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Nuwara Eliya MC member alleges Rs 9.7 mn scam - The Island
News Govt. assures UN of readiness to introduce ‘vetting process’ for troops on overseas missions Published 22 mins agoon 2026/04/28 Thuyakontha Defence Secretary (retd.) Air Marshal Sampath Thuyakontha has discussed with UN officials in New York the deployment of Sri Lankan troops in Haiti, under a new UN authorised force, tasked with tackling heavily armed gangs operating in the violence ravaged country. The UN is in the process of building up a force comprising approximately 5,500 officers and men for deployment in Haiti. The Sri Lankan delegation included Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN, former Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. The UN has tagged the deployment Gang Suppression Force (GSF). According to the Defence Ministry, Sri Lanka negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the GSF. Although Sri Lanka has contributed to UN-led missions, the proposed deployment differed due to the nature of the operation, sources told The Island. The delegation has assured that all personnel, assigned for UN missions, including the proposed GSF deployment in Haiti, would be subjected to a comprehensive screening process, in line with UN standards. War-winning Sri Lanka has declared, in New York, that the country was in the process of developing, what the Defence Ministry here called, National Human Rights Vetting Mechanism in consultation with the UN Resident Coordinator in Colombo. The US has backed the deployment of Sri Lankan troops under UN command. Various interested parties, over the years, protested against the deployment of Sri Lankan troops on the basis of unsubstantiated war crimes allegations. Thuyakontha has assured that troops would maintain highest standards of discipline during overseas missions. Sri Lanka brought the war here to a successful conclusion in May 2009 against predictions of contrary outcome by so-called experts. The US and Panama proposed the GSF to replace a Kenya-led multinational force undermined by a lack of funding. Its strength hovered around 1,000, rather than the desired 2,500. The U.N. Security Council authorised the 5,500 strong force on September 30, 2025, with the new power to arrest gang members. By Shamindra Ferdinando News Lawyers cannot be denied right to represent a suspect – Udaya Published 24 mins agoon 2026/04/28 Sallay Sallay’s case: Attorney-at-law Udaya Gammanpila yesterday (27) said a lawyer could not be deprived of his or her right to represent a client. The former Minister and le...
ED raids 12 locations in Rs 145-cr Panchkula MC-Kotak bank scam
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) yesterday conducted searches at 12 locations across Chandigarh, Panchkula, Zirakpur, Dera Bassi and Rajpura in connection with the alleged Rs 145-crore fraud involving Municipal Corporation (MC), Panchkula, and Kotak Mahindra Bank.The searches, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, led to the seizure of sale-purchase agreements and other incriminating documents linked to suspected money laundering.The ED initiated its probe based on an FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Panchkula, under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The FIR alleged a well-organised conspiracy involving unknown bank officials that resulted in the embezzlement of MC funds.Preliminary findings suggest a nexus between MC officials, bank employees and private individuals. Investigators found that Dileep Kumar Raghav, a Customer Relationship Manager, and Pushpinder Singh, Deputy Vice-President at the bank, allegedly conspired with Vikas Kaushik, former Senior Accounts Officer of MC Panchkula, to open two unauthorised accounts using forged documents in the name of the civic body.Funds from genuine MC accounts were allegedly diverted to these fake accounts through forged authorisation letters. Investigators also found that unauthorised email IDs were used to approve transactions, while the official email IDs differed, as confirmed by MC officials in statements recorded under Section 50 of PMLA.The siphoned funds were reportedly routed through several intermediaries, including financiers such as Rajat Dahra, Swati Tomar, Kapil Kumar and Vinod Kumar, before being cycled back to Pushpinder Singh and his wife, Preeti Thakur. Part of the money was also diverted into real estate investments.To conceal the fraud, forged fixed deposit receipts (FDRs) worth about Rs 145.03 crore, with a projected maturity value of Rs 158.02 crore, were allegedly issued to MC Panchkula.Searches were conducted at premises linked to key accused, including Pushpinder Singh, Rajat Dahra, Dileep Kumar Raghav, Vikas Kaushik and others. The ED said the investigation is ongoing.
Embassy Of India Warns Of Fraudulent Calls Impersonating Official Lines
The Embassy of India in Washington, DC has issued an advisory alerting the public about an ongoing scam where fraudsters are spoofing the Embassy's phone lines to deceive people.
Scam Center Strike Force Takes Major Actions Against Southeast Asian ...
The Department of Justice, through U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Criminal Division, together with its partners, today announced a series of coordinated actions by the Scam Center Strike Force against Southeast Asian criminal organizations operating scam centers that have defrauded Americans of billions of dollars.
