Ambergris worth Rs 1.85 crore seized in Palghar; two held
Palghar (PTI): The police have seized ambergris or whale vomit worth Rs 1.85 crore and arrested two persons allegedly involved in smuggling the contraband in Maharashtra's Palghar district, an official said on Monday.
Based on a tip-off, the police laid a trap in Nalasopara East and apprehended the accused on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Poornima Chowgule-Shringi (Zone-2, Vasai) said.
The team intercepted Kader Gafar Karghashra (52), a resident of Jawahar, and recovered 1.858 kg of a yellowish-black, waxy substance confirmed to be ambergris, worth Rs 1.85 crore, she said.
Following the initial arrest, further investigation was launched to identify the source of the contraband, and they zeroed in on Kishore Mahadev Tapsale (39), a resident of Thane, and nabbed him, the DCP said.
A case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, she added.
Ambergris, often called "floating gold," is a solid, waxy substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales and is highly sought after in the international perfume market, despite being strictly prohibited for sale under Indian law.
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Man held for blackmailing woman using explicit photos, videos
Bengaluru (PTI): A 46-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly blackmailing a woman using her explicit photos and videos to force her into a sexual relationship with him, police said on Saturday.
The accused, Haniyur Chandregowda, is a member of the Child Welfare Committee in Ramanagara, they said.
Obscene photos of several other women were also found on his mobile phone during examination, police said.
The case came to light after a 43-year-old woman, who works as a make-up artist, filed a complaint at the Rajarajeshwari Nagar police station on April 30, they said.
According to FIR, the woman met Chandregowda in 2021. He told her he was connected to TV serials and took her phone number on the pretext of offering make-up work. The woman had been living separately from her husband for about eight years.
The accused started visiting her house frequently and told her he was a lecturer with a good salary and promised to marry her and entered into a physical relationship with her, she alleged.
Police said Chandregowda later used private photos and videos of their intimate moments to threaten her. He allegedly warned that he would make them public if she did not agree to his demands, and continued the relationship under pressure.
The FIR also stated that in 2024, he rented a house using the woman's documents by falsely claiming to be her husband.
The woman also alleged that he used a fake ID claiming he was a Superintendent of Police to avoid paying toll fees.
She claimed that he had taken around Rs 5 lakh from her since 2021 and had not returned the money.
The FIR further stated that he added his name to the educational documents of the woman's daughter, pretending to be her husband.
Based on the complaint, a case under sections 69 (sexual intercourse by deceitful means) and 204 (impersonating a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered. He was later arrested, a senior police officer said.
