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Mumbai: GST official absconds with Rs 25 lakh bribe money from gold dealer, CBI registers case

A GST official in Maharashtra’s Mumbai was booked by the CBI after he allegedly took a bribe from a jailed gold dealer and absconded with the money, officials said on Friday.

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A GST official in Maharashtra’s Mumbai was booked by the CBI after he allegedly took a bribe from a jailed gold dealer and absconded with the money, officials said on Friday.

According to reports, the accused GST official, Dhirendra Kumar, who is posted as the Superintendent of Anti-Eviction Wing of Central GST, along with two others— Amrutlal Shankhala and Baban—were booked by the Anti-corruption wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), for allegedly absonding with Rs 25 lakh in bribe money.

They said that on April 20, one Jitendra Lunawat—a Mumbai-based businessman—had filed a complaint with the CBI on behalf of his friend Arpit Jagetia, who had reportedly been taken into custody by Central GST officials for questioning.

Lunawat in his complaint that the accused GST official, Dhirendra Kumar, allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 1 crore from Jagetia and harassed the gold dealer in custody.

The Central GST had registered a case against Jagetia—a gold dealer—in connection with alleged irregularities in transactions between Shree Bullion and other companies in the bullion market.

According to the FIR which was filed by the CBI based on Lunawat’s complaint, Dhirendra Kumar forcibly took Jagetia into custody from Sarafa Bazar in the Kalba Devi area on April 20 and then allegedly harassed him in custody while also threatening to put him behind bars in a fake case if he did not pay a bribe of Rs 1 crore.

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As per the FIR, Lunawat said that Jagetia called him after he was let off by the GST officials and narrated the entire incident to his friend. Lunawat claimed that in a bid to help his friend, he met with the accused GST official and managed to negotiate the bribe amount to Rs 25 lakhs from the earlier Rs 1 crore demanded by Kumar.

Luckily, Lunawat recorded the entire phone conversation and later used it as supporting evidence to his complaint.

The businessman then arrived at the the Central GST office in Churchgate with Rs 25 lakh in cash to free his friend, however, before he could enter the GST office,  the bag containing the bribe amount was allegedly snatched by some random bike-borne man, who later turned out to be Amrutlal Shankhala, as revealed by nearby security camera footage.

A CBI official said that during investigation, it was revealed that Shankala, who owns a small-time jewelry shop in Antop Hill, was a close associate of the prime accused, Dhirendra Kumar.

The official said that another accused, Baban, who worked at Shankala’s shop, was also absconding along with Dhirendra Kumar and Shankala, adding that a manhunt has been launched to nab all three accused.

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India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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