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CBI books Punjab CM’s son-in-law, 11 others of Simbhaoli Sugars in OBC Bank fraud

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CBI books Punjab CM's son-in-law, 11 others of Simbhaoli Sugars in OBC Bank fraud

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s son-in-law and 11 others have been booked by the CBI in a case registered against Simbhaoli Sugars Limited – a private sugar-manufacturing firm based in Uttar Pradesh’s Simbhaoli – in connection with reported bank loan fraud of Rs 97.85 crore and default of Rs 110 crore in loans from the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC).

Gurpal Singh, one of the deputy directors, is married to Punjab CM Captain Amrinder Singh’s daughter Jai Inder Kaur. Gurpal Singh is on the board of directors of eight companies in total.

The CBI has registered a case of fraud against the top officers of Simbhaoli Sugars Limited, including the CMD, CFO, CEO and directors, and unknown bank officials. The CBI has charged them with criminal conspiracy and cheating.

The CBI FIR mentions two loans, said media reports. Of the two, one is a Rs 97.85 crore loan declared fraud in 2015. The other is a corporate loan of Rs 110 crore that was used to repay the previous loan. It has been learnt that the corporate loan was declared non-performing asset (NPA) on November 29, 2016 in the aftermath of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation move, said a Financial Express (FE) report.

The bank had lodged a complaint with the CBI on November 17, 2017. The case was registered by the CBI on February 22 this year, according to reports.

The CBI’s FIR, reported The Times of India (TOI), has alleged that Oriental Bank of Commerce sanctioned a loan amounting to Rs 148.59 crore to Simbhaoli Sugars in December 2011 after the company approached it with a proposal for financing sugarcane farmers under the tie-up arrangement with the company (with a maximum limit of Rs 3 lakh per farmer).

The company supplied to the bank the names of individual farmers along with their details of land holding and cane supplied by them in the previous season. It was also supposed to submit the KYC and other requisite documents along with the loan application of individual farmers.

The bank’s Hapur branch disbursed loans to 5,762 farmers between January and March 2012 totalling Rs 148.59 crore. The loans were disbursed through individual loan accounts opened for farmers and consolidated amount of each disbursement was credited in the Escrow (current) account of Simbhaoli Sugars on the basis of undertaking given by the company that inputs like seed, fertilizers and other necessary equipments etc have been supplied by it to all the individual farmers.

It turned out that Simbhaoli issued improper KYC certificates in the names of farmers, the TOI report said. The company transferred diverted the funds from the Escrow account to other accounts maintained by it with SBI, Punjab National Bank and UCO Bank through RTGS. This way, OBC claimed, Simbhaoli Sugars has misappropriated the money lent by it and “there is clear cut division of funds”.

The loan account of Rs 148.59 crore was declared non-performing asset (NPA) in March 2015 and a fraud in May 2015 for an outstanding amount of Rs 97.85 crore.

Interestingly, in addition to existing NPA, OBC, under multiple banking arrangements sanctioned another corporate loan of Rs 110 crore to Simbhaoli in January 2015 to pay its outstanding loan of Rs 97.85 crore. “They (bank) adjusted the total liability of Rs 112.94 crore of company in June 2016 by sanctioning this new corporate loan,” says CBI.

The corporate loan, too, turned NPA on November 29, 2016, in the aftermath of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s famous demonetisation move resulting in its first outstanding loan of Rs 97.85 crore (as alleged fraud) and the fresh corporate loan of Rs 109.08 crore (as fresh outstanding).

The CBI on Sunday carried out searches at eight premises including residences of the directors, factory, corporate office and registered office of the company in Delhi, Hapur and Noida, said media reports quoting CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal.

The case comes amidst the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud scam involving diamontaire Nirav Modi is making the headlines. Notably, Simbhaoli Sugars Ltd is considered as one of the largest sugar mills in the country.

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Security tightened across Delhi metro stations after bomb threat emails

Delhi is on high alert after bomb threat emails targeted metro stations, the Red Fort and the Assembly. Authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes but tightened security as a precaution.

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Delhi Metro

Security has been intensified across all metro stations and major installations in the national capital after a series of bomb threat emails were received on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes following detailed inspections by security agencies.

According to officials, several key institutions — including the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort and two schools — received threatening emails earlier in the day. Extensive searches were carried out at all the locations mentioned in the messages, but nothing suspicious was found.

A senior police officer said cyber teams are working to trace the origin of the emails. Preliminary findings suggest that the senders may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an attempt to conceal their identities and mislead investigators. Officials expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.

Metro stations under heightened surveillance

Following specific references to metro services in the emails, security arrangements were strengthened across the entire network of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additional personnel have been deployed at stations, and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted.

Police said random frisking of passengers and intensified CCTV surveillance are being carried out as part of precautionary measures. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were stationed at sensitive sites, including the Red Fort, Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly complex.

The threatening emails reportedly included the slogan “Delhi banega Khalistan” and warned of explosions at an Army school, the Assembly and the Red Fort at specific times during the day. Officials stated that all mentioned locations were thoroughly checked and declared safe.

Authorities also coordinated with counterparts in neighbouring states to enhance security at metro stations falling under their jurisdictions.

While no explosives were found, officials said the tightened security arrangements will remain in place as a precaution. Cyber teams continue efforts to trace the IP addresses and identify those behind the threat emails.

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JNU protest turns violent as Left and Right student groups trade charges

A late-night protest at JNU turned violent as Left and ABVP student groups accused each other of stone-throwing and attacks near the East Gate.

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JNU Protest

Tension gripped the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in the early hours of Monday after a protest march allegedly spiralled into violence, with rival student groups accusing each other of triggering the unrest.

Students claimed that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when a confrontation broke out during a march called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union. The protest, named “Samta Juloos”, was headed towards the East Gate and was organised to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the withdrawal of a rustication order.

According to protesters, several students were injured after alleged stone-throwing during the clash. They alleged that the university administration did not intervene during the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to confront demonstrators.

However, the ABVP denied the allegations and countered that Left-affiliated organisations instigated the confrontation and were spreading misinformation about the events.

Left-backed groups, including the All India Students’ Association, claimed that ABVP activists targeted the JNUSU encampment and hurled stones at “unarmed students”, leading to multiple injuries.

Videos shared by students on social media reportedly showed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with members of rival groups engaged in heated exchanges and physical scuffles.

University authorities did not immediately respond to queries regarding the incident. Students said the situation on campus remained tense following the overnight clashes.

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World praised India’s AI potential at AI Impact Summit, says PM Modi

PM Modi said the world praised India’s AI potential at the AI Impact Summit 2026, where 89 countries endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on artificial intelligence.

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pm modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the world wholeheartedly praised India’s potential during the recently concluded AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, highlighting the growing global confidence in the country’s young technology talent.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the summit demonstrated how the mindset of India’s youth in the field of technology would serve humanity at large. He described the event as historic and underlined the positive global response to India’s AI capabilities.

The AI Impact Summit 2026, organised in New Delhi last week, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact. The declaration has been endorsed by 89 countries and international organisations, signalling broad global agreement on promoting artificial intelligence for economic growth and social welfare.

Broad global participation

The summit saw the participation of several prominent world leaders and top technology executives. Among those present were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Swiss President Guy Parmelin.

Other leaders attending the summit included Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, Estonia President Alar Karis, and Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

Chief executives and senior leaders from major global technology firms were also part of the gathering.

Focus on inclusive AI growth

Held under the theme ‘Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay’ (welfare for all, happiness of all), the summit aimed to position India as a global leader in artificial intelligence while ensuring that AI development remains inclusive and sustainable.

The event brought together more than 500 international AI leaders. This included around 100 CEOs and founders, 150 academicians and researchers, and 400 CTOs, vice presidents and philanthropists. Additionally, over 100 government representatives and nearly 60 ministers and vice ministers participated in discussions.

The New Delhi Declaration seeks to strengthen international cooperation and ensure that AI technologies contribute to economic progress, social good and environmental protection.

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