Integrated fund and development management platform Welspun One on Monday said it has raised a second fund worth Rs 2,275 crore, inclusive of co-investment commitments, to strengthen logistics infrastructure in the country.

The funds were raised from a diverse pool of approximately 800 Limited Partners (LPs), including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, corporates, and domestic institutions.

Combined with ‘Fund 1’, Welspun One’s investor base now comprises approximately 1,000 unique investors, it said in a statement.

Welspun One had raised Rs 500 crore as part of its first fund in early 2021.

“Our commitment to advancing critical logistics infrastructure is in perfect alignment with India’s strategic objective of reducing logistics costs from 14 per cent to 8 per cent, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of our industries,” said Balkrishan Goenka, Chairman of Welspun World.

Welspun One’s ‘Fund 2’ has already committed nearly 40 per cent of its investible capital across four investments and anticipates committing the remaining capital over the next 3-4 quarters.

The focus is on “new age” warehousing assets, such as urban distribution centres, cold chain, agro logistics, and port and airport-based logistics, said the company.

“Our progress has been remarkable, having successfully established a well-capitalised platform poised to achieve an asset under management (AUM) of over $1 billion,” said Anshul Singhal, Managing Director, Welspun One. AGENCIES

Chandigarh:

Cybercriminals increasingly target unsuspecting citizens through Telegram, exploiting the messaging platform to perpetrate fraud. In one such case, a resident of Hisar, Haryana, fell prey to a sophisticated scam, losing a staggering ₹8,91,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scheme. However, swift action by the Haryana Police led to the arrest of the fraudsters, preventing further victims.

Modus Operandi: A Web of Deceit

The victim, Bajrang, was lured into the scam through a Telegram channel promising high returns on cryptocurrency investments. Once hooked, the fraudsters, operating under the alias “CAPTAIN AMERICA,” guided Bajrang to transfer funds into bogus bank accounts. These accounts were procured by an accomplice, Sahil, a bank employee, who sold them to the fraudsters for ₹25,000 each.

Unraveling the Scam: A Collaborative Effort

When Bajrang realized he had been scammed, he immediately reported the incident to the Cyber Helpline (1930). Recognizing the urgency, the state’s Cyber Chief, ADGP OP Singh, promptly directed the Cyber Nodal Thana to investigate the matter.

A joint team comprising the State Nodal Cyber Thana and the Haryana Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (HC4) began meticulously tracing the fraudulent transactions. Their efforts led to the arrest of three individuals:

Chirag, son of Ved, resident of Hisar: The primary perpetrator who received the funds from Bajrang.

Sahil, son of Satish, resident of Hisar: The bank employee who sold the bogus accounts.

Mohit, son of Mohan, resident of Fazilka, Punjab: The accomplice who connected with “CAPTAIN AMERICA” and facilitated the scam.

Preventive Measures: Vigilance is Key

ADGP OP Singh urges caution, emphasizing that greed often fuels such cyber frauds. He advises against joining unknown Telegram groups or investing based on mere promises of high returns. Before investing, individuals should thoroughly research and verify the legitimacy of the platform or scheme.

Reporting Cyber Frauds: Seek Timely Assistance

If you suspect you have fallen victim to a cyber fraud, do not hesitate to report it immediately. The Cyber Helpline (1930) is available 24/7 to assist you. Timely action can help minimize losses and bring perpetrators to justice.

Chandigarh:

Rajeev Verma, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, UT Chandigarh, inaugurated the ‘Paudh Mela’ at the Lake Sports Complex parking area today. The event, which aims to promote greenery and environmental sustainability, saw a large turnout of enthusiastic citizens. The Adviser visited various stalls at the Mela, which featured free distribution stalls by the Department of Forest and Wildlife, Engineering Department, and the Municipal Corporation.

Additionally, stalls from Self-Help Groups (SHGs), NGOs, schools, and colleges showcased a wide variety of products and information, including compost and composting techniques, herbal seeds, bamboo products, kitchen waste composting, organic farming and gardening, bioenzymes, and more. In his address, Shri Verma emphasized the importance of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, urging everyone to plant at least one tree during the monsoon season. As part of the event, saplings were distributed to the public, encouraging community participation in environmental conservation.

The Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST) showcased various information and documents related to the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijali Yozna at their stall, promoting the scheme and raising awareness about the government’s initiative to provide free electricity through solar power.

During the event, prizes were distributed to students for their outstanding performance in events organized by the Forest Department on the occasion of World Biodiversity Day. The Paudh Mela will be held for two days, from 6th July to 7th July 2024, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Saplings will be distributed free of cost by the Forest Department, Engineering Department (Horticulture), and the Municipal Corporation (Horticulture). In addition to the mela, saplings will also be distributed through vehicles in different sectors of the city. The function was  attended by Shri Rupesh Kumar, IAS , Shri Navneet Kumar Srivastava, IFS, Shri C.B. Ojha, Chief Engineer, UT Chandigarh, along with other officers of the Chandigarh Administration Governor of Punjab and Administrator  UT Chandigarh Sh. Banwarilal Purohit also planted a sapling of “Rudraksha” at Punjab Raj Bhavan in memory of his mother under the ‘एक पेड़ माँ के नाम’ campaign.

Chandigarh

A team from the Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested two private individuals in Faridabad on charges of soliciting a bribe. The accused allegedly demanded ₹200,000 in exchange for securing a job at ESIC Hospital.

In this case, Rakesh was apprehended while accepting ₹180,000 in bribe money, while another accused, Hakim, was found in possession of ₹120,000. The Anti-Corruption Bureau has filed an FIR at the Faridabad police station against the accused individuals.

According to a government spokesperson, the Anti-Corruption Bureau received a complaint regarding the demand for a bribe from Rakesh, who was allegedly facilitating a job as a sanitation worker at ESIC Hospital in exchange for money. The complainant had already paid ₹20,000 to Rakesh prior to his arrest.

Following an investigation by the ACB, a plan was devised to apprehend the accused, resulting in the arrest of Rakesh while he was accepting the bribe. During the investigation, another private individual, Hakim, was also found involved, leading to the recovery of ₹120,000 from his possession. The entire operation was conducted with full transparency before witnesses.

A spokesperson for the bureau appealed to the public, urging anyone who encounters demands for bribes in exchange for government work to immediately report such incidents to the Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau’s toll-free number at 1800-180-2022 or dial 1064.

Chandigarh:

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh stated that the land bank created from voluntarily offered land on the e-Bhoomi portal will help in the completion of projects soon. This unique initiative started by the state government is the first experiment in the country towards accumulating land for government schemes.

        The Chief Minister chaired a meeting of the High-Powered Land Purchase Committee today. Minister of State for Urban Local Bodies, Sh. Subhash Sudha and Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Wildlife Sh. Sanjay Singh were also present in the meeting.

        Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh stated that some people generously donate land for welfare projects. He praised Sh. Ramehar from Baroli village in Jind district for offering 2.8 acres of land to the Public Health Engineering Department for a JalGhar, setting an example for the society.

        During the meeting, discussions were held on the  land offered  as per the fixed rates on the e-Bhoomi portal in the districts of Ambala, Bhiwani, Hisar, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Sirsa, and Sonipat.

        The Chief Minister also spoke with the landowners via video conferencing. Apart from the land identified for drainage of water from the pump house in Ambala district, he discussed in detail the land offered on the e-Bhoomi portal for the ROB service road in Adampur to Daroli Road in Hisar district, construction of a new road from Jind-Barwala Road to Rakhigarhi Museum in Hisar district and a new bypass in Kosli town of Rewari district.

        He directed the Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts to finalise these agendas.

        Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh directed the officers to inspect the land offered on the e-Bhoomi portal and to ensure its suitability for projects. He emphasised that no forest areas should be harmed when starting any project and If necessary then ensure that new trees must be planted as per the regulations.

        Chief Secretary, Sh. T.V.S.N. Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance and Planning, Sh. Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Health Engineering, Sh. A.K. Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Town and Planning, Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, Commissioner, Urban Local Bodies Department, Sh. Vikas Gupta besides other senior officers remained present in the meeting, and Deputy Commissioners of various districts were also connected through video conferencing.

Chandigarh:

Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University and Massey University, New Zealand will jointly do research on the impact of climate change on Moringa (drumstick).

        Vice Chancellor, Prof. B.R. Kamboj said that research will be conducted on the effect of climate change and weather changes on the tannins and antioxidant properties in the seeds and leaves of Moringa. For this, samples of Moringa will be taken from various places of the Himalayan region, Uttrakhand and the southern region. Two teams have been formed by HAU for the research. In which PI Dr. Jayanti Tokas and Co-PI Dr. Akshay Bhukar from the university, PI Dr. Craig McGill and Co-PI Dr. Penny Back from the New Zealand University have been included in the team.

        He said that Moringa is also known as Drumstick. Moringa leaves are a great source of protein and also contain all the important amino acids. Its leaves are mainly rich in calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins A, D, and C. Moringa leaves are used to increase energy in the body as well as in the treatment of various diseases including diabetes, the immune system, bones and liver.

Eighteen Israeli soldiers were wounded, one seriously, in a drone strike in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights, as reported by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

According to an IDF statement on Sunday, the attack took place in the northern sector of the Golan Heights, although the origin of the drone was not specified.

The injured soldiers were swiftly evacuated to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care, Xinhua news agency reported.

In response to the incident, the Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on Sunday night targeting Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.

The strikes included hitting a Hezbollah observation post near Markaba and a launcher near Ayta ash Shab, which had been used earlier on Sunday to launch a projectile toward northern Israel.

Additionally, the IDF artillery engaged multiple locations in southern Lebanon.

The latest incidents mark a continuation of the cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group and political party, which has been ongoing since October 2023. AGENCIES

Australian police said on Monday that a teenager has been arrested after a daylight stabbing severely injured one man in New South Wales (NSW).

The incident unfolded at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time on Sunday when emergency services were called to Seymour Street in Bathurst following reports of a stabbing, reports Xinhua news agency.

Upon arrival, officers found a 28-year-old male sustaining a stab wound to his chest. Paramedics treated the man at the scene before he was airlifted to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.

With a crime scene established, the NSW Police Force launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Following inquiries, the officers attended a home in Gormans Hill and arrested a 13-year-old boy.

He was taken to Bathurst Police Station and faced the charge of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The teenager was refused bail and is expected to appear before a children’s court on Monday.

Bathurst lies about 200 km west of the state capital, Sydney, with 7,001 residents living inside the urban area, according to Australia’s 2021 census. AGENCIES

Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), has released a video showing its members preparing explosive devices for use against Israeli military vehicles that penetrate Gaza Strip cities.

The 40-second video showed the group’s members painting the devices and placing them in portable bags inside a covered area with black cloth inscribed with the phrases: “He who seeks my demise is chasing a mirage” and “(Operation) Al-Aqsa Flood”.

Al-Qassam also announced the use of the “Fedayeen Operations” device for the first time during the ongoing war with Israeli forces in Gaza since last October, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.

This came as both Al-Qassam and the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, claimed on Sunday targeting Israeli vehicles and soldiers in the Shujaiya neighbourhood in eastern Gaza City and the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood in the south of the city.

Al-Qassam said in a statement that its members “destroyed an Israeli Namer APC (armoured personnel carrier) with a Yassin 105 rocket, killing and injuring its crew” south of Tal al-Hawa.

In a separate statement, the brigades mentioned that its members also targeted “a Shezaret APC and a D9 military bulldozer” in Tal al-Hawa.

In addition, it said in another press release that its members “targeted the gathering of Israeli forces in Shujaiya with mortar shells”.

The Al-Quds Brigades announced in a statement that its members are “engaged in fierce clashes” with Israeli soldiers using machine guns and anti-personnel weapons east of Shujaiya.

The brigades mentioned in a separate statement that its members “bombarded Israeli army gatherings” in the Shujaiya neighbourhood “with a barrage of mortar shells”.

Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. AGENCIES