New Delhi, Nov 6: The Congress on Thursday renewed its allegation of electoral manipulation and “Vote Chori”, outlining its plan to submit a memorandum with over 5 crore signatures to President Droupadi Murmu on November 8 for seeking urgent corrective action.

K. C. Venugopal, General Secretary, AICC, (Organisation), in a statement, said that so far over 5 crore signatures have been collected nationwide – a powerful testimony to the anger, apprehension, and deep concern among citizens about the “naked murder of democracy through manipulative practices such as duplicate voting, fake voter entries, and fraudulent addresses in the electoral rolls”.

Highlighting the party’s “Vote Chor Gaddi Chod” campaign, Venugopal said through the signature campaign the public has made five clear and democratic demands from the Election Commission of India: Prosecute officials and agents involved in systematic voter suppression; publish a machine-readable voter list with photographs for public scrutiny; release all deletion and addition lists with photographs before every election; establish a grievance redressal mechanism for wrongful deletions and announce a clear cut-off date for voter list changes, avoiding last-minute manipulations.

The Congress General Secretary said the party has been consistently raising concerns about electoral roll manipulation and large-scale electoral fraud undermining the sanctity of the democratic process.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly exposed the dangerous “vote chori” orchestrated by the BJP in collusion with the Election Commission of India, a direct assault on the people’s mandate, he said.

As part of the Congress party’s nationwide movement to defend democracy, the party launched the “Vote Chor Gaddi Chod” Signature Campaign, a mass public outreach and door-to-door initiative to mobilise citizens against electoral fraud, he said.

Beginning on September 15, 2025, following the successful culmination of the “Vote Chor Gaddi Chod” state-level rallies (August 22 – September 7), the campaign has seen participation from lakhs of citizens across districts, blocks, and mandals, said Venugopal.

Party functionaries, community leaders, professionals, and a large number of the public have joined hands to register their protest against the ongoing subversion of democratic norms, he said.

In the meeting of General Secretaries, In-Charges, and PCC Presidents held on Wednesday, it was unanimously decided that the first phase of the campaign will culminate with flag-off events at all State Headquarters on November 8, he said.

These programmes will be attended by senior leaders and party functionaries, symbolising the collective unity and determination of the Congress Party in this national struggle to safeguard democracy, said the Congress General Secretary.

After the culmination of events, all collected signatures will be dispatched to the AICC Headquarters, and in the next phase, the Congress Party will continue gathering more signatures from citizens across India, he said..

“Ultimately, these signatures – representing millions of voices – will be submitted to the President of India, demanding urgent corrective action,” he said.

Venugopal said that the “Vote Chor Gaddi Chod” campaign is not just a political movement – it is a citizens’ movement demanding accountability, transparency, and restoration of faith in the electoral process.

“The Congress Party stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of India in this collective call to protect the soul of our democracy,” he said.

New Delhi, Nov 6: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 11.14 crore belonging to former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with its ongoing probe into the illegal offshore betting platform 1xBet, the agency said on Thursday.

According to the ED, the attachment includes mutual fund investments worth Rs 6.64 crore held in Raina’s name and an immovable property valued at Rs 4.5 crore belonging to Dhawan.

The action stems from multiple FIRs registered by various state police agencies against the operators of 1xBet and its surrogate brands – 1xBat and 1xBat Sporting Lines – accused of promoting and facilitating unlawful online betting and gambling operations across India.

“Investigation revealed that both Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan knowingly entered into endorsement agreements with foreign entities for the promotion of 1xBet through its surrogates,” the ED said in its press note.

“These endorsements were made in return for payments routed through foreign entities to conceal the illicit origin of the funds, which are linked to proceeds of crime generated from illegal betting activities,” it added.

ED officials further found that 1xBet operated without authorisation in India, targeting users through social media, online videos, and print advertisements. To disguise the source of funds, payments were layered through multiple entities and foreign accounts.

During the investigation, the agency uncovered a laundering trail exceeding Rs1,000 crore. It was found that over 6,000 “mule” bank accounts were used to collect money from Indian bettors, routed through several payment gateways.

Many merchants on these platforms were onboarded without proper KYC verification, and their declared business activities did not match transaction patterns.

Searches were conducted at four payment gateways, leading to the seizure of incriminating evidence. Over 60 bank accounts linked to the operation have been frozen, with funds exceeding Rs 4 crore blocked so far.

Issuing a public advisory, the ED urged citizens to refrain from engaging in or promoting online betting and gambling platforms, warning that aiding such activities may lead to prosecution under PMLA, which carries imprisonment of up to seven years and attachment of assets derived from illegal proceeds.

Further investigation into the case is underway.

Mumbai, November 6: If the proposed BEST union hunger strike goes ahead from November 10, Mumbai’s daily commute could face one of its biggest disruptions in recent years. The city’s red buses, a lifeline for over 25 lakh passengers every day, are at the heart of the union’s protest, which demands an end to the controversial wet lease system, clearance of pending dues, and better upkeep of the public fleet.

Commuters who depend on BEST buses to travel across Mumbai’s major corridors are already worried. Routes linking Dadar, Sion, Andheri, and Borivali, as well as the island city’s inner stretches, are likely to be worst hit, particularly in areas where metro and train connectivity remains limited.

For thousands of middle-class and working families, a sudden halt in bus services could throw daily life into disarray.

“Buses are the most affordable option for working people,” said Preeti Deshmukh, a bank employee from Borivali, who depends on BEST buses for her daily commute. “If services stop, taxis and autos will charge double, and trains are already overcrowded.”

Another commuter, Krupa Soni, who travels regularly from Andheri station, echoed the concern.

“If they go on strike, it will be really difficult for us to get home on time and manage our household work. My son also takes the bus to college. Taking autos or taxis every day will become too expensive for us. The government should act immediately.”

The potential strike highlights how deeply intertwined BEST buses are with Mumbai’s social and economic rhythm. For decades, the red double-deckers and mini buses have connected office workers, students, and vendors, especially those who cannot afford other modes of transport.

If the standoff between the union and civic authorities is not resolved soon, Mumbai could face longer commutes, higher transport costs, and even greater pressure on trains and metros.

For now, commuters can only hope that negotiations will keep the city’s lifeline on the move.