Latest news with #Zirakpur-based
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tech support scam: ED exposes Tricity's fake IT firms
1 2 Mohali: In a high-stakes midnight crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided multiple fake call centres across Chandigarh and the Tricity region, unmasking a sprawling web of cyber deception that targeted foreign nationals under the guise of tech support. The raid continued until Thursday morning. Sources in the ED revealed that these firms had no authentic records of promoters, directors, or employees and had set up front websites falsely advertising technical services. The investigation also exposed that most employees hired at these centres lacked any real technical expertise and were unaware of the true nature of their operations. According to ED officials, the scam had an international footprint. Shell companies were floated abroad to route illegally earned funds back into India using foreign payment gateways. A significant portion of these earnings was also funnelled through hawala transactions, bypassing the official banking system. One of the prime targets in the raid was a Zirakpur-based firm, FSAL Technology, which allegedly offered fake tech support services under the names of globally reputed brands such as Microsoft, HP, and Arlo. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Operating through a fictitious US-based entity called "Bios Tech", FSAL Technology had no licence or authorisation to represent these companies. Further scrutiny revealed that the firm also created a spoof website imitating "Geek Squad", a popular American tech support company, to mislead unsuspecting users. Two more companies — Terraspark and Visionaire — reportedly owned by an individual named Sahu Jain, were also found engaged in similar fraudulent activities. These firms too claimed to offer IT and tech support services to overseas clients, with no regulatory clearances or genuine backend operations. ED officials stated that incriminating evidence, including digital devices, fake website templates, call recordings, and financial records, was seized during the raids. Initial estimates suggest that crores of rupees may have been siphoned off through these operations. The enforcement agency has initiated proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Information Technology Act. "More arrests and interrogations are likely in the coming days as we analyse the recovered documents and trace the financial trail," said a senior ED officer involved in the probe.
Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Mobile found in prison cell, fresh case against pastor Bajinder
Jun 26, 2025 08:30 AM IST Jailed pastor Bajinder Singh was on Tuesday caught possessing a mobile phone and cash in his cell at Mansa district jail, officials said. A fresh case under the Prisons Act has been registered against him. Pastor Bajinder Singh Singh has been undergoing life imprisonment for raping a woman in 2018. An official spokesperson said on Wednesday that the illegal possessions were detected during a jail inspection conducted by the assistant inspector general (AIG), prisons, Rajiv Kumar Arora. 'A mobile phone with a SIM card and ₹ 2,500 in cash were recovered from a black-coloured bag of convict Bajinder Singh. A fresh case under the Prisons Act has been registered lodged at the sadar police station on the complaint of assistant jail superintendent Anu Malik,' the Mansa police mentioned in a statement. Pastor Bajinder Singh, a renowned Christian preacher based in Punjab's Jalandhar, was held guilty three months ago by a Mohali court in connection with a sexual harassment case filed by a Zirakpur-based victim. According to the case, registered in 2018, the victim had alleged that the pastor established non-consensual relations with her on the pretext of taking her abroad. She had also mentioned that he filmed an obscene video. The 42-year-old had been previously booked on charges of sexual harassment based on a complaint by a 22-year-old woman on February 28.
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Indian Express
Marble trader's godown set ablaze in Punjab after he opposes drug peddling, probe on
A Zirakpur-based marble trader faced a violent backlash for standing up against drug peddling in the area. A group of 20-25 unidentified attackers stormed his godown on Saturday night, vandalised goods, assaulted his workers, and eventually set the premises on fire causing damage worth lakhs. The incident has spread panic among local businessmen, raising serious concerns about law and order in the godown zone. The victim, Bindar Kumar, a resident of Govind Vihar, Baltana, who runs Sai Marble, said that a group of youths had been allegedly selling drugs near his godown. 'I confronted them on Saturday morning and warned them not to carry out such activities near my business,' Kumar said. Later that night, a mob of around 20-25 men broke into the godown by damaging the shutters, destroyed the stock of marble, and then set the place ablaze. Kumar's workers were also physically assaulted during the attack. Kumar believes the attack was a direct result of his efforts to stop drug trafficking in the area. 'This was an act of revenge. I tried to protect my workplace and community from illegal activities, and now I've suffered heavy financial losses. I fear for the safety of my workers and the future of my business,' he added. He lodged a formal complaint with the Zirakpur police, urging them to take strict action against the culprits and ensure proper security in the godown area. The police confirmed receipt of the complaint and assured that an investigation is underway. 'All necessary measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future,' a police official said.
