Latest news with #Zangi
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Cops hit encryption wall in Punjab's drug war; secretive app Zangi shielding supply chain.
Ludhiana: Where there's a pill, there's a way. Police say a surge in drug arrests has failed to net the major suppliers, as traffickers turn to encrypted mobile apps that erase all traces of communication. More than 800 people have been arrested in Ludhiana over the past five years under Punjab's anti-drug campaign, 'Yudh Nashey Virudh'. But despite 602 new cases registered in the past five months and a string of seizures involving heroin, opium, poppy husk and pharmaceuticals, the city's police admit the "big fish" remain at large. Police commissioner Swapan Sharma said traffickers are increasingly using Zangi, a mobile application once favoured by hardened criminals in high-profile cases. The app requires no phone number or email ID, instead generating a random 10-digit code for communication. Messages vanish once delivered, and no data is stored on servers, making tracking virtually impossible. "In about half the cases, we traced the forward and backward linkages of drug peddlers," Sharma told reporters. "But the main suppliers have become techno-savvy. With apps like Zangi, tracing them is extremely difficult." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Female Athletes Right Now Undo Officers said traffickers now source much of their supply from Delhi rather than across the Pakistan border, transporting contraband in private cars and on trains. Experts warn that cracking such apps will require stronger cyber-forensics, international cooperation with app developers and greater legal tools to demand access to encrypted data. Unlike conventional wiretaps, end-to-end encrypted platforms erase communication history almost instantly, leaving no digital footprint for investigators. This makes routine surveillance ineffective and pushes law enforcement into a race against time, where undercover operations, human intelligence and cutting-edge technology become the only means to penetrate trafficking networks. Police maintain that while the arrests disrupt street-level networks, Punjab's drug trade is increasingly shielded by technology, leaving investigators one step behind the masterminds. Cybersecurity analysts say law enforcement can fight back against encryption-heavy apps like Zangi with a mix of digital and investigative tools. They recommend metadata monitoring, since even when messages vanish, connection times and device fingerprints can reveal patterns. AI-driven traffic analysis can be another solution, since machine learning can spot suspicious clusters of encrypted communication. Device forensics is also essential in this case. Seizing phones and extracting data before it self-deletes remains the most effective tactic. Cross-border cooperation can also be tried, since agreements with app developers and foreign agencies can pressure platforms to share security backdoors. Digital sleuthing must be combined with informants and undercover work to expose supply chains. Call it human-intelligence pairing. If the supply chains stay intact, the human impact will be unimaginable. MSID:: 123364419 413 | Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
MCOCA invoked in kidnapping of alleged drug trafficker linked to D Company
MUMBAI: The Mumbai Crime Branch has invoked stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the kidnapping case of alleged drug trafficker Sajid Electricwala, citing his captors' links to the D Company network, founded and controlled by Dawood Ibrahim. MCOCA invoked in kidnapping of alleged drug trafficker linked to D Company According to investigators, MCOCA has been applied against ten accused, who are suspected to have worked for Anwar Shaikh — the brother of underworld fugitive Chhota Shakeel. Police allege the accused ran a synthetic drug racket manufacturing Mephedrone, popularly known as MD, under Shaikh's direction. The case stems from a June 16 operation, when Electricwala was rescued from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh after being allegedly held captive for nearly a month. Police say he was abducted for failing to return ₹50 lakh taken from the gang and for not delivering a promised consignment of Mephedrone. The accused — Sarwar Maqsood Khan, Yunush Tewarpal, Mehtab Ali, Santosh Waghmare, Rahul Sawant, Satish Kadu, and Taufeeque Sandy — were arrested in June. Three others, Mohammad Hussain Farid Khan, Jeetendra Thakur, and Vijay Kale, were apprehended in July. Investigators claim Khan was the key link to Anwar Shaikh, who allegedly funded the drug manufacturing operation. Officials also revealed the gang used the encrypted messaging application Zangi to communicate. The app offers 'military-grade' encryption, does not require a phone number for registration, and leaves no saved message trail — a feature that, police say, made it nearly impossible to intercept their conversations. 'We have applied MCOCA in this case and will seek further custody of the accused under the provisions of the Act,' said a senior crime branch officer.
Hindustan Times
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Himachal scholarship scam: HC dismisses bail pleas of former CBI DSP, ED officer
The Punjab and Haryana high court has dismissed bail pleas of former CBI DSP Balbir Singh and Shimla enforcement directorate assistant director Vishal Deep, in the scholarship scam reported in Himachal Pradesh. The CBI had submitted that both the petitioners are senior law enforcement officers, entrusted with investigating a huge financial scam but abused their position for personal gain. (File) 'This court is conscious of the settled principle that bail is the rule and jail is the exception. However, in cases involving public trust, corruption, and institutional breach by law enforcing officers, such exceptions must be tempered by the imperative to preserve the integrity of the process and prevent any likelihood of tampering with evidence or witnesses, especially when the complainants are yet to be examined,' the bench of justice Manjari Nehru Kaul said while dismissing the pleas. The bribery allegations first surfaced on December 22, 2024, when the Chandigarh CBI registered two FIRs based on complaints lodged by Bhupinder Kumar Sharma, chairman of Dev Bhumi Group of Institutions, Una, and Rajneesh Bansal, chairman of Himalayan Group of Professional Institutions, Sirmaur. Both complainants accused Vishal Deep and other ED officials of 'demanding bribes for not arresting them' in connection with cases registered against their institutions by the ED. Vishal Deep was arrested, followed by Balbir Singh, on January 10. Deep had argued that the entire case rests on circumstantial and documentary evidence, and no bribe money was recovered from the petitioner. On the other hand, Singh had argued that he was not named in the FIR at the initial stage and was later implicated based on an alleged audio conversation, which is inconclusive. The CBI had submitted that both the petitioners are senior law enforcement officers, entrusted with investigating a huge financial scam but abused their position for personal gain. Deep directly demanded illegal gratification from the complainants under assumed identities (such as 'Rahim'), using an encrypted communication application like Zangi to conceal his involvement. Further, two vehicles used in the crime—one registered in the name of Vishal Deep and another in the name of his brother Vikas Deep—were recovered and tested positive for phenolphthalein, corroborating the operation/trap laid by the prosecution and the subsequent recoveries of the bribe, the CBI submitted. As for the role of Balbir Singh, it was argued that his role is not peripheral and he coordinated communication, facilitated meetings, and deliberately availed leave on the days crucial to the conspiracy. His presence is further corroborated through CDRs and CCTV footage from meetings at Hotel Lalit, Chandigarh. The complexity and premeditated nature of the offence are further demonstrated by the coordinated use of technology, assumed identities and recovery of ₹1.25 crores from co-accused Vikas Deep (brother of Vishal Deep), the CBI had told the court. The court observed that the use of encrypted messaging and the strategic use of personal and vehicles belonging to family members of Vishal Deep, for carrying out such operations, prima facie underscores the deliberate and strategically engineered nature of the alleged offence. 'The fact that the petitioners engaged with the accused persons outside of official channels and created an environment conducive to illegal exchanges—even if some parts of the trap did not materialise into immediate arrest—does not exonerate them at this stage,' the court said, dismissing the plea.
Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Indian Express
HC denies bail to ED, CBI officers in bribery case: ‘grave abuse of official power'
Holding that allegations against them represent a 'grave abuse of official power', the Punjab and Haryana High Court denied regular bail to former Enforcement Directorate assistant director Vishal Deep and Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) Deputy SP Balbir Singh, both accused of demanding and facilitating bribes from accused in the Himachal Pradesh scholarship scam. Dismissing three connected bail petitions, a bench of Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul held that the allegations warranted continued custody of the accused to preserve the integrity of the trial process. The court noted that although the prosecution's case involved circumstantial and digital evidence, it nevertheless revealed 'a premeditated and well-orchestrated conspiracy' that exploited the institutional positions of the two senior officers. 'The allegations against petitioner Vishal Deep of demanding illegal gratification in exchange for manipulating outcome of the investigation and influencing arrests strike at the heart of the institutional integrity,' the court observed. It added that the use of encrypted apps like Zangi, assumed identities such as 'Rahim', and involvement of family-owned vehicles painted a picture of 'deliberate and strategically engineered' misconduct. The FIRs in the case, both dated December 22, 2024, stemmed from complaints by Bhupinder Kumar Sharma, chairman of Dev Bhumi Group of Institutions, Una, and Rajneesh Bansal, chairman of Himalayan Group of Professional Institutions, Sirmaur. They alleged that bribes of Rs 55 lakh and Rs 60 lakh, respectively, were demanded to avoid arrest in the ongoing ED and CBI investigations into the alleged scholarship scam. Vishal Deep, posted in Shimla at the time as the ED investigating officer, was accused of demanding bribes while posing under false names. A joint trap was laid following the complaints. The CBI claimed that two vehicles, one registered in Vishal Deep's name and another in his brother Vikas Deep's name, were found with traces of phenolphthalein, a chemical used in trap operations. Additionally, Rs 1.25 crore was recovered from Vikas Deep, further strengthening the prosecution's case, the court noted. The petitioners had argued that no direct recovery was made from them, and that the case relied solely on circumstantial and documentary evidence. Senior advocate Vinod Ghai, appearing for Vishal Deep, argued that his client had been falsely implicated and had already been granted bail in the second FIR. He submitted that 'further incarceration would serve no useful purpose' since the chargesheet had been filed on March 15 and no charges had yet been framed. Counsel for Balbir Singh contended that his client was not named in the initial FIR and was being implicated based on an allegedly inconclusive audio recording. Balbir Singh also cited his serious medical condition, including a renal transplant and chronic kidney disease, and stressed that he had cooperated with the investigation while out on interim medical bail. However, the court was unconvinced, stating that Balbir Singh's role 'went beyond passive facilitation'. His alleged coordination of meetings, selective leave from duty on critical dates, and presence corroborated by CDRs and CCTV footage 'indicate active participation in the execution of the conspiracy,' the court held. On the medical plea, the court took on record a report from PGIMER, Chandigarh dated July 2, which stated that Balbir Singh's cardiac and renal status was 'currently stable and within normal limits'. It directed the jail authorities to ensure follow-ups and treatment as advised but did not find medical grounds sufficient for bail. While acknowledging that 'bail is the rule and jail is the exception', the court underscored that this principle must be balanced against the need to protect public trust and prevent potential tampering of evidence, particularly since the complainants had yet to testify. 'Such exceptions must be tempered by the imperative to preserve the integrity of the process,' the court said, refusing to extend bail to either petitioner.
Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Indian Express
HC denies bail to ED, CBI officers in Himachal scholarship scam bribery case
In a scathing order, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday denied regular bail to senior Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer Vishal Deep and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Deputy SP Balbir Singh, both accused of demanding and facilitating bribes from accused in the Himachal Pradesh scholarship scam. Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul dismissed three connected bail petitions, holding that the allegations represented a grave abuse of official power and warranted continued custody to preserve the integrity of the trial process. The court noted that although the prosecution's case involved circumstantial and digital evidence, it nevertheless revealed 'a premeditated and well-orchestrated conspiracy' that exploited the institutional positions of the two senior officers. 'The allegations against petitioner Vishal Deep of demanding illegal gratification in exchange for manipulating outcome of the investigation and influencing arrests strike at the heart of the institutional integrity,' the court observed. It added that the use of encrypted apps like Zangi, assumed identities such as 'Rahim', and involvement of family-owned vehicles painted a picture of 'deliberate and strategically engineered' misconduct. The FIRs in the case, both dated December 22, 2024, stemmed from complaints by Bhupinder Kumar Sharma, chairman of Dev Bhumi Group of Institutions, Una, and Rajneesh Bansal, chairman of Himalayan Group of Professional Institutions, Sirmaur. They alleged that bribes of Rs 55 lakh and Rs 60 lakh respectively were demanded to avoid arrest in the ongoing ED and CBI investigations into the scholarship scam. Vishal Deep, posted in Shimla at the time as the ED investigating officer, was accused of demanding bribes while posing under false names. A joint trap was laid following the complaints. The CBI claimed that two vehicles, one registered in Vishal Deep's name and another in his brother Vikas Deep's name, were found with traces of phenolphthalein, a chemical used in trap operations. Additionally, Rs 1.25 crore was recovered from Vikas Deep, further tightening the prosecution's case, the court noted. The petitioners had argued that no direct recovery was made from them, and that the case relied solely on circumstantial and documentary evidence. Senior advocate Vinod Ghai, appearing for Vishal Deep, argued that his client had been falsely implicated and had already been granted bail in the second FIR. He submitted that 'further incarceration would serve no useful purpose' since the chargesheet had been filed on March 15 and no charges had yet been framed. Counsel for Balbir Singh contended that his client was not named in the initial FIR and was being implicated based on an allegedly inconclusive audio recording. Singh also cited his serious medical condition, including a renal transplant and chronic kidney disease, and stressed that he had cooperated with the investigation while out on interim medical bail. However, the court was unconvinced, stating that Balbir Singh's role 'went beyond passive facilitation'. His alleged coordination of meetings, selective leave from duty on critical dates, and presence corroborated by CDRs and CCTV footage 'indicate active participation in the execution of the conspiracy,' the judge held. On the medical plea, the court took on record a report from PGIMER Chandigarh dated July 2, which stated that Balbir Singh's cardiac and renal status was 'currently stable and within normal limits'. It directed the jail authorities to ensure follow-ups and treatment as advised but did not find medical grounds sufficient for bail. While acknowledging that 'bail is the rule and jail is the exception', the court underscored that this principle must be balanced against the need to protect public trust and prevent potential tampering of evidence, particularly since the complainants had yet to testify. 'Such exceptions must be tempered by the imperative to preserve the integrity of the process,' the court said, refusing to extend bail to either petitioner.
