Diwali rush: Western railway operates 75 special train pairs
Surat: Unprecedented crowds have been witnessed at Surat railway station in Gujarat over the last few days as people headed to their hometowns ahead of Diwali and Chhath, with Western Railway operating special trains to cater to the festival rush. The Western Railway, in a release on Sunday, said that it has notified around 75 Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Surat Businessman's Son Misbehaves With Police After Being Caught Drinking In Car; Video Goes Viral thedailyjagran.com
Video: Surat Teen Assaults Police During Liquor Seizure; Businessman Father Arrested
During the celebrations, Sameer Shahs 19-year-old son was drinking alcohol with a few others inside a vehicle parked near the hotel.
Gujarat Businessman Arrested After Liquor Found During Birthday Party Raid
Two people, including a prominent businessman, were arrested after liquor cans were recovered from a vehicle near a hotel, where a huge party was held to celebrate his birthday, in Surat in the dry state of Gujarat earlier this week.
Known for his benevolent Diwali gifts to his employees, Dholakia in the past has presented thousands of cars and flats to his well-performing staffers.
Nine-year-old girl bitten by stray dog in Surathkal
Operation Freeze: 2,000-cr Fraud Assets Seized; Bulldozer Destroys Illegal Plot in Sri Ganganagar
Jaipur, October 14 (Daily Kiran): Under the directions of Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar Sharma, Sri Ganganagar police carried out two major actions on Tuesday as part of the special campaign Operation Freeze seizing luxury properties linked to a 2,000-crore alleged cyber-fraud and demolishing an illegal plot held by a history-sheeter in Suratgarh. ... Read more Operation Freeze: 2,000-cr Fraud Assets Seized; Bulldozer Destroys Illegal Plot in Sri Ganganagar
Gujarat: Non-Veg Party With Telugu Banner At School Lands Principal In Trouble
A non-vegetarian party in the premises of a government-run school in Surat city of Gujarat has created a huge controversy and led to the suspension of the principal.
Non-Veg Party At Surat School Sparks Row, Principal Suspended
A non-vegetarian party in the premises of a government-run school in Surat city of Gujarat has created a huge controversy and led to the suspension of the principal.
Indian Railways has introduced new safety measures for the festive season, including permanent holding areas at major stations like New Delhi, Bandra Terminus, and Surat. Passengers are advised not to carry firecrackers, gas cylinders, or inflammable items. Check further details inside.
RTI reply exposes audit lapse of over Rs 2 lakh crore in eight Gujarat Municipal Corporations
AHMEDABAD: A massive accountability crisis has exploded in Gujarat as eight major Municipal Corporations have not been audited for several years, leaving a budget worth over Rs 2 lakh crore unaudited and unverified. The revelations, made through an RTI response, expose systemic neglect, violation of audit laws, and a stunning breakdown of financial transparency. Citizens of these cities have effectively been left in the dark about how public money is being spent. Now, Gujarats urban governance is staring at a financial storm. RTI documents have exposed that not a single audit has been completed for several years for eight major Municipal Corporations: Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Surat and Vadodara. The data, obtained from the Director of the Local Fund Accounts Office in response to an RTI filed under Section 4(1) of the Act, reveals how thousands of crores of rupees in civic funds have remained unaudited, violating the Gujarat Local Fund Audit Act, 1963. The backlog means that over Rs 2 lakh crore of municipal expenditure across Gujarats largest cities has never undergone mandatory financial scrutiny. With an annual budget of around 12,000 crore in 202425, the Ahmedabad civic body hasnt completed an audit since 201718, which roughly translates to approximately 50,000 crore in unverified accounts for just one city. Similar patterns are seen in Surat and Vadodara, while other corporations have remained unaudited for four to six years. Experts say that this is not a mere technical lapse, but a deep governance failure. Ignored directives, defied laws This financial vacuum exists despite clear legal obligations and repeated directives. Notably, the Gujarat Local Fund Audit Act, 1963, under Section 4 mandates annual audits of all local bodies. The 11th Central Finance Commission (200005) had recommended that the audit of Municipal Corporations be done under the guidance of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), with reports submitted to the State Assembly. A Finance Department resolution on May 6, 2005, and later a circular on December 23, 2011, made this legally binding. The CAG had also flagged the non-compliance in August 2009, urging Gujarat to ensure timely audits. In 2011, Section 108A was added to the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, 1949, to reinforce the obligation. Yet, the RTI reply confirms that none of these directives have been implemented effectively. Last Audited Year, Municipal Corporation and Pending Years. The failure has also meant that no audit reports have been tabled in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly for years, as the audits were never done. The Finance Departments 2011 circular was meant to bring in accountability through CAG-supervised audits of Municipal Corporations. These reports were to be presented before the Assembly, debated, and acted upon. Instead, the process has been derailed for over a decade. Neither the CAG nor the Local Fund Audit Office has enforced strict timelines, and successive governments have allowed this crisis to deepen. RTI applicant raised red flag RTI Activist and Professor Hemant Kumar Shah has slammed the government, alleging a deliberate shielding of irregularities. In a democracy, the audit report for the previous financial year should be presented in the new year, debated by corporators, and acted upon as per rules. If the audit itself is not done for years, transparency collapses, and irregularities get buried, Shah claimed. He further alleged, This is a clear violation of the Gujarat Local Fund Audit Act, 1963. The State Assembly has failed in its duty to ensure annual presentation of audit reports. Transparency is a fundamental principle of democracy. When 2 lakh crore goes unaudited, the publics right to know how their money is used is crushed. Citizens kept in the dark The lack of audits not just weaken financial scrutiny but also denies Gujarats urban citizens of transparency over how civic budgets are spent on critical services like roads, water, housing, and sanitation.Over two crore people live in these eight municipal areas. However, no red flags were raised, no mismanagement was officially recorded. Political and governance questions mount The revelation has triggered serious concerns: Why has the State not enforced its own audit rules for over a decade? How is financial scrutiny being bypassed despite repeated CAG interventions? Who is responsible for this 2 lakh crore transparency vacuum? Legal experts say this is not just an administrative lapse, but a potential violation of constitutional principles governing local self-government. What next? With RTI evidence out in the open, pressure is likely to mount over the State government to immediately initiate pending audits and present reports in the Assembly. Activists and former bureaucrats argue that independent CAG oversight and public disclosure of audit findings are the only way to restore credibility. However, with seven years already lost in some corporations, the process of auditing such massive backlogs will be long, complex and politically sensitive. Whether the State acts decisive or let the lapse unchecked will determine the future of transparency and accountability in Gujarats urban administration. Notably, Hemant Kumar Shah said,If audits are not done, irregularities remain invisible. And when irregularities remain invisible, accountability dies.
Ahmedabad Diary: Gujarat BJP chief Vishwakarma begins seven-day tour to strengthen party base
Gujarat BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma has begun a seven-day statewide tour from October 10 to 17 to tighten the partys organisation. He has asked supporters to greet him only with books, which he plans to donate to needy students. During the tour, he will address six major party meetings. There is strong speculation that a new regional BJP team will be announced after the tour. Four general secretaries are likely to be selected zone-wise, representing Patidar, Kshatriya and tribal communities. Party insiders see this tour as a serious effort to strengthen the grassroots network before upcoming electoral battles. BJP red-faced as party workers brawl in Surat A public fight between two BJP workers in Surat, considered the political base of Union minister C R Patil, has embarrassed the party. A video shows Dinesh Savaliya and Shailesh Jariwala arguing and then fighting inside the party office. The issue reportedly began over tea and snacks before it escalated. Savaliya is seen slapping Jariwala. The party has issued notices to both, demanding a response within three days. Jariwala has filed a police complaint at Udhna station, accusing Savaliya of assault and threats. Party sources say Savaliya was also involved in earlier disputes. The action is being seen as a warning against internal indiscipline. Congress slams BJP over coop mandate row The BJPs mandate system in cooperative institutions has turned into a political flashpoint. After growing opposition within the sector, even former BJP president C R Patil has distanced himself from the practice. The Congress seized the moment, with senior leader Jayanarayan Vyas accusing the BJP of running monopoly and multi-crore scams through cooperatives. He said cooperatives should remain neutral and not be drawn into politics. He also cited the 1993 Mehsana Cooperative Bank election as an example of how political control can backfire. Vyas accused the BJP of saying one thing and doing another. Dilip Singh Kshatriya dilipsingh@newindianexpress.com
Surat House Help Buys Rs 60 Lakh Flat, Leaves Employer and Netizens Stunned
A house help in Surat buys a Rs 60 lakh 3BHK flat, while already owning a house and a shop. Netizens are amazed by her financial discipline and smart investments.
Digital arrest scam: Police arrests 3 from Gujarat for duping Jammu trader of Rs 4.4 Cr
Jammu Tawi, Oct 7 : The cyber wing of Jammu and Kashmir police has uncovered an online fraud involving Rs 4.4 crore with the arrest of three accused from Gujarats Surat who had kept a Jammu-based businessman under digital arrest, police said on Tuesday. The fraud came to light on September 2 when the businessman [] The post Digital arrest scam: Police arrests 3 from Gujarat for duping Jammu trader of Rs 4.4 Cr appeared first on Northlines .
J&K Cyber Police Arrest 3 in 4.4 Crore Digital Arrest Scam
Jammu, Oct 7: The cyber wing of Jammu and Kashmir police has uncovered an online fraud involving Rs 4.4 crore with the arrest of three accused from Gujarats Surat who had kept a Jammu-based businessman under digital arrest, police said on Tuesday. The fraud came to light on September 2 when the businessman lodged a [] The post J&K Cyber Police Arrest 3 in 4.4 Crore Digital Arrest Scam appeared first on Northlines .
Cyber Police Jammu Busts Rs 4.44 Crore Fraud, Arrests Three from Gujarat
SRINAGAR: The Cyber Police Station Jammu has busted a high-value online fraud amounting to Rs .44 crore and arrested three accused from Surat, Gujarat. The operation was conducted under the overall supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, Joginder Singh (JKPS), and the guidance of Superintendent of Police (Incharge Cyber Police Station Jammu) Kameshwar Puri, []
Digital Arrest Scam: J&K Police Arrests 3 From Gujarat For Duping Jammu Trader Of Rs 4.4 Crore
Jammu, Oct 7: The cyber wing of Jammu and Kashmir police has uncovered an online fraud involving Rs 4.4 crore with the arrest of three accused from Gujarats Surat who had kept a Jammu-based businessman under digital arrest, police said on Tuesday. The fraud came to light on September 2 when the businessman lodged a written complaint at the cyber police station here, alleging that he had been defrauded of huge amounts of money by cyber criminals impersonating as law [] The post Digital Arrest Scam: J&K Police Arrests 3 From Gujarat For Duping Jammu Trader Of Rs 4.4 Crore appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
EESL, APEPDCL Expand Clean Energy Partnership
The state has also installed over 30 lakh LED streetlights, with the Vizag Model of street lightingdeveloped post-Hudhud cyclonenow replicated in cities including Varanasi, Jaipur, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai, and lauded globally at a BRICS Conference.
Gujarat diamond traders duped of Rs 4.80 crore in international online fraud
AHMEDABAD: In a shocking case that has rocked Gujarats Surats famed diamond market, six prominent diamond traders from the city have fallen victim to a sophisticated international online fraud. The con, orchestrated through the global diamond trading portal Rapnet, resulted in a total loss of Rs 4.80 crore worth of diamonds. The fraudster, operating under the alias Arson Isako, posed as a genuine international buyer and vanished without making payments after receiving the high-value consignments. The scam came to light when Sanjaybhai Jadavbhai Goti, a diamond trader operating under the name Neelkanth Solitaire in Mahidharpuras Shubham Building, reported a major fraud. A resident of Kapodra area, Sanjay had listed a consignment of diamonds worth Rs 81 lakh for sale on the online diamond trading platform Rapnet in March of the previous year. On June 3, Sanjay received a call from an unknown mobile number. The caller introduced himself as Arson Isako, claiming interest in purchasing the listed diamonds. Presenting himself as a reputed international trader, Isako requested the consignment to be delivered either to Dubai or Hong Kong. To verify the buyer's credibility, Sanjay conducted background checks within the diamond community, which at the time suggested the buyer was legitimate. Trusting the information, Sanjay arranged the shipment of the diamonds to Dubai through his friend Deepak Garmorani, who operates from a Dubai-based office. The consignment was successfully delivered, and initially, everything appeared in order. However, trouble began when Sanjaybhai followed up for payment. Despite multiple attempts, Isako stopped responding to calls and ceased all communication on WhatsApp, violating standard trade practices. Realizing he had been duped, Sanjaybhai began investigating independently within the diamond network of Surat. To his alarm, he discovered that he was not the only victim. Five other traders from Surat had been similarly conned by the same individual under the same pretense of international diamond purchase. The other victims were identified. Each trader had dispatched diamonds to Dubai on the basis of deals made through Rapnet, only to be met with silence and unreachable contacts once the goods were delivered. The total fraud across all six victims has amounted to an estimated Rs 4.80 crore. Following this discovery, Sanjay approached the Surat Crime Branch and lodged an official complaint against the fraudster. The Surat Crime Branch is now exploring multiple angles, including international cyber fraud, misuse of online trading platforms, and potential loopholes in the vetting process of such portals. Authorities are also coordinating with international counterparts to trace the whereabouts of the accused and recover the lost assets. This incident has sent ripples across Surats diamond market, highlighting the vulnerabilities in online trade practices, even in one of the worlds most secure and prestigious markets. It serves as a grim reminder for traders to exercise extreme caution, especially while dealing with international clients through digital platforms. The case is currently under active investigation, and more details are expected to emerge as the probe deepens into what could be part of a larger international racket targeting Indian diamond merchants.
Senior BJP leader Jagdish Panchal took charge as the Gujarat BJP state president in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Ministers. Simultaneously, Surat is set to host a state-of-the-art PM Ekta Mall with a Rs 202 crore investment, promoting 'Vocal for Local' and indigenous products under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission.
Japanese Ministers Visit To Bullet Trains Surat Station Shows Collaborations On Track
The Surat High Speed Rail Corridor is a component of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor
Ashwini Vaishnaw, Japanese minister visit bullet train construction site in Surat
Indian and Japanese transport ministers reviewed the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project in Surat, expressing satisfaction with construction quality and pace. This 508 km bullet train, set to complete by 2029, will connect major cities at 320 km/h, significantly reducing travel time to just over two hours and boosting regional economies.
Gujarat monsoon forecast: Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Kutch experience active monsoon conditions. Extremely heavy rain occurred in isolated areas. A low-pressure area influences weather patterns. It may intensify into a depression. The India Meteorological Department forecasts light to moderate rain for the next seven days across the region. Heavy showers are expected in South Gujarat and Saurashtra.
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Assembly today unanimously passed a resolution seeking a comprehensive special package of Rs 20,000 crore from the Union government for compensation to farmers, rebuilding infrastructure, and restoring livelihoods in flood-affected areas. The assembly also condemned the 'lack of response and the failure' of the BJP-led union government to sanction a special financial package for the flood-hit Punjab. The resolution also condemned the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) for not responding to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns repeated request for a meeting, thereby 'insulting' the people of the state, and preventing the state from making a proper and comprehensive representation of the full scale of the disaster. Additionally, it demanded the immediate transfer of Rs 1,600 crore relief announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Punjab. The resolution, which was moved on Friday, was passed after the completion of the discussion on the rehabilitation of the state. The two BJP MLAs were not present in the House when the resolution was passed. As per the resolution, Punjab has been ravaged by catastrophic floods, widely regarded as the worst and most destructive deluge since the 1988 floods, which historically impacted more than 34 lakh people. The current disaster has surpassed previous major floods in independent India, such as those in 1955 and 1978, in terms of sheer scale and devastation, causing loss to more than 20 lakh people in many ways, destroying crops on nearly five lakh acres, numerous losses to livestock, and irreparable damage to both private and public infrastructure, read the resolution. Winding up the discussion in the House on the concluding day of the session, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said a compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre for 75 to 100 per cent damage of crops due to the recent floods will be given. He said Rs 10,000 per acre will be given for 33 to 75 per cent and 26 to 33 per cent of crop damage. He added that a compensation of Rs 1.20 lakh will be given for complete damage of houses. Mann said a special 'girdawari' for assessment of losses is underway and added that flood-hit families will start getting compensation before the Diwali festival. Farmers will be given Rs 7,200 per acre for extracting sand, which has accumulated following the floods, from their fields. A sum of Rs 47,500 per hectare will be given to farmers whose farmland was washed away by rivers. He slammed the Centre for allegedly not giving him time to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a representation of the disaster. He also took a swipe at the Centre, saying the PM gave time to meet the Punjab governor. Mann, however, said he has been given time to meet Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday. The resolution stated, This House categorically condemns the lack of response and the failure of the BJP-led Union government to sanction a special financial package commensurate with the scale of the worst floods faced by Punjab in decades. Records its strong protest against the BJP led Union governments apathy that has resulted in the non-disbursement of the announced token funds, thereby critically crippling the speed of the state governments ongoing relief and rehabilitation operations, said the resolution. Earlier in the day, the House was adjourned following a heated exchange between Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and Finance Minister Harpal Cheema. Cheema alleged that while Bajwa blamed the government for failing to provide relief, he himself was promoting self-interest through land deals at the expense of others. In a statement, Bajwa accused the government of misleading the House and the people of Punjab on crucial flood preparedness measures. He specifically called out AAP minister Barinder Goyal, who had earlier claimed in the assembly that all preparations for flood mitigation had been completed by July 14. The facts prove otherwise, Bajwa said. He revealed that on July 22, 2025, the Chief Engineer (Vigilance) of the Water Resources Department wrote to the Chief Engineer (Drainage) directing him to start reviewing the necessity of flood protection works a process which had not even commenced at the site despite two-thirds of the monsoon season already having passed. Bajwa alleged that Executive Engineers from several districts themselves admitted that no flood mitigation or drainage repair works had started in critical areas, including Shri Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Pathankot, and Ferozepur. These facts clearly expose the lies of Barinder Goyal and highlight the governments negligence, he added. Bajwa also pointed to letters sent by the Water Resources Department in late July as proof of the administrations unpreparedness. The Principal Secretary of the department had written to all Deputy Commissioners on July 28, directing them to procure EC bags and Geo bags for flood protection, while a separate letter on July 27 instructed the Chief Engineer to arrange EC bags for Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. If everything was completed by July 14 as claimed, why did these urgent instructions go out two weeks later? Bajwa asked. Responding sharply to allegations made by Cheema regarding his personal land purchase, Bajwa clarified that he had bought the land legally and paid the required stamp duty to the state government. If I have done anything illegal, I challenge Cheema to file a case against me, he asserted.
Punjab Assembly passes resolution against Centre's 'lack of response' on financial package
This House categorically condemns the lack of response and the failure of the BJP-led union government to sanction a special financial package commensurate with the scale of the worst floods faced by Punjab in decades, the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly said
Ahmedabad Diary | CR Patil in BJPs national president post race?
Speculation is rife in Gujarats political circles as BJP leader and Union Water Resources Minister CR Patil emerges as a contender for the partys national president post. Patils presence alongside Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent Surat visit has fuelled buzz among party workers, who believe his elevation would boost Gujarats clout after PM Narendra Modi and Shah. With JP Naddas term ending, Patils consistent electoral success in Gujarat, strong internal party grip, and close ties with top leadership strengthen his prospects. Enthusiasm is high in Navsari, where workers see this as Gujarats rising dominance in national politics. Viral clip sparks political storm in Gujarat BJP A leaked audio clip allegedly featuring Gujarat BJP chief C.R. Patil and Amreli MLA, Assembly Deputy Dandak Kaushik Vekaria, has ignited political turmoil in Saurashtra. Vekaria, already under scrutiny in the Amreli letter scandal, is heard discussing internal matters with Patil. In the clip, Patil reportedly scolds Vekaria for ignoring his calls and warns, A fort doesnt fall at once; it crumbles gradually. I raised you, but if you dont take care, there will be trouble you have many enemies. However there is no proof about the authenticity of the clip but it definitely has intensified factional rifts within the party, creating a fresh challenge for the BJP leadership. When a politician came clean about his lies In a sensational revelation, BJP leader Prithviraj Patel of Idar, Gujarat, publicly admitted to spreading false propaganda in 1995 against Congress Leader Karsandana Sasoneri, falsely claiming he owned a hotel in Goa, which led to Sasoneris election defeat. Speaking at a retirement ceremony, Patel also attacked Dharamsala member Ramana Lavo Rao, accusing him of planning to build a hotel without selling land worth `13 crore. Patel confessed mistakes are part of politics and discipline needed to win elections. Ironically, while Patel later downplayed his words, his candid confession went viral. Dilip Singh Kshatriya Our correspondent in Gujarat dilipsingh@newindianexpress.com
21st edition of Engineer begins at NIT-K
The 21st edition of Engineer, a three-day celebration of technology and innovation, got off to a colourful start at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NIT-K) Surathkal
Watch: Indias diamond hub battles tariff hock, seeks government rescue | Pulse Maharashtra
In this weeks Pulse Maharashtra, Vinaya Deshpande Pandit reports on the growing crisis faced by thousands of artisans in Mumbais SEEPZ and Surats diamond polishing industry. With U.S. tariffs on gems and jewellery soaring to 50%, exports are stalling, risking billions in trade and nearly a million jobs. Industry leaders are urging the government for relief as workers brace for uncertain times ahead.
Gujarat cybercrime sleuths bust multicrore online betting scam
AHMEDABAD: Gujarats cybercrime sleuths have busted a multi-crore online betting and stock market fraud disguised as an e-commerce business in Surat. The crackdown exposed a Rs 20.08 crore racket spread across 43 bank accounts, with links stretching from Gujarat to Maharashtra, Goa, and online betting syndicates like Mahadev and Lotusbook. The kingpin, Meet Shah, and his network were caught running a sophisticated scam involving fake companies, rented bank accounts, and bogus franchises. The raid on Katargams Lakshmi Enclave office blew the lid off the operation when a man was caught red-handed while handing over a bank account to accused kingpin Meet Shah. Under interrogation, he led police to Meets residence in Amroli, where Meet, along with aides Yash and Rishikesh, was found surrounded by laptops, piles of mobile phones, and bank-related documents, a full-fledged cyber fraud hub. Police seized 24 phones, 3 laptops, 20 debit cards, 3 credit cards, 19 passbooks, 22 chequebooks, 1.95 lakh cash, 3 routers, 29 rubber stamps, along with forged PAN and Aadhaar copies, signalling a highly organized racket. Meet confessed that he rented bank kits, created online usernames and passwords, and then sold access to betting syndicates. He ran his operation in Katargam, while his associates Jignesh and Jitendra operated a parallel fraud centre from Sarthana Rajvi Shopping Centre, posing as an e-commerce setup with a 6,000 monthly rent, which was 'actually a reality used to funnel money from online gaming scams. Investigations revealed Meets direct link with Karan Desai of Ahmedabad, who paid him 80,000 monthly to manage fund transfers. The racket also had ties to notorious online betting platforms like Lotusbook, Ready Anna, Jannat Fair Play, and Mahadev, with funds being routed through bogus franchises like Livopa Live, where Meet worked under Franchise Number 155. Meet also employed Yash and Rushikesh from Maharashtra, paying them 25,000 each, to handle sensitive tasks like entering bank details and cash withdrawals. The probe widened when Nilesh, a cloth broker, was nabbed at the airport. Nilesh supplied fake bank accounts to Meet, earning 25,000 per account. He admitted to providing 17 accounts, including two of his own and others sourced from friends Harsh, Vivek, Nikin, and Ravindra. In another shocking revelation, Jignesh admitted to creating 12 shell companies with his partner Jitendra over two-and-a-half years. These fake firms opened multiple current accounts, enabling the duo to siphon off 1.35 crore in the guise of e-commerce and gaming transactions. A deeper dig into the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) linked this racket to 67 fraud complaints, involving fake investment schemes, job offers, and online shopping scams, with Rs 7.96 crore siphoned off. Complaints spanned across Maharashtra (11 cases), Gujarat (6), Uttar Pradesh (3), Haryana (3), Madhya Pradesh (3), and Delhi (2), reflecting the nationwide scale of the network. The cybercrime branch is now tracing money trails and digital footprints, as this multi-state cyber mafia appears to have strong connections to betting cartels and financial fraud networks that thrive on laundering illicit online funds.
Railway Minister Vaishnaw inspects Bullet Train work; Surat-Bilimora section to be ready by 2027
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train To Be Operational By 2029, Surat-Bilimora Section Ready By 2027
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train will be operational by 2029, and the 50-km stretch of India's first high-speed rail corridor between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat is expected to open by 2027, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said
'Stay away from Congress and its allies, they are looting': PM Modi in Odishas Jharsuguda
BHUBANESWAR: Launching a scathing attack on Congress at the Namo Yuva Samabesh at Odishas Jharsuguda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned people to stay away from the party and its allies. He also said that Congress is looting the country. The Prime Minister said that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh imposed a new tax on cement, which had 'actually' become cheaper after the GST reforms. Cheaper cement would have helped the common people in the construction of their houses. People of Himachal Pradesh are being deprived of it while the entire nation is benefitting from it, he said. The Congress looted the country till 2014. We saved the country from the cultural loot, after coming to power, he added. While the BJP and its governments are working for the welfare of poor people of the country, the Prime Minister said Congress and its governments in States continue to work against the interest of the common people, even now. The Prime Minister said that the BJP-led government has exempted income tax upto an income of Rs 12 lakh.But during the Congress regime, Rs 25,000 was levied as income tax on a spending of Rs 1 lakh, he said. He added that now only Rs 4,000 to Rs 5000 tax would have to be paid for Rs 1 lakh spending. The BJP government is a government that serves the poor, with a focus on providing basic amenities to Dalits, backward classes and tribals. Today, in this program, we are witnessing it, he added. The Prime Minister said that a year and a half ago, during the assembly elections, the people of Odisha vowed to move forward with a new resolve, a resolve for a developed Odisha. And today, we see that Odisha is moving forward at the speed of a double engine, he asserted. The Prime Minister also launched projects and programmes worth Rs 60,000 crore during the programme, including BSNL 4G services to improve communication in 30,000 faraway villages. He also distributed pucca houses permits to 50,000 Antyadayo beneficiaries in the State. Besides, work on expanding IITs in several states has also started, he said and added that in Odisha, the foundation stone has been laid and inaugurations have been held for numerous initiatives related to education, skills, and connectivity. Notably, the Prime Minister also flagged off the modern Amrit Bharat train from Berhampur to Surat.
India's first bullet train launch date changed? Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw gives BIG update
The Railway Minister recently inspected the construction work of the bullet train project at Saroli in Surat, including India's first high-speed rail turnout, where trains will be able to turn at 320 kilometres per hour.
Viral Video Shows Surat Street Vendor Making Unique Dry Fruit Samosas - Would You Try Them?
A viral video showcases the traditional preparation process of dry fruit samosas at Vidhi Samosa in Surat. Check it out below!
After becoming operational, the bullet train will cover the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in just two hours and seven minutes, Ashwini Vaishnaw said
SURAT: The 50-km stretch of Indias first bullet train project between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat will open in 2027, and by 2029, the entire section between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be operational, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said here on Saturday. After becoming operational, the bullet train will cover the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in just two hours and seven minutes, he added, stressing that Indias first bullet train project is progressing very well. Vaishnaw visited the under-construction Surat bullet train station and inspected track installation works and its first turnout installation. Overall progress of the first bullet train project is very good. The first 50-km section of the project between Surat and Bilimora will be open by 2027. We are preparing for that. By 2028, the entire Thane-Ahmedabad section will be commissioned, and by 2029, the entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad section will open, he told reporters. The Railway Minister stated that the speed potential of the main line is 320 kmph and 80 kmph for the loop line. The most modern technologies are being utilized to ensure the safe and efficient movement of trains. This is a very complex movement of trains, thats why the most modern technologies are being used. Several vibration mechanisms have been created here. The utility cable will take the vibrations whenever the train is moving at 320 kmph, he said. Even within the tracks, many mechanisms have been put in place to absorb vibrations. There are very special safety features on the track so that the train remains stable, even during heavy gusts of wind or a sudden earthquake, said Vaishnaw. He added that the entire heavy work for Surat station is completed, with finishing and utility works progressing faster along with the track link. Today, the first turnout has been installed here in the Surat station on the bullet train project. A turnout is where the track either joins or separates. A lot of new technologies have been used here, for example, these roller bearings on which the tracks will move. This is a totally new technology that we are using. The sleepers are made of composite material, he said. Vaishnaw said the ambitious bullet train project will turn the economies of all major cities from Mumbai to Ahmedabad into one and spur growth, similar to Japan when its first bullet train was introduced. We hope to start work on new projects very soon. In our partys (BJPs) manifesto, we have promised three more corridors in the north, one in the east, and one in the south. Mumbai-Ahmedabad is in the western part of the country. We will have four bullet train corridors as we go forward, he said.
Entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Route to Open by 2029: Vaishnaw
Railway minister says 50-km Surat-Bilimora stretch will be ready in 2027, full project in 2029
Entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad section of bullet train project will open by 2029: Vaishnaw
Surat, Sept 27: The 50-km stretch of Indias first bullet train project between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat will open in 2027, and by 2029, the entire section between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be operational, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said here on Saturday. After becoming operational, the bullet train will cover the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in just two hours and seven minutes, he said, stressing that Indias first bullet train project is progressing very well. Vaishnaw visited the [] The post Entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad section of bullet train project will open by 2029: Vaishnaw appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
'Really Good Progress': Vaishnaw Inspects Bullet Train Project Work, Says 'Unique' Tech In Focus
Ashwini Vaishnaw inspected the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project in Surat, highlighting unique technologies and confirming the Surat to Bilimora section will open in 2027.
International travel picks pace in August, up by 7%
NEW DELHI: Airports across the country recorded 3.3 crore passengers in August 2025, marking a one percent increase from the 3.27 crore passengers who flew during the same period last year. Despite a negative growth domestically, international traffic has driven air passenger growth across the country, reveals the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The Air Traffic Report, made public by AAI on Thursday, reveals that 66,73,252 flyers opted to travel abroad last month, marking a 7.7% increase over the 61,93,449 flyers recorded during the same month in 2024. A total of 2,64,06,660 passengers travelled domestically in August 2025 as compared to 2,65,48,845 in the corresponding period last year, marking a slight dip of 0.5% (zero point 5). The Air Traffic Movements (Arrival and Departures) reveal a 1.5% dip with 2,54,440 ATMs in August 2025 versus 2,58,310 in August 2024. A similar comparison of the patronage registered in the first five months of the ongoing financial year reveals a 3.4% increase in overall passenger count over the previous year-- 17.03 crore flyers versus 16.47 crore flyers. Yet again, international patronage has seen an increase of 6.8% while domestic passengers have gone up by 2.6% in April August this year versus same period last year. Max growth in international flyers in Aug 25 Pune airport has recorded the maxiumum growth of 80.7% in international passengers in August 2025 (24,303 flyers) over August 2024. The other airports which have registered commendable growth in international traffic are Coimbatore with a 48% increase (28,990 passangers), Surat with 41% increase (15,442) Mangaluru 40.2% (72,849) and Bagdogra 37.5% increase (1877 flyers). Guwahati and Chandigarh airports have dropped more than 20% of their passenger recorded during the compared period last year. Domestically, the airports that have recorded a substantial increase in August this year over the figures recorded in the same month in 2024 are: Kishangarh 93.1% (11,277 psgrs), Jaisalmer 91.2% (64), Dharbanga 87.4% (66,826), Agatti 66.3% (8725), Guwahati 63.1% 727500), Tiruchirappali 56% increase, Cudappah 55.6% (426), Tuticorin 54.8% (29788) and Agra 43.5% (17496). AAI & ICAO sign project to review height restrictions The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) have signed a significant Project Document to review Indias national regulations on height restrictions around aerodromes, marking a key step in strengthening the countrys aviation safety framework. NHAI revises guidelines for signboards on highways The NHAI has updated its signboard guidelines, making roadside boards more informative and user-friendly. These boards will display details of at least 20 essential services and include QR codes for digital access to the most up-to-date information.
PM To Flag Off Brahmapur-Surat Amrit Bharat Express Via AP Today
The train will pass through Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, connecting mineral-rich zones with major textile and trade hubs.
'Fake CBI officer' scam busted: Surat man arrested for duping professor of Rs 7.5 lakh
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Crime Branch has busted a multi-state cyber fraud racket after a female professor from Ajmer, Rajasthan, was duped of Rs 7.5 lakh in the name of a digital arrest by scammers posing as CBI officers. Hitesh Praveenchandra Dhodiyawala, the alleged mastermind, was arrested from Jahangirpura, Surat, exposing a nationwide scam involving multiple states and transactions worth lakhs. According to police, the fraud occurred on 30 August 2025, when the professor received a phone call claiming that a SIM card issued in her name had been used to send obscene and sexually harassing messages. She was then contacted via video call by a man impersonating CBI officer Daya Nayak, who warned her that a Supreme Court case was pending against her. The caller threatened digital arrest unless she transferred money to clear her name. Terrified, the professor wired Rs 7.5 lakh online, only to later realize she had been scammed. Ajmer Cyber Crime Police traced the bank account used in the fraud to Hitesh Dhodiyawala, 45, based in Surat. The Vehicle Theft Squad of Surat Crime branch tracked him to Doctor Park Road, Jahangirpura, and arrested him in a late-night operation. Police investigations revealed Hiteshs criminal background. Previously a stock market trader, he ran an investment firm, De Hypers Investment Advisors, which collapsed after losses of Rs .5 crore, leaving him heavily in debt. Desperate, he joined an online money-laundering network, connecting with a handler known as Roki through Instagram. Hitesh allegedly met other gang members in Ahmedabad and provided his IndusInd Bank account to route illicit funds, charging a fixed commission in return. On 2 September 2025 alone, Rs 48.78 lakh was reportedly routed through his account, with Hitesh pocketing Rs 62,900. His account was linked to at least seven cybercrime cases across India, including complaints from West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Telangana. Police also noted that a Prohibition Act case was already registered against Hitesh at Katargam Police Station. Hitesh has now been handed over to Ajmer Cyber Crime Police.
Asaram's Photo Worship At Surat Hospital Sparks Row
A controversy erupted after followers of Asaram Bapu, who is serving life sentences in two cases of rape, purportedly performed a puja ritual by putting up his photo on the premises of Surat Civil Hospital.
Lalatendu Mishra speaks to us about how steep US tariffs could hit Indias gem and jewellery industry, and what it means for workers and exporters in Surat.
AHMEDABAD: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched various cooperative initiatives on his whirlwind Navratri tour in Gujarat and asserted that PM Modi has provided GST reduction for farmers as a 'Navratri gift'. Urging farmers to embrace organic farming, Shah emphasised boosting Indias global share in organic produce while also strengthening the cooperative movement rooted in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patels legacy. Starting his day in Surat, Shah laid the foundation stone for a grand ISKCON temple, a symbolic gesture marking the Navratri's spiritual significance. From Surat, Shah flew to Rajkot, where the focus shifted sharply to the rural economy and the cooperative sector. He unveiled statues of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and former cooperative leader Vitthalbhai Radadiya as a tribute to Gujarats historic cooperative movement. The event, attended by leaders of seven cooperative institutions also witnessed Jayesh Radadiya announce an increase in farmers accident insurance cover to Rs 15 lakh, a move aimed at providing direct relief to rural families. Linking past legacies to future reforms, Shah remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given farmers a Navratri gift and a Diwali gift rolled into one as a 'GST reduction' that will directly benefit crores of farmers across the nation. He highlighted that Indias cooperative structure had been doubled in three years and consistently expanded 12 per cent annually, ensuring that farmers, fishermen, and animal husbandry workers earn more revenue. Shah urged farmers to switch to organic farming, pushing for a global organic market share led by India. Reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. Lets improve the nations health while also opening a massive global market for Indias organic products, he appealed to farmers in Saurashtra. He also praised the establishment of Bharat Organic, a cooperative that returns profits directly to farmers. Celebrating the Rajkot District Bank, which has bagged multiple awards, Shah credited its success to cooperative leaders and farmers. The tradition of Vallabhbhai and Vitthalbhai lives on today through the efforts of Jayeshbhai Radadiya, he said, asserting that the cooperative movement is the backbone of Gujarats agrarian economy. Shahs visit positioned the cooperative sector and organic farming at the heart of Gujarats rural growth strategy, a mix of Modis reforms and Patels legacy, stitched together with political finesse.
First Phase Of Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Set To Start In December 2027 | All About The Project
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project completes 5km tunnel between Ghansoli and Shilphata. First phase launches Surat-Bilimora section in December 2027, with 12 stations planned.
Watch: Major tunnel completed for MumbaiAhmedabad bullet train
The first phase of the bullet train project will be first launched on the Surat-Bilimora section in 2027, covering Thane in 2028 and the Bandra Kurla Complex in 2029
India's first bullet train to begin operations by December 2027, says Railway Minister Vaishnaw
NEW DELHI: India's first bullet train is expected to begin operations on the first stretch of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor by December 2027, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Saturday in Mumbai. The initial 50-km section will run between Surat and Billimora, with the line expected to reach Thane by 2028 and Mumbais Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) by 2029. Vaishnaw was speaking to the media following the breakthrough of a 5-km tunnel in Thane, near Mumbai. The minister said the bullet trains will initially operate every 30 minutes during peak hours. Once the operational framework is stabilised, this frequency will be increased to every 20 minutes. After completion of the entire infrastructure, the bullet trains will run every 10 minutes, covering the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in just two hours and seven minutes, the minister announced, adding that the fare structure of the bullet trains will be affordable to middle class families. He added that the bullet train loco pilots are currently undergoing comprehensive hands-on training in Japan, along with maintenance staff. The bullet train loco pilots are being trained on advanced simulators to uphold the highest standards of safety and efficiency, Vaishnaw told the media at the tunnel breakthrough site in Mumbai. He described the tunnel achievement as a landmark achievement. Sharing the latest updates on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, Vaishnaw noted that of the total 508-km route, viaduct construction has been completed over 320 km, with work progressing rapidly on the remaining sections. He highlighted the completion of a breakthrough in a 21-km tunnel, which includes a 7-km undersea stretch. The way the bullet train brought a sea change in the economy of areas falling between Osaka and Tokyo after the first one started running in Japan, the same kind of economic development would be seen across areas falling along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train route, he asserted. Similarly, this project will unite Anand, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Vapi and Mumbai into a single economic corridor creating a unified market and accelerate industrial growth along this corridor, he said. He emphasised that the bullet train's fare structure will be affordable and aligned with the aspirations of the middle class seeking a comfortable travel option. He also confirmed that station construction is underway across all locations, with bridges over rivers en route also being built. Outlining the technological highlights of the project, the minister said, The use of single tunnel technology to accommodate two bullet trains and the deployment of 40-metre girders in viaduct construction represent significant technical achievements. He added that India has acquired substantial technical expertise through this project by working closely with Japanese experts. Discussions have already been held to introduce at least 10 E10 Shinkansen trains, Japans next-generation bullet train, in India. The tunnel will be a single-tube structure with a 13.1-metre diameter, designed to accommodate dual rail tracks for up and down bullet train movement. Meanwhile, a senior project source revealed that construction on 398 km of piers has been completed for the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor. This includes 17 river bridges, nine steel bridges, and the installation of over 400,000 noise barriers across 206 km. Track bed construction has been finalised on 206 km, with more than 2,000 overhead equipment masts installed along 48 km of the mainline viaduct. The entire corridor will have 12 stationseight in Gujarat and four in Maharashtra. Of the total route, 348 km falls within Gujarat, 156 km in Maharashtra, and 4 km in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Gurugram Doctor Arrested For Running Over 4-Year-Old Boy With Car: Cops
A government doctor has been arrested here for allegedly running over a four-year-old boy with his car in Gurugram's Surat Nagar Phase 2 on September 15, police said on Saturday.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: First Phase Set To Start In December 2027
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the first section of the high-speed corridor on the Surat-Bilimora section will start in December 2027.
Ashwini Vaishnaw conducts breakthrough of bullet train tunnel; says first phase to start in 2027
The first phase of the bullet train project will be first launched on the Surat-Bilimora section in 2027, covering Thane in 2028 and the Bandra Kurla Complex in 2029, Mr. Vaishnaw said
Railway Minister Vaishnaw conducts breakthrough of five-kilometre-long bullet train tunnel in Thane
MUMBAI: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday initiated the breakthrough of a five-kilometre-long tunnel in Thane near Mumbai, marking a significant achievement in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. Standing at one of the openings of the tunnel, Vaishnaw pushed the button and triggered a controlled dynamite blast to break through its final layer, completing five km of excavation. Briefing mediapersons present at the site to cover the event, Vaishnaw called it a landmark achievement and reiterated that the 50-km-long first section between Surat and Billimora will be completed by December 2027. Vaishnaw appreciated the progress of the project, saying this tunnel is a part of the total 21-km-long tunnel, out of which seven km passes through the sea. The 508-km-long project will run between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Officials said that the excavation was done through the 'drill and blast' method, and henceforth, a tunnel-boring machine will be used. This 5 km tunnel runs between Ghansoli and Shilphata in Maharashtra.
When Salman Khan told Aishwarya Rai, Apne aap ko bohot khubsurat..
Mumbai: Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khans love story began after their first collaboration in Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Their much-talked-about relationship continues to remain a hot topic even today, decades after their breakup. Over the past week, several celebrities have been revisiting those days, and now actress Himani Shivpuri has opened Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Himani Shivpuri shared insights into Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan's relationship during a podcast, recalling Salman's frequent visits to film sets in the late 1990s when Aishwarya was still establishing herself. Shivpuri also witnessed some of their disagreements, including an incident during Aishwarya's filming with Abhishek Bachchan. She respected their decision to separate, acknowledging they knew best about their issues.
These 7 Tier II cities mint most millionaires
India's wealth creation is rapidly expanding beyond major metropolitan areas, though still concentrated in the top 10 states. While Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru lead, Tier II cities like Ahmedabad and Surat are emerging as millionaire hubs. Wealth management services are now targeting smaller towns, driven by technology, financial growth, and increased access to information.
Surat beheading case: Friend turns into killer during heated argument, arrested
AHMEDABAD: A horrifying beheading case that shook Surat has been cracked. Police arrested Ishad alias Munna Mansuri for brutally murdering his friend and a labourer Dinesh Mahanto. During interrogation, Ishad alias Munna Mansuri confessed to the horrific crime. He told police that a heated argument erupted between him and his friend Dinesh in their room. When Dinesh allegedly began abusing Munnas mother and sister, Munna lost control. In a fit of uncontrollable rage, he smashed Dineshs head with a stone and, as the abuse continued, beheaded him using a paddle. Believing he could hide the murder, Munna dumped the head in a nearby garbage heap to mislead the police and left the torso behind in the room. After the killing, Munna fled Laskana and hid in Pipodara on the outskirts of Surat, where no one recognised him. To avoid detection, he changed his identity, adopting the name Irshad Mansuri, and even secured a new job at a local factory. However, the Crime Branch, following a digital and physical trail, closed in on him within a day of his new employment and arrested him before he could disappear again. Surat police have finally unravelled the grisly mystery behind the headless body discovered in Laskana. The shocking incident took place on September 11, when residents near Vijaynagar Lake were horrified to find a severed human head dumped in a pile of garbage. Hours later, investigators stumbled upon a headless torso hidden in a house just 500 meters away, triggering panic across the area. As the case gained urgency, Crime Branch and local police teams fanned out across the industrial belt. Their probe soon identified the victim as Dinesh Mahanto, a labourer from Gopalganj, Bihar, who had been living and working in Laskana for the past four months. Dinesh, a father of three, had been sharing a rented room with his friend and fellow factory worker, Munna Bihari, also from Bihar. Suspicion quickly fell on Munna when investigators learned that the two were last seen together on the very day of the murder the same day Munna abruptly quit his job after collecting his salary of 8,000. The rented room turned out to be a murder chamber, not a residence. Inside, police recovered a bloodstained rod, believed to be the weapon used to initially strike Dinesh, and a paddle used to behead him. CCTV footage added a chilling twist: Munna was captured carrying a suspicious bag, which police suspect contained the severed head. DCP Bhavesh Rojiya told the Media: A week ago, the head of a person was found in a garbage heap near Vipulnagar Lake, and a torso was found 500 meters away in Wadinathnagar. This spread fear in the entire area. As the deceased was initially unidentified, we carried out checks in all nearby factories and traced him as Dinesh Mahanto. With sustained efforts, we tracked down the accused and solved the case. This brutal murder has not only left Dineshs family devastated but also sent shockwaves through Surats labour community, exposing the simmering tensions among migrant workers living under extreme pressure in cramped industrial neighbourhoods.
Surat Police Bust High-Profile Sex Racket; 13 Thai Women Rescued, 9 Arrested
Surat police busted a high-profile sex racket operating out of a hotel in Jahangirpura. 13 Thai women were rescued and nine persons were arrested.
One Year After Surat Jewellers Suicide, Handwriting Report Leads To Two Arrests
Surat police arrest two women for abetting jeweler Amar Kant Jeswals suicide after handwriting report confirms threats.
19 years on the run, Gujarat police arrest disguised fugitive in Karnataka
AHMEDABAD: After 19 years on the run, Gujarats Surat City police have finally nabbed Naresh Kesrimalji Rawal, the prime accused in a brutal 2007 robbery and murder case. Rawal, who had been living under a fake identity in Karnatakas Udupi district, was arrested by the Special Operations Group (SOG) in a dramatic undercover operation. Surat city DCP Rajdeep Singh Nakum said, The SOG team arrested a wanted accused carrying a reward of Rs 45,000. Back in 2007, when he was working as a driver, he and his accomplices killed and robbed a security guard. Our team tracked him down to Udupi, Karnataka, where he was finally arrested. Surats most wanted fugitive, Naresh Kesrimalji Rawal, has finally been captured after evading the law for 19 long years. Rawal, the prime accused in a 2007 robbery and murder case, was arrested by the Surat Special Operations Group (SOG) in Udupi, Karnataka, where he had been hiding under a false identity. The dramatic case traces back to Umra, Surat, where Rawal, then employed as a driver for a family whose sons lived abroad, plotted a deadly robbery. Exploiting his access to the house, Rawal brought in his accomplice Ravi Pandey and tipped off partners-in-crime Vijay Gupta and Santosh Gupta. On the fateful day, Rawal and his gang held the elderly couple hostage and murdered the watchman who tried to resist them. They escaped with gold ornaments and foreign currency worth over 2 lakh, leaving behind terror and bloodshed. Police acted swiftly and arrested Vijay and Santosh Gupta, but Rawal and Pandey vanished without a trace. Rawal, the mastermind, hopped across cities Mumbai, Chennai, Belgaum, Uttara Kannada frequently changing his name and identity to dodge law enforcement. With a Rs 45,000 reward announced for his capture, the trail ran cold until a recent intelligence tip-off revealed that he was living in Udupi. Acting on this lead, SOG officers disguised themselves as South Indian traders, infiltrated the locality, and confirmed his identity. Rawal had assumed the name Nirmal Kesrimalji Korawar, working as a marble labourer and driver while marrying a local woman from the Korawar community to blend in further. After days of surveillance, SOG finally pounced and arrested Rawal, bringing a two-decade-old manhunt to a dramatic close. Police also revealed that Rawal had two earlier housebreaking cases registered at Surat citys Umra police station in 2005, highlighting his deep-rooted criminal history. His associate Ravi Pandey, however, remains at large, keeping the investigation active.
Trump's tariffs hurting India, people losing jobs: Shashi Tharoor
SINGAPORE: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said the tariffs imposed by the US has impacted India with people already losing jobs, even as he lashed out at American President Donald Trump for being mercurial in nature and not honouring conventional standards of diplomatic behaviour. US has imposed a 50 per cent tariff, including 25 per cent as penalty for buying Russian oil, on shipments from India. India needs to diversify export markets to mitigate the impact of tariffs, Tharoor said, adding that 1.35 lakh people have lost jobs in gems and jewelery business in Surat and in seafood and manufacturing sectors. Mr Trump is a very mercurial individual, and the American system gives the President an amazing amount of leeway, Tharoor said while replying to a query related to Indo-US relationship and imposition of tariffs, at a conference organised by CREDAI, India's apex industry body for real estate sector. Continuing with his opinion about Trump, Tharoor said, Even though there have been 44 or 45 presidents before him, no one has ever seen this kind of behaviour coming down from the White House. The Congress leader described Trump as an unusual president by every yardstick and said the US President certainly does not honour the conventional standards of diplomatic behaviour. I mean, have you ever heard any world leader openly saying that he deserves a Noble peace prize. It never happened before. Have you heard of any world leader saying things like, 'oh, all the countries in the world want to come and kiss my ass', Tharoor said. Why open societies foster golden ages Have you heard of any world leader who has basically said, India and Russia have dead economies. I don't care if they go down the drain together, he said, adding that this was not the kind of language being ever heard from any head of government. So Trump is unusual, and I would beg you not to judge our performance by his behaviour, the Congress leader said. On the impact of tariff, Tharoor said the truth is that the tariffs have had a very very negative impact on India. Already, people are losing jobs. 1.35 lakh people in Surat have been laid off in the Gems and jewelery business, he said, adding that there are potential job losses in the seafood and manufacturing sector. Stating that the tariff was hurting the Indian economy, he said, I don't want anyone to have any illusions that we can just wash it up. Tharoor said the exports of many products became unviable because of the initial 25 per cent tariff and the additional penalty of 25 per cent has made it virtually impossible to enter US market with Indian competitors having lower tariffs. The Congress leader said that India has no choice but to tighten its belt and move on. We are finding it very difficult to get into the American market. And I am pleased to say that we are actually negotiating knowing very well that we need some access to America, he said, adding that there are possibilities of reduction in the initial basic 25 per cent tariff imposed by the US. The imposition of additional 25 per cent is not tariff. It is actually sanctions and it is a sanction against us for buying oil from Russia. But that's totally unfair, because China is importing more oil and gas from Russia, the Congress leader said. Tharoor said the US should have uniform policy for every country which buys oil from Russia. This entire sanction policy seems to be completely bizarre and unsustainable. But, anyway, until that sanction is removed, however successfully we negotiate a basic trade deal, we still have an enormous problem, he observed. Tharoor said there is a need to diversify export markets and felt that the recent trade agreement with UK would boost India's exports. Apart from exploring other export markets, he said, We also have to diversify our lines of political communication to other countries. We can't just afford to sit there and say we have no other option, he said. Tharoor mentioned that Indian Prime Minister has gone to China recently and Russian Presidnet is coming to India later this year. We are essentially showing a serious intent at least to move away from confrontation conversation with China. Even though we've had some very, very tough times in that relationship, I think we will find ourselves trying to open up very much more for China than we have done in the last 5-6 years, he said. On Russia, Tharoor said the relationship was always reasonably stable and it might become warmer now. The Congress leader advocated that India should find common cause with European countries and try to create a Indo-European pole, which would have some clout and heft in the world. More than 1,000 delegates, including real estate developers and consultants, are attending a three-day conference CREDAI-NATCON here in Singapore.
IAF's MiG-21s set to retire, institutions queue up to acquire airframes for display
NEW DELHI: As the historic MiG-21 combat fighters prepare to retire from service, government and academic institutions are lining up to request the airframes for display. The final squadron of MiG aircraft is set to bid farewell on 26 September at Chandigarh. An Indian Air Force (IAF) source said, There is a waitlist of applications from government, academic, public, and private institutions requesting old MiG-21 aircraft. The waitlist spans five to six years once applications are received by IAF Headquarters, the source added. A procedure is followed for retired aircraft, either putting them up for salvage or transferring them to requesting institutions. In the case of salvage, parts that can be reused are removed, and the remaining components are scrapped. For transfer, the airframe is provided without the engine and related systems. Government institutions require paperwork before the transfer, while private institutions must bear a cost of Rs 3040 lakh. The maintenance of the airframe is the responsibility of the receiving institution. Retirement of MiG fighter jets, concerns grow over delayed Tejas induction, shrinking combat strength Applications to request a retired aircraft involve approval from the local municipal office before the IAF takes a decision. If maintained by the IAFs Repair and Salvage Unit (RSU), the airframe undergoes annual maintenance, including painting, repair, and beautification routines. The MiG-21 jets were first inducted into the IAF in 1963 as high-altitude interceptors and were later adapted for ground-attack roles. The aircraft were originally designed in the USSR to counter American U-2 spy planes. A ceremony marking the final flight of the Number 23 Squadron MiG-21s will be attended by a large number of air force personnel at the end of this month. The first induction of the Russian-origin single-engine MiG-21 fighters took place in 1963, with different versions joining the IAF over the years. Currently, the IAF operates one squadron of MiG-21 Bison at Suratgarh, with each squadron comprising 1618 aircraft. As previously reported by the TNIE , the IAF has operated 24 fighter squadrons and four training units of MiG-21s, flying over 850 aircraft across six decades, a scale unmatched by most air forces.
'Two Gujaratis gave us freedom, now another two are dividing us': Mallikarjun Kharge
AHMEDABAD: In an address in Junagadh, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sharp attack on the BJP, vowing to safeguard the Constitution and energise party workers for a 2027 Gujarat Assembly battle. With Rahul Gandhi set to join later, Kharge invoked Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, and Nehru to rally Congress cadres, accusing the BJP of weakening democracy and stealing votes. He declared, Two Gujaratis gave us freedom, now two Gujaratis are working against it by dividing people. The three-day Congress training camp aims to rebuild the partys grassroots network in Gujarat and reignite a movement for change. The Congresss roadmap to reclaim Gujarat was visible in Junagadh, as party president Mallikarjun Kharge inaugurated a massive training camp, declaring it the launchpad for a decisive fight against the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections. With Rahul Gandhi scheduled to attend on September 12 and 17, the camp at Prernadham will run till September 19, training newly appointed district and city Congress presidents. Kharges speech was a blend of history, ideology, and firebrand politics. Without directly naming Prime Minister Modi or BJP leaders, he tore into their agenda, warning, Two Gujaratis gave us freedom, united this nation. Now, two others are destroying that legacy by dividing people and weakening our Constitution. Constitution and Legacy in Focus Kharge reminded the audience that this year marks 100 years since Mahatma Gandhi became Congress President, underlining Gujarats historic role as the birthplace of Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, and Dadabhai Naoroji. He said, Gandhiji told us Congresss job is to uplift those at the bottom and bring equality. Sardar Patel believed strength without organisation is useless, and Nehruji taught us to adapt to change and stay connected with people. Tracing Congresss journey, Kharge divided its 140-year history into three phases the freedom struggle till 1947, the nation-building years after independence, and the past 11 years of serving as a strong opposition. From giving India the Constitution and voting rights to enacting historic laws like MNREGA, Right to Information, and Food Security Act, Congress empowered the people, he said, contrasting it with the BJPs record. Modiji has not brought a single law of such magnitude, Kharge added. Attack on BJP and Vote Theft Claims Taking direct aim at Gujarats BJP government, Kharge accused it of running on remote control from Delhi, saying real power lies outside the state. He alleged widespread vote rigging, claiming that in the Navsari Lok Sabha constituency, 30,000 fake or duplicate voters were found during verification. Referring to the controversial Surat Lok Sabha seat, he warned, This is how BJP comes to power by stealing votes. But this time, Congress will expose and defeat them. Kharge also mocked the Prime Ministers China stance, stating, When Chinese soldiers attacked, PM said no one entered. When Rahulji raised questions, they called him a Chinese agent. Today, he himself is visiting China. Rahul Gandhis Movements Turn Into Mass Campaigns Rahul Gandhis political yatras were presented as a blueprint for mobilising the nation. From the 3,200 km Bharat Jodo Yatra to the 6,700 km Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra, and most recently the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, Kharge said Rahul turned issues of unemployment, inflation, and farmer distress into peoples movements. Rahulji has shown what determination can achieve, he said, urging workers to channel this spirit in Gujarat. Vision for 2027: Strength Through Training The 10-day training camp, Kharge emphasised, is not just about lectures but about forging identity and strategy. You will leave here stronger, informed, and ready to fight for change. If our district units are strong, no one can stop the storm of change in Gujarat, he declared. Kharge recalled the 2017 elections, where Congress prevented the BJP from winning a single seat in seven districts, cutting its tally below 100 for the first time. This proves the people of Gujarat are ready for change. We just need to unite and channel their anger, he urged. Sardar Patels 150th Anniversary to be Congress Showcase Kharge announced nationwide celebrations for Sardar Patels 150th birth anniversary starting October 31, with a special push in Gujarat. We will respect Sardar, but we will never allow BJP to distort his ideas, he said, positioning Congress as the true custodian of Patels legacy. As the camp opened with patriotic fervour, Kharges message was clear: revive the organisation, reclaim Gujarat, and protect Indias democracy. He ended with Gandhijis words: A handful of committed souls with unbounded faith can change history.
Indore tops Swachh Vayu Survekshan, but lags on PM10 levels; Delhi figured at 32nd position
Indore, India's cleanest city, topped the 'Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2025' for air pollution mitigation, despite a slight PM10 increase. Jabalpur and Agra/Surat followed. Amravati, Dewas led in smaller population categories. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav noted PM10 reductions in 103 NCAP cities, with Mumbai achieving a 44% decline. Chennai is the only metro meeting air quality standards.
Families of over 90,000 Gujarat diamond workers wait for aid despite government promises
AHMEDABAD: Despite a Gujarat government scheme announced on May 24 promising Rs 13,500 annual school fee aid for children of diamond workers hit by global crises like wars and tariffs, zero relief has reached Surat, the hub of the diamond industry. In the past year, 70,254 applications were filed in Surat, yet not a single family received aid. Ahmedabad saw just 170 beneficiaries against 3926 applications, while 2,306 families in Amreli and 13,462 in Botad remain empty-handed. The figures revealed in the Assembly highlight a massive gap between promises and delivery. The state government admitted that not a single diamond artisan family in Surat, Amreli, and Botad has received the promised school fee assistance announced months ago. This disclosure has sparked anger among opposition MLAs, who accused the government of making hollow announcements while the diamond industry spirals into crisis. The data tabled by the Industry Minister paints a grim picture. In the past year, 70,254 applications were filed in Surat city and district seeking Rs 13,500 annual school fee aid for children of affected diamond artisans, yet zero payouts have been made. In Ahmedabad, 3,926 applications were received, but assistance reached only 170 families, totalling a meagre Rs 24.03 lakh. From glitter to gloom: Gujarats diamond and textile hub hit by US tariff shock Meanwhile, Amreli (2,306 applications) and Botad (13,462 applications) reported no disbursal at all. In total, over 90,000 families are still waiting, with the government claiming that all applications are currently under scrutiny and payments will be made only after verification as per the schemes provisions. This aid program was announced through a circular on May 24, 2025, amid growing distress in the diamond sector. The scheme promised Rs 13,500 per child for the 2025-26 academic year to support artisans whose livelihoods were hit by global disruptions. Surat, the epicentre of Indias diamond polishing industry, has been battling multiple shocks. First, the Russia-Ukraine war disrupted the global rough diamond supply chain, leading to a severe slowdown. Then, a 50% tariff imposed by former US President Donald Trump on Indian goods froze $4.8 billion worth of gem and jewellery exports, triggering mass layoffs. Out of Gujarats 15 lakh diamond artisans, nearly 40% face imminent job losses, with Surat alone accounting for 8 to 9 lakh workers. As workshops close and debts rise, reports of suicides among diamond artisans have surfaced. The governments failure to deliver on its much-publicised aid scheme has further fueled anger in the industry. With zero relief reaching Surat the very city the scheme was designed to help, opposition parties are demanding immediate action and accusing the state of abandoning the very workers who built Gujarats glittering diamond empire.
Gujarat textile mill tragedy: Death toll climbs to seven as families protest for justice
AHMEDABAD: The death toll in the horrific Palsana textile mill blast continues to rise, leaving families shattered and a village in mourning. With four workers succumbing to their injuries in just two days, Jolva village in Surat district of Gujarat has been plunged into grief and anger. What began as a routine day at Textile Mill on September 1 turned catastrophic when a chemical-filled drum exploded, sparking a massive fire. Two workers were charred to death on the spot, while over 15 others suffered severe burns. Firefighters, ambulances, and police rushed to the site, with 11 critically injured workers shifted to a private hospital in Udhna, Surat. Three days later, Priyanka Devi (36) became the third victim to die during treatment. Tragedy deepened when Jogendra Munilal Prajapati (35) and Preeti Nagendra Singh (28) succumbed to their injuries on Monday. Today, Sushma Ganesh Mishra (39) and Munna Vishwanath Das (24) passed away, pushing the death toll to seven. Two more victims remain in a critical condition. Families of the deceased staged a dramatic protest outside the Udhna hospital, where grieving women formed a human chain and blocked the road, demanding proper compensation. Police had to intervene to pacify the crowd. The dead bodies were later shifted to the New Civil Hospital for postmortem. The mill owner has pledged financial support to the victims families Rs 15 lakh each, including Rs 50,000 cash upfront, Rs 4 lakh via cheque, and an additional Rs 10 lakh through insurance. The management has also promised to cover the education expenses of the deceased workers' children. Meanwhile, the Industrial Safety Department has shut down the mill and launched a probe, though the investigation report is still pending.
Surat Horror: Man Stabs Son-In-Law To Death In Police Station, Leaves City In Shock
A man stabbed his son-in-law to death inside Surats Amroli Police Station, sparking outrage and raising serious questions about public safety.
Namotsav Mega Musical Showcases PM Modi's Life Journey In Surat
The atmosphere was electric at the Sarsana Convention Center in Surat, as audiences watched the grand musical multimedia stage production Namotsav', based on the inspiring life journey of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Surat lawyer who once represented Rahul Gandhi dies by suicide after leaving cryptic call
AHMEDABAD: Gujarats Surat city was left stunned when senior lawyer and former Surat Congress legal convener, Advocate Feroz Pathan, died by suicide by jumping into the Tapi river late on Thursday night. Battling depression due to family disputes and financial troubles, the prominent lawyer, who had once represented Rahul Gandhi, left behind a phone call before taking the extreme step. His body was recovered from Ubharat beach early on Friday morning. Surats legal fraternity woke up in shock on Friday after the tragic death of Advocate Feroz Pathan, a well-known lawyer and former legal convener of the Congress party. Feroz, who once represented Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, ended his life by jumping off the cable bridge into the Tapi river at around 11 pm on Thursday night. Hours before his death, Feroz made a disturbing phone call to his junior lawyer, Deepak, cryptically saying, If anything happens to me, come to the bridge near the court. Alarmed, Deepak tried to comfort him and asked if he was in the office. Feroz calmly replied that he was. But when Deepak rushed there, he found the office empty. Worried, Deepak called Ferozs son and headed towards the cable bridge, only to find a crowd gathered near the river. A sight awaited them, Ferozs car was parked under the bridge, confirming their worst fears. Police and family members were immediately alerted, and the fire department launched a night-long search in the strong currents of the Tapi. By early morning, their grim hunt ended when Ferozs body was found washed up on Ubharat beach, miles away from where he had jumped. According to friends, Feroz had been battling depression for months, weighed down by domestic disputes, property loans and crushing financial problems. These personal struggles had reportedly pushed him into a dark mental state. The tragic incident occurred on the day of Eid Milad, adding a layer of sorrow to an already heartbreaking event. His death has plunged Surats legal circle and his grieving family into deep mourning. Police are investigating further, while the legal community remembers Feroz as a sharp lawyer whose life ended in a tragic turn of despair.
Fake Visa Scam Busted, Mastermind Held In Surat
The accused, Pratik aka Abhijeet Shah, is a habitual offender facing 12 cases related to visa and passport fraud.
KIMS Cuddles Team Saves a Premature Baby with Record-Breaking Road Journey
1,300 km road journey from Surat to Hyderabad
Gujarat cops crack global cyber-slavery syndicate; three arrested
AHMEDABAD: Gujarats Surat Cyber Crime police have cracked a shocking cross-border human trafficking and cyber-fraud racket. At least 40 youths from India and abroad, including several from Gujarat, were duped with fake job offers in Thailand, smuggled across borders into Myanmar, and forced to work in illegal Chinese-run call centres carrying out online investment frauds. Three accused have been arrested so far, while a wider nexus involving 12 people, including a Pakistani agent, has come to light. The racket first surfaced when Surat cyber sleuths traced suspicious mobile numbers linked to foreign call centres. Further investigation revealed a sinister chain: unsuspecting jobseekers were flown to Thailand on tourist visas, pushed across rivers into Myanmar, and handed over to Chinese gangs. Once inside, they were stripped of their freedom and forced to run cyber scams using fake Facebook and Instagram IDs. Police raids led to the arrest of three key players: Nipender alias Nirav Lavkush Chaudhary, HR manager with a Chinese company; Preet Rasiklal Kamani of Rajkot; and visa agent Ashish Ramanlal Rana of Surat. All three worked as recruiters, luring youths with promises of high-paying computer jobs. Investigations revealed the racket had been running for over 18 months. Nipender, working with Chinese handlers, pocketed Rs 3 lakh commission per person routed to Myanmar. Preet, once trapped himself, was forced to bring in replacements earning Rs 40,000Rs 50,000 per recruit. He even dragged his Haryana friend Rajneesh Banna into the same nightmare under threats. Rana, the visa agent, charged commissions of Rs 37,000 per head for arranging travel documents. Victims testimonies paint a chilling picture. Preet Kamani confessed that after being smuggled to a Myanmar call centre named KK3, he and others were forced to cheat Indians in fake investment schemes. Those who refused were told to either pay up in dollars or supply fresh recruits. Many were coerced into dragging friends and acquaintances into the racket. According to DCP Surat Vishakha Jain, Chinese companies are using agents in India and abroad to lure youths into cyber crime call centers. They operate on commissions, trapping the vulnerable with false promises of jobs. Police confirmed at least 40 youths were trafficked: 37 Indians, 2 Sri Lankans, and 1 Pakistani. So far, 12 masterminds have been identified, including Pakistani agent Alex and Chinese coordinators Alexander, Enzo, William, King, and others. The network spread across Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia, making millions through cyber scams while exploiting trafficked youths as front-line callers. With three arrests made, Surat Cyber Crime is now digging deeper into the money trail, agents links in India, and the possibility of more victims still trapped in foreign cyber-slavery hubs.
Rs 70K Commission On 1.5 Cr Cyber Fraud: Man Rents His Account To Scammers
A Surat man renteng his bank account for Rs 75,000 and became the channel for a Rs 1.5 crore cyber fraud spanning multiple states.
Relationship With Minor, 2 Abortions: Shocking Revelations In Surat Teacher Suicide Case
Surat teacher suicide case took a shocking turn as a 3,000-page FSL report revealed her relationship with a minor and two abortions.
Indian Navy's stealth frigate 'Tamal', guided-missile destroyer 'Surat' visit Saudi Arabia
Indian Navy's stealth frigate INS Tamal and guided-missile destroyer INS Surat made port calls at Jeddah, signaling India's dedication to bolstering defence cooperation and amicable relations with Saudi Arabia. The visit facilitates sharing best practices and exploring further engagement avenues between the two navies.
Maratha quota leader begins indefinite protest at Azad Maidan demanding OBC inclusion
MUMBAI: Maratha quota leader Manoj Jarange Patil on Friday began an indefinite protest at Azad Maidan, joined by thousands of demonstrators, to press his demand for the inclusion of the Maratha community in the Other Backwards Category (OBC). Manoj Jarange Patil stated that he is ready to face a bullet or any consequences but will not leave Mumbai until the demand for Maratha inclusion in the OBC category is fulfilled. He emphasised that the Maratha community protesters are willing to cooperate with the state government, but they expect reciprocity. He said, We want a sustainable reservation, not one that can be challenged and overturned in court. Maratha and Kunbi are the same, and marriages also take place between these two communities. The marriage between Maratha and Kunbi is not called an inter caste marriage but a same caste marriage. If Kunbis are given the OBC reservation, then Marathas should also be given it. And the state government has the power to do that. Maratha quota stir: Activist Jarange reaches Pune ahead of Mumbai protest From Friday morning, an unprecedented number of people arrived in local trains to join the protest at Azad Maidan. The protesters brought their own food and prepared to stay in Mumbai for an extended period. Some of them even cooked on the footpaths. Despite continuous rain in the city, the protesters remained at Azad Maidan, parking their vehicles nearby and constructing makeshift shelters. The protesters vehicles caused major traffic congestion, particularly in South Mumbai. The Eastern Expressway and Atal Setu also experienced severe jams. However, the demonstrators opened the way for ambulances. They raised slogans to encourage each other and to press their demand. Reacting to the protest, Uddhav Thackeray said, It is the right of the protesters to come to the capital of Maharashtra to press their demand; they cannot go to Surat or Guwahati. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, so, naturally, the protesters will come here. Now, it is the responsibility of the state government to address their issue. We are not in power now. Rohit Pawar, NCP SP MLA, criticised the state government for preventing the protesters from accessing food at Azad Maidan. He said, Police forced many food stalls to shut down, which caused difficulties for the protesters in getting food and water nearby. It is the responsibility of the state to provide everything, but the state here is interested in cutting all key supplies to the protesters.
Indian Navy warships INS Tamal, INS Surat dock in Jeddah to boost Indo-Saudi ties
NEW DELHI: Aiming to strengthen ties with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, INS Tamal, a Talwar-class stealth frigate, and INS Surat, the latest indigenously constructed guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy, arrived at Jeddah on 27 and 28 August 2025, respectively. The Indian Navy (IN) in its statement said, During the port call, the crew will engage with the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) and Border Guards through sports fixtures, familiarisation with naval facilities and discussions towards fostering Indo-Saudi Arabian relations. The Navy said the visit underscores India's commitment to strengthening defence collaboration and friendly ties with Saudi Arabia. It will also provide an opportunity for both navies to share best practices and explore avenues for further engagement. The Indian side will host a cultural exchange for senior dignitaries of the RSNF, Border Guards, diplomats, prominent members of the diaspora and local government officials, the IN added. Indian Navy commissions latest frigate INS Tamal As reported in detail earlier by The New Indian Express , INS Tamal (F71), a multi-role stealth guided missile frigate, was commissioned in July at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. INS Tamal is the eighth multi-role stealth frigate in the series of Project 1135.6 and the second of the additional follow-on Tushil class of ships. The first ship of the Tushil class (INS Tushil) was commissioned on 09 December 2024 in the presence of the Defence Minister. TNIE reported on INS Surat, which was commissioned this January, is the latest indigenous guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai, and designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau, the ship is a shining example of Atma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and boasts an indigenous content of over 75%.
Former Gujarat BJP MLA, ex-Amreli SP among 14 sentenced to life term in 2018 bitcoin extortion case
Ahmedabad Sessions Court Judge sentenced Kotadiya, Patel and others to life imprisonment for their alleged involvement in kidnapping Surat-based builder Shailesh Bhatt and his partner
AHMEDABAD: In a landmark verdict, the Ahmedabad City Sessions Court has convicted 14 accused, including former BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya and senior Gujarat police officials, in the infamous 2018 Bitcoin extortion case. The case, which began with the kidnapping of Surat-based builder and cryptocurrency trader Shailesh Bhatt, revealed a murky nexus of politicians, police officers and middlemen in Gujarat. The Bitcoin scandal that shook Gujarat in 2018 has finally reached closure. The Ahmedabad City Sessions Court on Friday convicted 14 accused, among them former BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya, then Amreli SP Jagdish Patel, and then LCB PI Anant Patel, holding them guilty of alleged kidnapping and extortion in the multi-crore Bitcoin racket. Following Shailesh Bhatts explosive complaint, CID Crime swung into action, arresting all the accused linked to the Bitcoin scandal. The trial unfolded in the ACB Special Court of the City Civil and Sessions Court, Ahmedabad, where the state lined up a staggering 172 witnesses against them. In stark contrast, the defence could produce just one witness, and despite 92 witnesses allegedly turning hostile, the court found the evidence and arguments strong enough to seal the fate of the accused. After nearly three months of intense final arguments, the gavel came down heavy as the court sentenced all 14 accused in the sensational scam to life imprisonment. The case traces back to Surat builder Shailesh Bhatt, who was allegedly trading in cryptocurrencies. In February 2018, Bhatt was lured under threats from individuals claiming to be from the CBI office in Gandhinagar. Instead of a warning, he was allegedly kidnapped from a petrol pump, beaten up, and dragged to a farmhouse by a team led by Amreli police officials using government vehicles. Once in custody of his abductors, Bhatt was allegedly coerced into parting with 176 Bitcoins worth around 9 crore, and was later forced to transfer more digital currency and cash. The demands spiralled from 12 crore transferred to Anant Patels account, to another 50 crore extortion attempt, and eventually a 32 crore ransom routed through the Angadia network. However, the Bitcoin extortion was not a one-way story. Bhatt himself carried a chequered past. He had earlier been accused of allegedly kidnapping BitConnect companys employees and recovering 2,021 Bitcoins, 11,000 Litecoins, and over 14 crore after allegedly losing 1.14 crore in crypto investments. His own complaint, however, blew the lid on a bigger scandal implicating police officers and politicians. As investigations deepened, CID Crime arrested 10 police personnel, including Anant Patel and Surat-based lawyer Ketan Patel. Interrogations revealed the names of then SP Jagdish Patel and former MLA Nalin Kotadiya. Kotadiya, accused of playing the fixer in the racket, went underground. A non-bailable warrant was issued before he was finally arrested from Maharashtras Dhulia and later granted conditional bail in 2019. The net widened further when CBI Inspector Sunil Nair was also accused of allegedly demanding a 10 crore bribe from Bhatt, threatening to unleash ED and Income Tax probes on him. Bhatt claimed he paid 4.6 crore after settling the demand at 5 crore. Now, after years of courtroom battles, the special court in Ahmedabad has brought closure. With 14 convicted, including top cops, a CBI officer, lawyers, and a former legislator, the verdict has laid bare the dangerous collusion of crime, cryptocurrency, and corridors of power in Gujarat.
From glitter to gloom: Gujarats diamond and textile hub hit by US tariff shock
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat's Surat city, glittering with diamonds and textiles, is staring at a storm. With US President Donald Trumps 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods kicking in, the city's lifeline industries, diamonds and textiles, face unprecedented disruption. Exports worth billions have stalled, artisans fear mass unemployment, and desperation is already pushing some former workers into crime. The crisis has snowballed from factories to families, threatening not just trade but the citys social fabric. Surat's sparkle dims as a new tariff wall rises in the US, slashing demand for diamonds and textiles overnight. What was once a steady flow of large orders has dried up, leaving traders anxious and artisans vulnerable. Jayanti Savaliya, regional president of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), warned that the new pricing will drive American buyers away. New orders have stopped completely. With our products becoming 50 per cent costlier in the US, customers will simply stay away, he said. His warning cuts deeper for Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which thrive solely on direct exports. Without intervention, thousands of artisans could soon be jobless, pushing the council to demand government support and marketing funds. Centre working on support measures to help exporters deal with 50 % US tariff The textile industry, too, finds itself caught in the same storm. Ashok Jirawala, chairman of the Federation of Weavers Association, admitted the tariff hits not only Surat but also Tirupur - India's garment hub. Prices of garments, curtains, bedsheets and yarn will rise by 50 per cent. Competing in the US market will now be impossible, he said, urging exporters to scout for alternative markets. The blow comes on an already weak pulse. Surats diamond industry has been in recession for months, forcing the Gujarat government earlier to offer fee-support packages for artisans' children. Now, with exports frozen $4.8 billion worth of gems and jewellery to the US, the fallout is massive. Out of 8 to 9 lakh workers in Surat and almost half of Gujarat's 15 lakh diamond artisans, 40 per cent are likely to face job losses. The human cost is surfacing fast. In a shocking twist, a former diamond worker, 50-year-old Bheraram Bishnoi, was caught in Surat's Varachha area selling opium worth Rs 53,400. Police revealed he had turned to crime after losing his diamond business job, a stark example of how economic despair is already breeding social cracks. Even factories are showing cracks. A Katargam-based diamond firm that catered to foreign traders, abruptly laid off 100 workers this week, its decision directly linked to the tariff shock. Workers protested, and after tense negotiations led by the Diamond Worker Union, the company agreed to reinstate them. Bhavesh Tank, the unions vice president, confirmed, All jewelers will resume work from tomorrow, with lost days adjusted.
Dubai-Bound IndiGo Flight From Surat Diverted to Ahmedabad Over Technical Issue
Around 150 passengers on board landed safely; IndiGo arranged alternate flight to Dubai.
IndiGo SuratDubai flight makes emergency landing in Gujarats Ahmedabad Airport
AHMEDABAD: A major scare was reported mid-air on Sunday when an IndiGo SuratDubai flight (6E-1507) carrying over 150 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing at Ahmedabad after its engine developed a technical fault. Swift action by the pilot averted disaster, ensuring all passengers landed safely before being flown onward to Dubai on an alternate aircraft. A technical snag hit one of the engines of the flight soon after takeoff from Surat International Airport. Realising the gravity of the fault, the pilot swiftly alerted Air Traffic Control and sought permission to divert, opting for the nearest airport, Ahmedabads Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Passengers panicked after the announcement of an engine problem, but the crew kept the situation under control. No injuries were reported, and all passengers landed safely in Ahmedabad. Confirming the emergency landing, an airport official said, An IndiGo flight travelling from Surat to Dubai made an emergency landing in Ahmedabad after the pilot immediately decided to divert the aircraft. Technical teams at Ahmedabad Airport carried out a detailed inspection of the plane. Passengers were accommodated on an alternate flight, which has since departed for its destination. Flight operations remained unaffected, with no diversions or disruptions reported. IndiGos engineers launched a detailed probe into the engine fault soon after the landing. The airline has assured that all safety checks will be completed before the aircraft is cleared to fly again.
US tariff: Provide two-year moratorium for MSME, sops for exporters, Kamal Haasan tells governments
CHENNAI: Makkal Needhi Maiam party founder Kamal Haasan has said that the US President Donald Trump government's 50 per cent tariff on Indian exporters was a challenge to the sovereignty of Indian livelihoods and both the Centre and state governments should come forward to provide immediate relief to exporters. As an emergency breathing space, the governments could provide a two-year moratorium on MSME loan repayments, and a special emergency credit line. He suggested the governments to expand guarantee covers and restore low-interest export credit, and clear all pending GST, RODTEP, and RoSCTL refunds within strict deadlines; enhance rates for the hardest-hit export lines. The Rajya Sabha MP said temporary power-tariff concessions, freight support to open new markets, and liberalised import norms for synthetic yarns could be provided and also a single-window fast track for export compliance and refunds. Further, the country should identify and facilitate entry into new global markets for affected sectors, he emphasised. Let us not treat this merely as crisis management. This must be our clarion call for a decade-long mission to secure India's place in the supply chains of tomorrow; rare earths, semiconductors, batteries, power electronics, and advanced textiles, Haasan said in a statement here on Wednesday night. Only then will India be beyond the reach of tariffs and threats from across the oceans, he added. The 50 per cent US tariffs on our exporters is not about trade nor Ukraine. They are a political cudgel, aimed at shaking our resolve. When the sovereignty of Indian livelihoods is challenged, the nation must act together. I urge the Union and State governments to provide immediate relief, the MNM leader said. He said India's resolve in ensuring energy security for the country and its proud citizens carried no price tag. Tariffs on China came in whispers and half-measures, while on India they were wielded like hammer. That is the lesson for India, which Gandhiji reminded us of at the stroke of the midnight hour, Atmanirbharta is not a slogan; it is strategic insurance, Haasan noted. He expressed solidarity with the exporters in Tiruppur, Surat, and Noida, shrimp farmers of Andhra Pradesh, gems and jewellery industry in Gujarat and Maharashtra; and steel workers, whom he said must not ear the cost of geopolitical games. Is India stumbling on Trump's tariffs by dancing with Russia and China?
DARBHANGA/ MUZAFFARPUR/ SITAMARHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday sought to berate Prime Minister Narendra Modi over US President Donald Trump's claim that India had agreed to halt military conflict with Pakistan within five hours of an ultimatum from America. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, whose fortnight-long 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar has three more days to go, covered north Bihar districts of Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi, all strongholds of the BJP-led NDA. Addressing a rally in Sitamarhi's Runni Saidpur late in the evening, before calling it a day, Gandhi said, What type of Prime Minister do we have? He brags of having a 56-inch chest. But US President Donald Trump says that while Operation Sindoor was on, he called up Modi and told him to stop the military conflict within 24 hours. And Modi, like a deflated tyre (hawa nikal gayi), obeyed the command within five hours. The former Congress president alleged that it only proves Modi is a coward. His (Modi's) image is a product of his friends with deep pockets. He also receives some help from the media, which spends 10 days telecasting the wedding of a wealthy man's son, but cannot spare 15 minutes for our Yatra in which lakhs of people are turning up daily, Gandhi said. The Congress leader claimed that when he challenged Modi in Parliament recently to call the bluff of Trump, he could not muster the courage to utter a word. I have met him a number of times. He seems hollow. A far cry from real heroes like Mahatma Gandhi who never boasted of a 56-inch chest, the Congress leader said. Just imagine the pressure Mahatma Gandhi must have faced from the British Empire which was then a superpower. They placed him in jails, kept him in solitary confinement. But he stuck to his principles, he said. The Congress leader also alleged that the 'Gujarat model' which had helped the rise of Modi, its then chief minister, on the national stage, was all about vote chori (theft of votes). It is the model (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah must have had in his mind when he had predicted that the BJP would rule the country for 30-40 years. Politicians like us know it well that public mood is fickle and we cannot be sure of what is going to happen tomorrow, claimed Gandhi. He said the Congress had begun to suspect something was amiss when it lost the assembly polls in Maharashtra, just a month after the Lok Sabha elections in which the alliance, of which the party was a part, had swept the western state. We polled as many votes in the Maharashtra assembly polls as we had in the Lok Sabha elections. But the BJP-led coalition saw a steep rise in its vote tally, which was commensurate with the number of new voters added to the electoral rolls within a span of a few months. Our request for access to CCTV footage of the elections was turned down by the Election Commission, said Gandhi. Voter Adhikar Yatra aims to fight for peoples rights, says Priyanka Gandhi The EC seems to be gratified that the Modi government had passed a law in Parliament a few years ago providing legal immunity to Election Commissioners, he said adding: Nonetheless, we persisted and managed to sift through a huge pile of documents to point out anomalies in the electoral roll for a Bangalore seat that we had lost. In about six months from now, we will come out with many such disclosures which would establish that vote chori has been on in most places across the country. Even in the Lok Sabha polls, there were manipulations in 70-80 seats, said Gandhi, referring to last year's general elections which saw the BJP falling short of a majority and forming the government with the help of allies like JD(U) and TDP. Gandhi, who has been accompanied by alliance partners Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) and Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI ML Liberation) all through the Yatra, began the day with a motorcycle rally which saw his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Vadra pillion riding the bike he drove. Vadra, who left in the afternoon, had been with the Yatra since Tuesday when she also addressed a public meeting in Madhubani. In Muzaffarpur, the leaders were joined by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin, who told a rally that the deletion of 65 lakh voters' names from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar, as part of special intensive revision, was worse than terrorism. The rally also served as an ice-breaker as young Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar was seen shaking hands with Tejashwi Yadav. The perceived rivalry between the two leaders has been a matter of much speculation in a section of the media. The BJP sought to fish in the INDIA bloc's troubled waters by raking up controversial statements made by Stalin and his cabinet colleagues against the people of Bihar. A number of video clips were shared by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on social media. In addition, BJP workers in Patna burnt an effigy of Stalin and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who had joined the Yatra a day ago and has been similarly accused of having belittled Bihar. Deletion of voters' names in Bihar worse than terrorism, says Tamil Nadu CM Stalin
Export units at Tirupur, Noida, Surat halt production amid high U.S. tariffs: FIEO
U.S. tariffs will severely disrupt the flow of Indian goods to its largest export market, Federation of Indian Export Organisations
Gems, jewellery exporters seek counsel on rerouting shipments
Indian gems and jewellery exporters are worried about the impact of the 50% tariff imposed by the US. They have approached the Reserve Bank of India for support regarding working capital. Exporters are also exploring rerouting shipments through countries with lower tariffs like Dubai and Mexico. Surat's diamond industry fears job losses after Diwali.
Surat Shocker: Ex-Husband Kidnaps Former Wife In Filmy Style To Reunite
In Surat, a man abducted his ex-wife in a filmy style to reunite after divorce. Police nabbed him at a checkpoint and rescued the woman.
Surat Doctors Remove 25-cm Abscess, 7 Litres Of Pus In Rare Surgery To Save Homeless Man
Doctors drained fluid to ease pressure on Kumar Mochis lungs and stabilise breathing. In surgery, they found a severe abdominal infection and removed about 7 litres of pus
Supreme Court offers death row convict facility in jail to grieve virtually for his deceased mother
Bench rejects his plea to allow him to make the journey from a Surat jail to the Naxalite area of Buxar in Bihar to attend rituals
3-year-old boy from Gujarat kidnapped, strangled by cousin; Body found in Mumbai train toilet
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat's Surat city has been shaken by the chilling kidnapping and murder of a 3-year-old boy. The prime suspect, his own cousin, dumped the child's body in a train toilet in Mumbai before vanishing with the mother's mobile phone. Now, multiple police teams are chasing him across Maharashtra and Bihar in a high-stakes manhunt. The Amroli Police of Surat City and Surat Crime Branch are now locked in a cross-state chase for the accused, 26-year-old Vikas, who is on the run after allegedly strangling his little cousin. The nightmare began on August 21, when Vikas who had recently arrived from Bihar to stay with his aunt Durgadevi in Amroli area of Surat took her son, Akash alias Aarav, out to play. Both disappeared soon after, along with Durgadevi's mobile phone. Days later, Akash's body was discovered stuffed inside the dustbin of an AC train coach toilet at Lokmanya Tilak station, Mumbai. The boy had been strangled with the very rope tied around his neck. The accused, a native of Siwan in Bihar, escaped immediately after the murder. Police sources revealed he had previously worked in Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, and has been living a reclusive, erratic life since returning. The investigation gained momentum after police traced the missing mobile phone belonging to the child's mother which Vikas carried with him. However, he has kept officers off-track by frequently switching the device on and off, leaving only fleeting signals in Mumbai, Thane and Bihar. CCTV footage from railway stations on the Kushinagar train's route and Lokmanya Tilak station has become the focus of the probe. At the same time, officers are struggling to extract details from the grieving family, who remain in deep shock. Police insiders describe Vikas as a loner with no friends and no personal mobile phone often wandering without purpose. No prior criminal record has surfaced so far, but his sudden violent act has stunned investigators. Tensions had reportedly been simmering in the family. Vikas's mother Rabri Devi had been living with her sister Durgadevi in Surat, but quarrels broke out over accommodation and work. Whether this dispute triggered the killing remains unanswered. At present, five teams from the Surat Citys Amroli Police, Crime Branch, and Local Crime Branch are deployed in Mumbai, Thane and Bihar to nab the fugitive.
Man held for scaling Parliament wall released
Ram Shankar Bind, a 20-year-old from Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, was released after being arrested for attempting to scale the Parliament complex wall in Delhi. His family claims he may have mistakenly traveled to Delhi while en route home from Surat, where he worked. Authorities found no suspicious evidence and handed him over to his father after questioning by central agencies.
