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Time of India
01-08-2025
- Time of India
Woman pimp held, one victim rescued in Thane sex racket bust
Thane: The Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) of Thane Crime Branch on Wednesday arrested a 24-year-old woman allegedly involved in supplying girls for prostitution and rescued a young woman from the flesh trade. The operation was carried out following a tip-off received by Senior Police Inspector Vaishali Gorde, who leads the AHTC unit. Acting on the intelligence, the team laid a trap near Shahad railway station, located under the jurisdiction of Khadakpada police station in Kalyan city, said a police officer. According to officials, the woman, a native of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, was sending photographs of young girls to clients via mobile applications and arranging meetings for services. "Based on the input, a decoy customer and panch witness were deployed to the spot, and the team successfully intercepted the woman during the act," said a police officer. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai During the raid, a 22-year-old woman was rescued, who is believed to have been forced into prostitution. The accused was allegedly operating the racket for several months, targeting vulnerable women and supplying them to clients in and around Thane and Kalyan. The arrested woman has been booked under relevant sections of the BNS act and the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA). The rescued woman has been placed in a govt-run shelter home, and further rehabilitation efforts are underway. Police are now investigating if the woman was part of a larger trafficking network and are working to identify additional victims and clients linked to the racket, said a police officer.
News18
23-07-2025
- News18
Prostitution racket busted in Thane; female agent arrested, three women rescued
Agency: PTI Thane, Jul 23 (PTI) The Thane police have exposed a prostitution racket with the arrest of a female agent and the rescue of three women, an official said on Wednesday. Acting on a tip, the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell of the city police on Tuesday laid a trap near the Mumbra railway bridge and nabbed a female agent, said senior inspector Vaishali Gorde. During the operation, the police also rescued three women who were being pushed into prostitution. The three women have been sent to a rescue home, she said. A case has been registered against the female agent at the Mumbra police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 143 (trafficking of person) and the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA), the official added. PTI COR NR Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Police arrest Kalyani Deshpande in Andhra Pradesh
The Anti-Narcotic Cell of the Pimpri-Chinchwad police has arrested notorious criminal Kalyani alias Jayashree Deshpande from Rajanagaram in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Sandeep Doiphode (DCP Crime), Pimpri-Chinchwad, said, 'In May, our teams received information about Deshpande's whereabouts and her involvement, along with associates, in an illegal ganja network. We conducted a raid and arrested three people, but Deshpande managed to escape. Since then, we have been trying to trace her using multiple leads and technical surveillance. Recently, we received a credible tip, and a team was dispatched to Andhra Pradesh, where she was finally arrested.' Deshpande has been a significant figure in Pune's criminal underworld for over two decades, with more than two dozen cases registered against her. The charges include violations under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA), the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), as well as allegations of murder and financial fraud. She was previously known to be running a sex racket from her bungalow in the Sus area of Pune, with a network that reportedly extended across India and abroad. In 2016, Deshpande was convicted and sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment. According to police, she was released from jail in 2023–24 and allegedly resumed illegal activities with the help of her husband and close relatives. In the present case, acting on a tip-off, police raided the 'Kalyani Collection' shop in Bavdhan on May 24. During the operation, they arrested Kalyani Deshpande's husband Umesh Deshpande, her niece Aishwarya Ranawade, and Aishwarya's husband, Abhishek Ranawade, but Kalyani Deshpande yet again managed to escape. The arrest on Sunday marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown on narcotics in the region.
New Straits Times
16-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Oil prices, subsidy delay may derail Malaysia's revenue target
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia may fall short in achieving its revenue target this year due to soft oil prices and possible delays in the RON95 fuel subsidy rationalisation, some economists say. Oil prices have averaged below the government's budgeted level, although the benchmark Brent crude surged more than nine per cent to around US$75 a barrel last Friday, its highest in five months, after Israel struck Iran. Prior to the rally late last week, crude prices had averaged US$70 a barrel versus the government's 2025 Budget assumption of US$80. Economists said a prolonged soft oil prices raised the risk of petroleum income tax falling short of its target. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the correlation between Brent crude oil prices and Petroleum Income Tax (PITA) is about 87 per cent. He added that the strong correlation suggests any deviation from the price assumption would have a material impact on PITA collection. "There is a possibility that revenue collection may not be achieved, especially when the deviation from the price assumption becomes protracted," he told Business Times. CIMB Securities estimates that PITA may come in RM2.7 billion off the expected RM20.7 billion this year, based on Brent average of US$70 a barrel. Afzanizam noted that for the first four months, the government's revenue collection stood at RM97.1 billion. If annualised, this amounts to about RM291.2 billion, which may fall short of the government's full-year revenue target of RM339.7 billion. Widening gap As for RON95, Afzanizam said the gap between the estimated market price and the subsidised price has increased. His estimates show the market price for RON95 is about RM2.85 per litre, given the prevailing Brent crude price and exchange rate levels. "Given this, the difference between the market price and subsidised prices was at RM0.80 per litre. "Prior to this, the estimated market price for RON95 was about RM2.60 per litre when Brent Crude was around US$64 per barrel and the US dollar-ringgit at around RM4.22 to RM4.23, giving RM0.55 difference. "Hence, the gap with the subsidise prices has widened," he said. In the grand scheme of things, the prevailing conditions have become increasingly challenging, Afzanizam added. Echoing similar views, UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said the targeted RM339.7 billion revenue collection could be slightly lower due to softer oil prices and possible delays in the RON95 fuel subsidy rationalisation. He pointed out that while global oil prices have eased, commodity markets remain volatile as they are driven by finite resources, and prices could rise again. Nevertheless, he said the current environment offers a window for the government to proceed with RON95 subsidy rationalisation in the second half of 2025 (2H25). "Lower global oil prices may help cushion the initial inflationary impact, making this more in line with the government's broader fiscal consolidation plans under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023. "Rationalisation, supported by targeted subsidies, could bring the fiscal deficit down to 3.8 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025, offsetting the drop in petroleum-related revenue, especially as Malaysia remains a net oil exporter," he said. However, he warned that a rebound in oil prices to the US$80-US$90 per barrel range could lead to renewed inflationary pressures. Collection target may still be met Conversely, Williams Business Consultancy Sdn Bhd director Dr Geoffrey Williams believes that the government revenue target is likely to be achieved due to strong economic fundamentals and the new Sales and Service Tax (SST) changes, which will add RM5 billion. He added that the Inland Revenue Board and the Customs Department are also improving collection process and e-payments and e-invoicing will help collection especially from larger companies. "I do not see any delay in RON95 subsidy rationalisation because the government is already committed to this. Anyway this will save money and help improve the fiscal position," he said. Williams noted that so far this year in 1Q25, total government revenue was RM72.1 billion, up three per cent from the same quarter in 2024. He added that the Q1 fiscal deficit was RM21.9 billion lower than the RM26.4 billion in 1Q24 due to better revenue collection and expenditure optimisation. "So the fiscal position is in good shape and will improve due to SST changes, subsidy rationalisation and more efficient spending cutting wastage, leakages and corruption," he said. Commenting further, Williams said oil prices have been always volatile. In the last five years, they had been as low as US$25 and as high as US$125 a barrel. "Even this month they have been below US$70 and above US$78. So they are inherently difficult to forecast. "The escalating conflict in the Middle East has forced prices up and this is likely to persist as long as uncertainties remain. So the downside risk has reduced for very unfortunate reasons," he added.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Pune police bust drug racket run by ‘Lady Don' Kalyani Deshpande; 20 kg ganja seized
Pimpri-Chinchwad police on Saturday busted a ganja smuggling racket allegedly operated by notorious criminal Kalyani Deshpande and her gang. Acting on a tip-off, authorities arrested her husband and two other relatives involved in the illegal operation. The action was taken by the anti-narcotics cell of the Pimpri Chinchwad police. During routine patrolling on Pashan-Sus Road, police got information about Kalyani and her drug racket operating from the Kalyani Collection shop and her residence. Acting on the tip, police raided the shop located in Bavdhan. During the raid, police arrested her husband Umesh Suryakant Deshpande, 56, her niece Ashwarya Abhisekh Ranawade alias Ashwarya Nilesh Deshpande, 22, and Ashwarya's husband Abhisekh Ranawade, 32. However, the search for the Kalyani alias Jayashree Deshpande is underway. During the raid, police seized 20.73 kilograms of ganja, three mobile phones, ₹700 cash, total valued at ₹11,27,700. Sandeep Doiphode, DCP (crime) Pimpri-Chinchwad police, said, 'During the investigation, it was found that prime accused Kalyani supplied ganja to these three arrested accused in order to further the sale. Soon we will arrest the Kalyani in this case.' Police said Abhisekh Ranawade is the on-record criminal, and he was booked earlier by Faraskhana, Vishrambaug and Market Yard police station for various crimes. Kalyani has more than two dozen cases registered against her in the last two decades. These range from charges under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA) and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to allegations of murder and financial fraud. She was also operating a sex racket from her bungalow in the Sus area of Pune. Her network was far-reaching, allegedly involving hoteliers and links to organised crime groups. In 2016, Kalyani was convicted and sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment—a rare judgment involving both PITA and MCOCA. According to police she was released from jail in 2023-24.
