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By:

Rajendra Joshi

3 December 2024 at 3:50:26 am

Kolhapur cop sets new standard for investigations

Yogesh Kumar Gupta Kolhapur: When a police officer takes genuine interest in securing justice for citizens duped in financial fraud, investigations can move swiftly enough to lift the crushing burden off affected families. Kolhapur Superintendent of Police Yogesh Kumar Gupta has demonstrated precisely that. His firm and sensitive handling of a cheating case ensured relief for Akshay Deepak Dhale, a young entrepreneur from Kolhapur who had fallen prey to a Rajkot-based company that allegedly...

Kolhapur cop sets new standard for investigations

Yogesh Kumar Gupta Kolhapur: When a police officer takes genuine interest in securing justice for citizens duped in financial fraud, investigations can move swiftly enough to lift the crushing burden off affected families. Kolhapur Superintendent of Police Yogesh Kumar Gupta has demonstrated precisely that. His firm and sensitive handling of a cheating case ensured relief for Akshay Deepak Dhale, a young entrepreneur from Kolhapur who had fallen prey to a Rajkot-based company that allegedly promised to secure large government loans for business expansion. Gupta’s intervention compelled company representatives to travel to Kolhapur and assure repayment of the money collected, effectively forcing them onto the back foot. Dhale, a resident of Sadar Bazaar, had dreamt of expanding his late father’s small printing business after losing him during the Covid-19 pandemic. Lured by promises of securing a multi-crore loan under a Central government scheme, he transferred ₹69 lakh — raised from nearly 15 friends and relatives — to the company’s account. The loan, however, never materialised. When Dhale began making inquiries, he was met with evasive responses. The financial shock left the family devastated. Initial attempts to seek police help reportedly went nowhere, with the matter labelled as “non-criminal” and dismissed at the preliminary stage. Acting on advice, the family approached the district police chief directly. Gupta’s decisive stand altered the course of the case, leading to concrete assurances of refund from the company. However, a far larger challenge now looms before the Kolhapur police chief. Across Kolhapur — and reportedly other parts of Maharashtra — several Marathi youths claim to have been duped by a Morbi-based businessman who allegedly promises to set up “innovative” enterprises for aspiring entrepreneurs. The scale of the alleged fraud runs into crores of rupees. The businessman, said to be linked to a major tile industry in Morbi, is accused of luring youngsters through social media promotions and advertorials in prominent English dailies. Contracts are structured to appear transparent and legitimate. Prospective entrepreneurs are promised exclusive access to novel business models, often involving products sourced from Chinese markets, complete with projected marketing strategies and attractive feature lists. According to victims, payments are collected upfront, but the products eventually supplied lack the promised specifications and hold negligible market value. Several youths across Maharashtra are believed to have suffered losses. Those who have confronted the accused allege they were threatened with defamation suits and warned that a team of “expert lawyers” would ensure their financial and reputational ruin if complaints were filed. While some victims have resigned themselves to debt and despair, others who attempted to pursue police complaints claim they were turned away. For many of these young entrepreneurs, SP Yogesh Kumar Gupta represents a ray of hope. If he chooses to take up the matter with the same resolve demonstrated earlier, it could not only restore faith among affected youths but also send a strong deterrent message to fraudsters operating under the guise of innovation-driven enterprise.

The Timeless Beauty of the Rocky Mountain Range

Updated: Jan 10, 2025

Part Five

The majestic Rocky Mountains and their surrounding beauty captivate the heart, beckoning you to return again and again.

Rocky Mountain Range

During our visit to the United States to see our older son, Akhilesh, my younger son, who was pursuing his M.Tech in India at the time, was unable to join us. His college exams, which were scheduled around the same time, prevented him from coming—something we had truly hoped for. Fortunately, during Diwali, my nephew Aniket, who was working in New Jersey on the East Coast of the United States at the time, took a vacation and visited us in Denver. This gave us the chance to revisit the Rocky Mountains. However, we missed having Akhilesh with us throughout the trip and decided to visit all the places again when he could join us.


On Sunday morning, we set off again to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. On the way, we passed a beautiful village called Frisco, with European-style bungalows, houses, and nature. We had breakfast there and then saw Dillon Lake. A little further ahead of it is Twin Lake, a beautiful lake between two mountains, with blue water and a beautiful clear blue sky. It was a beautiful sight. After crossing one ridge after another through this mountain valley, we came to Maroon Bell. The journey continued by crossing many small and large mountains, which are called ridges.


Maroon Bells is another incredibly famous destination. Here, they transport you on a special bus for a guided nature tour of the surrounding mountains and valleys, providing a unique way to explore the area. Fortunately, there weren’t too many visitors during our trip, so we were able to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature without any distractions. Afterward, we headed to the world-renowned city of Aspen. Situated at a remarkably high altitude, Aspen is a stunningly beautiful and charming place. In winter, when the mountains are blanketed in snow, it attracts visitors from all over the globe who come to engage in a variety of adventure sports in the snow. Aspen is especially famous for its skiing opportunities, drawing both seasoned and novice skiers alike. It’s also known for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, adding to its allure as an exclusive destination.


From there, we travelled to another charming town, Crested Butte. Nestled amidst the Rocky Mountains on all sides, and with a picturesque lake by its side, this European-style village exudes the charm of an English countryside. The clean, open roads and the surrounding nature contribute to the village's serene beauty. Each season brings a unique view of nature—during the summer, the mountain peaks are adorned with a vibrant array of flowers and vines, and the entire landscape, including the mountains, is decorated with colourful blossoms. Shubhankar and Ragini made a point of visiting two or three times to take in this breathtaking, panoramic view. It was only after coming here that Shubhankar truly fell in love with the place.


From there, we made our way to another charming town, Crested Butte. Surrounded by the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains on all sides and complemented by a stunning lake nearby, this picturesque European-style village brings to mind the serene beauty of an English countryside. The clean, wide-open roads, along with the untouched natural surroundings, make this village truly special. Each season presents a unique perspective of nature—during the summer, the mountain tops are blanketed with a variety of flowers and vines, while the entire landscape, including the mountains themselves, seems to be decorated in a vibrant array of colours. Shubhankar and Ragini made it a point to visit two or three times just to take in this stunning panoramic view. It wasn’t until Shubhankar experienced it firsthand that he truly fell in love with the place.


In this expansive Rocky Mountain range, beyond the famous Rocky Mountain National Park, we also discovered three or four other national parks, including the Gunnison National Forest, Isabel National Forest, and more, each offering its own breathtaking views and natural beauty.


After crossing the trail ridge, we arrived at Grand Lake, a heavenly place, a lake so big that it looked like a big river, with mountains in front, springs flowing from the mountains that meet this lake, and the clear blue water in the lake. Everything was so beautiful that it felt like we were looking at it or looking at a beautiful calendar. The cold outside and the sun setting in the middle made the whole atmosphere absolutely amazing. There are many more places like this in the Rocky Mountains, but it is not possible to see the entire area in one or two trips, but the joy of experiencing the proximity of these magnificent mountains always remains with us, wanting to visit again and again.


(The author is a director of a company. He has travelled extensively across India and overseas.)

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