Latest news with #Gujarat-based
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Major coal adulteration racket busted in Rajasthan, 1 arrested
Jaipur: In a significant crackdown Saturday, the Rajasthan police's crime branch uncovered a sophisticated network engaged in the adulteration of premium US-imported coal with low-quality coal dust. The operation came to light following a raid at a factory located in Sirohi district, where the illicit activities were being conducted in collusion with truck drivers and Gujarat-based traders. Additional Director General (Crime) Dinesh MN said the police team discovered that workers at the factory were mixing low-grade coal dust, typically used in thermal power plants, with high-quality imported coal. This adulteration allowed the gang to divert and steal the premium coal, which was then sold to various factories in Gujarat, Rajasthan and beyond. A man identified as Irfan, 32, from the Patan area of Gujarat, was arrested on site, police said. Several trucks and equipment used in the operation were also seized during the raid, which took place along NH-27's Pindwara-Abu Road section near Bhujela. ADG Dinesh said the premium coal, valued at approximately Rs 22,000 per tonne, was imported through a Gujarat port for use by steel manufacturers and thermal plants across the country. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo The investigation revealed that certain traders from Gujarat had rented the factory, which is situated about a kilometer from the national highway. Truck drivers transporting the premium coal were allegedly offered between Rs 3,000 to Rs 7,000 per tonne to divert their cargo to the facility. Once at the factory, the high-grade coal was stolen and replaced with the cheaper coal powder, allowing the trucks to continue their journey without arousing suspicion, police said. As per the police, the gang extracted between 15 to 20 tonnes of coal daily, raking in revenues of Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh. "Gang members sold the altered coal to smaller industrial units at a significantly reduced price of Rs 16,000 per tonne, while the same coal could fetch Rs 22,000 in the open market," said an official. "Once the premium coal was removed, workers quickly mixed in cheaper coal powder of similar appearance, ensuring the weight matched the original shipment," the officer stated. "This operation allowed them to siphon off substantial quantities of high-grade coal without detection." The Rajasthan police have expanded their investigation in the matter, conducting raids in neighbouring states to apprehend additional suspects linked to the operation. The role of several traders based in Gujarat is currently under scrutiny as the authorities work to dismantle the entire network involved in this illegal coal adulteration scheme.
News18
12 hours ago
- News18
Rajasthan Police bust gang involved in adulteration of imported coal
Jaipur, Jul 19 (PTI) A gang, allegedly involved in the adulteration of coal imported from the US, was busted by the Rajasthan Police, leading to the arrest of an individual, a senior official said on Saturday. The gang was adulterating high-quality coal (petcoke) imported from the US, cheating cement and steel factories out of crores of rupees through this illegal operation, Additional Director General of Police (Crime) Dinesh MN said. A team from the Crime Investigation Branch had been gathering intelligence about the theft of petcoke for some time. They were told by informants about several Gujarat-based 'coal mafias' who had rented a closed factory at Bhujela along the Pindwara-Aburoad National Highway 27, the officer added. The gang was earning illegally in lakhs by allegedly selling the stolen coal to small industrial units. On Friday, the police raided the suspected factory premises and seized two trucks, a loader and a dozer machine from the spot. During the raid, a man identified as Irfan (32) was arrested. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the gang buying coal from truck drivers for five to seven thousand rupees per ton and then adulterating it. In this manner, the gang was stealing approximately 15 to 20 tonnes of coal every day, leading to daily earnings of around 1 to 1.5 lakh rupees, the police said. PTI AG MPL MPL (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 19, 2025, 19:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
2 days ago
- News18
Labourer dies as soil caves in during sewer laying work in MPs Shahdol
Last Updated: Shahdol (MP), Jul 17 (PTI) A labourer died while another was trapped in an unconscious state after the soil under their feet caved in while they were digging for a sewer line in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol city on Thursday, officials said. While the body of Mahipal Baiga (30) was retrieved around 6.30 pm, five hours after the incident, his colleague Mukesh Baigha was also located but he remained unresponsive, police said. Both had got buried 13 feet below the surface, said Sohagpur police station house officer (SHO) Bhupendra Mani Pandey. Efforts were on to rescue Mukesh, the official said. The accident took place around 1.30 pm in ward number 1. A Gujarat-based company was carrying out the work of laying a sewer line, Pandey said. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police were carrying out the rescue operation with the help of JCB and other equipment. The wet soil resulting from a spell of heavy rain made their job difficult, police said. PTI COR LAL KRK Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Seven from Gujarat arrested for using fake Schengen visa
Mumbai: The Sahar police on Friday arrested seven men from Gujarat after they were detained at Dubai airport by immigration officials and then deported to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). Immigration officials at CSMIA found that they had gone to Dubai on tourist visas and attempted to travel to Luxembourg using fake Employment Schengen Visas. Seven from Gujarat arrested for using fake Schengen visa The police said that their trip was planned by a Gujarat-based agent who was helping them enter Luxembourg as tourists and then settle there by securing jobs. According to the police, on Friday night, immigration officer Vishnu Sawant at Mumbai Airport was inspecting the arrival Visas when he noted seven individuals had been deported from Dubai with visas flagged by Dubai's immigration. Investigations revealed that their Schengen Employment Visas for Luxembourg were counterfeit. The police said that when the visas were examined under ultraviolet light, they revealed discrepancies in the fonts, missing security features, and faded colours on the visa paper. Upon interrogation, the seven said that their agent had given them visas and promised them they would be able to settle down and find jobs in any of the 29 Schengen countries without further permissions. After confirming the fraud, immigration officials handed the men over to the Sahar Police Station for further action.
The Print
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
SC to hear suo motu plea on ED summoning lawyers for legal advice on Monday
The case comes in the wake of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoning senior lawyers Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal. A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria will hear the matter. New Delhi, Jul 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday a suo motu case over the issue of investigation agencies summoning lawyers who offer opinions to parties and represent them in cases. However, on June 20, the ED directed its investigating officers not to issue summons to any advocate in money laundering investigations being carried out against their clients, adding that an exception to this rule can only be made after 'approval' by the agency's director. The central probe agency, tasked with combating money laundering crimes, issued the circular for the guidance of its field formations, stating that 'no summons' should be issued to any advocate in violation of Section 132 of the Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023. 'Further, if any summons needs to be issued under the exceptions carved out in proviso to Section 132 of the BSA, 2023, the same shall be issued only with the prior approval of the director, ED,' the agency said. The counsel had offered legal advice to Care Health Insurance Limited on the employee stock ownership plan given to Rashmi Saluja, former chairperson of Religare Enterprises. The summons were condemned by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), calling it a 'disturbing trend' that struck at the very foundations of the legal profession. The bar bodies had urged the chief justice of India to take suo motu cognisance of the matter. On June 25, a bench of justices K V Viswanathan and N Kotiswar Singh observed the legal profession was an integral component of the process of administration of justice and that allowing police or probe agencies to directly summon lawyers for advising clients would seriously undermine the autonomy of legal profession and was a 'direct threat' to the independence of the administration of justice. The bench had framed a couple of questions in the matter. '…when an individual has an association with a case only as a lawyer advising the party, could the investigating agency/prosecuting agency/police directly summon the lawyer for questioning?' the bench asked. Another question read, 'Assuming that the investigating agency or prosecuting agency or police have a case that the role of the individual is not merely as a lawyer but something more, even then, should they be directly permitted to summon or should a judicial oversight be prescribed for those exceptional criteria?' The bench said since it was a matter directly impinging on the administration of justice, 'to subject a professional… when he is a counsel in the matter… prima facie appears to be untenable, subject to further consideration by the court'. The order came when the top court was hearing a plea of a Gujarat-based advocate, challenging an order of the high court passed on June 12. The high court in March 2025 refused to quash a notice summoning the lawyer before the police in a case against his client. The top court, however, directed the state not to summon him till further orders and stayed the operation of the police's notice issued to him. It said the lawyers engaged in legal practice, apart from their fundamental right under Article 19 (1)(g) of the Constitution, had certain rights and privileges guaranteed as legal professionals and further as a result of statutory provisions. Article 19 (1)(g) of the Constitution deals with the right to practise any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business. Underlining the issue as important, the bench called for the assistance of the attorney general, the solicitor general, the chairperson of the Bar Council of India, and the presidents of the SCBA and SCAORA. The top court had asked the apex court registry to place the case files before the CJI for passing appropriate directions. PTI PKS SKY SKY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
