The North Cyber police have busted a gang of cybercriminals involved in duping citizens by luring them into fake stock market investment schemes. Five individuals have been arrested from Rajasthan. The 50-year-old male complainant was contacted via WhatsApp between December 2024 and February 2025 by a woman identifying herself as Priya Patel, claiming she is an employee of ‘RK Group’. “She claimed to be a SEBI-registered broker and promised huge returns on stock market investments. The accused shared a web link under the guise of opening a Demat account and collected sensitive information, including Aadhaar and PAN card details, bank account details, and mobile number,” said an officer. The link redirected the complainant to a fake trading platform named JIO GLOBEX LTD, displaying bogus tabs like ‘Chart’, ‘Trade’, ‘Deals’, and ‘Profit’ — all designed to simulate a real trading experience. The victim was tricked into transferring funds to multiple bank accounts under the guise of stock purchases, with the cybercriminals eventually defrauding him of Rs 22.4 lakh. When the complainant attempted to withdraw the so-called returns, he was repeatedly asked to pay additional amounts, citing various excuses. Subsequently, an FIR was registered in February under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2), and 61(2) of BNS along with Sections 66(a) and 66(d) of the Information Technology Act, 2008 (Amended). Under the guidance of DCP Purshottam Karad, ACP Rajendra Shirtode, North Cyber Police Inspector (in-charge) Sudhakar Humbe, PI Kiran Ahere, and API Sanjay Pawar, along with the North Cyber police team, began the investigation. Technical analysis of the WhatsApp number and its ISP data revealed that the operation was being run from Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Based on this, a police team conducted raids and detained five suspects, identified as, Munawar Hussain Yusufbhai Sindhi, 30, Vipul Kumar Kantibhai Ode, 20, Rashid Mithubhai Sindhi, 28, Naveen Rameshbhai Ode, 20, and Mukeshbhai Gautambhai Ode, 28. The police team seized 24 mobile phones used in the cyber fraud, a list of mobile numbers used for scamming, a share market handbook, and a notebook with chat scripts used to trap victims, said an officer from North Cyber. It appeared the operation was targeting individuals across India. All five accused were produced in court and have been remanded to police custody for further investigation. “We appeal to citizens to remain cautious and not fall prey to such online investment scams. If approached by any unknown individual on WhatsApp or social media promising unrealistic returns, citizens are urged to report the matter immediately. Reporting cybercrimes Cyber Helpline1930 Websites www.cybercrime.gov.inwww.sancharsaathi.gov.in(Sanchar Saathi portal)
18 July,2025 09:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanShiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde launched a veiled attack on Uddhav and Raj Thackeray while claiming that Mumbaikars would witness pothole-free roads in the city for the next 25 years. The deputy chief minister slammed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav allegedly for siding with contractors and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj for opportunistically raking up the issue of Mumbai’s separation from Maharashtra in the run-up to the polls. Shinde stated that for them (the Mahyuti government), 'Mumbai first' was the policy, but for others, a reference to Sena UBT, the policy was always contractor-first. “By December 2027, all roads in Mumbai will be of cement concrete. Mumbai will be pothole-free for the next 25 years. Road maintenance costs will not be there,” the deputy chief minister added. Shinde was replying, on Thursday, to queries raised by the members of the Legislative Assembly in debate held under rule 293 of the Maharashtra Legislature, which allows members to deliberate on matters of public concern. Shinde mentioned that in the erstwhile government (when he was chief minister), now Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and I called the then Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal. “We [Shinde and Fadnavis] asked the civic chief about the poor road quality. He replied that every year, 50 km of road are concreted. We asked if there was any rule limiting the length of roads that could be concreted, to which the municipal commissioner replied in the negative,” Shinde stated. The earlier government decided to complete the concreting of all roads in two phases. “Some of the roads are done; the remaining will be completed by December 2027,” Shinde added. The deputy chief minister further questioned why Marathi speakers were dislodged from Mumbai and forced to leave the city. “Our policy, infrastructure-related work and development of the city are aimed at bringing back the Marathi people to Mumbai,” Shinde mentioned. Anti-Raj salvo Taking a veiled dig at the MNS chief, Shinde stated that every time an election drew near, the issue of Mumbai being separated from Maharashtra was raked up. “Amhi Mumbai jodnyache kam kartho [We are doing the job of unifying Mumbai], take example of Atal Sethu, Coastal Road, Metro,” Shinde said, uttering the phrase ‘Swarthacha zenda and satecha agenda (flag of self-interest and agenda of power)’. The landslide mandate given to the current regime by voters is an endorsement of the quality of work done by the Mahayuti government, the leader stated. As Shinde concluded his reply, Opposition members apparently tried to object to some of the statements. However, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar cited the rule book, which categorically mentions that only members who initiated the debate (in this case, UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray) could ask for the right to reply. Since Aaditya was not present, the speaker refused to allow Opposition members to reply. As an uproar in the assembly over this issue ensued, Narwekar adjourned the House for ten minutes. When proceedings resumed, Shinde Sena camp leader Shambhuraj Desai demanded action against Aaditya and another Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA, Bhaskar Jadhav. Even Shinde agreed that members of the Opposition benches should try to maintain decorum and avoid pointing fingers at the speaker. “Members should know that the decision taken by the speaker is final,” Shinde added. Finally, Narwekar said, “If Aaditya Thackeray had been present, he would have been allowed to reply. But, since the member who initiated the debate is not there, I am moving ahead with the proceedings [next business of the Assembly].” Other highlights of Shinde’s reply On hawkers: The deputy CM said that the hawkers’ survey was conducted, and of one lakh, only 30,000 were found to be licensed. “The case is sub judice. Once the hearing is done, hawking and non-hawking zones will be marked. As hawkers will not be allowed beyond designated areas, pedestrians will find roads free of vendors,” he said. Mithi river cleaning row: Actor Dino Morea is being investigated by authorities in connection with irregularities in contracts for the cleaning of the Mithi river. “Tyani zar thond ugadla tar barycah lokancha morya hoi [If he — referring to Morea — opens his mouth, it will spell trouble for many],” Shinde said in veiled reference to Aaditya Thackeray, who is said to be good friends with the actor. On the airport funnel zone impacting redevelopment: “No government did anything concrete to provide relief to residents who are unable to opt for redevelopment due to the restriction on the height of structures falling in the airport funnel zone. “We are allowing the sale of TDR [transferable development rights] to make this project viable on a no-profit-no-loss basis,” Shinde added. Hike in BEST fares: BEST bus fares were hiked after 10 years. Prior to this, the BEST was earning 1.9 crore per day, which has increased to R2.73 crore per day. On an average, 24 lakh passengers use BEST buses daily.
18 July,2025 08:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarResidents of dilapidated buildings in Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs, as well as tenants stranded in stalled redevelopment projects, may finally get relief. By December 2025, the Maharashtra government is set to introduce new rules and legislation to address two persistent issues: landlords refusing to opt for redevelopment despite dangerous building conditions, and developers who take over properties but neither begin construction nor pay rent to displaced tenants. BJP MLAs Yogesh Sagar and Mihir Kotecha raised the issue in the state Legislative Assembly on Thursday through a calling attention motion, highlighting the plight of citizens stuck in limbo, living in uninhabitable buildings or waiting for work that never begins. Industries Minister Uday Samant responded in the Assembly, stating, “By the next session (i.e., the Winter Session in Nagpur), the government will bring in a law that will put an end to such practices.” Sagar cited how, in Mumbai’s island city, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) is empowered to take over redevelopment of old cess buildings if landlords or developers delay the process. “MHADA proceeds with demolition and redevelopment while protecting the landlord’s share. But no such rules exist for the suburbs. This has left thousands of tenants in limbo,” Sagar said. The Charkop MLA added that he has been raising this issue since 2018, yet nothing has moved on the ground. “We are now in 2025. It’s been seven years. I urge the government to announce the rules today itself.” Replying to the demand, Samant reiterated the government’s commitment to enact the required laws and plug the policy gap. Kotecha, MLA from Mulund, also urged the government to ensure suburban tenants get a minimum of 300 sq ft flats in redevelopment projects, on the lines of Slum Rehabilitation Authority provisions, even if original homes were smaller.
18 July,2025 08:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarAround 30 egrets reportedly died after falling from their nests during tree pruning and trimming work at a private housing society near Ghodbunder Road in Thane on Thursday. Honorary Wildlife Warden Rohit Mohite told mid-day that the incident occurred due to the negligence of the contractor hired for the pruning activity. The work was allegedly being carried out at Thane’s Anand Nagar Rutu Enclave Society. Upon witnessing birds falling from their nests during the pruning, local animal lovers immediately informed the NGO Wildlife Welfare Association (WWA). A team from the NGO rushed to the site. Videos showing the dead birds and ongoing pruning work have since gone viral on social media, prompting calls from wildlife activists for strict action against those responsible. Speaking to mid-day, Mohite said, “We were at the site, and the tree contractor appointed by the society didn’t stop the work. They claimed to have a permission letter from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). I spoke with the TMC tree officer, who clearly stated that any violation or harm to wildlife automatically cancels the permission, and this is clearly mentioned in the letter.” Sources from the Forest Department said the pruning began on Wednesday evening. By Thursday morning, local residents spotted dead birds and chicks on the ground and alerted WWA. Officials from the Thane Forest Department (Territorial) visited the site on Thursday evening. They confirmed the recovery of approximately 35 dead birds and 26 chicks, including egrets, pond herons, and juveniles. Rescue operations are ongoing, and more birds may still be saved. Mohite has demanded strict action against the private contractor responsible for the pruning activity that led to the deaths of the birds.
18 July,2025 08:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavAt least seven people were injured after a portion of a chawl structure collapsed early Friday morning in Bharat Nagar, near the Namaj Committee Masjid in Bandra East. The incident, which occurred around 5:56 am, triggered a multi-agency emergency response led by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB). According to officials, the second and third floors of a ground-plus-three storey structure—Chawl No. 37 in the BKC area—collapsed, trapping an estimated 8 to 10 individuals under the debris. The MFB initially declared a Level I alert at 6:19 am, which was escalated to Level II by 6:55 am due to the severity of the situation. Rescue operations are currently in progress with teams from the MFB, police, MHADA, PWD, Adani, and BMC’s ward staff at the site. Firefighting and rescue personnel deployed include two Assistant Divisional Fire Officers (ADFO), five Senior Station Officers (SrSO), one Station Officer (SO), five fire engines, one Major Water Tanker (MWT), one Control Fire Fighting (CFF) unit, one Flood Tender (FT), one Rescue Van (RV), and one Water Quick Response Vehicle (WQRV). Emergency medical services from 108 Ambulance are also on site. As per information from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) on duty at Bandra Bhabha Hospital, seven injured individuals have been admitted and are undergoing treatment. Their condition is currently awaited. Bedroom slab of 6th floor room collapses, falls into flat below in Thane; no one hurt In another incident, the bedroom slab of a flat in a ground-plus-seven residential building in Thane West collapsed onto the flat below on Thursday evening, though no one was hurt in the incident, a civic official said. The incident took place at 7:45 pm in Aniket Society in Uthalsar Naka, said Thane Municipal Corporation disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi, reported PTI. "The bedroom slab of room number 601 on the sixth floor collapsed into the bedroom of room number 501 directly below. The ground-plus seven structure with 17 rooms is around 23 years old. No one was hurt in the incident. However, the sixth floor slab is now in a very fragile condition," he said, reported PTI. "Eight rooms on the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh floors of the building have been sealed and 19 residents have shifted to stay with their kin. Regular structural audits of older buildings are essential to prevent such accidents. Residents must report any signs of structural weakness in their buildings to the TMC without delay," Tadvi added, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
18 July,2025 08:39 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA renowned doctor from Pune allegedly orchestrated a false rape case against his brother-in-law as his estranged wife had lodged a domestic violence complaint against him and her brother was supporting her. The Samta Nagar and Pune police were on the verge of arresting the doctor’s brother-in-law when inconsistencies in the statement of the ‘victim’ raised suspicions and led to the unmasking of the mastermind, the doctor. The allegations According to the police sources, on July 8, an 18-year-old woman approached the Samta Nagar police station accompanied by a woman social activist and a man. She claimed she had been raped multiple times, once in Kandivli and twice in Pune by a 25-year-old man, allegedly the brother of the doctor’s wife. According to her statement, the accused raped her during a New Year’s party in January 2024 in Kandivli when she was a minor. She also claimed that, later, he promised her a catering job and took her to Pune, where he raped her again and clicked obscene photos. About a month and a half ago, he allegedly took her to a bungalow in Pune with a friend, and both men took turns raping her and filming the act. Cops swing into action Taking the allegations seriously, Samta Nagar police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections dealing with rape and gang rape, along with sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and deployed multiple teams to investigate the matter. Under the guidance of DCP Mahesh Chimate, Assistant Commissioner of Police Kailas Barve, and Senior Inspector Jaywant Shinde of the Samta Nagar police station, multiple teams were formed and began the investigation. “Although the woman described the Pune locations in detail, she couldn’t identify the scene of the alleged first rape in Kandivli. This raised suspicions among the investigation team, which halted the arrest of the accused at the last minute. And a reverse investigation and interrogation of the woman and her companions revealed startling facts,” said an officer from Samta Nagar police station. According to the police, the investigation revealed that the entire story was scripted by the doctor, whose wife had earlier filed a domestic violence case against him. “Her brother had been supporting her through the legal process, which angered the doctor. In a bid for revenge, the doctor manipulated a woman from Beed district and, luring her with money, got her to file a false rape case against his brother-in-law,” a police officer said. ‘Miscarriage of justice averted’ “The doctor believed the severity of the POCSO charge would lead to the immediate arrest of his brother-in-law, and his plan nearly succeeded. However, the police’s cautious approach and detailed questioning prevented a grave miscarriage of justice,” the officer added. “We are going to file the B-Summary report in this case before the Dindoshi sessions court,” said Senior Inspector Jaywant Shinde of Samta Nagar police station. This report is filed when a complaint is found to be baseless or fabricated. The police said they will decide the course of action to be taken against the doctor after approaching the court.
18 July,2025 08:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanResidents of three prominent housing societies in Bandra East — Patrakar, Sahitya Sahawas (famously known as the society where cricketer Sachin Tendulkar grew up), and Kalabhushan — have been grappling with severe water contamination for the past 15 days. The murky brown tap water has forced many to switch to packaged drinking water, as repeated complaints to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have yielded no lasting solution. The contaminated water received by the residents of Bandra East. Pic/Dr Ajit Desai, President, Bandra East alm “We’ve been getting dirty, brown water every single day for the last 15 days. Authorities keep telling us to wait a few more days, saying they’re still waiting on internal permissions from the BMC ward office. How are we expected to bear this for another 4-10 days?” asked Siddharth Pardhe, a resident of Sahitya Sahawas, located on Madhusudan Kalekar Marg near Kala Nagar. This isn’t the first time residents have faced such an ordeal. “We had the exact same issue in June last year. Back then, officials told us the contamination was due to nearby construction work. We even had the water tested and found dangerous levels of E. coli bacteria. Last year, it was resolved in about 10 days. This time, it’s already been over two weeks, and we have not seen any improvement,” Pardhe added. The dirty water residents have been receiving, displayed in a plastic bottle. Pics/Shadab Khan After multiple complaints to the H East BMC ward office, civic officials visited the site and identified a few leak points, which they promptly sealed. Initially, this seemed to improve the situation. “For a few days, the water was slightly murky, but it seemed like things were getting better. Then suddenly, it got worse, the water now has a pungent stench,” said Sonal Kotnis, a resident of Patrakar Co-op Society. With no relief in sight, residents have turned to buying packaged drinking water in bulk. “Between the two societies, we have over a hundred flats. Now our regular water supplier is running out of stock, so we’re being forced to source bottled water from other areas like Bandra West,” Pardhe said. One of the biggest concerns is that home water purifiers are failing to cope with the level of contamination. “We initially relied on our purifiers, but people started falling sick. I had my purifier filter changed recently, but it clogged up again in just three days. Constantly replacing filters is expensive, and not everyone can afford it,” said Shefali Sadhu, another resident of Patrakar society. Dr Ajit Desai, president of the Bandra East Advanced Local Management (ALM), acknowledged that this has been an ongoing issue. “This area has had water contamination problems ever since redevelopment work began. Constant digging and soil disturbance led to contamination, just like in June last year. Our MLA, Varun Sardesai, is following up with BMC and other departments, but there's only so much we can do.” When mid-day contacted the BMC’s H East ward office, calls were redirected from one official to another, many of whom claimed they were not from the department concerned. Finally, an official from the water department, requesting anonymity, said: “We’ve received all the complaints and are working to resolve them. But we cannot take any action until we get clearance from the roads department. That delay is what’s holding things up.” The road in question, which lies directly in front of both societies, was laid out over 15 years ago. Residents say they are more than willing to have it dug up if that’s what it takes. “We just want this problem resolved. Everyone in our buildings is getting sick from this water,” said Sadhu. BMC Additional Municipal Commissioner, Abhijit Bangar, in charge of storm water drains, told mid-day, “Generally, during the monsoon, the BMC does not grant permission to dug up roads for any work. However, since this case in Bandra East involves water contamination, we are giving permission to dig up the concrete road in front of the societies.” Siddharth Pardhe When asked about the delay in issuing permission, he added, “Multiple departments need to approve such work, which is why it’s taking time. But since this is a matter of unsafe and unusable water, I will speak to the ward officials and recommend that they expedite the clearances so that residents don’t have to suffer any further.” Bangar also addressed the recurring water shortage in the area. “I will coordinate with the wards to see if we can set up a separate procedure to deal with the water shortage issue as well, since this is another serious problem that affects the day-to-day life of residents in areas with low or irregular supply,” he said.
18 July,2025 08:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturWith the crackdown on feeding pigeons at kabutarkhanas across Mumbai proving to be a tedious task, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has appointed nuisance detection squads at the kabutarkhana opposite the General Post Office at Fort in South Mumbai. However, an individual claiming to have been contracted by the squad has taken matters into his own hands and started tying firecrackers to bamboo sticks to create loud sounds that scare the birds. An official from the A Ward’s solid waste management department told mid-day, “If feeding is stopped, they will eventually automatically stop visiting these spots, so we are allowed to only fine citizens feeding them, as per SWM by-laws. Since this has been brought to my notice, this practice of using fire crackers on a stick will be stopped immediately.” Earlier this month, the Government of Maharashtra directed the BMC to completely stop pigeon feeding in public spaces. In response, the state government instructed the civic body to shut all of them down. As part of the crackdown, the civic body immediately took action by confiscating grains stored at various kabutarkhanas, including those in Dadar, Matunga, and the one adjoining the Kothari Pyau opposite the GPO. Pigeons fly away in panic after former BMC marshal, Vilas Pawar, lights a firecracker at the khabutarkhana in Fort. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE The BMC also deployed nuisance detection squads at every kabutarkhana to fine citizens found feeding pigeons, imposing a fine of R500 per instance under the Solid Waste Management bylaws. Vilas Pawar, a former BMC clean-up marshal told mid-day that he daily accompanies the nuisance detection squad, who have asked for him to help by discouraging citizens from feeding pigeons at the Kothari Pyau kabutarkhana. He said, “The noise from the firecrackers scares the pigeons. This is one way to rid the area of pigeons, because people continue to come and feed them, outside my duty hours.” Pawar lives in Crawford market, and was part of the BMC’s clean-up marshal squad in the A ward when cleanup marshals were in the contract of BMC. Pawar claims that when BMC decided to fine people feeding pigeons at Kabutar Khanas, he was specifically asked for by name, due to his work as a former clean up marshal, to help officials from the BMC. However, this method has led to many pigeons getting hit by vehicles in the vicinity or being run over by large vehicles such as trucks and buses, as they take flight in panic due to the noise. Pawar added, “It is a very small firecracker and does not harm the birds. This is a method to discourage them from returning to the spot. If we see any pigeons on the road, we use this same method to drive them back to the safety of the kabutarkhana.” The A Ward officials from the SWM department told mid-day, “This is not a member of my squad. It will be checked who asked him to do this job at the kabutarkhana. It is likely that he lives in a building near the kabutarhana, and some residents have independently contracted him.” What is the GPO kabutarkhana? The kabutarkhana at the Government Post Office (GPO) is a 100-year-old pyau (drinking water fountain) built for public use by Mumbai philanthropist Devidas Purbhoodas Kothari in memory of his daughter, on May 24, 1923. Shortly after, the pigeon trough and enclosure were also constructed using funds donated after Kothari’s death. This is recorded on the heritage stone plaque at the site. Architect Rahul Chemburkar, a heritage conservationist who oversaw the restoration of the GPO’s Kothari Pyau in 2017, said, “When we restored the pyau, we came across two plaques, one about the fountain, and the other about the pigeon trough. The fountain area was completely covered in plastic sheets, and the railings were several feet taller than the average human height. We worked on improving the visibility of the fountain and also restored its surface.”
18 July,2025 08:07 AM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MS | Atul KambleAn 18-year-old labourer, infatuated with a 15-year-old girl, allegedly kidnapped her along with her two younger sisters after she refused to elope with him. Given the seriousness of the case, Malwani police sprang into action and arrested the accused within 12 hours, rescued the three girls, and reunited them with their family. The arrested individuals have been identified as Hasnat Reza Jamshed Alam, 18, and Mohammad Abdulkalam Rahsuddin Shaikh, 18, both labourers from Bihar. The kidnapped girls, aged 15, 7, and 11 months, lived with their mother in the Kharodi area of Marve Road. The mother, who works at a bar, usually leaves the children in the care of her younger sister. However, last week, the sister had returned to their native village, forcing the mother to lock the house from the outside while she was at work, leaving the children alone inside. Alam admitted he was in love with the 15-year-old and wanted to marry her. Representation pic/iSTOCK Alam, employed at a nearby construction site for the past couple of months, developed feelings for the 15-year-old. He gave the girl a mobile phone, and the two began chatting over WhatsApp. The mother was unaware of this. On Wednesday, the mother locked the house as usual and went to work. When she returned around midnight, she found the lock broken and her three daughters missing. Panicked, she alerted neighbours, who immediately informed the police. Senior officers from Zone 11, including Senior Inspector Shailendra Nagarkar, launched an investigation. Detection Officer API Harish Shilamkar and the Malwani police acted swiftly, sharing the girls’ photos and kidnapping details with police stations across Mumbai. During inquiries, police learned that the eldest girl had been in contact with Alam, who was also missing. Labourers in the area identified Alam’s friend, Shaikh, who worked at another construction site in Jan Kalyan Nagar. After detaining and questioning Shaikh, he confessed to the crime. The Vasai railway police located the girls at Vasai station on Thursday morning after their photos were circulated to them. The railway police handed them over to the Malwani police. During interrogation, Alam admitted he was in love with the 15-year-old and wanted to marry her. When she refused to elope and insisted on not leaving her sisters behind, he decided to take all three. "The children were rescued safely, and the accused were arrested and charged with kidnapping,” confirmed Senior Inspector Shailendra Nagarkar of Malwani police station. The accused are scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
18 July,2025 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe London branch of Bank of Baroda has found itself embroiled in the high-profile Hinduja family feud. At the centre of the dispute is 11 million dollars (approximately Rs 100 crore) lying with the bank, which is now subject to competing claims between Hinduja Banque, a Swiss bank, and Amas Limited, a company incorporated in the Bahamas. Hinduja Banque is controlled by the descendants of the late Srichand Hinduja, the eldest brother, while Amas is linked to his three younger brothers: Gopichand, Prakash, and Ashok Hinduja. A few years ago, a rift emerged between the two factions regarding how the family’s financial affairs and succession issues should be managed. On Wednesday, barristers representing Bank of Baroda, Hinduja Banque, and Amas Limited presented their arguments in London’s High Court, offering a rare glimpse into the ongoing family conflict. The dispute Bank of Baroda currently holds a credit balance of 11 million dollars, originating from a 30.7 million dollars deposit made by Hinduja Banque over a decade ago. These funds, originally drawn from Amas’s USD account with Hinduja Banque, were provided as security for a loan to Prakash Hinduja. According to court documents, Bank of Baroda, represented by William Edwards KC and instructed by Abhijit Khandeparkar of CND Parker, said that a dispute has existed since mid-2024 between Hinduja Banque and Amas over who is entitled to the 11 million dollars. Maintaining a neutral stance, Bank of Baroda has proposed that the money be deposited with the court while the two parties pursue their competing claims. Richard Power, the barrister representing Hinduja Banque, told the court that the money should be paid to his client and held in Amas’s account at Hinduja Banque. “HB [Hinduja Banque] has made it clear that, upon receipt of the funds from Bank of Baroda, the money will be deposited in Amas’s client account with HB,” Power said. However, Hinduja Banque insists that Amas must comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols and provide the necessary documentation to satisfy regulatory requirements. The Swiss bank maintains that as a registered financial institution, it must adhere to proper procedures. In contrast, Ben Woolgar, representing Amas, argued that his client believes Hinduja Banque’s compliance stance is driven less by regulatory necessity and more by internal family politics. He told the court that while the bank claims it would return Amas’s money, it has gone to “enormous trouble and cost” to prevent that outcome. Bank seeks legal protection Given the situation, Bank of Baroda has applied for ‘stakeholder relief’, a legal mechanism used when multiple parties make competing claims against a third party that has no vested interest in the disputed funds. The application, filed on December 5, 2024, aims to shield the bank from liability. On July 11, 2024, Amas instructed BoB to transfer the 11 million dollars to an account in its own name at the bank. But on 25 July 2024, law firm Macfarlanes, acting on behalf of Hinduja Banque, warned BoB against releasing the funds to any third party not involved in the original contract. In November 2024, BoB informed Hinduja Banque that it would release the funds if the bank provided an indemnity against any claims from Amas. Hinduja Banque refused, reinforcing BoB’s belief that such claims were indeed likely. The Hinduja brothers The Hinduja business empire, founded more than a century ago by Parmanand Hinduja, was built up by his four sons: Srichand (SP), Gopichand (GP), Prakash (PP), and Ashok (AP). Just two months ago, the family once again topped the UK’s Sunday Times Rich List for 2025, with an estimated wealth of £35.3 billion. However, the ongoing feud between the heirs of Srichand Hinduja and the three younger brothers has led to litigation in both England and Switzerland. Srichand passed away in 2023 after battling dementia. Due to internal disputes over his care funding, the London High Court had at one point considered admitting him to a public nursing home. An official solicitor had been appointed to represent his interests in his final months.
18 July,2025 07:50 AM IST | London | Danish KhanThe OG Superman A worker unloads metal sheets from a truck at Ketkipada in Dahisar. The memory of a Mumbai guardian Paul Murphy (at podium) addresses the gathered guests at the session. Pic Courtesy/The Asiatic Society of Mumbai On July 16, the Asiatic Society of Mumbai was the venue for a gathering of friends, scholars, and raconteurs remembering a fellow researcher, Jim Masselos (right). The Australian historian and researcher who passed away on June 24 in Sydney, was considered an authority on contemporary social history in India, especially Mumbai. The evening saw the Society along with Australian Consul-General Paul Murphy host a tribute to Masselos, alongside friends and peers. “We had invited people whom Jim [Masselos] was associated with, who knew him to share their memories of what he meant to them,” shared Shehernaz Nalwalla, vice-president and chairperson, Mumbai Research Centre. Alongside Dr Manjiri Kamat and Dr Ramdas Bhatkal, composer Aneesh Pradhan also shared his thoughts. “He shared how Jim contributed with suggestions about books to read during his PhD years,” Nalwalla added. mid-day features in Wisden 2025 The cover of the Wisden Cricketer’s Almanack 2025 (right) Atul Kamble and Ashish Raje This year’s edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack is in our hands and we are delighted that the bible of cricket has selected images shot by two of our staff photographers — Atul Kamble and Ashish Raje, for their photo section. Kids playing in the rain at Shivaji Park. Pic/Atul Kamble Kamble, a Wisden-MCC Cricket Photograph of the Year 2013 winner, has captured kids playing cricket in the rain while Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) excellence in photography award winner, Raje has a top-shot image of three games of cricket being played on separate terraces in Lalbaug, Mumbai. The Lalbaug terraces with three games of cricket. Pic/Ashish Raje Elsewhere in the fabled yellow book, mid-day gets mentioned in Chronicles of 2024 for their story about Afzal Shaikh and Hamza Khan guiding Anjuman-I-Islam Allana English School to a massive 652-4 in just 37 overs in the Harris Shield competition before their opponents (Oxford International School) were bowled out for five. Mumbai to Bengaluru It will be a Mumbai August in Bengaluru this year. The Bengaluru Poetry Festival that will commence on August 2 and August 3 will have a heavy city contingent leading it. Actors Sandhya Mridul, Danish Husain (below), filmmakers Devashish Makhija and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, will be among them. “I would also consider Jeet Thayil as much Bengaluru as Mumbai,” said Aparajita Sankar, festival manager. The Mumbai-heavy curation was only incidental, she added. “This is our ninth edition of the festival, and the focus has always been to celebrate the best of poetry. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend the festival,” Shankar revealed. For Husain, the visit to Bengaluru will be spread across two sessions. “I will be performing one solo that I have titled Alfaaz Mujhse Juda Rahe, for now. My second session will be a joint one where I will share the stage with poets Saraswati Nagpal, Amy Singh and Anwar Ali,” he shared. Pedal on Vinod Rawat with his bike. Pic Courtesy/Vinod Rawat Last week, this diarist announced that the Sir JJ School of Art, Architecture and Design is conducting a special cyclothon titled Tour de JJ on July 13. Among the riders on the circuit was Vinod Rawat, an amputee. The sight of Rawat cycling alongside experienced riders sparked conversations and earned admiration from the community. For the Chembur-based Rawat, it is a moment of satisfaction. “I lost my leg in an accident as a child. I did not get access to prosthetics till 2017, when I was 25. Throughout my childhood, I felt like the dream of cycling was beyond me. Now, I do not miss a chance to enjoy it,” shared the cyclist, who has also biked to Khardung La Pass in 2017.
18 July,2025 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayADVERTISEMENT
