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Ground Zero: Conversations in Varanasi centre around the Shivling of contention

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Amid contrary claims from both Hindu and Muslim sides, the issue of Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi has been a topic of discussion for the past few days.

While the Muslim side continues to deny the claims of finding a ‘Shivling’, people from the Hindu side here have been reiterating their claims over the finding.

Mahtab Ali, a resident of Varanasi, says, “this survey is nothing but politics. When we have a law, then what is the point of survey and excavation after that. Muslims here offer Namaz there and do Wuzu.”

“This is not the only mosque that has such a fountain. Many other mosques have similar ‘wuzukhana’. According to this, there is a Shivling everywhere,” he said.

A short distance away from the disputed site, restaurant owner Hari Prakash Singh said, “Customers have stopped coming to the restaurant after the survey started. The number of tourists has also come down. It looks the survey has created fear in the minds of people. Though the construction of the corridor has benefited us a lot, if Shivling has been found here, more people will come in coming days and our business will increase.”

Professor Nagendra Pandey, chairman of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, told, “As the matter has gone to the court, it will do justice. Both Hindu and Muslim sides should not create panic. They must wait for the court verdict.”

“Both sides have their own claims on the Gyanvapi mosque premises. In fact, the entire structure suggests of a temple. Symbols of flower, leaf, ‘Trishul’ can be found only in a temple and not in a mosque,” he said.

Both sides are firm on their claims. If Muslims are to be believed, then according to them what has been discovered during the survey is a fountain which is being unnecessarily claimed as Shivling.

On the other hand, Hindus are saying that it is a shivling. They have attacked Asaduddin Owaisi for saying that he will fight till doom for the mosque. “It is wrong to talk like this. He is disrespectful of the court,” a resident said.

Aamir, a shop owner near the Kashi Vishwanath temple, said, “If you want to divide two communities, then you can say anything. We believe in the court. Whatever will be the decision will be accepted, but ask them (Hindu side), will they accept?”

The Supreme Court on Friday, in its order on the Gyanvapi case, shifted the hearing to the District Court from the Civil Court.

Heavy security has been deployed at the place where Shivling was reportedly found, while Muslim devotees have been allowed to offer Namaz in the mosque.

The police are also taking care of the security arrangements outside the place where prayers are offered in the mosque. Everyone is checked and the suspects are also interrogated.

Meanwhile, the court-appointed Commission to conduct videographic survey of the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex submitted its report to the court. The report said the members saw Hindu symbols like lotus, swastika, ‘trishul’ (trident), and ‘bell shapes’ in the building.

Former court commissioner Ajay Mishra, who conducted survey on May 6 and 7, has also presented his report, in which he claimed he found Hindu religious symbols and temple debris inside the Gyanvapi mosque.

Crime

Mumbai: Man Held For ₹31.58 Lakh Jewellery Fraud Using Fake Chandukaka Saraf Identity

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Mumbai: Two Mumbai-based gold jewellery manufacturing companies were cheated of Rs.31 lakh in the name of the well-known Chandukaka Saraf shop in Pune. In connection with the case, the MIDC police arrested an accused identified as Kartik Shah, 33. Shah had obtained the GST certificate of Chandukaka Saraf and misused it to commit the fraud.

Borivali Man with Jewellery Trade Links Behind Fraud

According to the MIDC police, the accused, Kartik Shah, resides in Borivali West. He had worked in a goldsmith’s shop for a few years, and several of his relatives are also in the same business. Therefore, he had knowledge of the trade and was familiar with its intricacies. Using this knowledge, he devised a fraudulent plan.

On 8 August, Shah visited the renowned jewellery store ‘Chandukaka Saraf’ in Pune, claiming to be an officer from the International Gemological Institute. On the pretext of updating the store’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) certificate, he requested a copy of the document. Owing to his convincing body language, no one suspected him, and the manager handed over a copy of the GST certificate.

After obtaining the certificate, Shah executed the next phase of his plan. On 9 August, he contacted two jewellery manufacturers in Mumbai—‘Money Jewels Expert with Better Diamond’ and ‘Calista Jewellers’. Posing as a representative of Chandukaka Saraf, he claimed that two new showrooms were opening and jewellery was required for display there. To gain the trust of the companies, he sent them a copy of the GST certificate, as a result of which they believed him. He instructed the companies to send the jewellery through parcel porters, giving different addresses in Mumbai and Pune. However, before the porters could reach the showroom address, Shah intercepted them on the road in Bandra and took the parcel. He obtained a parcel near Chetna college in Bandra West and another at Khadaki in Pune.

Inside the Conspiracy

In this way, Shah looted gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs.31.58 lakh from both companies. The fraud came to light when it was realised that the jewellery never reached Chandukaka Saraf Company. A case was registered in this regard at the MIDC police station, where the police later investigated and arrested Kartik Shah in Mumbai.

The mobile number used by the accused was traced, and based on information provided by the porter company, Shah was located and arrested. The further investigation is underway to determine how many more companies the accused may have cheated. Under the guidance of senior police inspector Ravindra Wani, detection officer Yash Palve executed the operation.

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Crime

Mumbai: Surat Crime Branch Arrests Cousin Accused Of Abducting & Murdering 3-Year-Old Boy Found In Train Toilet At LTT Station

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Mumbai: In a shocking case of child abduction and murder, the Surat Crime Branch arrested Vikas Shah from Mumbai for allegedly kidnapping and killing his 3-year-old cousin. The accused was apprehended following a joint investigation by the Surat Crime Branch and Amroli Police.

DCP Bhavesh Rozia says, “A woman complained that her 3-year-old son was taken away by her nephew, Vikas Shah, originally from Siwan, Bihar. On the 22nd, during the search by different police teams, the child’s dead body was found in a train toilet at Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak station. Surat Crime Branch and Amroli Police had been continuously working on the case for three days.

In a deeply disturbing incident, the body of the 3-year-old boy was found inside a dustbin in the bathroom of AC coach B2 of the Kushinagar Express (Train No. 22537) in the early hours of Saturday.

The incident came to light around 1:00 am, when cleaning staff began cleaning the coaches after the train arrived at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Mumbai, following its journey from Gorakhpur.

The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Central Railway, Swapnil Nila, confirmed the details of the incident.

He mentioned, “This morning, the 22537 Kushinagar Express, running from Gorakhpur, arrived at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus. When the cleaning staff was cleaning the train, they found a child left in the B2 coach of the Third AC. After that, the staff took the child to the hospital, where it was declared dead…”

Further, he added that, “The child is about 3-4 years old… GRP and State Civil Police were informed… Further investigation is underway… We are trying to find out from where the child boarded the train and where the child was going. Was there anyone else with him?… CCTV footage is being checked… Some marks were found near the neck of the child in the beginning, and the condition of the child seemed bad.

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Crime

Mumbai: Nashik Farmer Duped Of ₹1.44 Crore To Kalyan Man Promising Liquor Shop Licence In Navi Mumbai

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Navi Mumbai: A 29-year-old farmer from Nashik has allegedly been cheated of Rupees 1.44 crore by a man who promised to get him a liquor shop licence in Navi Mumbai, police said on Tuesday. The accused, hailing from Kalyan in Thane district, had convinced the victim that he could facilitate the transfer of a licence of a liquor shop at Panvel in Navi Mumbai from the owner in his name.

Trusting him, the victim, belonging to Niphad in neighbouring Nashik district, along with his brother, paid Rupees 1.44 crore to him in multiple installments between July 2024 and January this year, an official from MFC police station said.

After collecting the amount, the accused allegedly paid rupees 61 lakh to the liquor shop owner, misappropriated the remaining Rupees 83 lakh and failed to secure the licence for the victim, he said. When the victim questioned the accused about the status of the licence and the payments made, the latter issued some cheques as reimbursement. “All the cheques bounced, further raising suspicion,” As per media report, official state.

The accused neither returned the amount nor ensured the transfer of the licence in the victim’s name, he said. Based on the victim’s complaint, an FIR was registered against the accused on August 23 under section 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the police said. A detailed probe was underway into the case, they added.

A 79-year-old Powai doctor lost nearly ₹25 lakh in a share trading scam, leading to arrests of two suspects, Prashant Chaudhary and Richard Rao, by the Mumbai Cyber Cell. The doctor, who heads a private company, received a WhatsApp message on July 17 promoting stock investments with a customer care number. After joining a group, he received stock tips and personal assurances from an admin, who created a fake trading ID and password for him.

Over a few weeks, he invested ₹25 lakh, encouraged by apparent profits. When he attempted to withdraw his money, his efforts failed, and the fraudsters claimed he needed to invest more to increase his “score.” After realizing he was scammed, the doctor reported the incident, leading to an investigation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act. Investigators traced the funds to Chaudhary and Rao, who laundered money through multiple bank accounts. Police warn citizens to beware of online investment schemes promising guaranteed returns.

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