Hazaribagh, Jan 12: Jharkhand Police have arrested eight persons in connection with the murder of Suraj Kumar Rana, who was killed following a dispute over loud music during New Year’s celebrations in Hazaribagh, officials said on Monday.

Suraj was brutally attacked with swords, sticks and other sharp weapons on the night of January 1, triggering tension in the city. He died on the spot, while Kuldeep Soni, who attempted to intervene, sustained serious injuries.

The incident sparked widespread outrage, with hundreds of people taking to the streets on January 2, carrying the victim’s body and staging a protest demanding swift action.

Hazaribagh Superintendent of Police Anjani Anjan said the murder was committed as an act of revenge after an altercation over playing loud music in the Kolghati area of the city.

According to police, the accused attacked Suraj near Indrapuri Chowk around 10 p.m. on January 1. A murder case was registered at the Lohsinghna police station based on a written complaint lodged by the victim’s wife, Kajal Kumari.

Given the gravity of the case, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted at the direction of the SP. Acting on technical inputs and intelligence, the SIT carried out raids at multiple locations, including Delhi, Noida, Bhilai, Chatra, Ramgarh, Ranchi and Barkagaon.

Police said the prime accused — Rahul Kumar, Roshan Kumar and Deepak Kumar — were arrested from Sector-126 in Noida and brought to Hazaribagh on transit remand.

Based on their disclosures during interrogation, four more accused — Sonu Kumar, Rahul alias Lolo, Aman Kumar alias Rohan and Mukesh Kumar — were arrested from Pipradih village under the Barkagaon police station area. Another accused was later apprehended from the Kolghati area.

Police said sufficient evidence has been collected against all the accused, and the process of sending them to judicial custody is underway. The weapons used in the crime, including swords and sticks, have also been recovered.

Raipur, Jan 12: The Raipur Zonal Office of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has issued a Provisional Attachment Order (PAO) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, attaching eight immovable properties valued at approximately Rs 2.66 crore, an agency statement said on Monday.

According to ED, these assets, consisting of land parcels and residential flats, were allegedly acquired by accused individuals Saumya Chaurasia and Nikhil Chandrakar in the names of their relatives, using proceeds of crime derived from illegal coal levy collection and extortion activities in Chhattisgarh.

The ED’s action stems from multiple ongoing investigations linked to the high-profile coal levy scam. The probe was initiated based on an FIR registered by Bengaluru Police, with a prosecution complaint filed on June 19, 2023, by the Income Tax Department, and another FIR dated January 11, 2024, lodged by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW)/Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Raipur, it said.

Investigations have uncovered that a syndicate comprising private individuals, in collusion with senior state politicians and bureaucrats, operated an extortion racket between July 2020 and June 2022.

The group allegedly collected Rs 25 per tonne of coal transported, amassing around Rs 540 crore in illegal levies during this period. The extorted funds, classified as Proceeds of Crime (POC), were utilized to bribe officials and politicians, finance election-related expenses, and purchase movable and immovable properties.

The coal transportation sector in Chhattisgarh is central to the scam. To date, the ED has identified and attached properties worth Rs 273 crore belonging to various accused in this case.

The agency has also arrested 11 individuals so far and filed five Prosecution Complaints against 35 accused before the Special Court (PMLA).

This latest attachment targets “benami” acquisitions linked to key figures Saumya Chaurasia (former deputy secretary in the Chhattisgarh CMO) and Nikhil Chandrakar, highlighting the use of family members to conceal illicit gains.

The investigation remains active, with the ED continuing to trace the money trail and uncover further assets. The coal levy scam has been a major political and investigative focus in Chhattisgarh, involving multiple agencies and leading to significant arrests and asset seizures over the years.

Bengaluru, Jan 10: A Rapido bike taxi rider was arrested on Saturday on the charges of harassing a woman software professional in Bengaluru.

The 29-year-old woman, who works with a software company as manager, had booked a Rapido bike taxi to commute from her residence to Manayata Tech Park on Wednesday.

During the journey, the rider, identified as Vivek, allegedly misbehaved with her.

When the woman objected to his behaviour, the accused touched her inappropriately.

When the woman questioned his actions, the accused allegedly abused her verbally and shouted at her.

The woman raised an alarm and immediately alerted the local traffic police, who in turn informed Hoysala patrolling squad.

The victim later lodged a written complaint with the police.

The police have arrested the accused at his residence and launched an investigation.

The police stated that the accused confessed to the crime and told investigators that he had touched her inappropriately.

The accused has been sent to judicial custody.

Last year, a 20-year-old woman alleged that a Rapido driver, identified as Lokesh (28), attempted to touch her inappropriately repeatedly during a ride from Church Street to Sudhamanagar.

The woman, a cabin crew trainee, shared her ordeal on Instagram, stating that despite her pleas to him to stop, the driver continued his actions.

Being new to the city, she was afraid to ask him to stop the bike mid-journey. After reaching her destination, she was in tears, and a passerby confronted the driver. The driver initially apologised but then allegedly made a threatening gesture before leaving.

The Bengaluru City Police took note of the viral social media post, contacted the victim, and registered an FIR.

Police tracked the accused using the ride details, arrested him, and charged him with sexual harassment under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).