Nigerian man arrested with narcotics worth Rs 1.25 crore
Bediako's drug links in India date back to 2013, when he entered the country on a medical visa using a fake identity. Though the visa was for treatment in Bengaluru, he headed to Goa, where he joined Romey in drug peddling. Over the years, Bediako is suspected to have trafficked drugs worth over `2 crore, earning commissions of about `40 lakh.
After returning to Nigeria in 2021, Bediako re-entered India twice, once in December 2023 under a new identity, and again in January 2025 using a forged Ghanaian passport. Each time, he managed to evade authorities.
On Romey's instructions, Bediako shifted to Hyderabad to expand their drug network. Officials said he was trying to build a local distribution chain by recruiting peddlers and targeting new consumers.
Investigations revealed that Bediako operated from luxury villas in Goa and laundered proceeds through Indian hawala agents and Nigerian associates.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
12 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Sebi attaches bank, demat, MF accounts of Choksi to recover Rs 2.1 cr dues
Markets regulator Sebi has ordered the attachment of bank accounts and shares and mutual fund holdings of absconding diamantaire Mehul Choksi to recover dues totalling Rs 2.1 crore in a case of violation of insider trading rules in the shares of Gitanjali Gems. The latest move followed a demand notice issued to Choksi on May 15, warning attachment of assets as well as bank accounts if he failed to make the payment within 15 days. The demand notice came after Choksi failed to pay the fine imposed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in January 2022 in a case of violation of insider trading rules in the shares of Gitanjali Gems Ltd. Choksi, who was the chairman and managing director as well as part of promoter group of Gitanjali Gems, is the maternal uncle of Nirav Modi. Both are facing charges of defrauding state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) of more than Rs 14,000 crore. Both Choksi and Modi fled India after the PNB scam came to light in early 2018. In April, Choksi was arrested in Belgium following an extradition request by Indian probe agencies. He was located in Belgium last year when he went there for getting medical treatment. He had been staying in Antigua since 2018 after leaving India. Modi was arrested by the Scotland Yard Police in March 2019 and is currently in jail in that country. In an attachment notice dated June 4, Sebi said the pending dues of Rs 2.1 crore include the initial fine of Rs 1.5 crore and interest of Rs 60 lakh. To recover the dues, Sebi asked all the banks, depositories -- CDSL and NSDL -- and mutual funds not to allow any debit from the accounts of Choksi. However, credits have been permitted. Further, Sebi has directed the banks to attach all accounts, including lockers, held by the defaulter. Initiating the recovery proceedings, Sebi said there is sufficient reason to believe that Choksi may dispose of the amounts in the bank accounts, mutual fund folios and securities in the demat accounts held with the depositories and "realisation of the amount due under the certificate would, in consequence, be delayed or obstructed". In its order passed in January 2022, the regulator imposed a penalty of Rs 1.5 crore on Choksi and restrained him from the securities market for one year. Sebi had found that Choksi communicated unpublished price sensitive information to one Rakesh Girdharlal Gajera, who sold his entire shareholding of 5.75 per cent in Gitanjali Gems in December 2017 with the intention of avoiding loss ahead of any event which may lead to disclosure of fraudulent issuance of LoUs (letter of undertaking) to Gitanjali Group and magnitude in public domain. It was noted that fraudulent LoUs were issued on behalf of entities belonging to the Gitanjali Group, including GGL. "Noticee no. 1 (Choksi) was found to have communicated UPSI (unpublished price sensitive information) to Noticee no. 2 (Gajera) without any underlying legal obligation or any legitimate purpose," Sebi had said in its final order. Through such activities, the two persons had violated the provisions of the PIT (Prohibition of Insider Trading) rules. In May 2023, Sebi sent a notice to Choksi directing him to pay Rs 5.35 crore in a case pertaining to fraudulent trading in the shares of Gitanjali Gems.
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Scam valley? Surat men funnel Rs 1,000 crore in global cyber fraud; 89 bank accounts targeted
International cyber criminals transferred over Rs 1,455 crore through 89 Indian bank accounts in just six months, Gujarat Police revealed on Friday. These accounts were provided to the criminals on a commission basis, by three men from Surat, according to police inspector SN Desai. The fraud came to light after the arrest of Kirat Jadwani, Meet Khokhar, and Mayur Italia on May 28. The men were held on charges of cheating and forgery, after police recovered 21 debit cards, 30 cheque books, and six PAN cards issued under different names. Their arrest followed a routine vehicle check in Surat's Udhna area, where an associate was caught carrying fake PAN cards and firm stamps. 'We found the trio had opened 165 bank accounts using documents of people who had applied for personal loans. They gave access to the criminals for cyber crimes including digital arrest, hawala transfer, task fraud, betting, stock market fraud, online cheating and OTP fraud,' Desai said. According to Desai, the accused got in touch with cyber gangs based in Cuba, Thailand, and Malaysia through the messaging app Telegram. In exchange for access to the accounts, they were offered handsome commissions. 'We have so far received details of 89 of these 165 accounts from the bank. All identified accounts have since been frozen after victims lodged complaints,' Desai said. The police believe the fraudsters used a clever trick to get the bank accounts opened, approaching people applying for personal loans and taking their documents, claiming they could help secure the funds. After opening an account using those documents, they would return the papers to the applicant, saying the loan was rejected. 'Since they used to give their own mobile number to get an OTP, the applicant never realised that a bank account had been opened in their name,' Desai explained. "Initially, the gang would lease out each account for a one-time fee of Rs 7 lakh to Rs 17 lakh. As their operations grew, they began charging a 3% to 4% cut of every transaction routed through the accounts. In just six months, the three accused earned Rs 10 crore from commission as the transactions in each of these accounts used to continue all day. The total amount would go up to Rs 30 to 40 crore in each account," he added. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal has already received nearly 2,500 complaints linked to these accounts, including 265 from Gujarat alone, over the past six months.
NDTV
23 minutes ago
- NDTV
SEBI Freezes Fugitive Businessman Mehul Choksi's Bank Accounts, Investments To Recover Rs 2.1 Crore
Mumbai: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has ordered the attachment of absconding businessman Mehul Choksi's bank accounts, mutual funds, and shares to recover Rs 2.1 crore. The amount is related to a penalty imposed on him for violating insider trading rules in the shares of Gitanjali Gems. Choksi, who was the Chairman and Managing Director of Gitanjali Gems, is accused of sharing unpublished price-sensitive information (UPSI) with an associate, Rakesh Girdharlal Gajera. Based on that information, Gajera sold off his entire 5.75 per cent stake in the company in December 2017, allegedly to avoid losses before details of fraudulent activities involving the company became public. In January 2022, the SEBI fined Choksi Rs 1.5 crore and banned him from trading in the securities market for one year. However, Choksi did not pay the fine, prompting the SEBI to issue a demand notice on May 15, 2025. When he failed to respond or make the payment within the 15-day deadline, the market regulator proceeded with the attachment of his assets. The total dues now stand at Rs 2.1 crore, including Rs 60 lakh in interest. In its notice dated June 4, the SEBI directed all banks, depositories like CDSL and NSDL, and mutual fund houses to freeze Choksi's accounts. While no money can be withdrawn, credits are still allowed. The market regulator has also instructed banks to seize any lockers in his name. The market regulator explained that the action was necessary because there is a strong possibility that Choksi may try to move or hide his assets, which could delay or prevent the recovery process. "Whereas no amount has been paid by the defaulter and there is sufficient reason to believe that the defaulter may dispose of the amounts/proceeds in the bank accounts held with your bank and realisation of the amount due under the recovery certificate would in consequence be delayed or obstructed," the market regulator stated. Choksi, who is also the maternal uncle of Nirav Modi, has been facing legal action in connection with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case involving over Rs 14,000 crore. Both Choksi and Modi fled India in early 2018 when the scam came to light. Choksi had been living in Antigua since 2018 but was arrested in Belgium in April this year after Indian authorities requested his extradition. He was reportedly in Belgium for medical treatment. Meanwhile, Nirav Modi remains in a UK jail after being arrested by the Scotland Yard in 2019.
