Mumbai: Actress Caught for Cheating Splurged on Luxury Cars, Watches

executive@coastaldigest.com (Agencies)
June 3, 2015

Mumbai, Jun 3: A small-time actress and her boyfriend have been arrested for cheating more than 1,000 people of crores of rupees to quench their thirst to live the high life.

Leena Maria PaulThe Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Crime Branch has found that the couple bought nine luxury cars, 117 imported watches, a sports bike, 12 cellphones and several other items with the money that people gave them for their 'investment' company.

Police arrested actress Leena Maria Paul (26) and her live-in partner Shekar Chandrashekar (25), along with four others Adil Jaipuri (24), Akhtar Jaipuri (55), Salman Rizvi (28) and Nasir Jaipuri (50). Paul has worked with Mohanlal in the 2009 film Red Chillies, and John Abraham in Madras Cafe.

The EOW officers said they got a tip-off that Chandrashekar, identified as the mastermind, was running a double investment scam in Goregaon and lived a posh lifestyle with the money.

"Based on this information, we raided Chandrashekar's office and learnt that he was running a company called Lion Oak India and was illegally accepting cash deposits, for which he had started bogus schemes such as Lucky Number 05, Special Harvest Week, Super Harvest Plus, and Weekly New Year Bonanza," said Dhananjay Kamlakar, joint commissioner of police, EOW.

The scam

The accused would promise people extravagant returns on sums they invested 20 per cent on a monthly basis, and 300 per cent in three months. They would then splurge on luxury products using the hard-earned money of investors. Police have recovered nine luxury cars including brands like Bentley, Audi, Mercedes, Maserati, Nissan - 117 imported watches, mobile phones, and a sports bike.

"The accused also purchased a Honda sports bike worth Rs. 23 lakh.

We have found around 117 imported high-end watches and 12 mobile phones from brands like Vertu with Chandrashekar. He was paying around Rs. 75,000 as rent for house in Imperial Heights, Goregoan," said Kamlakar. Police have learnt that Paul was in a live-in relationship with Chandrashekar and the couple had landed in the police's net in Chennai for cheating Canara Bank in 2013.

Chandrashekar had posed as an IAS officer and obtained a loan of Rs. 19 crore from the bank. "They did not have any permissions to start the company and Chandrashekar had been arrested by the Chennai police earlier for posing as an IAS officer and cheating the bank. Yet, around 1,000 people invested with them. They have cheated these people to the tune of R10 crore," added Kamlakar.

"They would only accept cash. When people came to them on the due date (of the scheme) to collect their money, they used to convince them to re-invest and promised good returns. They also signed agreements with investors to gain their confidence," said DCP Pravin Padwal from the EOW.

Several doctors in the city have fallen prey to the schemes. Advocate Adnan Shaikh said three doctors had approached him till date. Dr Mursalin Sheikh, a general physician, told mid-day, "After putting in R10 lakh, I was told we had to keep on investing or the scheme would be stopped. I gave around Rs. 25 lakh.

They had promised us gifts like watches, cars and cellphones. We didn't get anything." Dr Sheikh realised he'd been taken for a ride when the mobile phones of the accused were switched off one day and their office was locked. The accused have been booked for cheating and criminal conspiracy, and under relevant sections of the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978.

I've been cheated of Rs. 2.5 crore: Rakhi Sawant

Among the victims of the investment scam is actress Rakhi Sawant. Sawant said, "I had invested around Rs. 2.5 crore.

He (Shekar) approached us from time to time and requested us to invest money. I saw his fancy lifestyle and thought he was a big financier. This comes as a shock. I had hoped to get my money back," she said.

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News Network
May 10,2020

May 10: Azaan is an integral part of the faith, not the gadget, says veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, asking that the Islamic call to prayer on loudspeakers should be stopped as it causes "discomfort" to others.

In a tweet on Saturday, Akhtar wondered why the practice was 'halaal' (allowed) when it was, for nearly half a century in the country, considered 'haraam' or forbidden.

"In India for almost 50 years Azaan on the loud speak was Haraam. Then it became Halaal and so halaal that there is no end to it, but there should be an end to it. Azaan is fine but loud speaker does cause of discomfort for others. I hope that atleast this time they will do it themselves (sic)," Akhtar tweeted.

When a user asked his opinion on loudspeakers being used in temples, the 75-year-old writer said everyday use of speakers is a cause of concern.

"Whether it's a temple or a mosque, if you're using loudspeakers during a festival, it's fine. But it shouldn't be used everyday in either temples or mosques.

"For more than thousand years Azaan was given without the loud speaker. Azaan is the integral part of your faith, not this gadget," he replied.

Earlier in March, Akhtar had supported the demand to shut mosques amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country, saying even Kaaba and Medina have been closed due to the pandemic.

He had also appealed to the Muslim community to offer prayers from home in the holy month of Ramzan, which began on April 24.

"I request all the Muslim brothers that now that Ramzan is coming, please say your prayers but make sure that this doesn't cause problems to anyone else. The prayers that you do in the mosque, you can do that at home. According to you, the house, the ground, this all has been made by Him. Then you can do your prayers anywhere," he had said.

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News Network
June 15,2020

Mumbai, Jun 15: Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan has paid a heartfelt tribute to actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on Sunday.

Taking to Twitter, the superstar recalled the 'Kai Po Che' actor's "energy, enthusiasm, and his full happy smile."

Sushant, who was a big fan of Shah Rukh, was often compared to him as both the actors made a successful transition from the small screen to Bollywood without any Godfathers.

Sharing a throwback picture along with Sushant, Khan also noted how much the late actor loved him and asserted that he will surely miss him.

"He loved me so much...I will miss him so much. His energy, enthusiasm, and his full happy smile. May Allah bless his soul and my condolences to his near and dear ones. This is extremely sad....and so shocking!!," the tweet read.

Sushant, 34, committed suicide by hanging himself on Sunday, Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Sharma confirmed. However, no suicide note has been recovered from Rajput's residence, as per the police and further investigation is underway.

As per the latest development, the body of the actor is brought to Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital from his residence in Bandra.

The actor, who rose to fame with the 2008 television series 'Pavitra Rishta,' made his Bollywood debut with Abhishek Kapoor's 'Kai Po Che' in 2013.

One widely loved actor for his simplicity and humble nature, the actor gave hit movies to the entertainment industry, including MS Dhoni's biopic, where he played the cricketer on screen.

The star was last seen in Nitish Tiwari's 'Chhichhore,' alongside Shraddha Kapoor in 2019.

The news of the sudden demise of the actor left a bevy of his fans, and Bollywood celebrities in shock, triggering an outpouring of condolences.

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News Network
April 6,2020

New Delhi, Apr 6:  In an attempt to pump up Indians with positivity amid the testing times of coronavirus, Bollywood's most prominent actors like Akshay Kumar, Kartik Aaryan, Tiger Shroff, Taapsee Pannu, Kiara Advani, joined hands and launched a hope anthem - 'Muskurayega India.'

The song is set on the optimistic theme that sends out the message that the country will smile again if the country supports each other in the current crisis situation.

An initiative of Akshay Kumar's Cape of Good Films, the video of the song features all the lead actors of the industry including Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar, Sidharth Malhotra, Vicky Kaushal, Raj Kumar Rao, Ananya Panday, Kriti Sanon, Jacky Bhagnani, and Rakul Preet.
Curated by Jackky Bhagnani's music label JJust Music and composed and sung by the talented Vishal Mishra, 'Muskurayega India' is a symbol of India's spirit of solidarity, battling against the coronavirus pandemic.

The soulful song penned by Kaushal Kishore also features cricketer Shikhar Dhawan and famous Mumbai based Radio Jockey Malishka.
The video of the song starts with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's televised address in which he is seen assuring the country that every Indian will come out victorious from the coronavirus crisis.

The video then features all the prominent faces of the cinema industry giving out the message of hope from their balconies, terrace and other spots of their houses.

The song urges people to stay home and support the people who are working to combat the virus, like police officials, and medical practitioners on duty amid the lockdown.

A locked-down view of some of the most prominent spots in the country like the India Gate, Hawa Mahal, and Mumbai's beaches are also featured in the video.

The song also spreads the message of social distancing and washing of hands to keep the infection away.

The video ends with a rhythm of the national anthem with the celebrities standing still to honour it and finally fades away with the Indian national flag.

As the country battles the novel coronavirus, the song is an attempt to uplift the spirit of togetherness of every Indian during the unprecedented crisis.

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