Author: Agencies
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at multiple locations, including Jammu and Kashmir, as part of a money laundering investigation into alleged fraudulent toll collection at National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plazas, officials said. Around 14 premises in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and West Bengal were covered during the searches. The action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after the central agency took cognisance of two police FIRs related to the alleged use of unauthorised software applications for generating toll receipts and diverting collections…
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman held high-level bilateral meetings with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and European Commission Commissioner for Economy and Financial Affairs Valdis Dombrovskis on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meeting, hosted by the United States this year. The discussions focused on deepening economic partnerships, expanding green and infrastructural investments, accelerating private capital mobilisation, and navigating strategic global technologies and trade initiatives. During the meeting with Ajay Banga, Sitharaman appreciated the speedy processing of the $1.5 billion Development Policy Financing (DPF) and the International Finance Corporation’s…
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces were deployed in large numbers at Lal Chowk and Jawahar Nagar here on Wednesday to maintain law and order in view of the BJP plan to gherao the Civil Secretariat and the ruling National Conference’s plan to stage a counter protest outside the office of the national party. Roads leading to the BJP office at Jawahar Nagar have been sealed to prevent any unruly gathering, while all entry points to Ghanta Ghar at Lal Chowk have been put off limits to all vehicles, the officials said. The BJP has asked its workers…
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches in multiple states as part of a money laundering investigation linked to “fraudulent” toll collection at various NHAI plazas, officials said. They said about 14 premsies in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and West Bengal were brought under the searches. The action was launched under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after the central agency took cognisance of two police FIRs. The FIRs allege use of unauthorised software applications for generating toll receipts and “diversion” of toll collections outside the official accounting mechanism. Forensic examination and…
NEW DELHI: The Centre has revised the duty structure on exports of petroleum products with effect from September 1, cutting the Road and Infrastructure Cess (RIC) on diesel exports to Rs 1 per litre from Rs 3 per litre and the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED), or windfall tax, on diesel exports to Rs 19 per litre from Rs 24 per litre, according to a government notification. The latest revision applies for the next fortnight and follows the government’s practice of reviewing export levies on petroleum products every 15 days based on average international prices of crude oil, petrol, diesel…
NEW DELHI: During his four-day visit to Central Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a carefully curated series of traditional Indian crafts, classical literature, and historic mementoes to the leaders of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to showcase India’s rich literary, artistic, and craft traditions. Prime Minister Modi gifted Bibek Debroy’s 10-volume English translation of the Mahabharata to the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov. Traditionally attributed to Ved Vyasa, the epic is a cornerstone of India’s literary, philosophical, and cultural heritage, exploring themes of dharma, duty, justice, morality, loyalty, and statecraft through the story of the Pandavas and Kauravas, with an enduring…
NEW DELHI: Demonstrating exceptional precision despite darkness and adverse weather conditions, personnel from the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday successfully rescued an elderly person stranded in the middle of a fast-flowing river in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district. In a post on X, the IAF stated that the swift execution of the challenging operation ensured the stranded and exhausted individual was brought to safety. “Despite darkness and adverse weather conditions, an IAF helicopter from Western Air Command, successfully rescued an elderly person stranded in the middle of a fast flowing river in Sirmaur district, Himachal…
NEW DELHI: A fifth Indian aircraft carrying emergency assistance has departed for Nepal with an 11 member specialised rescue team and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “The fifth Indian aircraft has departed for Nepal. It is carrying a 11 member rescue team with specialised equipment, and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines.” The aircraft was sent at a time when the death toll from floods in Nepal has risen to 1,127, according to the Nepal Police, on Wednesday. The act of sending relief aircraft to Nepal…
JAMMU: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday welcomed the Government of India’s rejection of the award passed by the Court of Arbitration at The Hague concerning the Indus Waters Treaty, describing the move as a firm assertion of India’s sovereignty and national interest. In a statement, BJP J&K spokesperson Parimoksh Seth said the Narendra Modi-led government had made it clear that India’s sovereignty, security and national interests would not be compromised. He said the Centre has maintained that the Court of Arbitration was “illegally constituted” and lacked jurisdiction over sovereign decisions taken by India in its…
SRINAGAR: In a major leap forward for public healthcare and social welfare, the Chief Minister led government has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the landmark Cancer Treatment & Management Fund for Poor (CTMFP) to ease the out-of-pocket financial burden on poor and vulnerable patients battling cancer. This major policy shift directly targets the critical gaps that previously left low-income families financially exhausted. While major inpatient operations and therapies are broadly covered under the Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY SEHAT ecosystem, patients historically suffered massive out-of-pocket expenses for outpatient care, routine diagnostics, and daily medication. Addressing this gap head-on, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s modified…