Author: Sharad Natani
What started as small cyber fraud rackets in the border villages of Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district has now unravelled into a sophisticated international cybercrime empire, operating from luxury mansions in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). A major police crackdown has exposed how fraudsters transformed illicit digital scams into a lavish lifestyle marked by premium SUVs, farmhouses, and overseas networks. In a coordinated multi-day operation, Mathura Police arrested 37 accused, dismantling a syndicate that once operated quietly from villages like Devsaras, an area locally known as ‘Mini Jamtara’ for its history of cyber fraud. Investigators say mounting police pressure…
In one of Uttar Pradesh’s most daring and intelligently executed cybercrime crackdowns, the Agra Police have dismantled a Dubai-controlled international cyber fraud network, arresting 32 accused after a two-month-long undercover operation that saw police officers posing as cyber criminals, account buyers, and document brokers. Officials said the syndicate was operating with military-like precision, using fake companies, encrypted communication platforms, and a compartmentalised structure to evade law enforcement. The alleged kingpin, Nitin Bhagaur, is believed to be operating from Dubai, and preparations are underway to seek a Red Corner Notice against him. From Sweet Shop Owner to Cyber Kingpin Investigators revealed…
Delhi witnessed scenes of confusion, long queues, and last-minute compliance on the eve of the enforcement of the government’s stringent ‘No Pollution Under Control (PUC), No Fuel’ policy, aimed at tackling the city’s worsening air pollution. Official data shows a dramatic surge in demand for PUC certificates just a day before the rule came into force. On December 17, as many as 31,197 PUC certificates were issued across the capital — a sharp 76 per cent jump compared to 17,732 certificates issued on December 16. The spike highlights a frantic rush by vehicle owners to secure compliance and avoid disruption…
India’s wealth landscape is undergoing a decisive transformation, and at the forefront of this shift stands Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal. According to the Hurun India Self-Made Billionaires of the Millennia List 2025, released in partnership with IDFC FIRST Private Banking, Goyal has emerged as India’s most valuable self-made billionaire, overtaking retail veteran Radhakishan Damani. With Eternal (Zomato’s parent company) valued at an estimated Rs 3.2 lakh crore, Goyal’s rise to the top symbolises the growing dominance of technology-led, consumer-first businesses in India’s new economic order. This marks the first time a food-tech entrepreneur has topped the prestigious list, underlining the…
Mumbai Customs has unearthed a major gold smuggling operation at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, exposing how smugglers are using innovative concealment techniques and alleged internal collusion to bypass airport security. In a series of coordinated actions carried out between December 15 and 17, 2025, customs officials seized 24-carat gold worth Rs 2.89 crore, dealing a significant blow to organised smuggling networks. Gold Dust Smuggling Raises Alarm According to officials, smugglers attempted to bring 2.270 kilograms of 24-carat gold dust into India, cleverly concealed to evade routine screening systems. Unlike traditional gold bars or jewellery, gold dust is harder to…
The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, or VB-G RAM G Bill, marking a major shift in India’s rural employment policy. The legislation, which seeks to replace the nearly two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was cleared by a voice vote amid fierce protests by Opposition parties. As the Bill was taken up for passage, Opposition MPs stormed the well of the House, raising slogans, tearing copies of the legislation, and accusing the government of diluting the legally enforceable right to work. Despite the uproar, the government…