Wife of Rs 88-crore fraud mastermind deported from UAE to face probe in India

 

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has successfully facilitated the deportation of wanted fugitive Vishakha Rathod from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India.

Rathod, who was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, was brought back to India on August 3, 2026, in connection with a case involving an alleged large-scale financial fraud. She arrived in Pune and was subsequently taken into custody by a team of Maharashtra Police.

According to the CBI, Rathod was wanted for her alleged involvement in a criminal conspiracy in which investors were induced to invest money in multiple schemes on the false promise of assured fixed monthly returns.

The agency said that the accused allegedly dishonestly misappropriated the invested funds and diverted the proceeds through multiple bank accounts and demat accounts.

Following the investigation, a Red Notice was issued against Rathod through the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), enabling coordination with international agencies for locating and securing her return to India.

The CBI, which serves as the nodal agency for INTERPOL-related matters in India, has been coordinating with various national and international authorities to trace and bring back individuals wanted in criminal cases.

The successful deportation was carried out with assistance from the MEA and MHA, highlighting inter-agency cooperation in efforts to bring fugitives involved in serious economic offences back to face legal proceedings in India.

The accused is now in the custody of Maharashtra Police for further investigation and necessary legal action in the case.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to pursuing fugitives who evade legal proceedings by moving abroad and ensuring that they are brought back through established legal and diplomatic channels.

Vishakha Rathod, wife of the alleged mastermind behind an estimated ₹88-crore investment fraud, was deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India following an Interpol Red Notice. Upon landing in India on August 3, 2026, she was taken into custody by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Pune Police.

Key Details of the Case

• The Fraud Scheme: Vishakha Rathod and her husband, Avinash Rathod, allegedly ran a Ponzi scheme through their firm, APS Wealth Ventures LLP. They lured investors by promising guaranteed, high monthly returns before diverting funds across various personal bank and demat accounts.

• Scale of the Scam: While initial complaints reported a fraud of around ₹16 crore, further investigation revealed that overall investor losses amounted to nearly ₹88 crore.

  
  
  

• Joint Agency Operation: The deportation was coordinated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)—acting as India’s National Central Bureau for Interpol—alongside the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and UAE authorities.

• Husband's Arrest: Her husband, Avinash Rathod, was previously detained in the UAE under a similar Interpol Red Notice and deported to India on July 23, 2026. He remains under police custody in Pune.

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Pradeep Rawat's son breaks down in tears at funeral, recalls actor's final moments: 'Saw doctors giving him CPR'

 Pradeep Rawat is alive and well. This headline is a fake news report, likely originating from a clickbait channel or automated online hoax account.

Sensationalized headlines claiming a celebrity has passed away—complete with fabricated descriptions of CPR, emotional family reactions, and funeral scenes—are a common tactic used by clickbait sites to generate views and engagement.

About the Actor

• Prominent Roles: Famous for playing iconic villains and key characters across Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada cinema, most notably as the titular antagonist in Ghajini, Deva in Lagaan, and Sultan in Chatrapathi.

  
  

• Status: Alive and actively continuing his acting career.

When encountering emotional or sudden news about public figures on unverified platforms or social media, it is best to check established mainstream news outlets for confirmation.

On August 4, actor Pradeep Rawat died at the age of 74 after battling blood cancer. Several Bollywood stars, including Aamir Khan, attended his funeral. Pradeep's son, Vikramaditya Rawat, broke down while performing his father's last rites and later recalled the actor's final moments while speaking to the media.

Pradeep Rawat's son breaks down in tears at his funeral

In heartbreaking visuals from Pradeep's funeral, his son was seen breaking down in tears as he performed his father's last rites while trying to maintain a brave front. Pradeep's wife, Kalyani Rawat, was also inconsolable as she mourned her husband, with family members and loved ones trying to comfort her.

Vikramaditya spoke to the media at the funeral and revealed what happened to his father. He said the family initially believed the actor was suffering from a minor stomach infection before doctors diagnosed him with an aggressive form of blood cancer.

He said, “We went to a doctor, and they said it might be a stomach infection or something. They gave him a lot of me but none of them worked. My mom said that his health had deteriorated. We got a blood test done, and his white blood cell count was very high. We immediately took him to Kokilaben Hospital, where the doctors told us there was a 99 per cent chance it was blood cancer.”

He revealed that the diagnosis was confirmed a day later, leaving the family devastated. Vikramaditya added that Pradeep's reports had been normal just two months earlier. Fighting back tears, he said, “Yesterday his platelets dropped to 3000; platelets should be above 3 lakhs. We rushed outside the ICU. All the doctors were inside. I opened the door and saw them giving him CPR. That's when I understood. Then my mum started crying. That's it.”

Vikramaditya further said he was grateful to see several members of the film industry come to bid farewell to his father. He added, “I'm sure he's in a better place. He would be happy that so many people showed up. I'm sure he's very happy. Thank you very much.”

Pradeep Rawat's death

Pradeep was a prominent face in the Indian film industry and was known for his performances in films such as Sarfarosh, Lagaan, Sye, Naayak and Ghajini, among others. He was 74 when he died after being hospitalised following a relapse of cancer. He is survived by his wife, Kalyani Rawat, and their son, Vikramaditya Rawat.

Salman Khan mourned Pradeep's death and wrote on Instagram, "Shared many good moments with you brother.. May you rest in peace.” Aamir Khan was also seen getting emotional at his funeral, while Lagaan director Ashutosh Gowariker attended the last rites.

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IDFC Bank fraud accused caught in hotel, cops allege bid to escape custody

 In the multi-crore IDFC Bank fraud case, Chandigarh Police have uncovered an alleged conspiracy to help a key accused, Vikram Wadhwa, escape custody.

The accused was found staying in a hotel instead of returning to Model Jail, Burail, following a medical examination.

The police have registered a case against Sub-Inspector Jagmehar Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector Surender, Karan Wadhwa, Kunal Wadhwa and undertrial prisoner Vikram Wadhwa over the alleged escape bid.

According to the police, SI Jagmehar Singh and ASI Surender, both posted at Police Lines, Sector 26, Chandigarh, had been asked to escort the undertrial prisoner to Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH) for a medical check-up.

Police alleged that after the medical examination, instead of sending Wadhwa back to Model Jail per rules, the escorting officers took him to City Hotel, where he allegedly met his two sons.

According to the police's First Information Report, there was a pre-planned conspiracy involving Vikram Wadhwa and his sons, Karan and Kunal, to make him escape from custody.

Police alleged that the sons bribed the police officials to take Wadhwa to the hotel, from where he was allegedly planning to flee.

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Acting on the intelligence input, a police team headed by senior officer SPS Sondhi conducted a raid at the hotel.

During the operation, police found Vikram Wadhwa, Karan Wadhwa, Kunal Wadhwa, SI Jagmehar Singh and ASI Surender inside the hotel.

All five have been named in the FIR.

Police are also examining the role of the hotel management, as the owner is reportedly related to Vikram Wadhwa. Investigators are scrutinising hotel records and CCTV footage to determine whether Wadhwa had stayed at the property on previous occasions and whether the management facilitated his stay.

They said the accused has been sent to jail.

Who is Vikram Wadhwa?

Vikram Wadhwa, a Chandigarh-based real estate businessman, was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in May under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

According to the ED, the investigation has revealed alleged embezzlement of approximately Rs 645 crore from IDFC bank accounts of the Haryana government, the Chandigarh administration and two private schools in Chandigarh and Panchkula.

The ED has alleged that Wadhwa is one of the main accused who, in connivance with Ribhav Rishi, Abhay Kumar, bank officials and government officials, siphoned off public funds.

Vikram Wadhwa, a prominent Chandigarh-based real estate developer and prime accused in the multi-crore IDFC First Bank fund diversion fraud, was caught in a hotel in Sector 17, Chandigarh, after allegedly bribing police personnel to help him escape custody.

Key Details of the Incident

• Medical Outing Turned Escape Plan: Wadhwa, who was in judicial custody at the Model Jail in Burail, was brought out to the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, for a medical examination.

• Detour to Hotel: Instead of taking him directly back to jail after the checkup, the escort team—consisting of Sub-Inspector Jagmehar Singh and Assistant Sub-Inspector Surender—took Wadhwa to Hotel City Hotel in Sector 17-C.

• The Raid: Acting on a specific tip-off, a police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) S.P.S. Sondhi raided the hotel. They found Wadhwa lounging inside, having a meal with his two sons, Karan Wadhwa (27) and Kunal Wadhwa (24), alongside the two escorting police officers.

• Alleged Conspiracy: Investigators allege that Wadhwa and his sons lured the police officers with undue favors to arrange a venue where they could execute a plan for Wadhwa to flee from custody.

Actions Taken & Current Status

• Five Arrests: All five individuals—Vikram Wadhwa, his two sons, and the two Chandigarh Police officers—were arrested on the spot.

  
  
  

• Legal Charges: A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act along with several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) covering disobedience by a public servant, criminal conspiracy, and negligent escape/resisting arrest.

• Back to Jail: Wadhwa was immediately remanded back to Model Jail, Burail, and formally arrested under the fresh case.

Case Background

Vikram Wadhwa is a key figure in the high-profile IDFC First Bank fraud case (investigated by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate) involving the alleged embezzlement and laundering of around ₹600+ crore in government funds across Haryana departments, the Chandigarh Administration, and Chandigarh Smart City Limited.

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Phones, laptops and other electronic items likely to become cheaper as govt brings taxation amendment bill; check provisions

 

Jagran Bureau, New Delhi | The government is set to provide income tax exemptions to domestic companies for the next 15 years, aiming to encourage the manufacturing of electronic items in the country. The proposal has been made in the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

What Are The Provisions In The Bill?

According to the bill, if a foreign company supplies machinery and other components to an Indian factory for the manufacturing of electronic items, the income generated by the Indian company from this manufacturing will now be tax-free for 15 years. This was originally proposed for five years, but after consultation with stakeholders, this period has been extended by another ten years.

Mobile Phones, Laptops, And Tablets To Become Cheaper

According to the Income Tax Department, the income of such Indian companies will now be tax-free until the financial year 2040-41. The department has also clarified that the exemptions on income cover the manufacturing of electronic items, including mobile phones, laptops, personal computers, tablets, servers, and their key parts.

Related video: India to ease tax rules for offshore funds to woo foreign capital? | Vantage on Firstpost (Firstpost)

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India to ease tax rules for offshore funds to woo foreign capital? | Vantage on Firstpost

Now India is rewriting its tax rule book now before

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Another tax change is proposed to encourage electronic manufacturing. Currently, foreign companies supplying components to Indian electronics manufacturing companies store them in warehouses near their units so that the production of the companies manufacturing for them is not affected. The government levies a two per cent tax on this. Now, these have also been exempted from tax for the next fifteen years. This will encourage foreign companies to source manufacturing from Indian companies. 

Attempt To Attract Global Fund Managers

Changes are also being made in the bill related to amending the tax law to encourage global fund managers to come and work in India. According to the proposal, currently, if a global fund manager comes to India to conduct business, they must comply with several conditions. Now all those conditions are being removed. The only thing that will be taken into account is that their funds are not misused by Indians.

The government introduced the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on August 4, 2026. Rather than directly cutting retail sales taxes (like GST) on individual devices at the counter, the bill provides long-term tax relief and incentives for electronics manufacturers and contract suppliers. This reduces overall production and capital expenditure costs, which in turn is expected to lower prices for finished devices over time.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Extension of Tax Relief to 2041:

  The bill extends a 10-year tax exemption (until March 31, 2041) for foreign companies supplying capital goods, machinery, equipment, tooling, and components to contract manufacturers in India.

• Expanded Scope of Electronic Goods:

  The definition of "specified electronic goods" covered under tax incentives has been significantly widened. It now includes:

  • Mobile phones and smartphones

  • Laptops, tablets, and personal computers

  • Servers and related networking sub-assemblies

  • Hearables, wearables (smartwatches/fitness trackers), and related accessories

• Customs Bonded Warehouses Exemption:

  Foreign entities storing electronic sub-assemblies and components in customs bonded warehouses within India will receive tax exemptions through FY2040–41, helping insulate local assembly units from global supply chain disruptions.

  
  
  

• Data Centre Tax Easing:

  Tax compliance and operational requirements for foreign companies using Indian data centres (including leased facilities) have been streamlined, reducing compute and infrastructure costs.

How This Affects Consumer Prices

Direct vs. Indirect Impact	Operational Change	Expected Price Effect
Component Costs	Extended tax exemptions lower import and operational duties on specialized tooling and sub-assemblies.	Lower cost per unit for local manufacturers.
Local Manufacturing (Make in India)	Encourages global component suppliers to set up operations within India for the long term.	Reduces reliance on imported parts subject to volatile tariffs.
Retail Shelf Impact	Brands can pass on capital savings to consumers in competitive price bands (e.g., mid-range smartphones and laptops).	Gradual price drops or higher spec offerings at current price points.

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