Latest news with #VikramSingh
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Manjha Sellers Keep It Going Despite Ban
New Delhi: Investigations into recent seizures of Chinese manjha revealed a worrying surge in the covert sale of this banned and dangerous kite string across various markets in the city, especially as Independence Day approached—a time when kite flying reaches a high. Despite the ban, sellers found new ways every year to evade law enforcement authorities while continuing the trade. During the recent crackdowns, police found that Chinese manjha was being sold discreetly using code words and through advance bookings. The string was delivered to buyers at pre-decided locations to avoid detection. According to police sources, sellers communicated with potential buyers through encrypted messaging apps or platforms like WhatsApp. In some cases, specific code names were used to refer to Chinese manjha in online chats. So far, Delhi Police has seized over 1,500 reels of this lethal thread. "After crackdowns begin every year, sellers often shift operations online. They use code words and encrypted apps to communicate. We've seen cases where buyers and sellers interact and decide drop-off points through messages to stay anonymous," said an investigator. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The investigator also revealed that deliveries were made cautiously. "Before fulfilling an order, the supplier often conducts a recce of the buyer to confirm his identity and ensure that he isn't part of a police trap. Only after verifying that the person is genuine, the delivery is made." Each Chinese manjha spool costs anywhere between Rs 700 and Rs 2,000, depending on demand and availability. Buyers are often asked to pay extra for delivery. One of the crackdowns occurred in June when a team led by inspector Sunil Kumar Kalkhande, under the supervision of DCP (crime) Vikram Singh, found 1,170 reels of Chinese manjha from Kamla Market and Jeevan Park in Uttam Nagar. Two persons were arrested. In separate operations, 325 reels were seized from northeast Delhi's Nand Nagri and 31 from Gokalpuri. In June, a youth on a scooter was killed in north Delhi when his throat was slit by a Chinese manjha on Rani Jhansi Road in north Delhi's Bara Hindu Rao. The deceased was identified as 22-year-old Yash Goswami, a spare parts business owner. In another incident, a two-wheeler rider was injured after his face came in contact with a kite string on the Shastri Park flyover in east Delhi.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Gang running fake loan, policy scam busted; 11 arrested
Noida: The Noida police on Tuesday busted a gang in Sector 16 that allegedly offered loans at zero percent interest rate and also sold insurance policies to secure the amount, officers said, adding that they have arrested 11 members of the group who duped thousands in the last three years. Police said the suspects had been selling policies after scamming people for the past three years by buying personal data from local vendors. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo) To gain trust, the suspects sold policies of four major insurance firms and received 40 to 50% commission on each policy worth around ₹50,000 to 3 lakh. Their arrests followed a tip off about such a call centre operating from Sector 16, said officers. 'On Monday, we arrested 11 people identified as Vikram Singh, Aman Kumar, Keshav Kumar Jha, Arman Chaudhary, all residents of Ghaziabad; Mohit Kumar, Firoz Khan, Rahul Kumar, Akshay Mishra, Pankaj Singh, all residents of Delhi; and Rahul Singh from Agra and Divya Singh from Noida,' said Noida's deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Yamuna Prasad, adding that Vikram headed the call centre whose director Gaurav Joshi and his wife Neha are on the run. Explaining their modus operandi, the DCP said they contacted people after buying their personal data and offered loans from ₹3 to 30 lakh at 0% interest rate. 'If their target expressed interest in the loan, they asked them to insure the amount before proceeding further. On the pretext of insuring the money, they sold policies of four genuine major insurance companies and received 40 to 50% commission in return,' the DCP added. Police said the suspects had been selling policies after scamming people for the past three years by buying personal data from local vendors. They operated from call centre, selling insurance policies under fake lucrative deals. 'We have found data of over 100,000 people in physical and electronic form. They scammed thousands of people, and it was revealed that the turnover of their call centre was around ₹8 crore,' said a senior police officer involved in the investigation. Police have recovered 43 landline, 21 mobile phones, five laptops, 61 SIM cards, and 10 files containing data on over 2,000 pages. A case under sections 318(4) (cheating), 319(2) (cheating by personation), and 61(2) (criminalconspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act was registered against the arrested suspects at Phase 1 police station, and efforts are underway to nab the directors, said officers.
Hindustan Times
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi Police faces a new reality on licences
The Licensing Branch of the Delhi Police is now left with fewer responsibilities after the Delhi government eliminated the requirement of police clearance for eight key trades in the Capital. The unit, which traces its origins to the 1860s—when the British enforced the Serais Act—still plays a key role in important sectors, despite having its responsibilities diminished. Since 2019, the police received over 52,000 applications from restaurants, hotels and other establishments, but rejected 36,900 of them, reflecting a rejection rate of over 70%. (Representative photo) On June 23, Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta announced a regulatory overhaul, revoking Delhi Police's powers to issue a no-objection certificate for seven trade categories: amusement parks, hotels/guest houses/lodges, restaurants, swimming pools, discotheques, video game parlours and auditoriums. On July 1, the Delhi Police removed these services from its website. Senior police officers confirmed that the move, at the lieutenant governor's order, has now been implemented. The website now only has the categories of arms, explosives, cinema and press licence. Last Friday, the licensing of cinema halls and theatres, earlier governed under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, by the Delhi Police, will now fall under the purview of a district-level committee chaired by the district magistrate (DM) or deputy commissioner (DC) concerned. Police have been asked to disengage from issuing licences under the Cinematograph Act. Vikram Singh, former DGP of Uttar Pradesh, said the move has diminished the authority of the Delhi Police. 'Maybe the government should recall its orders. It's not just a question of power or authority; it's a question of gaining more contact, more channels of information, and relevant and reliable information through hotels, restaurants, discos, parks, and other venues frequented by anti-national elements and criminals/gangsters. If the police have some control over these places, it would be in the interest of law and order,' he said. Evolution, through the years Senior Delhi Police officers said licensing has been a key part of policing in Delhi since the 1860s. In 1867, the British introduced the Serais Act, which gave powers to district magistrates to register and inspect all new and old 'Sarais' (inns or establishments) in the city and ensure maintenance by their proprietors and owners. A copy of the act, accessed by HT, states that keepers of Sarais, housing persons and cattle, must inform the police in case of death, infection or contagion at the establishment. A retired police officer who once served as the Licensing Branch's head, told HT: 'We don't have many records from the 1860s, as it was the time when police started lodging FIRs. There was no licensing office or branch. Only a few police constables would help DM and civic authorities inspect lodges.' A major overhaul in the Licensing Branch was made post-Independence, in the 1950s, with the passage of the Arms Act, 1959, and the Cinematograph Act, 1952. Both these acts necessitated the police to oversee trade practices related to arms, ammunition and films. In 1966-67, the Khosla Commission report (set up to oversee problems of policemen) helped reorganise Delhi Police, and eventually led to the passage of the Delhi Police Act in 1978. It brought certain powers, which were earlier with the DM, under the remit of the commissioner of police. Chapter 4 of the Delhi Police Act mentioned 'power to make regulations for regulating traffic and for preservation of order in public places…' as a provision for the Delhi Police, with regards to 'licensing or controlling places of public amusement or public entertainment'. After 1978, the Delhi Police was 'actively' called to inspect lodges, hotels, inns and other trade establishments. The officer cited above said, 'The change emerged from a need for security and law and order concerns. The change started with 10-20 officials, usually low-ranking.' In 1978, a separate department and office were set up in south Delhi's Defence Colony, headed by a joint commissioner or additional commissioner of police. Starting with 10-20 staffers in the 1970s, the present office has more than 150 staffers, comprising officials of ranks of special commissioner, joint commissioner, deputy commissioner and assistant commissioners, among other police officers. Licensing powers were extended to amusement parks, eateries, auditoriums, cinema houses, public theatres and any event venues. Until recently, three ACPs overlooked the inspection and regulation of licences provided to eateries, hotels/motels and amusement parks. The department is now planning to change the roles of its senior officers to reflect the change in their responsibilities. Stringent processing According to Delhi Police data accessed by HT, the Licensing Branch has the highest rejection rate for trade licences among other departments (MCD, DFS, DPCC…). Since 2019, the police received over 52,000 applications from restaurants, hotels and other establishments, but rejected 36,900 of them, reflecting a rejection rate of over 70%. Police said most of the applicants reapplied within three months and were able to secure approvals by fixing deficiencies, such as fixing ventilation, windows, exit spaces, fire equipment, lighting, and electrical issues. In contrast, the Delhi Fire Services had a rejection rate of 11.5% in the same period, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee had a rejection rate of 35.3% and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi 50%. A senior police officer currently deployed with the Licensing Branch said, 'We rejected applications only after inspections. Police inspections are mandatory to see if the establishment has been involved in illegal activities. We check if the establishment is housing criminal/anti-social elements, providing illegal alcohol, facilitating drug activities, or has incorrect rental or property documents. These metrics are also important as during the Independence and Republic Day (security preparations).' Police said the upcoming Independence Day would be the first time in 50 years that the Delhi Police did not have registers of all licensed and offending trade establishments in the city. In the 2005-10 period, police said the Licensing Branch was also overseeing CCTV installation at all establishments, especially the ones operating at night. 'This ensured women's safety and the safety of staff and others. We also check health and liquor licences since they are important for any hotel or eatery. Our licensing teams would also check if each establishment had a DVR storage of 30 days at least…' the second officer said.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Woman attempts self-immolation over ‘shoddy' probe in murder case
Lucknow: A Barabanki-based woman attempted self-immolation in front of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Thursday afternoon, alleging wrongful arrest in a recent murder case. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The protest was foiled by alert police personnel . According to inspector Vikram Singh , Urmila Devi was seen pouring petrol on herself near the high-security assembly area. Sub-inspector Harish Singh, along with women constables Sandhya Singh, Reshma and Shyamli rushed to restrain the woman before she could light a match. SHO Singh said the family claimed that the protest was triggered by their frustration over the alleged mishandling of the investigation into the murder of Arvind Lodhi, a farm caretaker, who was found dead in a hut. Ankit, the complainant, alleged that his brother Santosh and Santosh's friend Brijesh were wrongly jailed despite being in at the time of the incident. TNN
Mint
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
OTT releases this week: New movies, web series to watch; Mandala Murders, Rangeen, Sarzameen, Happy Gilmore 2 & more
OTT releases this week: A number of new movies and web series will be available on OTT this weekend on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, JioHotstar and SonyLIV. Let's have a look at the ones that are available to watch online. Plot: Set in the eerie town of Charandaspur, this web series revolves around a series of ritualistic murders marked with strange symbols, which trigger a police investigation. During the 6‑episode thriller, detective Rea Thomas and disgraced ex-cop Vikram Singh will discover that the killings are linked to an ancient secret society obsessed with mandalas and dark prophecies. Cast: Vaani Kapoor, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Surveen Chawla, Shriya Pilgaonkar Plot: Hitmakers is a high-energy, six‑episode docuseries reality show. It offers a behind‑the‑scenes look at songwriting camps, where 12 elite songwriters and producers gather in luxurious locations like The Bahamas and Mexico. Their mission: to create hit songs under intense time pressure Participants: Jenna Andrews, Tommy Brown, Trey Campbell, Ferras, Harv, Nova Wav, Ben Johnson, Stephen Kirk, JHart, Whitney Phillips, Sevyn Streeter, and more Plot: In the movie, an ageing hockey-turned-golf legend, Happy Gilmore, is pulled back into the spotlight when his estranged son, a hot-headed amateur, enters the pro golf circuit. Forced to coach him, Happy faces old rivals, new challenges, and a shot at redemption on the green. Cast: Adam Sandler, Margaret Qualley, Julie Bowen, Ben Stiller, Sunny Sandler 24 July Language: Indonesian 24 July Language: Japanese | Anime Plot: The web series revolves around a straight-laced husband, who, after discovering his wife's betrayal, dives into the hidden world of paid intimacy as a twisted act of revenge. Clueless and out of his depth, he stumbles through misadventures that mix awkward hilarity with raw self-discovery, forcing him to question his notions of love, manhood, and morality. Cast: Viineet Kumar Siingh, Rajshri Deshpande, Taaruk Rainaail Plot: Sarzameen is a gripping patriotic thriller set against the intense backdrop of Kashmir. It centres on an army officer who is dedicated to his duty and willing to make personal sacrifices for the nation at all costs, and a son who joins terrorist ranks. This is a chilling father-son showdown in which loyalty to one's country clashes with the bonds of family. Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kajol, Ibrahim Ali Khan
