Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

India’s CBI Approaches Nigeria Seeking Details on Absconding Businessman Nitin Sandesara

India’s federal investigation agency, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has approached the Interpol wing of Nigeria to confirm whether absconding promoter of country’s Gujarat-based Sterling Biotech, Nitin Sandesara is staying Nigeria.

The businessman, Nitin Sandesara is being investigated by Indian investigators in a £554.80 million alleged banking fraud case, the officials said on Tuesday (25).


CBI’s new move came after media reports that stated Sandesara and members of his family have moved from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Nigeria with which India doesn’t ink any extradition pact.

The investigation agency has also said that it has no information on the current location of the businessman and members of his family.

Indian investigators have alleged Sterling Biotech that it had borrowed loans worth £523.40m from a consortium of banks led by Andhra Bank which have turned into non-performing assets (NPA).

According to a first investigation report (FIR) registered by the CBI stated that the total pending dues of the company were £563.49m as on December 31, 2016.

In October 2017, the investigation agency registered case against Sterling Biotech and its directors including Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara, Rajbhushan Omprakash Dixit, Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara, and Vilas Joshi. In addition to five accused, the company’s chartered accountant Hemant Hathi, former director of Andhra Bank Anup Garg and other unidentified persons have also been booked in the fraud case.

CBI registered a case against the management of the company earlier in August for allegedly bribing senior officials of Income Tax (IT) department.

The IT department had conducted a raid and seizures in 2011 at 25 premises of Sterling Biotech Ltd. The IT officers found a diary containing handwritten records of financial transactions, an FIR in that particular case stated.

CBI booked all the accused in the case for criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and corruption among other charges. The investigation agency alleged that false and fabricated records and manipulated documents were made to obtain loans from the lenders which were later used for the personal spending of the management.

More For You

Priyanka Chopra turns heads at brother’s wedding with £1.2M necklace

Priyanka Chopra shares a heartfelt moment with brother Siddharth Chopra on Sangeet night, dazzling in a stunning Rahul Mishra ensemble and exquisite Bvlgari jewelry.

Instagram/priyankachopra

Priyanka Chopra turns heads at brother’s wedding with £1.2M necklace

Priyanka Chopra, Bollywood’s reigning queen who’s taking the world by storm, is currently basking in the joy of her brother Siddharth Chopra’s wedding to actress Neelam Upadhyaya in India. The pre-wedding celebrations have been a glittering spectacle, and Priyanka, as always, has been the epitome of elegance and poise. At the Mehendi-cum-Sangeet bash, she was truly a vision in a bespoke floral masterpiece by designer Rahul Mishra, but it was her jaw-dropping jewelry that truly stole the spotlight.

Priyanka slipped into a strapless, gem-encrusted gown dripping with intricate floral patterns, exuding pure charm and sophistication. But the real showstopper? A breathtaking Bvlgari necklace that could make even the stars jealous. Crafted in pink gold and encrusted with diamonds, the necklace featured seven pear-shaped morganites, six cushion-cut mandarin garnets, and nine cabochon amethysts. Fashion experts over at Diet Sabya pegged its value at a jaw-dropping 11,04,346.44 pounds basically wearing a fortune around her neck!

Keep ReadingShow less
New body led by Sir Sajid Javid aims to amplify ‘unheard’ voices
Sajid Javid

New body led by Sir Sajid Javid aims to amplify ‘unheard’ voices

A NEW independent commission to improve cohesion would engage across all nations and regions of the UK by moving beyond Westminster-centric discussions and include more diverse voices, the director of British Future thinktank has said.

Sunder Katwala said building confidence across different groups will be a priority, as economic pressures and tensions due to Middle East conflict have polarised communities in the UK.

Keep ReadingShow less
Yarl’s-Wood-detention-centre-Getty

In 2018, she was detained at Yarl’s Wood detention centre after being told she would be deported. (Photo: Getty Images)

Court awards £100,000 to Pakistani asylum seeker over unlawful detention

A PAKISTANI asylum seeker has been awarded nearly £100,000 after a UK court ruled that she was unlawfully detained and subjected to breaches of her rights by the Home Office.

Nadra Almas, who arrived in the UK on a student visa in 2004, overstayed after her visa expired. She argued that returning to Pakistan would put her at risk as a Christian.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pakistan court gives unusual punishment to Youtuber Rajab Butt for owning lion cub

Pakistani zookeeper Mohammad Amir holds the confiscated lion cub at Lahore’s safari zoo last Tuesday (28)

Pakistan court gives unusual punishment to Youtuber Rajab Butt for owning lion cub

A PAKISTANI YouTube star who was gifted a lion cub on his wedding day avoided jail after promising a judge to upload animal rights videos for a year.

Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in south Asia, and his week-long nuptials in December were plastered over celebrity gossip websites.

Keep ReadingShow less
Theft and violence in retail shops hit record high in 2024

The Labour government has pledged to address the rise in retail crime through stronger measures to tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour

iStock

Theft and violence in retail shops hit record high in 2024

THEFT and violence against retail workers in Britain soared to record levels last year, driven partly by criminal gangs, and are “out of control”, according to a report last Thursday (30).

The British Retail Consortium's annual crime survey found that more than 20 million thefts occurred in the year to August 31, 2024 – an average of 55,000 a day – costing retailers £2.2 billion.

Keep ReadingShow less