Saif Ali Khan family may lose ancestral properties worth Rs 15,000 crore to govt

Mangaluru: In a heartfelt farewell, the Govt Muslim Residential School near Deralakatte bid an emotional goodbye to Manjunath Bhat, a mathematics teacher who dedicated 29 years of his life to shaping young minds. The event, held on Monday, was organized by the school and its alumni association as Bhat prepares to retire in March.

Poornima, district officer from the minority welfare department, praised Bhat’s unwavering commitment. “Serving at the same institution for 29 years is no small feat. It speaks volumes about his dedication,” she remarked.

His colleague, Mohammed Haneef, reflected on Bhat’s exemplary service. “Teaching Muslim children for nearly three decades, he never faced a single complaint. He is truly a model teacher. Post-retirement, he plans to take up farming in his village,” he shared.

Mohammed Anwar AS, president of the alumni association and professor at Yenepoya Medical College, expressed deep gratitude. “No matter how far we go, we must always remember our teachers. I owe my success, in part, to educators like Manjunath Bhat,” he said, recalling cherished memories from his school days.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Bhat addressed the gathering, saying, “I never expected such a grand farewell. My bond with my students is unbreakable, and this event is a testament to the strength of that connection.”

The farewell was presided over by school principal Umarabba, who lauded Bhat’s dedication. “He has been a pillar of this institution, recognized as a model teacher who served with diligence, regardless of the challenges faced,” he noted.

The celebration saw alumni and dignitaries honouring Bhat with valuable gifts, including a gold ring. His wife, Sahana, and children, Srivatsa and Sindhoora, stood by his side as he was showered with love and appreciation—an unforgettable tribute to a teacher whose legacy will live on in the hearts of his students.

Mangaluru: A man has reportedly lost ₹13 lakh after falling victim to an online trading scam. The incident began on December 14, 2023, when he received a WhatsApp message adding him to a group named "VIP3 Global Securities Official Stock Community."

The message introduced Ajay Garg as the director and CEO of SMC Group, claiming he was participating in an international stock returns competition and urging members to vote for him. The group also provided stock market investment guidance and encouraged users to open an SMC Global Securities Trading Account to access IPO stocks.

Upon inquiring in the group, the complainant was contacted by an individual claiming to be an international customer service representative at SMC Global Securities. This person, later identified as Vandana Bharti from the Institutional Brokerage, claimed she could secure high-value IPO stock allotments. The complainant was instructed to download the SMC Global Securities Trading App using a specific link, which promised 30 days of free VIP trading advice and stock market insights. He registered on the app using his PAN and mobile number and began applying for IPO stocks.

Initially, the complainant was allotted ₹15,000 worth of IPO stocks from Dam Capital Advisers Limited. The scammers claimed that ₹5,000 was covered by the company, requiring him to pay only ₹10,000, which he transferred on December 25. Soon after, he was allotted ₹1.4 lakh worth of IPO stocks from Anya Polytech & Fertilisers and was pressured to pay immediately. On December 31, he transferred the amount.

The scammers continued assigning higher-value IPO stocks, eventually allotting ₹9.9 lakh worth of stocks from Standard Glass Lining Technology Limited. When the complainant expressed an inability to pay, he was pressured into taking a ₹9 lakh loan via a mobile lending service.

On January 20, he attempted to withdraw ₹1 lakh from the SMC Global Securities Trading App to check if funds could be recovered. The withdrawal was processed successfully the same day, reinforcing his trust in the platform. However, subsequent attempts to withdraw funds were unsuccessful, and the complainant realized he had been defrauded.

Authorities are investigating the incident and cautioning the public to be vigilant against such fraudulent schemes.

Dubai: The Consulate General of India in Dubai recently awarded Aim India Forum with an appreciation award in recognition of its significant contributions to the Indian community in the UAE.

In September 2024, the UAE government launched an amnesty initiative aimed at promoting respect for the law, tolerance, compassion, and social cohesion. This initiative allowed individuals who chose to leave the country during the amnesty period to do so without facing overstay fines, exit fees, or entry bans, while retaining the right to re-enter the UAE at any time.

Aim India Forum was invited to collaborate with the Indian Consulate during this amnesty period. Our Founder President, Shirali Shaikh Muzaffer, accepted the invitation and dedicated four months to this important initiative. Alongside other community organizations, including DUBAI KMCC, IPF UAE, FOI UAE, and others, Aim India Forum worked tirelessly to support fellow Indian nationals in need.

His Excellency Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India, acknowledged and congratulated Founder President Shaikh Muzaffer and Board Member Mohammed Niyaz for their unwavering dedication and efforts throughout this project.

The Aim India Forum played a pivotal role in the safe repatriation of distressed and stranded Indian citizens in the UAE. An amnesty help desk was set up at the Indian Consulate to assist those seeking amnesty. This desk offered a range of services at no cost, including Emergency Certificates (one-way travel documents), labor cancellation, case clearance, and the issuance of exit permits/outpasses. Through these efforts, the Consulate General of India in Dubai successfully assisted 15,000 Indian nationals.

In partnership with various Indian diaspora organizations, CGI Dubai facilitated the issuance of 2,117 passports, 3,589 emergency certificates, and supported the acquisition of over 3,700 exit permits. Many individuals also benefitted from our guidance in securing fee and penalty waivers from UAE authorities.

As this operation concludes, we extend our deepest gratitude to the UAE Government for its unwavering support. We also wish to express our sincere thanks to the dedicated volunteers from diaspora organizations who played an instrumental role in the success of this initiative.