Indian Soldier Killed In Anti-Infiltration Operation Along LoC In Uri; Pak 'BAT' Action Suspected
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Hindustan Times
8 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
ED freezes ₹110 crore linked to illegal betting platform Parimatch
MUMBAI: The Mumbai unit of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has frozen ₹110 crore lying in mule bank accounts in connection with a money-laundering probe into Cyprus-based illegal betting platform Parimatch. The action followed coordinated searches at 17 locations across the country on Tuesday, including Mumbai, Surat, Delhi, Noida, Kanpur, Madurai and Hyderabad. ED freezes ₹ 110 crore linked to illegal betting platform Parimatch The platform, owned by a Ukrainian national abroad, allegedly amassed nearly ₹3,000 crore from Indian users in 2023-24 alone, luring them with promises of high returns before defrauding them, ED officials said on Thursday. According to investigators, the frozen funds—proceeds of crime—were parked in multiple mule accounts used to layer and divert money to various recipients. Searches also led to the seizure of incriminating documents, digital devices and 1,200 credit cards linked to mule accounts. Complex laundering network The ED's probe, based on a complaint by the cyber police station in Mumbai, has uncovered a multi-layered laundering operation. In south India, user deposits were allegedly funnelled into mule accounts and withdrawn in cash in parts of Tamil Nadu, before being handed to hawala operators. These operators then recharged virtual wallets of a UK-based firm, which were used to buy USDT cryptocurrency in mule accounts run by Parimatch agents. In western India, Parimatch allegedly used Domestic Money Transfer agents to collect betting funds in mule accounts and channel them back through credit card transactions. Investigators have also flagged payment companies whose Payment Aggregator licence applications were rejected by the Reserve Bank of India. These firms allegedly provided backend services to Parimatch disguised as Technology Service Providers (TSPs), offering Application Programming Interface (API) access to integrate mule accounts—often opened in the names of e-commerce and payment service firms—into the platform. The funds were then 'masked' as e-commerce refunds, vendor payments and other routine expenses to obscure their origin and movement, officials said. Aggressive promotion in India To attract customers, Parimatch invested heavily in marketing, sponsoring sports tournaments and tying up with celebrities. Indian-registered entities—'Parimatch Sports' and 'Parimatch News'—were allegedly used for surrogate advertising, funded through foreign remittances. A city - based businessman, who is the complainant in the Mumbai police's case, alleged that he had lost around ₹12.22 crore at the accused illegal platform and its allied applications due to their 'non adherence to fairplay'. The businessman claimed he got attracted to the accused gaming platform's claims related to high returns, sometime in 2021, after noticing its advertisements and celebrity endorsements for it on a social media platform. 'All of us who have lost any money on the accused platform should be compensated,' the complainant told HT.
India.com
38 minutes ago
- India.com
Following Flurry Of Threat By Top Pakistan Leaders, India Warns Islamabad: ‘Watch Your Words, Any Misstep Will Have Serious Consequences'
New Delhi: India has issued a stern warning to Pakistan following a series of provocative statements by three of its top leaders over the past 48 hours. The comments by Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Ex-Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto have drawn a sharp response from New Delhi, with the Ministry of External Affairs asking Islamabad to exercise restraint. At the weekly press briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randeep Jaiswal said, 'Pakistani leaders are issuing irresponsible, war-inciting and hate-filled statements against India. These remarks appear to be aimed at covering up domestic failures.' He added, 'They must control their words. Any wrong step from their side will have very serious consequences.' The remarks follow the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India, a decision that has drawn repeated threats from Islamabad in recent days. On August 11, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir made a provocative statement during a private event at Tampa in Florida. 'We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, phir 10 missile sey faarigh kar dengey,' he declared, implying the use of missile strikes to destroy any future dams constructed by India on the Indus River. Following Munir's remarks, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a strong warning regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, he stated, 'I want to tell the enemy today that if you threaten to hold our water, then keep this in mind that you cannot snatch even one drop from Pakistan.' He emphasised that any attempt to cut off water supplies would result in a 'decisive response' from Pakistan, framing the Indus waters as the 'lifeblood' of the nation. Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto also joined the chorus of threats. He warned that if India continued to suspend the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan would have 'no choice' but to consider war. His remarks came shortly after Munir's nuclear threat, heightening regional alarm over potential conflict escalation. Addressing claims related to the treaty, Jaiswal dismissed Pakistan's position and questioned the validity of the Court of Arbitration. 'India does not recognise the arbitration court legally or formally. It has no authority to issue such decisions. Its orders fall outside its jurisdiction. They do not affect India's rights over water usage,' he said. He also reaffirmed India's reasoning for suspending the treaty, pointing to rising cross-border terrorism. 'As stated in our press release of June 27, 2025, the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is a direct response to Pakistan's repeated acts of cross-border terrorism, including the Pahalgam attack. This step is a measure to safeguard India's national security and is fully within our rights,' he said. Jaiswal also addressed broader geopolitical issues during the briefing. On India-US relations, he said, 'The partnership between India and the United States rests on deep strategic cooperation, shared democratic values and strong mutual respect. The relationship has withstood challenges and changes, and we remain confident it will continue to grow on the basis of shared interests.' Regarding upcoming international engagements, he highlighted that External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar is expected to travel to Moscow later this month for the 26th India-Russia Inter-Government Session. On the Alaska meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15, Jaiswal welcomed the agreement for dialogue. He reiterated Prime Minister Modi's repeated message that 'this is not the age of war'. On trade with China, he confirmed that discussions continue to resume border trade at Lipulekh and Shipki La in Uttarakhand, ensuring safe and regulated commerce. Finally, Jaiswal addressed the United States' Human Rights Report 2025, released on August 12. 'These reports are based on allegations, misrepresentations and one-sided assumptions that fail to capture India's democratic framework accurately. We do not place any reliance on such biased assessments.' The report has raised concerns about several aspects of civil and political life in India. It highlights restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and the press in certain regions. It cites instances where journalists, activists and students allegedly faced legal actions or other pressures for voicing dissenting opinions. The report also mentions limitations on digital freedoms, pointing to internet shutdowns in areas such as Jammu and Kashmir that have affected the flow of information. Religious freedom and communal harmony remain key points of critique. The report highlights episodes of communal tension and alleged discrimination against religious minorities, including reports of mob violence and concerns about law enforcement responses. It also flags alleged challenges faced by women, children and marginalised communities in accessing justice, social services and protection from exploitation or discrimination. The report draws attention to issues within the criminal justice system. It references alleged cases of arbitrary arrests, custodial deaths and prolonged pretrial detention in some states. These, according to the report, indicate gaps in procedural safeguards and the need for reforms in law enforcement practices.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Op Sindoor a sign India no longer bound by traditional borders: Rajnath
Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said Operation Sindoor was a balanced military response that signalled India is no longer bound by traditional boundaries, but is using modern technology, accurate intelligence and smart military strategies to target terrorism. The success of Operation Sindoor will be celebrated at the Independence Day function at Red Fort on Friday. (PTI) 'It was a clear message from India that we are tolerant, but when it comes to the safety of our people and the dignity of our country, we unite and face every challenge boldly. Operation Sindoor is a part of India's new policy, a clear message that no matter how deep the roots of terrorism are, its complete destruction will be ensured,' Singh said in a message to soldiers on the eve of the country's 79th Independence Day. The success of Operation Sindoor will be celebrated at the Independence Day function at Red Fort on Friday, three months after Indian forces hit terror and military targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. A Mi-17 helicopter will fly a flag depicting Operation Sindoor, the invitation cards carry the operation's distinct logo, the view cutter at Gyanpath will also showcase the logo, and the floral decoration will be based on the operation. Operation Sindoor will continue until the goal of complete destruction of terrorism is achieved, Singh said, on a day the government announced gallantry awards for soldiers who took part in the operation. Singh described India's actions during the operation as 'a shining example of a precise and successful military strategy, and a glimpse of a new vision, technological advancements and self-reliance.' India launched the operation in the early hours of May 7 and struck terror and military installations in Pakistan and PoK following the Pahalgam terror strike. Between the launch of the operation in the early hours of May 7 and the ceasefire on May 10 evening, Indian forces bombed nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, killing at least 100 terrorists, and the Indian Air Force struck targets at 13 Pakistani airbases and military installations. India, Singh said, successfully utilised cutting-edge apparatus such as drones, layered air defence, electronic warfare and network-centric operations, and proved that it is no longer dependent on foreign technology. The operation has taken India's military self-reliance to a greater height, he said. Talking about the balanced strategy of Operation Sindoor, Singh said within a few minutes (on May 7), nine terror training camps, including the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, were destroyed by precise missile attacks, and no civilian areas and Pakistani military establishments were targeted. The Indian armed forces, he said, neither crossed the Line of Control nor violated the international border, yet managed to deliver a crushing blow to the terror infrastructure hidden inside the enemy's territory. Singh added that with Operation Sindoor, the armed forces not only avenged the barbaric terror attack in Pahalgam, but also the strikes on Parliament House, in Mumbai and on Amarnath pilgrims in the past.
