Latest news with #Vaghela
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Pedalling against the odds: Rajkot's 62-year-old cycling inspiration
Rajkot: In an age where most long-distance cyclists rely on advanced geared bicycles to ease the strain of the road, 62-year-old Gajendrasinh Vaghela of Rajkot is rewriting the narrative—one pedal stroke at a time. While geared cycles dominate the world of endurance cycling for their mechanical advantage, Vaghela sticks firmly to his trusted non-geared bicycle. Whether it's a daily errand or a multi-day expedition, his unwavering companion is a simple cycle, powered entirely by sheer will and strong legs. Cycling has been a part of Vaghela's life since childhood, but retirement has only deepened his bond. Today, he rides 20 to 30 kilometers a day—not for medals or recognition, but to fetch groceries, visit friends and relatives, and stay active. "I use a normal cycle and even compete with those who use geared cycles," he proudly says. "My legs are my power—like for cricketers, their bat is their power." Since 2021, Vaghela has clocked an astonishing 30,000 km on his cycle, joining friends from his local cycling club on adventurous expeditions. He has pedalled to Mata no Madh in Kutch (330 km), completed the arduous Girnar Parikrama multiple times, and ridden from Junagadh to Porbandar (105 km) —all without the help of gears. But his endurance isn't limited to the saddle. Vaghela has also participated in every Rajkot marathon since 2016, consistently demonstrating his fitness and determination. Before retirement, he served in the legal department of a bank. Today, he finds joy in passing on his values to the next generation, teaching his grandchildren the importance of health and fitness—on two wheels, of course.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Time of India
Two rare star tortoises seized from Grant Rd home; 1 booked
Mumbai: Forest officials, accompanied by activists from PAWS-Mumbai, Amma Care Foundation, and OIPA, recently raided a Grant Road flat and seized two Indian star tortoises from Vinay Vaghela (57). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As Indian star tortoise is a protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and it is a crime to either poach or keep them as pets, Vaghela was booked under the relevant sections of the Act. He was produced before a local court, which sent him to three days of forest department custody. The raid was conducted by range forest officer (Wildlife) Mumbai Shilpa Shigwan, honorary wildlife warden Sunish Subramanian Kunju, round officer Sanjay Giri, forest guard Rakesh Patil, and staff under the guidance of deputy conservator of forests (Wildlife) Thane Akshay Gajbhiye and assistant conservator of forests (Wildlife) Manohar Divekar. Following the raid at the Grant Road residence, two more star tortoises were seized after questioning a pet shop owner, said Kunju. — Vijay Singh
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Time of India
Bangladeshi mom to be deported, child to stay with Indian father
Vadodara: With whom will the child born to a Bangladeshi woman who was living illegally in Vadodara stay? District police detained a Bangladeshi woman who was married to a man from Padra taluka. The couple has a six-year-old child born here and with his mother being deported, there is uncertainty over the child's future. "The woman will be deported along with others as she is an illegal migrant from Bangladesh," said Rohan Anand, district superintendent of police (DSP) (rural), Vadodara. According to police, Vikram Vaghela went to the Chandola area in Ahmedabad 15 years ago to find work. He got into a relationship with a young woman who was an illegal Bangladeshi migrant. "They got married but didn't get their marriage registered. After some years, Vaghela, who is a labourer, shifted back to Bhoj village in Padra with his wife and the couple had a child. No one in Vaghela's family knew that the woman was Bangladeshi. He told everyone that she was a resident of Chandola," a police official said. Four days ago, 30 Bangladeshis fled from Chandola during the demolition drive and arrived at Vaghela's home in Padra as they knew the couple. Police got a tip-off about them and reached Bhoj village on May 1. All of them, including Vaghela's wife, were detained by police. "It was then that we learned about the family and the child. As of now, the child is with the father. But he will have to apply for citizenship of the child," a police officer added. "The woman will have to apply for a visa to return to India after she is deported. She won't be able to take the child along as he isn't a Bangladeshi citizen," the police officer added.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Man arrested for cheating 178 of Rs 3.38cr
Surat: Chowk Bazar police arrested a man for allegedly cheating 178 investors of Rs 3.38 crore. The accused, Nilesh Jadav, opened an investment and real estate firm and lured people with promises of good returns. He collected money from them but stopped giving them returns in April 2024. According a complaint by Chetan Vaghela, Jadav owned a franchise of LKP Securities and Vaghela had his trading account with them in 2012. In 2020, Jadav told Vaghela that he opened a new firm named Nilesh Investment and Share Broking and Real Estate. Jadav also offered him a job, which Vaghela accepted. Jadav instructed Vaghela to bring people who wanted to invest in a scheme with 1.5% monthly return. Vaghela started with a Rs 60,000 investment in the firm. Vaghela's 178 friends and relatives, including Chandresh Rana, Vinod Rana, and Jayesh Rana, invested crores with the firm since 2020. Some of them also received returns. However, Jadav stopped giving returns in April 2024. When Vaghela's relatives raised the issue with him, he told them that Jadav would provide three months' returns together. Jadav also lured other investors with cheap apartments in his real estate projects and issued them share certificates. As he did not return the money as assured, Vaghela and other investors contacted Chowk Bazar police and filed a complaint on Tuesday. Inspector N G Chaudhary said: "We have nabbed Jadav after receiving the complaint. We are investigating if Jadav has cheated more people. Apart from BNS, we have also applied sections of the Gujarat Protection of Interest of Depositors Act in the case."
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Time of India
Massive demolition drive in Ahmedabad against illegal Bangladeshi settlements
AHMEDABAD: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation initiated a clearance operation near Chandola lake on Tuesday to remove unauthorised Bangladeshi occupants. Joint CP (Crime), Sharad Singhal, confirmed that numerous illegal Bangladeshi nationals had established residence in the area. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad The police official indicated that "Siyasatnagar Bangal Vaas" served as a settlement where most Bangladeshi intruders resided. Following a survey by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation that identified unauthorised structures, the demolition operation commenced. The authorities deployed 50 JCBs for the operation, supported by 2000 police personnel to maintain order in the vicinity. "There was a Siyasatnagar Bangal Vaas where a majority of Bangladeshis used to stay. AMC conducted a survey in which it was found that illegal construction was done. A demolition drive is underway. A total of 50 JCBs are working here, and around 2,000 police personnel are deployed here", the police official said. In a significant state-wide operation targeting unauthorised immigration, seven undocumented Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended by the Umargam Police, according to a police official. During a media interaction, Valsad Superintendent of Police (SP) Karanraj Vaghela stated that the apprehended individuals would undergo interrogation, followed by initiation of their deportation procedures. "Workers of a garment factory were questioned and six men and a woman were detained. They are Bangladeshis. They went to Nepal from Bangladesh and then entered India illegally via West Bengal. They will be questioned and then the process of deporting them will begin," Vaghela said, Vaghela said. On April 27, Vadodara Police detained over 500 individuals suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals, according to officials. The police commissioner of Vadodara, Narsingh Komar, stated that authorities had "intercepted" more than 500 suspicious persons and were currently verifying their documentation. Komar further confirmed that amongst those detained, five persons were identified as citizens of Bangladesh. "A special drive is being carried out in Vadodara to identify and arrest illegal Bangladeshi nationals. Police have intercepted more than 500 such suspects, and their document verification is underway. Five of them have been confirmed to be Bangladeshi nationals," Narsingh Komar said.
