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Can Arif Mohd Khan give PM Modi his Kalam moment?

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Outspoken, educated in both secular and religious issues, against Islamic fundamentalism, and a career out and out in public life, is best how 71-year-old Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan can be described as.

Khan’s name has been doing rounds as a probable NDA candidate for the Presidential poll due in July. Some BJP leaders point out that Khan fits the bill of Indian Muslims, the way the party envisages, those following Islam but practicing Indian ethos.

Graduating in Arts from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), followed by a law degree from Lucknow University, the Bulandshahar born Khan has always been known for his strong views about orthodox Islamic practices and has advocated for social reforms in Muslim community.

In fact, even after being a student leader at the AMU and starting his political career with former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh’s Bharatiya Kranti Dal, Khan’s claim to fame moment came when in 1986 he famously voiced staunch opposition to the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s move of constitutional amendment to nullify the Supreme Court’s judgment in Shah Bano case.

Khan had opposed Rajiv Gandhi even when he was considered as a close aide of Rajiv Gandhi owing to his intelligence and bright acumen. His defiance of ruling Congress’ official line in this crucial case that went on to alter the Hindu Muslim equation for the country paved the way for his exit from the Congress.

He then joined V.P. Singh’s Janata Dal, which he left after some time to join Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

In his long political career, Khan served once as a member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and four times as a member of the Parliament. He also served as a Union minister in Rajiv Gandhi and V.P. Singh governments.

In 2004, he joined the BJP and unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha poll that year. He had left the saffron camp in 2007 but rejoined after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014.

Khan also strongly opposed the practice of Triple Talaq and hence supported the Modi government’s decision to ban it.

Many in the saffron camp believe that his opposition to the Islamic fundamentalism has earned him the post of a Governor in the NDA rule in September 2019.

Many in the BJP believe that Khan’s progressive Muslim image fits well in Prime Minister Modi’s “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas” vision and therefore he stands a good chance to be for Modi what A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was for Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002. However, the decision to field him as NDA’s presidential candidate will be taken by the party’s parliamentary board only after consultation with its alliance partners next month.

Maharashtra

Mumbai News: CBI Books Plant Quarantine Officials For Taking Bribes From Importers And CHAs In Exchange For Clearance Work

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Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched an investigation against two officials, including a deputy director rank official posted at plant quarantine office Mumbai which operates under the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage (PPQS) following the allegations that they indulged into corrupt practices by taking undue advantage from the importer, exporter either directly or through Clearing House Agents (CHAs) in lieu of performing work. Plant quarantine office deals with import and export of plant and plant based material.

Officials Allegedly Took Bribes Through CHAs for Expedited Clearances and Fake Certificates

According to the CBI, a reliable source information was received that some public servants posted at plant quarantine office were indulged into corrupt practices by taking undue advantage from the importer/ exporter either directly or through CHAs in lieu of performing works such as expedite clearance payment, selective inspection practices, treatment requirement manipulation, issuance of certificate without proper inspection.

“It was further learnt from reliable sources that this collusive corruption is being run in connivance with CHAs at the said office. It was also learnt that the some customs clearing agents are sometimes facilitating illegal imports or avoid proper inspection procedures in exchange of regular payment of undue advantage to the officers posted at plant quarantine office and the officers posted there are demanding and accepting around Rs 600 per documents, consignment from the parties or their CHAs,” said a CBI official.

“In order to verify the said allegations, a joint surprise check (JSC) team of CBI Officers, officers from vigilance of the department of agriculture and farmers welfare on 16.07.2025 conducted checks. During JSC, public dealing counters situated in the said office were checked. The bag and wallets of the staff available were also checked and it was found that a cash amount of Rs 49,750 was found in their possession and they were asked to explain the cash amount. It has transpired that the unaccounted money in cash has been accepted by the accused public servants as an undue advantage from CHAs for doing their routine official work,” said the official.

Case Registered Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Prevention of Corruption Act

The CBI has registered a case on charges of criminal conspiracy, bribing of public servant and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Prevention of Corruption Act.

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Maharashtra

Vasai-Virar News: Man Duped Of ₹35 Lakh Over Fake Medical Shop Near Multi-Specialty Hospital In Nalasopara

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Palghar, Maharashtra: The Tulinj Police have registered a case of cheating against a 40-year-old man for allegedly defrauding a medical shop aspirant of ₹35 lakh under the pretext of renting a space near a prominent multi-specialty hospital in Nalasopara (East).

The accused promised a medical shop near prominent hospital

According to the complaint filed by Pradeep Kaluram Chaudhary, 21, a medical shop operator, the accused, identified as Ranjit Kantaprasad Yadav, a resident of Haridwar Housing Society, Mahesh Park, Tulinj Road, took ₹40 lakh as a heavy security deposit from him in June 2022, promising to provide a shop space near the hospital.

According to the complaint filed by Pradeep Kaluram Chaudhary, a medical shop operator, the accused took ₹40 lakh as a heavy security deposit from him in June 2022, promising to provide a shop space near the hospital.

However, more than two years later, the promised medical shop has not been made operational, and the accused has returned only ₹5 lakh of the total deposit. The remaining ₹35 lakh remains unpaid despite repeated follow-ups, the complaint states.

The accused fails to fulfill the agreement

The alleged fraud took place near a well-known multi-specialty hospital in Nalasopara (East), where the complainant had hoped to set up the business. When the accused failed to fulfill the agreement and did not return the remaining amount, the victim approached the police.

Based on the findings of a preliminary inquiry, Tulinj Police registered a case under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on August 5, 2025, at 2:01 pm.

Probe Underway

Senior officers including Police Inspector Vijay Jadhav and Assistant Police Inspectors Manesh Sable and Govind Baste are overseeing the investigation.

The police have launched a probe to trace the remaining funds and verify if other victims may be involved.

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Maharashtra

Navi Mumbai Woman’s PAN Card Used To Float Fake Firm; Police Probe ₹29 Lakh Scam

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Navi Mumbai: A major case of identity theft has surfaced in Navi Mumbai, where a fake PAN card was created using the details of a resident, leading to a financial transaction worth Rs 29 lakh. Upon discovering the fraud, the concerned authorities registered a case against an unidentified individual.

The victim, Parul Bhatia, a resident of Sanpada, became aware of the fraud while filing her income tax return for the previous financial year. During the routine document submission to her chartered accountant, she noticed suspicious activity linked to her PAN card. It was revealed that a company had been registered using her PAN, and a GST number was also obtained under her name.

Bhatia clarified that she had no involvement with the company or the transactions and questioned how her PAN card details were cloned and misused. She immediately filed a written complaint at the Sanpada Police Station.

According to the report, following her complaint, police investigations revealed that the fake PAN card had been used for financial operations since April 2024. A firm named “Bhatia Enterprises” was fraudulently established under her identity, through which transactions amounting to crores were conducted. Authorities further found that the operations were carried out in Uttar Pradesh.

After verifying the details in Bhatia’s complaint, the police filed a case on Tuesday, charging the accused with defrauding both the individual and the government using a forged PAN card. Police Sub-Inspector Suraj Raut is currently leading the investigation, as reported.

Elderly Powai Businessman Duped Of ₹52 Lakh In Online Honeytrap Scam

In a seperte news story related to the cyber fraud, a 65-year-old businessman from Powai was duped of Rs 52 lakh in a sophisticated cyber fraud involving a woman he met on Facebook. The case is currently being investigated by the West Region Cyber Police and has been identified as a classic honeytrap scam, where cybercriminals exploit emotional manipulation and false investment promises to deceive victims.

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