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‘Used money for personal enjoyment’, ED to SC on Rana Ayyub’s plea in money laundering case

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday said journalist Rana Ayyub received money through a crowdfunding platform for the purpose of slum dwellers, Covid relief, and some work in Assam, however she diverted the money and used it for “personal enjoyment”.

Ayyub had moved the apex court against the summons issued by a Ghaziabad court in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case.

Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing Ayyub, contended before a bench of Justices V. Ramasubramanian and Justice J.B. Pardiwala, “can her client be deprived of personal liberty by a procedure not authorised by law?”

Grover said the ED has attached her client’s personal bank account in a bank at Navi Mumbai in which around Rs 1 crore was lying. She pressed that the Ghaziabad court has no jurisdiction to try the offence as the alleged act is claimed to have been committed in Mumbai.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, submitted that Ayyub raised funds of three aspects — slum dwellers, Covid, and for some work in Assam — on Ketto, which is a crowdfunding platform. He added that nearly Rs 1 crore was collected and Rs 50 Lakh was transferred to a personal account in fixed deposit, and after the first campaign was over she kept receiving money. “We found that money was diverted…used for personal enjoyment…people were donating crores without knowing where money was going…,” said Mehta.

He further submitted that a prosecution complaint was filed in the Ghaziabad court by the agency as part of the cause of action had arisen in Uttar Pradesh, where many people, including from Ghaziabad, donated money for her crowdfunding campaign.

Mehta said the money laundering offence is not an independent offence and is always connected to a scheduled offence for which an FIR was lodged in Indirapuram police station of Ghaziabad. He added that money was shown by fake bills, groceries, among others, and was used for personal luxury items and consumption.

Citing Ayyub’s counsel arguments, Mehta emphasized that if a person chose to launder money in Singapore or Thiruvananthapuram, the agency has to go there and lodge a case. He said, “this is not the scheme…”

After hearing arguments, the apex court reserved its verdict on a plea by Ayyub challenging the summonses issued by a special court in Ghaziabad in the money laundering case.

Last week, the apex court had asked the Ghaziabad court to adjourn the proceedings in the money laundering case against Ayyub scheduled for hearing on January 27 to a date after January 31.

The ED, in October last year, had filed a charge sheet against Ayyub, accusing her of cheating the public and utilising charity funds worth Rs 2.69 crore for creating her personal assets, and also violating the foreign contribution law.

Ayyub moved the apex court seeking quashing of the proceedings initiated by the ED in Ghaziabad. The plea contended that the alleged offence of money laundering occurred in Mumbai, while citing lack of jurisdiction.

A special PMLA court in Ghaziabad, in November last year, had taken cognizance of the prosecution complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate and summoned Ayyub. The special court said that from the perusal of the entire record there is sufficient evidence as to a prima facie case for taking cognizance against Rana Ayyub with regard to commission of offence.

The special court has noted the alleged offence is connection with obtaining illegally money from the general public in the name of charity via ‘Ketto’ platform, which is an online crowdfunding platform, in three campaigns without any kind of approval, raising huge amounts in the bank account of her sister and father and later transferring the same to her own bank account which was not used for the intended purpose.

Crime

Action in Begusarai gang-rape case escalates; SHO suspended, SIT formed

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Patna, June 19: The investigation into the heinous gang-rape and brutalisation of a woman in Bihar’s Begusarai district, that is reminiscent of the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case in the national Capital, intensified on Friday. Senior officials of Bihar Police launched a detailed enquiry into the shocking case and took disciplinary action against the Chakia SHO Rajiv Ranjan on Friday, for negligence.

The case, which pertains to an incident reported in the Chakia police station area on the night of June 11, gained widespread attention after allegations surfaced that a bullet, piece of wood and a stone were later recovered from the victim’s private parts during medical treatment.

Begusarai Range DIG, Shailesh Kumar Sinha, visited the victim at Sadar Hospital and met her family members to gather information about the horrific crime.

He also reviewed the progress of the investigation with police officials and sought details regarding the action taken so far in the case.

The DIG subsequently held discussions with the medical team, including the Civil Surgeon, and obtained a detailed briefing on the victim’s examination and treatment.

In a significant administrative action, Chakia SHO Rajiv Ranjan has been suspended.

According to the DIG, preliminary findings indicated negligence in handling the case, prompting departmental action against SHO Rajiv Ranjan.

Police have registered an FIR in connection with the case and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to identify and arrest the accused.

Senior officers, including the DIG and district police officials, have inspected the alleged crime scene as part of the ongoing investigation.

Officials stated that a fresh medical examination has been conducted by a medical Board, and investigators are awaiting the final report, which is expected to play a crucial role in determining the next course of action.

The police have assured that all accused people involved in the crime will be arrested and brought to justice.

Investigators are examining evidence, recording statements, and verifying all aspects of the case.

Authorities have emphasised that further legal and departmental action will be taken based on the findings of the medical report and the SIT’s investigation.

The case has generated widespread public concern and drawn attention to the handling of crimes against women in Bihar, with senior officials closely monitoring the developments in the case.

According to an official, the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Chakiya police station on the night of June 11.

The 30-year-old woman had stepped out of her home to use the toilet when she was allegedly intercepted by five men, who forcibly dragged her to a secluded location, tied her hands and legs with her clothes and gang-raped her.

In a show of cruelty and depravity, the rapists inserted a cartridge, wood, and a stone into the hapless woman’s her private parts.

The woman’s family has also accused the local police of failing to respond appropriately and sending them back home when they first attempted to lodge a complaint in the case.

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Crime

Delhi Police recovers 168 lost mobiles in 15 days under ‘Operation Vishwas’

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New Delhi, June 19: Delhi Police has recovered 168 lost mobile phones in the last 15 days, under ‘Operation Vishwas’, and 88 of these have been handed over to their rightful owners after verification of ownership and completion of necessary formalities, officials said on Friday.

An official statement mentioned that the recovery drive was executed by a dedicated team comprising officials of the Special Staff and designated nodal officers from each police station of the Central District.

The recovered mobile phones had been dispersed across multiple locations and states. Through sustained efforts and effective liaison with local authorities, the police teams successfully traced and recovered devices from various regions, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and other parts of the country.

According to the police, the success of the operation was largely driven by meticulous technical analysis and digital tracking. The teams utilised available technological tools and analytical resources to identify the movement and present location of the lost devices. Each lead was thoroughly examined and followed up on, enabling the recovery of mobile phones that had changed hands and crossed jurisdictional boundaries.

Investigators revealed that technical efforts also facilitated the successful unblocking of mobile phones, enabling their restoration and return to their rightful owners. After due verification of ownership and completion of necessary formalities, 88 mobile phones were handed over to their rightful owners.

The recovered mobile phones contained valuable personal data, professional information, financial applications, and irreplaceable memories of people who, upon receiving the lost devices, expressed their appreciation for the dedicated efforts of the police teams.

Delhi Police emphasised that this initiative demonstrates how coordinated teamwork, technical expertise, and persistent field efforts can deliver tangible results in public service.

Earlier, between the period of June 1 and 10, 71 stolen mobile phones were recovered by the Delhi Police, of which 45 have been returned to their rightful owners, officials said last week. The rest of the recovered mobiles are being verified for handover.

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Crime

Delhi Police arrests auto-lifter, recovers two stolen vehicles, mobile phones

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New Delhi, June 19: In a major breakthrough against vehicle theft and street crime, the East District Police on Friday arrested an auto-lifter and recovered two stolen two-wheelers along with two stolen mobile phones. The arrest has helped police solve four theft cases registered across different police stations in Delhi.

The accused, identified as Rohit alias ‘Pistol’, was apprehended by a team from Police Station Madhu Vihar following a targeted operation based on specific Intelligence inputs. Police said the accused was found to be involved in multiple criminal cases related to robbery, snatching and theft.

According to officials, the operation was carried out as part of the East District Police’s ongoing drive to curb vehicle theft, snatching and other street crimes.

A dedicated team was formed under the supervision of Inspector Sandeep Arya, Acting SHO of Madhu Vihar Police Station, and under the overall guidance of the ACP of Madhu Vihar Sub-Division. The team comprised Head Constables Arun, Sachin Tyagi and Neeraj.

On June 16, while conducting routine patrols in the Madhu Vihar area, the police team received a tip-off from a reliable informer. The informer disclosed that an auto-lifter would arrive near Tarawati Hospital in Joshi Colony to sell a stolen scooter at a heavily discounted price of around Rs 8,000.

Acting swiftly on the information, the police laid a trap near the hospital and kept the area under surveillance. At around 6.30 P.M., a suspect arrived riding a TVS N-Torq scooter without a registration number plate. The police intercepted and apprehended him on the spot.

During questioning, the suspect identified himself as Rohit alias ‘Pistol’, a resident of Mandawali in East Delhi. Verification of the scooter through the ZIPNET database revealed that the vehicle had been reported stolen from the Shakarpur area. The scooter was linked to an e-FIR registered on June 15 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

During a search of the vehicle, police also recovered two mobile phones. Further verification established that both phones had been reported stolen in separate theft cases registered at Madhu Vihar Police Station earlier this year. The recovered property was seized and the accused was formally arrested.

During sustained interrogation, Rohit allegedly disclosed that he had hidden another stolen motorcycle near the Community Centre in Joshi Colony, Mandawali. Acting on his disclosure, the police team recovered a Yamaha motorcycle from the location.

Subsequent verification confirmed that the motorcycle had been stolen from the Pandav Nagar area and was linked to an e-FIR registered on May 19, 2026. Police said the recovery further strengthened the case against the accused and helped solve another pending vehicle theft case.

The accused was produced before the court on June 17 and was subsequently remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to ascertain his possible involvement in other cases of vehicle theft and street crimes across the city.

Police said Rohit, 27, is a daily wage labourer who studied up to Class 10. Originally from Anna Nagar in Daryaganj, he is currently residing in Mandawali. During the investigation, it emerged that he is a drug addict and a habitual offender with a criminal record.

According to investigators, Rohit primarily targeted parked two-wheelers in different parts of Delhi. To avoid detection, he would remove the registration number plates of stolen vehicles before attempting to sell them at throwaway prices. Police also said he frequently retained or disposed of stolen mobile phones to earn quick money, which was allegedly used to fund his drug addiction and meet daily expenses.

Officials further revealed that the accused has previously been involved in at least four criminal cases related to robbery, snatching and theft registered in Delhi.

The recovered property includes a stolen TVS N-Torq scooter linked to a theft case registered at Shakarpur Police Station, a stolen Yamaha motorcycle linked to a case registered at Pandav Nagar Police Station, and two stolen mobile phones connected with separate cases registered at Madhu Vihar Police Station.

With these recoveries, police have successfully worked out four cases, including two mobile phone theft cases from Madhu Vihar and two vehicle theft cases registered at Shakarpur and Pandav Nagar police stations.

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