Latest news with #GujaratControlofTerrorismandOrganisedCrimeAct
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Time of India
GujCTOC invoked against cybercrime gang
Surat: A gang of cybercriminals has been been booked under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act (GuJCTOC) for allegedly facilitating transactions worth Rs 197 crore — proceeds of cyber fraud — through 1,029 bank accounts linked to 214 FIRs registered across the country. The gang of Milan Darji and 10 others allegedly layered, laundered and transferred the proceeds of cyberfraud perpetrated across the globe by Chinese gangs. Darji operated the 46-member gang from Dubai. Eleven of them have been arrested by Surat police so far. Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Bhavesh Roziya told TOI: "This is probably the first case of a cybercrime gang in which GujCTOC has been invoked. From the scale of the crime and the large number of offenders involved, it was necessary to use this law which targets organized crime. GujCTOC makes it difficult for cybercriminals to get out of jail easily and perpetrate more cybercrimes." Sweta Daniels, assistant commissioner of police (ACP crime), told TOI: "We registered an offence of cyberfraud in Oct, where Milan Darji was the prime accused and was running the racket from Dubai. We found 46 gang members were involved in the racket. There were 1,029 bank accounts involved and transactions worth Rs 197 crore were made. The NCCRP portal showed 1,867 complaints and 214 cyberfraud FIRs where these 1,029 bank accounts were listed. Over the past few months, we arrested 11 of the 46 gang members and booked them under GujCTOC." Those arrested and booked under GujCTOC are Ajay Italiya, Jalpesh Nadiyadara, Vishal Thummar, Hiren Barwaliya, Brijesh Italiya, Ketan Vekariya, Nanjibhai Baraiya, Heet Jasani, Chandres Kakadiya, Dashrath Dhandhaliya and Anil Kheni. The gang leader, Milan Darji, is absconding along with 35 others who are accused in various FIRs. The gang would withdraw cash from Indian banks that have branches in Dubai and convert it into the cryptocurrency USDT to transfer to Chinese gangs.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Time of India
Surat gangster Sajju Kothari arrested again for threatening nephew over loan dispute
Surat: The police on Saturday recovered 23 live catrridges and two country-made pistols form the residence of Yunus Kothari, brother history-sheeter Sajju Kothani, during reconstruction of a crime scene. The police were conducting the inquest regarding the FIR of threats against their nephew, Aquib Kothari. The cartridges are compatible with country-made pistols. The incident unfolded when Sajju and Yunus confronted Aquib over an unpaid loan of Rs 30 lakh. Aquib had borrowed Rs 50 lakh from Sajju's wife, Kausarbanu, over the past few years, and repaid Rs 20 lakh. During the altercation, Sajju allegedly brandished the pistol at Aquib. Aquib's brother, Aftab, alerted the police, leading to the arrest of Sajju and Yunus. A country-made pistol with 10 bullets was recovered from Sajju's are ongoing find out the source of firearms and ammunition. Both brothers have a history of multiple previously booked under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act (GujCTOC) for extortion, was recently released on bail by the Supreme Court with the condition that he must not enter Surat city limits except for court proceedings. Despite this, he visited his brother in Nanpura on Friday while in the city to appear in on Aquib's complaint, the Athwalines police booked the brothers for attempt to commit murder and relevant sections of the Arms Act and Money Laundering commissioner of police, Zone 4, Vijaysingh Gurjar, said, "There are two cases of GujCTOC against Sajju and his gang members. He got bail in both cases from the Supreme Court on the condition that he should not enter the Surat city jurisdiction. He had violated the bail conditions as well."Sajju has been named multiple criminal activities, including gambling, illegal moneylending, and extortion.
Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Indian Express
Released on bail after SC order, Surat ‘gangster' arrested again. This time for threatening nephew
Alleged gangster Sajju Kothari, who was recently released on bail after a Supreme Court order, was arrested again on Friday for his alleged involvement in threatening his nephew to recover pending dues. Along with Sajju, police have also arrested his elder brother, Yunus. Police said the complainant, Akib Arif Kothari (27), who runs a share-trading business and lives in Nanpura, had borrowed Rs 50 lakh from Sajju's wife Kausarbanu a few years ago. Akib claimed while he had repaid her Rs 20 lakh, he had requested for some time to return the remaining amount. Around three months ago, Sajju, who was booked under GUJCTOC (Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act) by Surat police for his alleged involvement in various cases, was granted bail. After walking out of jail, Sajju again started demanding the dues from Akib, said police. He also forcibly took away Akib's SUV – a Thar – and told him that he could take it back after returning the money, police added. On Friday, Akib was having lunch with his wife at his house when Sajju and Yunus turned up armed and demanded the pending dues, said police. After a heated argument, Sajju allegedly fished out a pistol from his pocket and pointed it at Akib. Hearing the commotion, Akib's younger brother Aftab arrived at the spot and made a PCR call. Officers reached the spot and caught Sajju and Yunus. A country-made gun with 10 bullets inside was recovered from Sajju's possession. On the basis of Akib's complaint, Athwalines police booked Sajju and Yunus under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 109(1) (attempt to commit murder), 208(5) (non-attendance in obedience to an order from a public servant), 332(b) ( house-trespass for the purpose of committing an offence), 111 (organised crime), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 351 (2) (intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of peace), 351 (3) (criminal intimidation), and Arms Act sections 25(1)(b), 25(6), and 29 besides Money Laundering Act sections 33, 40, 42(d). Talking to The Indian Express, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 4, Vijaysingh Gurjar said, 'There are two cases of GUJCTOC against Sajju Kothari and his gang members. He got bail in both cases from the Supreme Court on the condition that he should not enter the Surat city jurisdiction. He had violated the bail conditions as well. We are interrogating him to get more details.'
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Indian Express
Gujarat: How a 13-year-old's petition led to probe against seven cops involved in her father's ‘encounter'
A Sessions Court in Dhrangadhra on Friday while upholding the order of Magistrate's Court, directed the Surendranagar district police to register a case against seven police personnel of Bajana police station in connection with the killing of an alleged gangster Hanifkhan Jatmalek (45) and his 14-year-old son Madeenkhan, in a police encounter in 2021. The order came following a petition moved before the Gujarat High Court by Jatmalek's 13-year-old daughter Suhana. The policemen facing investigation are: Police Sub-Inspector Virendrasinh Navalsinh Jadeja, Head Constables Rajeshbhai Mithapara and Kirit Solanki, Constables Shaileshbhai Kathevadiya, Digvijaysinh Zala, Prahladbhai Charmata and Manubhai Fatepara. Case history As per Surendranagar district police sources, over 16 arrest warrants were issued against Gediya village resident Jatmalek, known to be a member of 'Talpatri gang'. Hanifkhan alias Kalo alias Munno Jatmalek and his 20-member gang were reportedly involved in over 75 criminal cases, including highway robbery, thefts and physical assault among others, said Bajana police station sources. Bajana police had also registered cases against Hanifkhan and his gang under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act, 2015 (GUJCTOC) in 2021. At least 17 members of his gang were arrested even as Hanifkhan and two others remained absconding. Recalling the incident, then Police Sub-Inspector of Bajana police station and main accused in the encounter, Virendrasinh Jadeja said, 'We had received information that Hanifkhan had come to his house on November 6, 2021, following which a police team was sent to the spot. Seeing the cops at his doorsteps, Hanifkhan tried to flee but we caught him'. Even as the police were taking away Hanifkhan, some of his relatives and friends tried to obstruct the police action, said Jadeja. 'Hanifkhan fired three rounds at us. We somehow saved ourselves. His relatives and friends in the meanwhile were obstructing the police so that Hanifkhan could escape from the spot. His son Madeen also assaulted the cops with a sharp weapon. The security of the entire seven-member police team was my responsibility… we fired in self defence, during which both Hanifkhan and his son were killed,' Jadeja said further. 'We had also made an entry into the Bajana police station diary about going with six cops to arrest Hanifkhan, before leaving the police station,' he said. At that time, Jadeja had lodged a complaint with Bajana police station against a group of over 30 to 35 people for 'obstructing police from doing their duties' on November 6, 2021, while identifying seven of them. The accused were arrested and were released on bail. Jadeja further added, 'Hanifkhan had terrorised the villagers and they feared him. The criminal cases against him include four cases of assault on a police team.' The police personnel Hailing from Bhachau taluka in Kutch district, Virendrasinh Jadeja who joined police services in 2017 directly as sub-inspector had worked in Surendranagar district and was posted in Bajana police station in mid 2020s. After the alleged encounter, Jadeja was transferred to Surendranagar town's B police station and later to another police station in the district. Since last one-an-a-half month, Jadeja has been posted in the State Monitoring Cell in Gandhinagar, an arm of the Gujarat Police tasked with law enforcement, co-ordination, research and so on. The other accused Rajeshbhai Jivanbhai Mithapara (36) is a posted as a police head constable at Chuda police station (Surendrangar), Shaileshbhai Prahladbhai Kathevadiya (31) is posted as a police constable in Tapi district, Kiritbhai Ganeshbhai Solanki (39) is a head constable at Motor Transport Department, Surendranagar, Digvijaysinh Hardipsinh Zala (36) is a police constable at Muli police station, Surendranagar, Prahladbhai Prabhubhai Charmata (38) is a police constable at Traffic Department, Surendranagar, and Manubhai Govindbhai Fatepara (26) is a police constable at Dasada police station, Surendranagar. Jadeja said, 'We have seen the order of Dhrangadhra Session court. We are deciding the further course of action. We have the right to appeal in upper courts as per the law'. The petitioner Jatmalek's daughter Suhana with the help of her guardian Hanifaben Bismillakhan Jatmalek had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Gujarat High Court in 2022. In the PIL, Suhana had alleged that 'her father was killed in a fake encounter'. 'PSI Jadeja and six other policemen came in plain clothes and started beating her father who was filling diesel in his tractor to go to the field,' she had alleged in her petition. The appellant had prayed that 'a criminal police complaint should be filed against PSI Jadeja and the six other policemen'. Suhanakhan told The Indian Express, 'We are partly satisfied with the Sessions Court order, but we want that the accused should face murder trial and they should be strictly punished'. 'The purpose is that they should not repeat such an act in future. If they are left untouched they will again commit the same act. I have lost my father and my elder brother in the fake police encounter. My mother is a housewife and there is no breadwinner in the family. We are surviving on what was left behind by my father. My mother works in agricultural fields,' she said. 'Earlier, I had a dream to become a police officer, but after the fake encounter, I have started hating the cops… they are cruel and brutal. I have decided to become a lawyer and fight for innocent people who become victims of police torture.' Court order A bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi, on July 26, 2024, had passed an order stating, 'The petitioner namely, the daughter and sister of two deceased is at liberty to approach the Court of the concerned Magistrate, by moving an application under Section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (that empowers a magistrate to order a police investigation into a cognisable offence when a complaint is filed before them). On such an application being filed along with the copy of this order, the concerned Magistrate shall make necessary inquiry and do the needful strictly, in accordance with law.' The order further stated: 'In the instant case, it is to be noted that the conduct of the police authority is most unfortunate. It is the duty of every police officer to carry out his/her functions in a public spirited manner. They (police) must act in a fair and impartial manner. If the information given clearly mentions commission of the cognizance offence, there is no other option to register First Information Report (FIR) forthwith.' 'The concerned Magistrate shall make necessary inquiry and do the needful strictly, in accordance with law. It is clarified herein that delay in approaching the Court invoking jurisdiction under Section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure shall not be a reason to reject the complaint of the petitioner,' stated the court in the order. 'It is further clarified that the concerned Magistrate shall make an independent inquiry without being influenced by any of the Magisterial Report or the report of the DSP, submitted before this Court in the present petition,' stated the order. On April 17, 2025, Suhanakhan filed an application with the Surendranagar Dhrangadhra-Patdi Judicial Magistrate First Class Court of Judge RR Zimba. After hearing the complainant, Judge Zimba passed an order on the same day stating that Bajana police should register a case against seven cops, In the order, the JMFC judge stated that, 'the investigation should be carried out by a deputy superintendent of police rank officer, and a report should be submitted to the court.' On April 28, this year, PSI Jadeja along with the six other policemen filed a revision application with the Fourth Additional Sessions Court of Judge N H Vasveliya in Dhrangadhra, challenging the JMFC court order. Judge Vasveliya on Friday passed an order rejecting the application of the order upheld the JMFC decision and directed it be sent to Bajana police station for compliance. Observations on government pleader In the order, the court observed, 'A government pleader's role is to represent the State in court and not to block the initiation of criminal proceedings. The government pleader's role is to ensure that justice is served, offenders are prosecuted and the investigation is not hindered. There may be rare exceptions, such as when a complaint is frivolous or lacks merit, but in such cases, the proper course of action would be for the public prosecutor to seek the dismissal of the FIR through appropriate legal channels, not to obstruct its filing. Under this position, the filing of instant revision by AGP is not maintainable.' Thus the Sessions Court called the JMFC court order 'legal, correct and proper'. The order stated, 'The Trial Court has issued show cause notice to the police inspector, Bajana police station for not registering the FIR as per the order. Under these circumstances, it is found justifiable to direct the concerned police station to comply with the order…' PSI Jadeja's prosecution lawyer Additional Government Pleader V H Bhatt told The Indian Express, 'The Sessions Court of Judge N H Vasveliya did not accept our arguments and passed an order against my clients. We have written to Surendranagar District Government Pleader M P Sabhani to challenge the order in higher courts.' What is next? Bajana police inspector M B Bamba said that they had started collecting the documents of the case. 'We will send the papers to the director general of police (DGP) and Gujarat Home Department, to grant us permission to register an offence, acting on the Sessions Court order. Once we get the permission, we will register a criminal case against Jadeja and others while launching an investigation into the case.'
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Time of India
History-sheeter who contested 2019 Lok Sabha election booked under anti-terror law
Rajkot: Dhiren Kariya , a listed bootlegger and history-sheeter who had been a candidate during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, along with seven associates, has been booked under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act (GujCTOC) at Junagadh City C Division police station. The complaint against the gang was lodged by sub-inspector of the local crime branch (LCB), Jatin Patel, against Kariya and his accomplices Uday Dave, Sameer Kodiyatar, Vipul alias Bhupat alias Kadi Sutreja, Bhavesh alias Bhavlo Bandhiya, Ajay Kodiyatar, Kirit alias Kido Chelana and Bhupat Kodiyatar. According to police, the accused formed a gang to commit serious offences over the past decade in multiple districts such as Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Rajkot Rural, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Morbi, and Gandhinagar. Their alleged crimes include murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, violations under the Arms Act, physical assault and large-scale smuggling of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL). The gang allegedly amassed vast illicit wealth through these illegal activities. The complaint alleges that Kariya, 19th on Gujarat's Top 25 list of bootleggers, has been operating a criminal syndicate for years, smuggling IMFL from Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab. The gang tampered with engine and chassis numbers of the vehicles used for trafficking and forged transport and GST bills to facilitate illegal imports. Police said Kariya alone is accused in 57 criminal cases. He was also booked in 2020 by the special cell of Delhi Police for fraud, criminal conspiracy, passport violations and forgery.
