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Scotland Yard arrests Mallya, who gets bail

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Vijay Mallya

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Liquor baron to pay for making off with over Rs 9,000 crore, but what about the banks who loaned him the money?

By Sujit Bhar

Karma catches up with you sooner or later. And when karma is worth Rs 9,000 crore in public money defalcated, it will probably catch up with you sooner rather than later, complicit banks’ wishes notwithstanding. Vijay Mallya’s arrest by Scotland Yard, around 9.30pm London time, speaks volumes about how the spat might come back at the banks, none among whom have been penalized for the massive Kingfisher Airlines scam.

Mallya, of course, was produced at the Westminster magistrate’s court later in the day and got bail. Later, he tweeted (see picture): “Usual Indian media hype. Extradition hearing in Court started today as expected.”

We have all been educated on the ills and spills of Mallya, the liquor baron who fled the country a year back, his first class luggage comprising 11 massive suitcases full of goodies that nobody within the law enforcement system presumably saw. He stayed out, spending time at parties and with his Force India Formula One team. Mallya has said he has been termed guilty “without a trial”.

India had taken time to react, having asked the British government only in February to have Mallya extradited. In India he will be facing charges of money laundering and there are several warrants out in the country for him. India cited its extradition treaty with the UK and the extradition request was handed over to the British High Commission in Delhi through a note verbale on February 8.
This is not to say that Mallya can no more manipulate the law enforcement system in India. His party days maybe over for the time being, but freedom isn’t that far off either (if he is transferred back to India, at all, that is. He has already got bail). India’s law enforcement agencies have been as much at fault as the banks, for not only allowing him to flee, but for allowing the businessman run away with huge debts on his shoulders in the first place. Technically, as per recent announcements by the government, there is a move to shift all bank NPAs into another company that will do the necessary debt restructuring. That would also imply that the NPAs will have been removed from the banks’ books. With them will, probably, be removed names such as Vijay Mallya’s.

Technically, the corrupt system of India suits Mallya better than the better organized financial system of the UK where he thought he would spend the rest of his grey-hair days, frolicking. Mallya, in India, will once again land amid his sycophants and cronies, building a formidable legal wall and a Gordian knot that nobody will have the sense to untie with a swishing blade.

On the other hand, if the UK allows his deportation, and if the law acts tough, Mallya will have tomes to write about corrupt bank officials who acted in cohorts with him in siphoning off public money into offshore accounts.

Proclaimed offender

India’s extradition request—Mallya has been declared a proclaimed offender—to the UK government for Mallya was certified by the UK Secretary of State (home minister).

Which meant that the British government realised the gravity of the situation and decided to take action, if the magistrate so felt. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay has been quoted in the media as saying: “The UK home department on February 21 conveyed that the request of India for extradition of Mallya has been certified by the secretary of state and sent to the Westminster Magistrates’ Court for a district judge to consider the issue of releasing of warrant.”

It, of course, took into consideration a Delhi court’s decision last week to put out an open-ended non-bailable warrant against him in a case of foreign exchange violation. The 61-year-old’s passport had been cancelled earlier, but initial approaches to the British government fell through because he had a valid British visa and could legally stay in London.

Now that the London court has granted him bail, things just might get a little more complicated for India. The CBI’s chargesheet against Mallya is on cheating and conspiracy. He defaulted on a Rs 900 crore loan from the IDBI bank in 2009. As per the chargesheet Rs 250 crore of this money, meant to buy aircraft, went to one of his offshore accounts instead.

$ 40 million for his children

Technically Mallya is being prosecuted on several counts, including FERA violations. It was the FERA violations issue that can get him back to India, though his huge defalcations from banks rank pretty high. Recently, amid this controversy, Mallya had transferred $40 million to his children. He gave little explanation on his position on this huge transfer. In a tweet he said: “I have humbly obeyed every single Court Order without exception. Seems as if Government is bent upon holding me guilty without fair trial.”

Another interesting tweet by Mallya said: “Public Sector Banks have policies for One Time Settlements. Hundreds of borrowers have settled. Why should this be denied to us?” He said that the loan settlement offer has been rejected by the lenders (banks).

The banking scam and the insolvency door

Now to the banks. Before going into the details, one must recall an interesting comment made by finance minister Arun Jaitley last year. In an effort to explain the fall of Kingfisher Airlines, Jaitley reportedly commented that maybe Mallya’s business model was not right, because other airline companies were making money.

Then he said that law says that a Member of Parliament could lose his membership if he becomes an “adjudged insolvent”. Problem is, for that a bankruptcy law is necessary.

“Generally, if you are not paying, that is different from the legal language in the constitution. There has to be a system under which you are adjudicated and judged as a declared insolvent and that only happens if you have an insolvency law in place. That’s what the parliamentary committee is looking at, not in his context but independent of that,” Jaitley had said.

This one has to pass without comment.

But that the banks were complicit cannot be washed away. It is strange, why Mallya is being considered the only guilty person in all this. Banks, per se, deal with public money. If a bank is lending to an entity, it is the responsibility of the bank (especially when it is a PSU) to verify the credentials of the intended debtor. Loans for small and micro projects are impossible to come by from banks. This has become a proven truth. But when it comes to these big borrowers, the banks’ purse strings open up.

This is a key situation. If Mallya returns, banks should not get away with their ends of deals.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Filmmaker Sanoj Mishra arrested for raping woman for 4 years on pretext of marrying her

The case revolves around allegations made by a 28-year-old woman from a small town, who accused Mishra of repeatedly raping her over four years under the false promise of marriage.

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Sanoj Mishra, a filmmaker known for offering a role to viral sensation Monalisa during the Kumbh Mela, was arrested by the Delhi Police on Monday for allegedly raping an aspiring female actor for over four years on the pretext of marrying her.

The 45-year-old director, who lives with his family in Mumbai, was apprehended in Ghaziabad following extensive intelligence work and technical surveillance.

The arrest came after the Delhi High Court rejected Mishra’s bail application, paving the way for his custody by the Nabi Karim Police Station. The case revolves around allegations made by a 28-year-old woman from a small town, who accused Mishra of repeatedly raping her over four years under the false promise of marriage.

According to the complainant, she had been in a live-in relationship with Mishra in Mumbai while pursuing her dream of becoming a film actor. She further alleged that Mishra coerced her into undergoing abortions on three separate occasions. In her complaint, lodged on March 6, 2024, she also claimed that Mishra betrayed her trust by refusing to fulfill his marriage commitment.

The Delhi Police confirmed that an FIR was registered against Mishra under multiple sections, including rape, assault, causing miscarriage without consent, and criminal intimidation. The woman’s allegations were substantiated during her statement recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Authorities also collected medical evidence related to the alleged abortions from Muzaffarnagar, strengthening the case.

The incident that prompted the complaint occurred on February 18, 2025, when Mishra allegedly took the victim to Hotel Shiva in Nabi Karim. According to the police, he engaged in physical relations with her during this encounter before abandoning her, which led her to report the matter to the authorities.

Mishra’s arrest marks a significant development in the case, following the Delhi High Court’s decision to deny him bail after a detailed review of the evidence. The filmmaker, who gained attention for his work in the film industry, now faces serious legal consequences as the investigation continues.

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Rahul Gandhi writes to PM Modi seeking cancellation of tenders for offshore mining in Kerala, Gujarat, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

“I strongly condemn the central government’s move to permit offshore mining along the coasts of Kerala, Gujarat, and Andaman & Nicobar without proper consultation or study,” he wrote.

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Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the immediate cancellation of tenders that allow offshore mining along the coasts of Kerala, Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In his communication, Gandhi expressed deep concerns over the potential threats to marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

In the letter, Gandhi criticized the central government’s decision to open up offshore mining to private entities without conducting thorough environmental impact assessments. “I strongly condemn the central government’s move to permit offshore mining along the coasts of Kerala, Gujarat, and Andaman & Nicobar without proper consultation or study,” he wrote.

Gandhi highlighted the widespread protests by coastal communities against the tender process, which they argued disregards the ecological and socio-economic ramifications. He pointed out that millions of fisherfolk are apprehensive about how offshore mining could disrupt their traditional way of life and threaten their income.

According to Gandhi, the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, has faced significant opposition due to its implications. He warned that such activities could lead to severe environmental damage, including harm to marine life, destruction of coral reefs, and reduction in fish stocks—critical issues for the sustainability of fishing communities.

The recent tender invitations by the Ministry of Mines for licenses to explore 13 offshore blocks have sparked further outrage. Among these, three blocks are located off Kollam’s coast, a key area for fish breeding, and another three are near the Great Nicobar Islands, known for their rich marine biodiversity. Gandhi argued that these locations are particularly vulnerable, and the lack of stakeholder consultation or long-term impact studies is alarming.

Citing ongoing research by the Marine Monitoring Lab (MML) at the University of Kerala’s Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, Gandhi noted that offshore mining could have devastating effects on fish breeding, especially in Kollam. He emphasized that over 1.1 million people in Kerala depend on fishing, making any threat to this sector a significant concern.

“Great Nicobar is a global biodiversity hotspot, home to numerous endemic species,” Gandhi stated, adding that any mining activity could cause irreversible damage. He also linked the erosion of coastal ecosystems to increased vulnerability to natural disasters like cyclones, questioning the government’s decision to proceed without scientific backing.

In his appeal to the Prime Minister, Gandhi urged the cancellation of the current tenders and called for comprehensive scientific studies to evaluate both the environmental and socio-economic impacts of offshore mining. “Most crucially, all stakeholders, particularly our fisherfolk, must be involved in any major decisions,” he stressed, underscoring their deep connection to the ocean’s health.

“Let’s work together towards a sustainable future for all,” Gandhi stated in his letter, urging collective action to protect both the environment and the communities that rely on it.

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India News

Noida Lamborghini crash: Victim claims car was speeding at 300 kmph

Their accounts of the accident have caught media attention, particularly their claim about the excessive speed at which the car was traveling.

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A Lamborghini crash in Noida Sector 94 has left two labourers injured, prompting serious concerns regarding speeding and road safety. The individuals involved in the incident, identified as Dijen Ravidas and Rambhu Kumar from Chhattisgarh, were reportedly struck by a luxury vehicle when it allegedly sped by at approximately 300 km/h.

According to reports, the two labourers were working in the area when they were hit by the Lamborghini, causing them to fall into a nearby drain. Initially taken to a local hospital, both men are said to be out of danger, although they have sustained leg fractures. Their accounts of the accident have caught media attention, particularly their claim about the excessive speed at which the car was traveling.

Citing eyewitnesses, news reports state that Ravidas recounted how the Lamborghini came toward them at a high speed of 300 kmph, leading to their unfortunate collision. However, the police have not yet verified the speed of the vehicle at the time of the accident, leaving some questions unanswered.

The driver of the Lamborghini, identified as Deepak, is a resident of Ajmer and has since been taken into custody. Authorities also confirmed that the car was registered in Puducherry. During questioning, Deepak reportedly stated that the crash occurred due to a fault in the vehicle, although further investigation is underway, and police are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

An alarming video that surfaced online captured a moment following the accident, where a bystander asked Deepak if he was aware of the injuries. Deepak’s response—an inquiry as to whether anyone had died—has raised eyebrows among those witnessing the aftermath.

Local witnesses described a scene of confusion as people gathered around the damaged vehicle, with one stating that the driver seemed unable to control the car, which ultimately collided with a roadside divider after hitting the workers.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about speeding and reckless driving in urban areas, prompting discussions about the need for stricter safety regulations. The investigation continues as authorities seek to uncover more details about the crash.

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