Israeli PM Netanyahu slammed for calling son’s wedding delay ‘personal cost’ of war
New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked widespread criticism after describing the postponement of his son's wedding as a “personal cost” of the ongoing conflict with Iran. The remarks, made against the backdrop of missile strikes and civilian casualties, have drawn backlash online and from families affected by the war.
Speaking near the Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva, which was recently hit by Iranian missiles, Netanyahu said, “Each of us bears a personal cost, and my family has not been exempt. This is the second time that my son Avner has cancelled a wedding due to missile threats. It is a personal cost for his fiancée as well, and I must say that my dear wife is a hero.”
He further likened the situation in Israel to the British Blitz during World War II, saying, “It really reminds me of the British people during the Blitz. We are going through a blitz.”
Netanyahu’s remarks were met with fierce condemnation online, with critics accusing him of equating a delayed wedding with the suffering of civilians and soldiers killed in the war. Among the voices was Anat Angrest, the mother of Matan, an Israeli captive held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. “I have been in the hellish dungeons of Gaza for 622 days now,” she wrote on social media, expressing outrage at Netanyahu’s focus.
The wedding of Avner Netanyahu was originally planned for November 2024 but was postponed due to security concerns. It was rescheduled for June 16, but once again delayed amid rising tensions and anti-government protests.
Since Israel launched Operation “Rising Lion” on June 13 targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the conflict has escalated rapidly. Iran responded with retaliatory missile strikes, including the use of cluster munitions, a first in the current conflict, one of which damaged the Soroka Hospital.
At least 24 Israeli civilians have been killed so far, while Iran has reported over 200 fatalities. The war has now entered its eighth day with no signs of de-escalation.
Meanwhile, the White House has confirmed that US President Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether to intervene militarily in the Iran-Israel conflict. Officials warned that Iran could be weeks away from building a nuclear bomb, depending on decisions by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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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.
