Mangaluru: 74-year-old man cheated of Rs 1.77 crore in American commodities investment scam
Mangaluru: A 74-year-old man from the city has allegedly been cheated of Rs 1.77 crore in an online investment scam linked to American commodities trading, Deccan Herald reported on Thursday.
According to the complaint, the victim received a phone call on December 24 last year from a person who identified himself as Shoib Ghauri from a firm named Ventrade.
The caller allegedly promised high returns through investments in American commodities markets and assured that funds transferred in Indian rupees would be converted into US dollars and invested on the victim’s behalf.
Police said the accused remained in contact with the victim through email, WhatsApp, and phone calls. Initially, the complainant invested a small amount and received some returns in his bank account, which increased his confidence in the scheme.
Convinced by the assurances and expecting higher gains, he subsequently transferred larger amounts through RTGS, NEFT, and IMPS to bank accounts provided by the accused.
Between January 5 and February 2, the victim transferred a total of Rs 1,77,64,668.22 to the specified accounts, police said. When the promised returns stopped and communication became irregular, he realised he had been cheated.
A case has been registered at the CEN Police Station in Mangaluru, and further investigation is under way.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
