Connect with us
Tuesday,26-May-2026
Breaking News

Crime

Bigg Boss, MTV Roadies Contestant Kriti Verma Named By ED in Rs.263 Cr TDS Scam Chargesheet

Published

on

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a comprehensive chargesheet in the Rs 263 crore TDS refund scam, implicating 14 individuals and entities, including Kriti Verma, a former GST inspector who gained fame through appearances on TV shows like Bigg Boss and MTV Roadies. The chargesheet, officials said, sheds light on a complex web of financial deceit.

One of the central figures in this elaborate scam is the alleged mastermind, former Income-Tax inspector Tanaji Mandal Adhikari, who, during his tenure, is said to have gained unauthorised access to RSA tokens and login credentials of higher-ranking authorities, a breach that laid the foundation for this fraudulent operation.

Verma’s relationship with others mentioned in chargesheet

The chargesheet also highlights Verma’s relationship with several of the accused, including Bhushan Patil and Rajesh Shetty.

The fraudulent issuance of refunds for the assessment years 2007-08 and 2008-09 serves as the focal point of the investigation, initiated in response to an FIR filed by the CBI. Adhikari, working in collusion with others, manipulated the system to generate TDS refunds exceeding Rs263 crore. These ill-gotten funds were subsequently funnelled into various bank accounts, with M/s SB Enterprises, owned by Bhushan Anant Patil, one of the primary recipients.

In a surprising twist, the ED’s probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) revealed that Verma sold a property in Gurugram, believed to have been acquired using Rs 1.02 crore of proceeds from the criminal enterprise. Authorities traced the sale proceeds, totalling to Rs1.18 crore, to her bank accounts, which were subsequently frozen. Verma has also faced scrutiny for her close ties with one of the accused individuals who benefited from the illicit tax refunds.

The scale of this financial malfeasance is staggering. The ill-gotten gains have been used to acquire prime real estate in Lonavala, Khandala, Karjat, Pune, and Udupi, as well as luxury flats in Panvel and Mumbai. Additionally, the culprits indulged in a lavish lifestyle, evident from their ownership of three luxury cars: BMW X7, Mercedes GLS 400d and Audi Q7.

Crime

Mumbai EOW Registers Fresh ₹150 Crore Fraud Case Against Anil Ambani-Linked Firms

Published

on

Mumbai: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police on Monday registered a fresh case of alleged cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal conspiracy against former directors and officials of companies linked to the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG).

According to police officials, the accused allegedly obtained a bank loan of ₹150 crore and later diverted the funds for purposes other than those for which the loan was sanctioned, eventually defaulting on repayment. This is the second FIR registered following a complaint filed by Axis Bank against companies associated with the ADAG group.

An EOW source said the latest case was registered at Cuffe Parade Police Station on the complaint of Prakash Prabhakar Rao, Vice-President of Axis Bank. Rao had earlier lodged another FIR in March this year against several ADAG-linked firms and their directors on similar allegations.

The FIR names the then whole-time director of Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL), former directors of beneficiary companies within the ADAG group, and other concerned company officials.

Police officers said the alleged offence took place between January 2010 and November 2019. Investigators suspect that the accused, in connivance with former directors of the company, entered into a criminal conspiracy to defraud the complainant bank and cause wrongful financial loss.

According to police sources, the accused allegedly submitted forged documents, furnished false financial information, and made misleading disclosures regarding the financial condition of RHFL to secure the loans. The funds were then allegedly diverted to accounts of other affiliated group companies.

Officials further said that the EOW is examining the financial trail and the role of various company officials in the alleged diversion of funds. Earlier, on March 12 this year, the EOW had registered another case on similar grounds against companies linked to the Anil Ambani group.

Continue Reading

Crime

Mumbai Crime Branch Arrests Main Accused In Byculla Firing Case Linked To D-Company Aide’s Son

Published

on

Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested the main accused in the Byculla firing case linked to the attack on Sameer Mohammad Asif Khan alias Sameer Sheikh, the son of alleged D-Company gangster Asif Sheikh alias Asif Dadi.

the main accused has been identified as Saif Mastan. He was arrested in West Bengal after remaining absconding for several days. The firing targeted Sameer Sheikh over an alleged financial dispute.

Earlier, on May 13, within 24 hours of the firing, the Mumbai Crime Branch had arrested two other accused from Mahim. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the firing case. The suspects, identified as Zeeshan Anwar Sheikh (30) and Sadik Sheikh Liyakat Sheikh (30), were arrested by Crime Branch officials from the Mahim Dargah area.

Continue Reading

Crime

Nashik TCS harassment case: Police issue summons to AIMIM’s Mateen Patel

Published

on

Nashik, May 25: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik Police has issued a summons to Mateen Patel, AIMIM corporator from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, in connection with the high-profile harassment case involving the Nashik BPO unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), officials said on Monday.

Mateen Patel has been summoned for questioning under Section 35(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (BNSS) to investigate certain facts related to the case and regarding his alleged assistance to the accused, Nida Khan.

Further investigation into the case is currently underway, officials stated.

Earlier, on May 22, the Nashik Police filed a 1,500-page chargesheet against the accused in the case. A total of nine FIRs were registered against the accused.

Of these, a chargesheet has currently been filed in only one case.

An official statement issued by the team of Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik revealed that the SIT — which is probing the allegations — has uncovered evidence regarding the forced religious conversion of the victim, an act that has caused offence to religious sentiments.

The police have also seized original documents used by the accused to alter the victim’s name and identity.

Furthermore, digital and technical evidence has been retrieved in the form of WhatsApp chat screenshots obtained from the mobile phones of both the victim and the accused.

The chargesheet names Danish Ejaz Shaikh, Tausif Bilal Attar, Nida Ejaz Khan, and AIMIM leader Mateen Patel as the accused.

Consequently, none of them has been granted bail.

The 1,500-page primary chargesheet was filed before the Additional Sessions and Special Court situated at Nashik Road, under Sections 61(2), 64, 68, 69, 46, 75, 319C(8), 299, 238, 249, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as well as Sections 3(1)(w)(i), 3(1)(w)(ii), 3(2)(v), 3(1)(s), and 3(1)(k) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

This marks the first charge sheet to be filed following the investigation into allegations of rape and causing offence to religious sentiments, which were originally registered at the Deolali Police Station in Nashik. Also, there are eight other FIRs registered by TCS employees at the Mumbai Naka Police Station.

The case gained widespread attention after details of alleged systematic harassment at the workplace surfaced, triggering outrage across Maharashtra.

Police officials have assured that the probe is being conducted thoroughly to ensure justice. The filing of the detailed charge sheet is being seen as a crucial milestone that could pave the way for the trial to commence in the near future.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending