Sandeshkhali woman alleges fake rape complaint, says made to sign blank paper
Sandeshkhali: A woman from Sandeshkhali has accused individuals associated with the BJP of orchestrating a false rape complaint in her name. This accusation has escalated the already intense political fight between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP as elections loom large.
The woman claimed that she was coerced into signing a blank paper by a person named Piyali, who allegedly then fabricated a rape complaint against local Trinamool leaders. The woman further said that she and her family have faced threats for speaking out against Piyali.
Trinamool MP Sushmita Dev lambasted the BJP for intimidating the brave women of Sandeshkhali, accusing them of deceit and exploiting the dignity of women for political gain.
In response, the BJP dismissed Trinamool's claims as a belated attempt at damage control. Party spokesperson Priyanka Tibrewal questioned Trinamool's silence over the past months and challenged the authenticity of their sudden outcry.
Amidst the turmoil, the Trinamool Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against several BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, for allegedly concocting false allegations in the Sandeshkhali matter.
Sandeshkhali, a remote island in North 24 Parganas, gained national attention when residents accused local strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates of various crimes. Shahjahan, expelled by Trinamool, was arrested after being on the run for over a month and is now in CBI custody.
A recent video featuring a local BJP leader, purportedly admitting to the fabrication of rape complaints, has further fueled the controversy. However, the BJP claims the video was doctored, filing a police complaint in this regard.
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ED arrests Sandeepa Virk, 'cosmetologist' for alleged money laundering
New Delhi, Aug 13 (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate said on Wednesday it has arrested a woman, who claims to be an actor and a cosmetologist, under the anti-money laundering law in a case of alleged fraud and misrepresentation.
The agency said the purported links of the woman, Sandeepa Virk, with a Reliance Group executive, Angarai Natarajan Sethuraman (President, Corporate Affairs), are also under its scanner. Sethuraman, in a statement, denied any connection with Virk or any transactions related to her.
Virk was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Tuesday after searches were conducted against her and her associates in Delhi and Mumbai over the last two days.
A special court sent her to the ED's custody till August 14, the agency said. The woman claims to be the owner of a skin care products selling website named hyboocare.com, which the ED claimed was a "front" for money laundering.
She and her associates are being probed for allegedly exerting undue influence through "misrepresentation" and "defrauding" individuals by soliciting money under false pretences.
According to an Instagram ID of Virk, she is an actor and entrepreneur and the founder of the said website.
The federal agency said in a statement that the woman was also "in touch with" Sethuraman, former director of erstwhile Reliance Capital Limited.
She was communicating with him regarding "illegal liaisoning", the ED claimed, adding that the searches at Sethuraman's residence "confirmed" these allegations.
"Besides, diversion of funds for personal benefit has also been unearthed during the course of the search action," it said.
The ED alleged that public money worth about Rs 18 crore belonging to Reliance Commercial Finance Limited (RCFL) was disbursed to Sethuraman in 2018 by "flouting" prudent lending norms.
The funds were lent under terms that allowed a deferment of the principal amount as well as the interest, with multiple waivers granted and no due diligence conducted, it said.
The ED claimed that besides this, a home loan of Rs 22 crore was provided by Reliance Capital Limited by "violating" the prudential norms. "A large part of these loans are seen to have been eventually siphoned off and remained unpaid," it alleged.
Sethuraman, in a statement, dismissed the allegations as "baseless". He denied any connection with Virk or any transactions related to her.
Detailing about Virk's web portal, the agency said it purportedly sold FDA-approved beauty products. However, the ED said the products listed on the website have been found to be non-existent and the portal lacks a user registration option and is plagued by persistent payment gateway issues.
A scrutiny of the website uncovered minimal social-media engagement, an inactive WhatsApp contact number and an absence of transparent organisational details, all of which reinforce the finding of "non-genuine" commercial activity, the ED claimed.
"These factors, including limited product range, inflated pricing, false claims of FDA approval and technical inconsistencies, indicate that the website serves as a front for laundering funds," it said.
Another social media-hosted bio data of the woman said she is a certified cosmetologist.
The ED said several "incriminating" documents were seized during the searches and the statement of a man named Farrukh Ali, stated to be an associate of Virk, was recorded.
The money-laundering case stems from an FIR lodged by the Punjab Police.
Sethuraman said that the home loan he received from Reliance Capital was granted following due process and was secured by the property offered as collateral.
