) (aggravated mischief), and 223(b) (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Granting bail, additional judicial magistrate AK Mandavgade noted that all the sections except 318(4) were bailable and that the FIR was not lodged by Bansal, with whom Kader allegedly dealt. 'Taking into consideration the age of the accused, I am of the view that by imposing conditions, the accused can be released on bail,' the court said, adding that 'prima facie there is no complaint' under section 223(b). The court ordered Kader's release on a ₹50,000 personal bond with surety or cash bail of a similar amount, subject to conditions: furnishing a permanent residential proof, a working mobile number, and contact details of two close relatives; not tampering with prosecution evidence or pressuring witnesses; cooperating with the investigation; not committing a similar offence; and reporting to the VP Road police station on August 14 between 10 am and 2 pm, and thereafter as directed by the investigating officer. In his bail plea, filed through advocates Mithilesh Mishra, Namasvi Bhanushali and Anurag Mishra, Kader called himself 'a law-abiding and peace-loving senior citizen' in 'peaceful possession-occupation' of the property since 1982. He alleged that the FIR aimed to arrest him and force the withdrawal of a separate application pending before the sessions court. He also claimed that the police acted 'without conducting any preliminary enquiry' as mandated by the Supreme Court. Kader argued section 318(4) could not apply as 'cheating by means of inducement is absolutely absent,' given the dispute stemmed from a long-standing ownership claim supported by documents and pending adjudication. With the cheating charge gone, the defence said that all remaining offences were bailable, making custody unjustified. The application added that Kader's early-morning arrest from his Agripada home was 'without any need or necessity' and in 'complete derogation' of procedural safeguards, with grounds of arrest 'identical' to reasons for arrest—a practice deprecated by the Bombay High Court. Kader maintained he was 'innocent' and ready to face trial while abiding by bail conditions.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
ED grills Suresh Raina for 8 hours in illegal betting apps probe
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday questioned former India cricketer Suresh Raina for more than eight hours in its money laundering probe against illegal online betting platforms. The agency also recorded Raina's statement under the prevention of money laundering act (PMLA).(PTI) Raina, who was seen interacting with the ED staff and CISF personnel outside the agency's office, marked his attendance at 11 am, and left around 8 pm, PTI reported. The agency also recorded Raina's statement under the prevention of money laundering act (PMLA) for endorsing a sports betting app, which was involved in illegal practices. Raina allegedly undertook certain endorsements for the betting app. The ED interrogated the former Indian cricketer to understand his links with the app, any endorsement fee which he might have received, and the mode of communication used between both parties, PTI quoted sources as saying. Meanwhile, an ED officer said that 'another former Indian cricketer has also been asked to appear before the agency', without naming the individual. The agency, which is calling several celebrities with links to betting apps for interrogation, had also summoned representatives of Google and Meta for questioning as part of the probe. The ED is investigating multiple such cases which involve illegal betting apps, and has also questioned tech firms and media houses' representatives who have received money in the form of advertisements from them. The apps under the scanner have allegedly duped several people and investors of crores of rupees, while also evading taxes. There are around 22 crore Indians using such online betting apps, with half of them being regular users, according to PTI. The online betting app market in India is worth over USD 100 billion, PTI quoted experts as saying. In relation to online betting, the union ministry of information and broadcasting had, in 2023, issued four advisories to newspapers, broadcast news channels, entertainment channels, publishers of online news and current affairs content, online advertisement intermediaries, and social media platforms to not advertise these platforms. However, despite the advisories, celebrities from the entertainment and sports fields continued to endorse such apps, with some of them now being under the ED scanner, according to an officer.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
ED searches 8 locations in Lucknow, Delhi in Rohtas projects fraud case
1 2 Lucknow: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at eight premises — six in Lucknow and two in Delhi — in connection with the multi-crore Rohtas Projects fraud. The searches continued until the last reports came in. The ED also seized documents and papers, for which a forensic audit will be conducted. The probe stems from an ECIR registered in 2021 based on 48 FIRs filed by home and commercial space buyers, which have since risen to 88. A forensic audit by UP RERA pegged the proceeds of crime (POC) at Rs 248 crore. The firm's promoter brothers — Piyush Rastogi, Paresh Rastogi, and Deepak Rastogi — have been absconding for four years. ED sources said no property attachments were made by them so far due to a lack of evidence and the accused's non-cooperation. The searches aim to gather crucial records and trace assets for attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Sources privy to the probe revealed that the agency questioned the son of absconding Piyush Rastogi in Lucknow. The promoters or their legal representatives could not be contacted immediately for a comment on the ED action against them. In Oct 2023, a Lucknow court issued an order for confiscating property worth Rs 21 crore belonging to one Paresh Rastogi, accused in 82 cases registered against him since 2017 at various police stations. Total assets worth Rs 137 crore were confiscated by Lucknow police. The cases against the accused were registered in Hazratganj, Gautam Palli, Chinhat, Vibhuti Khand, and Gosaiganj police stations. Paresh Rastogi entered into the world of crime in 2007 and started buying and selling land/buildings. "To hide the money earned from crime, the accused formed a company named Rohtas Project Ltd. The accused then started purchasing property in the name of his company and in favour of his family members through benami transactions, and further properties were created illegally by using the property acquired through crime," said the officer. "Rastogi first defrauded people of crores of rupees in the name of constructing residential/commercial buildings and did not even provide residential/commercial buildings. When people wanted to withdraw their money, he kept giving them false consolation and tricking them for a long time and suppressed their voice due to his dominance," the officer added. CBI's anti-corruption bureau of the Lucknow unit has also registered a case against Rohtas Builders in connection with an alleged fraud worth Rs 16.87 crore. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
