ED files third supplementary charge sheet against ‘Challenger King’ in Rs 157-cr cyber fraud, crypto laundering case

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Mumbai, Oct 6 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Mumbai Zonal Office, has filed a third supplementary charge sheet against Mehmood Abdul Samad Bhagad, alias Challenger King, before the Special Court (PMLA), Mumbai, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the agency said in a statement.

The chargesheet, filed on October 1, 2026, alleges his key role in an organised syndicate that misused stolen identities to open mule bank accounts for routing proceeds from cyber fraud and illegal online gaming and betting activities.

The ED probe was initiated by an FIR registered at Malegaon Chhawani Police Station in Nashik and later re-registered by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Maharashtra. The case centres on the deposit of more than Rs 100 crore into newly opened accounts with the Nashik Merchant Co-operative Bank (NAMCO Bank) in Malegaon.

Investigators found that, on Bhagad’s instructions, other accused persons set up shell entities and opened multiple bank accounts that together received over Rs 157 crore. These funds were layered through successive sets of shell-entity accounts controlled by Bhagad. Hundreds of crores were subsequently withdrawn by co-accused and moved through hawala channels to other locations.

The ED has detailed the modus operandi of money laundering through trading in USDT (Tether), a cryptocurrency. Bhagad and his associates allegedly sold the cryptocurrency to individuals involved in cyber fraud and illegal online gaming and betting. In return, those persons deposited Indian rupees into mule accounts under Bhagad’s control.

Earlier searches conducted by the ED at premises in Surat, Malegaon, Ahmedabad and Mumbai led to the recovery of incriminating documents, seizure of approximately Rs 15 crore in cash and freezing of Rs 34 crore lying in multiple bank accounts. A provisional attachment order was also issued for movable and immovable properties valued at Rs 95 lakh.

So far, the agency has arrested six persons in the case. It has filed one prosecution complaint and two supplementary complaints; the Special Court (PMLA) has taken cognisance of all of them.

The ED stated that it remains steadfast in its mission to trace and dismantle illicit financial networks and ensure strict enforcement of the PMLA, 2002. Further investigation in the matter is in progress.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) India is set to become the world’s third-largest economy, President Droupadi Murmu declared while addressing the joint sitting of Parliament on Friday.

She emphasized that the government is implementing key decisions at an accelerated pace to drive economic growth and development.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting farmers, President Murmu stated that Rs 41,000 crore has been distributed to millions of farmers under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This initiative continues to provide direct financial assistance to farmers, ensuring agricultural stability and rural economic growth.

She also underlined major policy reforms, including the proposal for ‘One Nation, One Election’, which aims to synchronize elections across the country, and the Waqf Bill, which seeks to introduce transparency in the management of Waqf properties.

Her address was also dedicated to youth empowerment and employment generation. She stressed the government’s continued efforts to expand educational opportunities and create new jobs to harness India’s demographic dividend.

The President also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to homeownership for the middle class, ensuring that housing schemes enable families to achieve their dream of owning a home.

She pointed out that government initiatives have successfully lifted 25 crore people out of extreme poverty, reinforcing the administration’s focus on economic inclusion and social upliftment.

In a significant move towards women’s financial and technical empowerment, President Murmu highlighted the ‘Drone Didi’ scheme, which provides women with training in drone technology, offering them new employment avenues in the agricultural and logistics sectors.

President Murmu expressed deep condolences for the tragic loss of lives in the Maha Kumbh Mela stampede in which at least 30 people died. She extended her sympathies to the affected families and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

She also expressed deep sorrow over the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

–IANS

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Maha: State-level committee formed to clear encroachments from protected monuments

Mumbai, Dec 17 (IANS) In a significant move to preserve the historical integrity of Maharashtra’s heritage, the State Cabinet on Wednesday decided to establish a State-Level Committee chaired by the Minister for Cultural Affairs, Ashish Shelar.

The primary objective of the committee is to ensure that state-protected monuments, including forts, remain free from encroachments. Maharashtra currently has 390 state-protected monuments. In addition, there are 145 temples, including Tulja Bhavani and Jejuri.

The project covers diverse sites ranging from the August Kranti Maidan, St George Fort, Dharavi Fort and Khandeshwari Caves; in the Konkan region, the ancient petroglyphs in Ratnagiri; and the birthplaces of national heroes such as Vasudev Balwant Phadke and Senapati Bapat. In Western Maharashtra, the project also includes the birthplaces of Yashwantrao Chavan and Baji Prabhu Deshpande.

“Removal of unauthorised constructions is not merely an administrative task but a necessity for the scientific conservation of our history,” the Cabinet noted.

The decision is expected to preserve the “historical authenticity” of ancient sites, accelerate the district development agenda by promoting tourism, and improve the state’s standing in heritage conservation rankings.

The committee comprises a high-level panel of ministers and secretaries to ensure inter-departmental coordination, including the Ministers of Revenue, Rural Development, Tourism, Public Works Department (PWD), Forests, and Ports Development. It also includes the Secretaries of Finance, Planning, Cultural Affairs, Urban Development (1), Home, Revenue, Rural Development, Tourism, PWD, Forests, and Ports Development.

While a previous Government Resolution (GR) dated January 20, 2025, focused specifically on clearing encroachments from forts — central, state and unprotected — the new decision expands the scope to include all state-protected monuments, according to a release issued by the office of the Minister for Cultural Affairs, Ashish Shelar.

The State-Level Committee will oversee the functioning of District-Level Committees, formulate strategic policies, and provide necessary guidance. The government noted that removing unauthorised structures is essential for monument conservation.

Furthermore, developing these sites as tourist hubs will boost district economies and accelerate regional development. To expedite the removal of encroachments and facilitate conservation, the Planning Department has been authorised to provide funds directly to District Collectors.

–IANS

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Kolkata warehouse roof collapse: JU’s architectural experts assigned to identify structural design flaws

Kolkata, June 30 (IANS) The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the case of the under-construction warehouse roof collapse at Taratala in South Kolkata last week that claimed 16 lives, has assigned architectural experts from Jadavpur University (JU) to identify the flaws in the structural design of the collapsed structure.

Insiders from the city police said the team of architectural experts from JU, the premier engineering institute in the state and the country, will examine whether the warehouse was built according to the original design or whether there were deviations during construction.

At the same time, the investigating cops are conducting thorough searches at Abdul Hamid’s residence, who was arrested in this incident based on findings that he was responsible for getting the construction sanction plan passed by the previous Trinamool Congress-run board of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).

The SIT of the city police, probing the matter, had already sought further details from the KMC and the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT). The warehouse project was underway on land owned by KoPT, which was leased to the warehouse owner, Sambhunath Behra. On the other hand, the construction plan was sanctioned by the KMC authorities.

The owner of the warehouse, Sambhunath Behra, and Kalicharan Banerjee, the former OSD of former Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim, have already been arrested in this connection. City police insiders said both arrested persons are still not speaking much during interrogation.

In such a situation, the SIT members are examining the documents recovered from Behra Brothers. The sleuths are also trying to figure out whether there was any brokerage angle to the land lease. They are also trying to find out whether any time has been fixed for the completion of the work.

Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mazdoor Cell filed a police complaint at Taratala Police Station against Firhad Hakim and two Trinamool Congress councillors, Anwar Khan and Shams Iqbal, in the disaster case.

A preliminary probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kolkata Police in the roof collapse case has revealed that a combination of two factors – the use of poor-quality construction material and adopting a flawed casting pattern – led to the mishap, which has claimed 16 lives so far.

–IANS

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