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Actor abduction case dominates Thrikkakara bypoll

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With just a week left for the crucial bypoll to Kerala’s Thrikkakara Assembly constituency, the 2017 actress abduction case has taken a center stage pushing back the K-Rail issue which dominated the campaigning till now.

On Monday, the assault victim sought Kerala High Court’s intervention following speculations that the case might be swept under the carpet. She also accused the Pinarayi Vijayan government of helping the accused actor Dileep and his aides.

Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan alleged that some CPI-M leaders were playing games to bail out the guilty.

Accusing the CPI-M leaders of playing double game, Congress candidate Uma Thomas said their talks about concern for women’s safety was nothing but a “sham”.

“I remember P.T.Thomas (her husband and two time Congress legislator from Thrikkakara who passed away in December last year) telling me that in all likelihood this case will not reach anywhere and eventually swept under the carpet. I am sure every voter in my constituency is keenly following the sudden turn of events in this case and this will be in their minds,” said Uma.

As per the Congress, after the crime, when the victim reached actor, producer, director Lal’s house, Thomas also rushed there and consoled the actress. Police was called in leading to the arrest of the accused who harassed her in a moving car which went around the city. Later, Dileep, who is the eighth accused and now out on bail, was also arrested.

Recently, at her first public function after the incident, the survivor was a surprise ‘chief guest’ for the distribution of the Kerala State Film awards where Vijayan was also present.

The social media went ga-ga over the incident showering praises on the Vijayan government for bringing the victim to the forefront.

But now after her petition, while the Congress-led UDF is raking it up, the CPI-M top brass appears to have gone defensive.

Responding to it, E.P.Jayarajan, the Left convenor manning the by-election, slammed the Congress.

“The Congress-led UDF is known for raking up dirty allegations during election time. Everyone knows which political party is helping whom,” said Jayarajan, adding that no one has a doubt on the position of the Left towards women’s issues.

State Law Minister P.Rajeev, another livewire at the election campaign, tried to downplay the fears raised by the victim.

“I am yet to ascertain the facts as to why she did this. Moreover, with the case being sub judice, one cannot comment in detail,” said Rajeev.

In her petition, the survivor alleged that there was a massive political intervention when the Crime Branch team is set to submit its final report on May 30 for further investigation.

She expressed deep concern that though Dileep was arrested in 2017, but things now appear to have turned topsy-turvy. Since she has no other way of getting justice, she is approaching the High Court.

The woman suffered a jolt last month when the chief of the Crime Branch DGP S.Sreejith was moved out and replaced with a new officer. The move has been attributed to Vijayan’s new political advisor P. Sasi.

Crime

Bihar: Fear grips Revenue Dept after Dy CM’s crackdown

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Patna, Dec 30: A stir has been created in the Bihar Revenue and Land Reforms Department following strict action initiated by Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha.

The situation has escalated to the extent that some officials, fearing action, have written to the Governor and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, seeking intervention.

However, Vijay Kumar Sinha has categorically stated that he will not bow to any pressure.

Responding to the unrest and resentment among officials, the Deputy Chief Minister, on Tuesday, said that the government is working solely in the interest of the people and has no intention of hurting anyone.

“Our intentions are absolutely clear. The objective is to reform the Revenue and Land Reforms Department so that it serves the public better,” he said.

Referring to the Muzaffarpur land scam, Vijay Sinha said that agricultural land was illegally transferred with the connivance of officials.

He recalled that during his tenure as Agriculture Minister, he had ordered action against the Circle Officer (CO) involved and directed that an appeal be filed in court.

“I have now taken fresh cognisance of the matter as Revenue Minister, and those responsible for creating unnecessary disputes over undisputed government land will not be spared,” Sinha said.

On officials going on leave during public interaction programs of the Revenue and Land Reforms Department in districts, Vijay Sinha said, “Once systemic reforms are implemented, the welfare of everyone—including honest officials—will be ensured.”

After assuming charge of the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, Vijay Kumar Sinha is in action mode.

He has been taking meetings of the department district-wise and making decisions on the spot.

Responding to a question on Naxalism, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said that under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Naxalism has been almost completely eradicated from the country.

He added that if governance under such leadership is ensured across all states, the menace of Naxalism and extremism would be eliminated.

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Crime

Palghar Crime: Naigaon Police Arrest 2 Youths For Highway Robbery In Vasai East, Juvenile Also Involved

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Palghar, Maharashtra, Dec 30: The Crime Detection Team of Naigaon Police Station has arrested two youths in connection with a case of forcible robbery that took place on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad National Highway in Vasai East earlier this month. A juvenile was also found to be involved in the crime.

According to police, the incident occurred on the night of December 21, 2025, near the Royal Garden Resort, close to the end of the Sasunavghar bridge on the Ahmedabad-bound carriageway at Vasai East in Palghar district.

The complainant was walking on the road when a white Maruti Suzuki S-Presso car stopped near him. Three unknown men, aged between 20 and 25 years, allegedly assaulted him with a steel bracelet and punches.

The accused threatened the victim, demanding cash and his mobile phone, and warned him of dire consequences if he resisted. They forcibly took his cash, mobile phone and charger.

The assailants also obtained the password to the victim’s Google Pay application under threat and later warned him not to inform anyone before fleeing the scene.

Following the complaint, Naigaon Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The senior police inspector of Naigaon Police Station formed two special teams from the Crime Detection Unit. After a detailed investigation, police apprehended Wasiulla Salim Khan (21) and Ranjit Sandeep Jaiswal (19), both residents of Naigaon, Vasai East.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to committing the robbery along with a juvenile in conflict with law. Police recovered two mobile phones and cash worth ₹31,700 from the accused. The car, valued at approximately ₹5 lakh, which was used during the commission of the crime, has also been seized.

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Crime

Dehradun: ED files chargesheet against drug lord’s wife

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Dehradun, Dec 29: Presenting fresh evidence, the ED filed a third chargesheet before a Special Court (PMLA), Dehradun, naming the wife of a member of an international drug trafficking organisation in a case related to illegal assets, an official said.

Amarpreet Kaur Chawla, wife of Banmeet Singh, was named in the fresh set of charges filed on December 24 in the Special Court (PMLA), the official said in a statement.

During the investigation, the ED detected that many of the immovable properties bought by the drug trafficking organisation with Proceeds of Crime (POC) were registered in Amanpreet Kaur’s name.

“Based upon these findings, the ED has also issued a Provisional Attachment Order in this case for assets totalling Rs 9.68 crore on July 18, 2024, under the provisions of PMLA, 2002,” said the ED statement.

The ED initiated an investigation based on the Mutual Legal Assistance request by the US authorities invoking a unique provision of section 2(ra) of PMLA, 2002, implying an offence of cross-border implications.

The scheduled offences correspond to the NDPS Act. Two brothers, Banmeet Singh and Parvinder Singh, along with others, were operating an international drug trafficking group named the Singh DTO (Drug Trafficking Organisation).

“They used vendor marketing sites on the dark web, numerous free advertisements on clear web websites, and a network of narcotics and controlled substance distributors and distribution cells to sell drugs in the US, the UK and other European countries,” the ED said.

The Singh Organisation received the drug trafficking proceeds through sale on dark web markets, then laundered those proceeds through cryptocurrency transactions, the ED said.

Both brothers used monikers “Liston” on a variety of dark web markets, including Silk Road 1, Alpha Bay and Hansa, the ED said.

Till now, the ED in the earlier searches, seized 268.22 Bitcoins (approx.), equivalent to the value of Rs 130 crore, based on the information provided by Parvinder Singh, who is currently in judicial custody along with his brother.

Earlier, the ED filed Prosecution Complaints against the main accused Parvinder Singh and Banmeet Singh on June 24, 2024 and July 26, 2024, on which the Special Court (PMLA), Dehradun, has already taken cognisance on July 2, 2024 and July 27, 2024, respectively.

The Court has already framed the charges against Banmeet Singh through its order dated March 22, 2025.

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