Latest news with #Dham
India Gazette
30-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Delhi HC denies interim bail to Arvind Dham in money laundering case
New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to grant interim bail to Arvind Dham in a money laundering case in view of allegations against him. He has been in custody since July 2024. His regular bail has been pending before the High Court since February 2025. The Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s allegation is that there are multiple thousand crores of proceeds of crime. Justice Ravinder Dudeja refused to grant interim bail in view of the seriousness of the allegations levelled against him. However, the court has expedited the bail hearing and listed the matter on July 15. Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa submitted that Dham should be granted interim bail during the pendency of his petition, which has been pending since February 2025. He has been in custody for the past 11 months and has a history of medical illness. Special counsel Zoheb Hossain opposed the submissions made on behalf of the accused. Special public prosecutor (SPP) Manish Jain, along with Snehal Shard, appeared for the ED. The bench refused to grant him the relief. Dham was arrested in July 2024 by the ED in a money laundering case linked to alleged bank fraud. Earlier, the CBI had registered a case against the Amtek group. There are allegations of bank fraud of around Rs. 20,000 crores. On June 20, 2024, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at 35 places in Delhi, NCR, and Maharashtra against Amtek Group in connection with a huge bank fraud case involving more than Rs 20,000 crores in several listed companies. These companies were finally taken over in an NCLT proceeding at a nominal price, leaving a consortium of banks with a nominal recovery. Raids were conducted across Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai and Nagpur under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Amtek Group led by Arvind Dham, Gautam Malhotra and others. The alleged fraud led to a massive loss to the exchequer of approximately Rs 10-15 thousand crores, said the ED. ED investigation started based on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) First Information Report (FIR) in one of the group entities, ACIL Limited, and as per the Supreme Court's directions to investigate the fraud. Further, ED said its investigation revealed that loan funds were siphoned off to invest in real estate, foreign investment, and new ventures. As per the agency, fictitious sales, capital assets, debtors and profit were shown in group concerns to get more loans so that it doesn't get NPA. (ANI)
Hans India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Move to patent terms linked to Puri temple
Puri: In the light of the ongoing dispute with West Bengal over the naming of the Digha temple as a 'Dham,' the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC) on Monday decided to patent certain words and logos associated with the 12th-century shrine in Odisha. A proposal to this effect was approved at the SJTMC meeting chaired by the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, Dibyasingha Deb, and attended by ex officio members including Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee, Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, Puri SP Vinit Agarwal and others. 'The SJTA will soon apply to patent terms like Mahaprasad (bhog), Srimandir (temple), Shree Jagannath Dham (place), Shreekshetra (place) and Purushottam Dham (place), among others. A proposal in this regard has been approved by the SJTMC,' said Arabinda Padhee, an IAS officer, while addressing reporters. Padhee said patenting specific words and logos related to the Jagannath Temple would serve as a legal instrument to protect the cultural, religious and spiritual identity of the Puri temple. 'This will help prevent misuse of the 12th century's original spiritual identity and unauthorised use of its sacred terminology,' he added. Regarding the ongoing row with the West Bengal government over the alleged misuse of the term Jagannath Dham, Padhee said the matter would be addressed by the State governments. Deb said, 'The West Bengal government cannot use the term 'Jagannath Dham' for their temple at Digha. This is against Hindu scriptures and the age-old tradition of Lord Jagannath.' Replying to a query, the Gajapati Maharaja asserted that the issue should be resolved amicably between the two State governments, as the Digha temple is a project developed by the West Bengal government. 'It is better to settle the matter through dialogue instead of seeking legal shelter,' Deb said. State Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said, 'Our Chief Minister has already written a letter to his West Bengal counterpart. As that letter remains unanswered, the State is considering legal action.' The SJTMC also discussed preparations for the upcoming annual Rath Yatra, scheduled for June 27. Padhee said, 'The SJTMC has decided to form a 'Pahandi Dala' (idol procession team) for each chariot during the Rath Yatra, with the number of servitors to be finalised by the SJTA, Puri Collector, Chhatisa Nijog (servitors' body) and other stakeholders in a future meeting.' The committee also reached a consensus on ensuring smooth arrangements for the Rath Yatra and related rituals. Detailed discussions were held on the Snana Yatra (bathing ritual), Ghosa Yatra (chariot procession) and Bahuda Yatra (return chariot festival). Special focus will be placed on the smooth Pahandi (procession) of the idols onto the chariots and their return to the temples. Responding to another query, Padhee said non-servitors would be strictly prohibited from accessing the chariots. 'Strong action will be taken against violators,' he said, adding that carrying mobile phones on the chariots would also be banned. 'This will amount to criminal charges,' he warned. Padhee further said the committee discussed additional issues such as the relocation of the Hundi (donation box) from inside the temple, and the imposition of restrictions on the height of buildings around the Shree Mandir and Gundicha Temple to prevent disruptions to rituals. 'The Urban Development department will be informed, and a formal request will be made to the government to enforce this restriction,' he said. The meeting also discussed on the safety of the Ratna Bhandar (temple treasury) and the protection and proper management of the landed properties of Lord Jagannath.
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Hans India
SJTA suspends senior servitor for 30 days
Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Sunday suspended senior servitor Ramakrushna Dasmahapatra for 30 days and barred him from entering the 12th-century Puri temple after he attended the consecration ceremony of Digha Jagannath Temple in West Bengal and was accused of indiscipline. An official statement by SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said Dasmahapatra had been suspended from all temple duties and prohibited from performing rituals at the Puri Jagannath Temple for a month. Dasmahapatra, who also serves as the secretary of the Daitapati Nijog — a group of servitors who act as the ceremonial bodyguards of the deities during the annual Rath Yatra — has been instructed not to influence or threaten any servitor or individual in an attempt to obstruct temple services or rituals during the suspension period. 'If he does so, the suspension period will be extended and stricter disciplinary action will be taken. During this period, the commander and senior supervisor of the temple will regularly report to Padhee on Dasmahapatra's conduct,' the statement added. The order also stated that if Dasmahapatra's 'disorderly' behaviour is observed during the suspension period and thereafter, the temple administration will cancel or suspend the allowances/pay/awards he is entitled. Prior to the disciplinary action, the SJTA had issued two show-cause notices to Dasmahapatra. The first, dated May 4, directed him to explain within seven days why he allegedly violated temple tradition by crafting idols for the Digha Jagannath Temple using sacred wood collected during the Nabakalebara festival in 2015 — an act that hurt the religious sentiments of devotees worldwide. He was also questioned for allegedly making 'disorderly' and 'irresponsible' remarks on a Bengali television channel, where he initially claimed to have crafted the idols for Digha temple with the surplus sacred wood of Puri temple. However, he later denied the allegation. The State government, through an inquiry, found that the idols for Digha temple were crafted by a carpenter in Bhubaneswar, State Law Minister Pritihiviarj Harichandan had told reporters. A second notice was issued on May 9, asking Dasmahapatra to explain why he attended the consecration event at the Digha temple in his capacity as a Puri servitor, and whether he objected to the temple being referred to as a 'Dham' by the Digha Jagannath Temple Trust. Chief Administrator Padhee emphasised the decision aims to uphold order and discipline within the temple premises. 'It is the duty of all of us to uphold the tradition, rituals and dignity of the temple keeping self above pride and arrogance and this should be a demonstration of our devotion to Lord Jagannath. In the coming days also, no kind of disorder will be tolerated,' Padhee said.
News18
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Neha Sharma Shares Scenic Moments From Manali, Here Are 5 Spots You Must Visit
Last Updated: The Crook actress' Manali's album begins with an adorable selfie wherein she is seen dressed in traditional Indian attire. Neha Sharma recently wrapped an important schedule of her upcoming project in Manali, Himachal Pradesh. As she headed back, the actress took a moment and shared a few glimpses from her time at the breathtaking destination along with her team members. The carousel post included everything, from snow-capped picturesque mountains to yaks and sheep walking by and beyond, that will instantly make you pack your bags and leave for a trip to this serene location with your loved ones. Neha Sharma 's Manali album begins with an adorable selfie wherein she is seen dressed in traditional Indian attire, while other posts captured, yaks walking down the road, the glorious snow-capped Dhauladhar Range mountains, hillsides lined with the region's signature pine trees, farmers walking their flocks of sheep across the highways, panoramic views of the larger-than-life landscape, the classic tin-roofed houses of the hills, and much more which you can only find in Manali. Sharing the post on Instagram, Neha wrote in the caption, 'Which team are you on – Pahadon wali Maggie ya chai? #schedulewrap #sanjog #highupinthesky." The summer vacations have already started, and if you're planning to spend some days in this beautiful destination with your family or friends. Here are the 5 must-visit tourist spots in Manali that you should not miss. Hidimba Devi Temple Located a few minutes away from Mall Road, the famous Hidimba Devi Temple should be on your bucket list. This is an ancient wooden temple, dedicated to the goddess Hidimba. You must've noticed the place in Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Solang Valley This one is a popular destination for visitors of all ages, known for its breathtaking surroundings and adventurous activities such as skiing, paragliding and zorbing. Manikaran Manikaran is a known religious and tourist site in Parvati Valley, well-known for its hot springs and Gurudwara. Jogini Waterfall A short trek from Manali leads to this calm waterfall, which is surrounded by lush greenery, making it an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts. Vashisht Baths Known for its natural hot springs and the Vashisht Temple, Vashisht is a quiet and revitalising area that offers a unique spiritual experience. Also, Manali is a true paradise for food lovers as it offers a delectable combination of traditional Himachali cuisine and international flavours. Some of the best things that you can try here include Dham, Siddu and Chana Madra. First Published:
The National
29-01-2025
- Business
- The National
AI chips: The nuclear arms race of the 21st century, says Vinod Dham
Future Technology Countries are pushing ahead with AI, seeing it as crucial for strategic dominance The global race for dominance in artificial intelligence is drawing parallels to the nuclear arms race of the 20th century, says Vinod Dham, founder of IndoUS Venture Partners and a pioneer in the semiconductor industry. Speaking on the sidelines of the Raisina Middle East, Mr Dham compared the importance of AI chips to the "nuclear weapons of the 1940s and 1950s". 'If you give away the recipe for building a bomb to everybody, then there'll be chaos in the world,' adding that the US was pursuing an appropriate policy of working in partnership with 'trusted nations'. 'One thing that America has done that will make it very difficult for the rest of the world to replicate. There's some fundamental complex machinery needed to build these chips. And those machines are only being made by the US or companies it controls.' DeepSeek's advancements in AI-driven chip design. Some experts say these advances could disrupt the current dominance of US-based companies like Nvidia in the graphics processing unit market. It has also called into question investment strategies in the booming AI sector, especially as China-based DeepSeek was able to train its large language model with significantly less budget and in less time. But as much as the US would like to keep an advantage in the sector, that will not be possible, he says, as other nations are figuring AI out. In a wide ranging discussion, Mr Dham, who is sometimes referred to as the father of the Pentium chip because of his role in the development of Intel's microprocessor, said the coronavirus pandemic five years ago acted as a springboard for the current AI-driven era. 'During the pandemic, everything shut down, and people had to stay home. Suddenly, there was a need for more computers. A huge demand and peak, which nobody had anticipated. It looked like a shortage, but it was really a shortage because demand went up and not because there was some issue with the supply chain. 'Subsequently, after the pandemic, it became apparent that AI would become crucial for strategic military use, warfare and weaponry. 'That made countries like the US, which is really at the leading edge, realise that maybe we should not have this technology freely given to everybody in the world, restricting those supplies to the so-called trusted nations that they felt it was okay to give it to. And that's really where we are today. Mr Dham also reflected on the foundation story of Pentium chips and how pricing and technology has changed. 'When we were building Pentium, these chips were costing us maybe a couple of hundred dollars, $100, $50 to make. We were selling them for $200, $300, $400. The GPUs today, which are a very different type of a processor, cost $40,000 for just one set of chips. 'They are so expensive that an average person cannot buy them and use them at home. It's a different ballgame than what we played during our time.'
