New Delhi, Nov 13: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Manoj Gaur, Managing Director of Jaypee Infratech Limited, in a money laundering case linked to the alleged siphoning of money paid by homebuyers for the construction of flats, according to sources on Thursday.

The Enforcement Directorate had in May carried out searches at 15 premises linked to Manoj Gaur’s flagship real estate development companies — Jaypee Infratech Ltd., and Jayprakash Associates Ltd, as well as their associated entities.

During the operation, officials seized hard cash to the tune of Rs 1.7 crore, along with financial records, digital data, and property documents registered in the names of promoters, their family members, and group companies.

The raids were carried out across Delhi, Mumbai, Noida, and Ghaziabad as part of an ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

IDBI Bank had first filed a petition against Jaypee Infratech Limited (JIL) in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Allahabad, after JIL defaulted on a payment of over Rs 526 crore. The NCLT initiated the insolvency process on August 9, 2017.

The insolvency case gained national attention due to over 21,000 homebuyers who had booked flats in JIL projects being left in the lurch as money had been diverted from construction projects, primarily in Wish Town, Noida.

The Supreme Court intervened to protect their interests, eventually leading to an amendment to the IBC that classified homebuyers as financial creditors, giving them a vote in the resolution process.

The case involved extensive legal proceedings, including disputes over transactions where JIL’s assets were mortgaged to secure the debts of its parent company, Jaiprakash Associates Limited (JAL).

After several rounds of bidding, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) approved a resolution plan submitted by the Suraksha Group in May 2024. Under this plan, Suraksha is to complete the unfinished projects and pay enhanced compensation to farmers as part of the land acquisition terms.

Guwahati, Nov 13: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the state government would remain “uncompromising against those who glorify violence”, as police intensified a crackdown on individuals posting inflammatory and offensive content on social media following the recent Delhi blasts.

Taking to the social media platform X, the Chief Minister informed that 15 persons have been arrested across Assam in connection with objectionable posts that allegedly attempted to justify or celebrate the blasts.

He said that the government has directed the police to act firmly against any attempt to disturb communal harmony or spread hatred through online platforms.

“In connection with the offensive social media posts following the Delhi blasts, 15 persons have been arrested across Assam so far. Assam Police remains uncompromising against those who glorify violence,” CM Sarma wrote on X.

According to the Chief Minister, nine persons were arrested overnight in addition to six arrests made earlier.

The latest arrests include Rafijul Ali from Bongaigaon, Forid Uddin Laskar from Hailakandi, Inamul Islam and Firuj Ahmed alias Papon from Lakhimpur, Shahil Shoman Sikdar alias Shahidul Islam and Rakibul Sultan from Barpeta, Nasim Akram from Hojai, Taslim Ahmed from Kamrup, and Abdur Rohim Mollah alias Bappy Hussain from South Salmara.

Earlier, six others had been arrested from different districts for similar offences.

Police said that all 15 individuals were apprehended for posting or sharing content that allegedly glorified acts of terror or attempted to spread communal tension.

A senior police officer said that Assam Police’s cyber teams are actively monitoring online activities and will continue to take strong action against anyone found misusing social media.

“We are keeping a close watch on digital platforms. No one will be spared if found promoting violence or disturbing public peace,” the official added.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued a sharp warning on Wednesday in the wake of the recent Delhi blast, describing it as a grim reminder that education alone cannot prevent radicalisation.

On Wednesday, he called the Delhi blast incident a “new dimension of extremism”, saying that the nation must re-examine its assumptions about what drives people towards terror and ideological violence.

The Chief Minister’s statement underscores the state government’s zero-tolerance policy toward online extremism and its commitment to maintaining peace and social order across Assam.

Mumbai, Nov 13: The Mumbai Railway Police on Thursday took suo motu cognisance of an ‘illegal’ protest staged at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) by members of the Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh (CRMS). A case has been registered at the CSMT Railway Police Station against two railway employees, identified as S.K. Dubey and Vivek Sisodia.

According to a statement released by the Mumbai Railway Police, the protest was held on November 6, demanding the withdrawal of an FIR registered against two engineers in connection with the Mumbra station incident, which claimed the lives of five people. Without obtaining prior permission, CRMS members organised the agitation at CSMT, leading to charges of unlawful assembly and violation of public order and traffic regulations.

On the day of the incident, members of CRMS held a sit-in protest outside the motorman’s lobby and the Station Manager’s office, disrupting railway operations and halting local train services for nearly an hour.

Around 4 p.m., nearly 100 to 200 railway employees gathered at Milan Hall under the leadership of CRMS president Praveen Vajpayee and later marched peacefully towards the Divisional Railway Manager’s (DRM) office. However, after the official protest concluded around 5.30 p.m., about 30 to 40 employees, led by Dubey and Sisodia, allegedly entered the motorman’s lobby at CSMT and began an unapproved sit-in protest.

The protesters reportedly blocked entry to the motormen, guards, and the Station Manager’s office using iron benches, resulting in staff being trapped inside and complete disruption of local train services from 5.41 p.m. The stoppage led to crowding and confusion among passengers on the platforms.

The agitation ended at 6.38 p.m. after assurances were given by the DRM, following which train services gradually resumed.

A senior officer stated that the CRMS protest violated existing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which bans gatherings of five or more persons within the jurisdiction of the Railway Police Commissionerate without prior permission.

A case has been registered under Sections 189(2), 190, 127(2), 221, and 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 37(1) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act.

Police officials said the accused will soon be summoned for questioning. Investigators are also probing who instigated and supported the CRMS members to stage the protest within the station premises without prior approval. The investigation is currently underway.