
NCB seizes Rs 9.2 crore assets of 'prime accused' in transnational drugs trafficking case from Noida
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has attached a flat and factory worth ₹9.20 crore in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, belonging to a key suspect in a 2024 transnational drug trafficking case with links to a Mexican cartel. This action follows the seizure of over 95 kg of amphetamine and the discovery of a clandestine drug lab in Noida last October.
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The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Sunday said it has attached a flat and a factory premises worth ₹9.20 crore in Uttar Pradesh's Noida of a "prime" accused involved in a 2024 transnational drugs trafficking case linked to a Mexican cartel.The agency said in a statement that it had recently secured a confirmation on the attachment from the designated competent authority and administrator constituted under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.The case pertains to the seizure of more than 95 kg of amphetamine and the unearthing of a clandestine narcotics manufacturing laboratory in Noida near Delhi in October last year.Five people, including a Tihar Jail warden, a Mexican national part of a drug cartel operating from that country, a Mumbai-based chemist and two Delhi-based businessmen, were arrested by the NCB then.The agency, as part of the probe, attached immovable assets of the "prime accused" in the case.These include a luxury apartment in Jaypee Greens residential society and a factory premises in Kasna Industrial Area of Gautam Budh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh), which were "acquired using proceeds from international narcotics trafficking", the NCB said.
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
No compromise on women's dignity: SC tells lawyer who abused judge
The judiciary cannot compromise when it comes to the safety and dignity of women judges, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday, refusing to interfere with the conviction and 18-month jail sentence of a Delhi-based lawyer who verbally abused and threatened a woman judicial officer in court. 'There can be no leniency in ensuring a safe workplace for women judges…Most of the judicial officers in Delhi today are women. They must feel safe at their place of work,' a bench of justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan emphasised. Rejecting an appeal by advocate Sanjay Rathore, the bench added: 'They (women judges) won't be able to function if someone like him gets High Court is right.' The top court's decision comes weeks after the Delhi High Court delivered a scathing verdict, describing Rathore's conduct as 'an assault on justice itself' . The trial court had originally sentenced Rathore to a total of two years' imprisonment for using gendered abuse against a woman magistrate in 2015, but the high court reduced the term to 18 months. Rathore had already undergone six months in jail by the time his appeal was heard in the Supreme Court. His lawyer argued that the incident was a 'spur-of-the-moment' outburst and that further incarceration would be harsh. But the top court remained unmoved. 'Your sentence has already been reduced to 18 months. We can't bring it down. Your matter was duly dealt with by the high court and a strong judgment was issued. We have to ensure the safety of women judicial officers,' the bench said during the hearing. The court also took note of the testimony given under oath by the woman magistrate, who corroborated the charges. 'Look at the kind of language you have used. How will judges work if we entertain your petition?' the bench asked. In its brief order, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and granted Rathore two weeks to surrender. The case dates back to October 2015, when Rathore, aggrieved by an adjournment in his case that was passed in his absence, verbally abused a woman magistrate in Karkardooma court, including using gender-specific slurs. The incident prompted the judicial officer to lodge an FIR at Farsh Bazar police station. In 2023, a trial court found Rathore guilty under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code -- 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 189 (threat of injury to a public servant), and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) -- and sentenced him to two years in jail. The high court, while upholding the conviction in May 2025, modified the sentence to 18 months. In her May 26 judgment, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the high court minced no words in rejecting Rathore's plea for leniency. She observed that 'the act of outraging the modesty of a judicial officer while she was presiding over court proceedings… attacks the very foundation of judicial decorum and institutional integrity.' Justice Sharma emphasised that Rathore, being an officer of the court, was expected to uphold its dignity, not undermine it. 'This is not merely a case of individual misbehaviour, but a case where injustice was done to justice itself where a judge… became the target of personal attack while discharging her official duties.' The judgment went on to highlight the larger systemic issue: 'Any act that seeks to threaten or intimidate a judge, especially through gender-specific abuse, is an assault on justice itself and must be met with firm accountability. To trivialise such conduct under the garb of emotional outburst or momentary lapse is to reflect a patriarchal mindset — one that struggles to respect women in authority and seeks to normalise the unacceptable. This cannot be permitted. Not in law. Not in court.' Calling the woman magistrate's experience a reflection of 'a mindset where even women in empowered roles are not seen as immune from humiliation or indignity,' the high court warned that no judicial officer, especially women at the district level who form the 'backbone of our justice delivery system,' should ever feel unsupported or unsafe. 'If a woman holding judicial office is made to feel that her authority is conditional on the civility or restraint of others, the very foundation of judicial independence would get shaken,' Justice Sharma wrote.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
India's unregulated pet care sector breeds scams, exploits animals and people
1 2 3 Pune: The lack of regulation in the animal welfare sector in India has allowed for the emergence of a breeding ground for fraudsters that exploit both animals and volunteers. In the absence of proper oversight, there has been a disturbing proliferation of spurious animal shelters nationwide, operating as profit-making ventures while charging exorbitant monthly fees from rescuers and individuals. The trend was exemplified in 2024, when a counterfeit shelter was set up near Delhi using the name of People for Animals, a well-known group run by Maneka Gandhi. "People have been calling me from across the country, particularly those familiar with our work at PFA, to inform us about this duplicity. An investigation is underway," Gandhi stated. Puneeta Khanna, Pune unit head for PFA, explained to TOI that while people endeavour to "rescue" animals, they often lack the wherewithal for permanent adoption. "They then relinquish the animals at any available shelter without conducting due diligence. They neither inspect the facilities nor research their credentials, simply transferring the animal and payments before disengaging completely. This prevalent behaviour enables fraudulent operations to flourish," she said. Social media platforms have amplified duplicitous schemes, with fraudsters fabricating counterfeit NGO accounts and misappropriating content from legitimate organisations to conduct crowdfunding campaigns. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Swindlers manipulate digital platforms, disseminating emotive posts and reels to solicit donations — which never reach intended beneficiaries. Richa Singh Choudhuri, who runs a senior dog shelter in Delhi, revealed how fraudsters pilfered photographs and videos posted by genuine animal welfare NGOs seeking funds for medical treatments. "This recurring issue recently affected our campaign for Mozart, a dog requiring costly surgery for luxating patella. Scamsters already pocketed thousands before some people informed us about their posts, and we messaged them to shut it down and threatened them with legal action. While some perpetrators remove such posts when confronted, many persist, necessitating formal complaints," Choudhuri said. The post-pandemic surge in pet boarding services also witnessed inexperienced individuals offering boarding facilities, where pets frequently endure confinement without adequate care. Pet parent Pallavi Doshi shared her harrowing experience with a Bengaluru-based facility, where her dog went missing when she came back to pick him up after a four-day stay. "Despite promises of daily updates, they did not send us anything and stopped picking up our calls. We spent our holiday in panic. When we rushed back to pick him up, they claimed our pet ran away. We searched high and low and offered rewards, but he was nowhere to be found. Later, we were informed by others who gave bad reviews to the facility that they too faced similar issues with their breed male dogs and suspected that they were sold to breeders," said Doshi. Many establishments operate without standardised criteria for staff recruitment, occasionally employing individuals who demonstrate cruelty towards animals. Incidents have surfaced on social media, including in Feb 2025, when a Chow Chow endured brutal treatment at a Thane pet clinic, and the Oct 2024 tragedy involving a Cocker Spaniel's death at a Noida boarding facility. Vineeta Tandon, who manages Animal Rescue Trust in Pune, said too many shelters operate sans proper registration, staff or capabilities. "Many just procure shop act licences and function ignoring safety guidelines. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) stipulates that shelters shouldn't retain healthy, self-sufficient animals or keep them caged. However, profit-driven facilities disregard this," she said. "Healthy strays are unnecessarily removed from their natural habitat by emotional activists who believe institutional care is superior. They often end up confined without proper sustenance, contrary to natural street existence where they enjoy freedom and regular feeding," Tandon added. This malpractice was evident when in Oct 2024, authorities rescued over 50 animals from a fraudulent shelter in Ravet. The proprietor distributed counterfeit receipts and falsely claimed veterinary credentials. Similarly, in June last year, an illegal dog hostel was shut down in Jodhpur following PETA India's intervention, where animals had endured abusive training methods. Geetanjali Taur, founder of Saahas for Animals, advocates for an urgent need for stringent industry regulation. "Transparency is key. When you find that an NGO is not being open for visitations and about their facilities or answering all questions, it should raise a red flag. But it's time clear rules, standards, and guidelines are set and strictly implemented across all animal-related businesses and charitable establishments. Volunteers must exercise prudence rather than making emotionally driven impulsive decisions that compromise animal welfare." According to Meet Ashar, an animal rights advocate and cruelty case division legal advisor at PETA India, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in its current form does not strengthen legal protection for animals. "While BNS removes different punishments based on the value of the animal and prescribes a uniform punishment for killing or maiming, irrespective of species, it has done more damage by totally removing the provision that penalised sexual abuse of animals," he pointed out. Pune: The lack of regulation in the animal welfare sector in India has allowed for the emergence of a breeding ground for fraudsters that exploit both animals and volunteers. In the absence of proper oversight, there has been a disturbing proliferation of spurious animal shelters nationwide, operating as profit-making ventures while charging exorbitant monthly fees from rescuers and individuals. The trend was exemplified in 2024, when a counterfeit shelter was set up near Delhi using the name of People for Animals, a well-known group run by Maneka Gandhi. "People have been calling me from across the country, particularly those familiar with our work at PFA, to inform us about this duplicity. An investigation is underway," Gandhi stated. Puneeta Khanna, Pune unit head for PFA, explained to TOI that while people endeavour to "rescue" animals, they often lack the wherewithal for permanent adoption. "They then relinquish the animals at any available shelter without conducting due diligence. They neither inspect the facilities nor research their credentials, simply transferring the animal and payments before disengaging completely. This prevalent behaviour enables fraudulent operations to flourish," she said. Social media platforms have amplified duplicitous schemes, with fraudsters fabricating counterfeit NGO accounts and misappropriating content from legitimate organisations to conduct crowdfunding campaigns. Swindlers manipulate digital platforms, disseminating emotive posts and reels to solicit donations — which never reach intended beneficiaries. Richa Singh Choudhuri, who runs a senior dog shelter in Delhi, revealed how fraudsters pilfered photographs and videos posted by genuine animal welfare NGOs seeking funds for medical treatments. "This recurring issue recently affected our campaign for Mozart, a dog requiring costly surgery for luxating patella. Scamsters already pocketed thousands before some people informed us about their posts, and we messaged them to shut it down and threatened them with legal action. While some perpetrators remove such posts when confronted, many persist, necessitating formal complaints," Choudhuri said. The post-pandemic surge in pet boarding services also witnessed inexperienced individuals offering boarding facilities, where pets frequently endure confinement without adequate care. Pet parent Pallavi Doshi shared her harrowing experience with a Bengaluru-based facility, where her dog went missing when she came back to pick him up after a four-day stay. "Despite promises of daily updates, they did not send us anything and stopped picking up our calls. We spent our holiday in panic. When we rushed back to pick him up, they claimed our pet ran away. We searched high and low and offered rewards, but he was nowhere to be found. Later, we were informed by others who gave bad reviews to the facility that they too faced similar issues with their breed male dogs and suspected that they were sold to breeders," said Doshi. Many establishments operate without standardised criteria for staff recruitment, occasionally employing individuals who demonstrate cruelty towards animals. Incidents have surfaced on social media, including in Feb 2025, when a Chow Chow endured brutal treatment at a Thane pet clinic, and the Oct 2024 tragedy involving a Cocker Spaniel's death at a Noida boarding facility. Vineeta Tandon, who manages Animal Rescue Trust in Pune, said too many shelters operate sans proper registration, staff or capabilities. "Many just procure shop act licences and function ignoring safety guidelines. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) stipulates that shelters shouldn't retain healthy, self-sufficient animals or keep them caged. However, profit-driven facilities disregard this," she said. "Healthy strays are unnecessarily removed from their natural habitat by emotional activists who believe institutional care is superior. They often end up confined without proper sustenance, contrary to natural street existence where they enjoy freedom and regular feeding," Tandon added. This malpractice was evident when in Oct 2024, authorities rescued over 50 animals from a fraudulent shelter in Ravet. The proprietor distributed counterfeit receipts and falsely claimed veterinary credentials. Similarly, in June last year, an illegal dog hostel was shut down in Jodhpur following PETA India's intervention, where animals had endured abusive training methods. Geetanjali Taur, founder of Saahas for Animals, advocates for an urgent need for stringent industry regulation. "Transparency is key. When you find that an NGO is not being open for visitations and about their facilities or answering all questions, it should raise a red flag. But it's time clear rules, standards, and guidelines are set and strictly implemented across all animal-related businesses and charitable establishments. Volunteers must exercise prudence rather than making emotionally driven impulsive decisions that compromise animal welfare." According to Meet Ashar, an animal rights advocate and cruelty case division legal advisor at PETA India, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in its current form does not strengthen legal protection for animals. "While BNS removes different punishments based on the value of the animal and prescribes a uniform punishment for killing or maiming, irrespective of species, it has done more damage by totally removing the provision that penalised sexual abuse of animals," he pointed out.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
2 held for trying to snatch bag containing cash
1 2 Prayagraj: Kaushambi police on Tuesday arrested two men who had allegedly made an abortive bid to rob a Gujarat based trader Bhavesh Kumar Barot near Jaiswal eatery on May 15 after they snatched the bag of the trader travelling from Prayagraj to Delhi. Gujarat-based snatchers were identified as Praveen Singh Devda and Devda Nirmal Singh, residents of Banaskantha (Gujarat). The duo tried to loot to pay their loans and dues. The snatching of the bag containing the amount turned out to be a heist bid, as the snatchers' actions caused the bag to open and the cash inside spilled onto the road. A strong gust of wind further scattered the currency notes, leading to a scramble by bystanders for the money. Co-passengers and dhaba staff intervened, collected the scattered notes, and handed them back to the trader. After registering an FIR regarding the incident, SP (Kaushambi) Rajesh Kumar constituted three police teams, including SOG and surveillance, to ensure the arrest of the snatchers. After scanning suspicious mobile numbers and CCTV footage, cops managed to arrest two out of three miscreants involved in the snatching incident. Arrested miscreant Devra Nirmal Singh told police that his maternal uncle, Patel Dhawal Kumar, informed him that a trader with good amount of money was travelling by a luxury bus from Prayagraj to Delhi on May 15 and asked him to snatch the bag containing the amount. As the accused had to pay their long-pending dues and clear loans, Nirmal Singh inducted his cousin Praveen Singh Devda in his plan. According to the plan, they first reached Prayagraj from Gujarat and stayed in Prayagraj for a day. Miscreants booked seats in the same bus the trader bookedand decided to snatch the bag whenever the bus stopped near an eatery joint. On the night of May 15, when the bus stopped near a dhaba, they first stepped out from the bus as per the plan and managed to snatch the bag. As the duo tried to snatch his bag filled with currency notes, it burst open, and the notes spilled out, scattering in the wind. Upon being alerted, police later intervened to retrieve the businessman's cash from the people who collected it. Police, however, claimed that they were probing why the trader was carrying such a huge amount of cash with him despite the availability of online transaction modes for the collection of the amount.