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Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 8:56:24 pm

Aaditya bats for ‘truth’

Mumbai: Two days after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a FIR in the Disha Salian case, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA and ex-Minister Aaditya Thackeray broke his silence – to proclaim that he would “fight for truth and against injustice”, here on Wednesday. “For the sake of truth, against injustice, our fight will continue,” vowed Aditya, daring his opponents that all attempts to silence him through ‘politically motivated character assassination’ will not succeed. Thackeray Jr’s...

Aaditya bats for ‘truth’

Mumbai: Two days after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a FIR in the Disha Salian case, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA and ex-Minister Aaditya Thackeray broke his silence – to proclaim that he would “fight for truth and against injustice”, here on Wednesday. “For the sake of truth, against injustice, our fight will continue,” vowed Aditya, daring his opponents that all attempts to silence him through ‘politically motivated character assassination’ will not succeed. Thackeray Jr’s assertion came after the CBI recorded the statement of Disha Salian’s father Satish Salian as per the September 2 directives of the Bombay High Court handing over the case probe to the central agency. Taking to X today, Aaditya said: “To stop the dust of rumors once again, I'm stating only and only the facts! Let’s cut through the noise and talk facts, once again. I have never met Disha Salian, nor did I have any acquaintance with her, or have known her." Nevertheless, Aaditya said that for the past six years, due to political motives arising out of personal enmity and with the intent of character assassination, “some people have been deliberately trying to link my name to this unfortunate incident repeatedly, despite there being no evidence or connection whatsoever”. With an apparent tinge of regret, the SS (UBT) MLA said that the false discussions on television channels and media trials carried out through empty bluster cannot alter the truth. “Loud TV debates and media trials do not change the facts. Let the official re-investigation proceed without malicious distractions and relentless smear campaigns run by vested interests without a single shred of evidence and truth is highly unfortunate,” Aaditya said. The controversy dates back to June 2020, when Disha Salian, 28, a celebrity manager who had worked with the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died after falling from a high-rise building in Malad. The Mumbai Police initially investigated the death as an accidental-death matter and subsequently concluded there was no foul play. Later however, her father Satish Salian challenged the handling of the case and sought a fresh investigation. Allowing his plea, the high court ordered the CBI to register an FIR and conduct a substantive investigation with an open mind into the circumstances surrounding her death. Crucially, the court also stated that it was not making findings against any individual and directed that no person be treated as an accused unless material emerged during investigations.

Cybercrime kingpin deported to Mumbai

Quaid Najmi
Jun 11
2 min read

Three weeks after issuing InterPol Notice

Ganesh Balaso Kale
Ganesh Balaso Kale

Mumbai: In one of the swiftest international manhunts in recent years, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), working in close coordination with multiple Indian and foreign agencies, secured the deportation of notorious cybercrime accused Ganesh Balaso Kale from Thailand to Mumbai - barely 21 days after an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) was issued against him.

 

Absconding since nearly a year, Kale was wanted in connection with a series of large-scale cyber fraud cases in which unsuspecting victims were lured with promises of lucrative online part-time jobs and easy earnings.

 

The victims were subsequently arm-twisted to make mandatory ‘investment’ payments or deposits against the promise of high returns, only to be cheated of large sums of money in crores of Rupees, before disappearing.

 

Officials said the Interpol RCN against Kale was published in late May. Acting swiftly on the alert, Thai authorities traced him to Bangkok and detained him on May 24, and informed Indian agencies.

 

The CBI, coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Thailand, brought Kale to Mumbai late Wednesday. He was handed over to the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, which took him into custody on Thursday for further investigation.

 

Extensive Syndicate

 

Investigators said that Kale operated an extensive syndicate of cyber fraudsters and financial criminals who preyed on innocent citizens across multiple states. His network allegedly recruited individuals by assuring them of hefty commissions and attractive returns in exchange for allowing their bank accounts to be used for financial transactions.

 

These accounts were then allegedly converted into conduits for laundering, routing or parking the proceeds of cyber fraud, which the gang siphoned off while concealing the trail of funds, estimated to be crores of Rupees.

 

According to the CBI, Kale and his accomplices also asked the victims to arrange for mobile phones, forged identity documents and illegally procured SIM cards to facilitate  their dark operations while evading detection. The network is believed to have shady links beyond India, prompting agencies to probe possible international connections.

 

“Notably, the RCN against Kale was published in May 2026 and he was successfully traced, apprehended and brought back to India within approximately 20 days, reflecting swift and effective international coordination among the concerned agencies,” the CBI said.

 

Till date, the CBI has secured the return of over 160 wanted fugitives from different countries, including Thailand. Prominent among them are: Among those deported or extradited in recent years are gangsters Rajendra S. Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan; his close aide Santosh P. Shetty; terror accused gangster Abul Salem A. Q. Ansari; financial fraud accused J. Sundaram; gangster Ravi Pujari; the absconding brothers Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, and many others.

 

Haryana murderer also deported
In a related operation, the CBI secured the extradition of a wanted mafiosi, Vainket Garg from Georgia. Wanted by the Haryana Police, he is facing serious criminal charges, including murder, extortion, organised crime and illegal firearm offences.
 
Garg was earlier arrested and jailed, but jumped bail and sneaked out to Georgia after which an InterPol RCN was issued, leading to his arrest by the Georgian law enforcers.

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