Latest news with #GoaPolice
India.com
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress, who ran away from home at 15, married twice, got pregnant before marriage, is now..., her name is..., faced FIR after...
In the ever-evolving world of Indian television, where countless faces come and go, one particular actress carved a permanent space for herself by portraying a character that became a household name. Her journey from relative obscurity to massive stardom began with a single role that struck an emotional chord with viewers across the country. With a blend of grace, conviction, and authenticity, she brought depth to a character that mirrored everyday struggles and silent resilience. Popular TV Actress… Here we are talking about Puja Banerjee, who plays the role of 'Mata Parvati' in the serial 'Devon Ke Dev Mahadev', Puja Banerjee has been facing significant personal challenges in recent days. She and her husband, Kunal Verma, claimed on their YouTube channel that they had been cheated and had lost their life savings. The couple stated that the individual who deceived them was a close friend they had known for three years. Currently, Puja is facing another issue as an arrest warrant hangs over her. A filmmaker has accused the couple of kidnapping, assault, and extortion, leading to a complaint being filed with the Goa Police. Bengali filmmaker Sundar Shyam Dey alleges that Puja and Kunal kidnapped him in Goa and held him hostage in a villa, during which they extorted a substantial amount of money from him. His wife, Malbika, has also complained about the couple with the Goa Police. Fans are shocked by these serious allegations against Puja and Kunal. Shyam Sundar Dey claims he was on holiday in Goa when his car was surrounded by a black Jaguar. He considered Puja Banerjee as a sister, and when he emerged from the car, he was reportedly abducted. Dey asserts that the entire incident may have been recorded on CCTV. Puja Banerjee's Personal Life And Failed Marriage With… Puja Banerjee has had a tumultuous personal life. She has been married twice and ran away from home at the age of 15, becoming pregnant before marriage. In 2004, she took seven vows with her then-partner, Arunoy Chakraborty. However, their marriage lasted only nine years and ended in mutual consent in 2013. After the end of her first marriage, Puja focused on her career and earned a name for herself in the television industry. She portrayed Parvati in 'Devon Ke Dev Mahadev' with such dedication that the show propelled her to stardom. Subsequently, she met TV actor Kunal Verma and after dating for several years, they decided to marry in Goa in 2021. Notably, Puja became a mother in 2020, before their marriage.
Indian Express
20 hours ago
- Indian Express
Wanted for 13 cases and on run for 2 yrs, ‘mastermind' of Goa land-grab scam arrested
The Goa Police on Friday arrested Mohammal Suhail, alleged to be the mastermind in a multi-crore land-grabbing scam in the coastal state. Police said in a statement that Mohammad Suhail (48), alias Michael, who had been absconding, was arrested at around 4.30 pm near a petrol pump in South Goa's Quepem by a Crime Branch team. Suhail, a resident of Pilar in Goa, is originally from Karnataka. Police said he is a 'habitual offender' and was previously arrested for his alleged involvement in at least 13 cases related to land-grabbing. 'He was absconding for the past two years,' an officer said. The Goa government formed an SIT on June 15, 2022, to investigate cases of illegal land transfer and land-grabbing. The SIT probed 44 FIRs involving more than 100 properties — nearly 1.5 lakh sqm of land — and made 56 arrests, including some officials from the Archives Department. The state government had appointed a commission of inquiry, headed by former Bombay HC judge Justice V K Jadhav (retd), on September 9, 2022, to probe the land-grabbing cases. The commission in its report detailed how government records had been tampered with in a 'systematic and organised' manner, and forged sale deeds with Portuguese-era calligraphy were inserted into the records, allegedly 'in connivance with the staff of the Directorate of Archives and Archaeology'. In several cases, the accused hatched a conspiracy and forged land records and documents in their own names or of their associates, often in collusion with officials in the state's archives department, and fraudulently executed sale deeds to third parties after illegally acquiring properties.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
FIR filed against Puja Banerjee and Kunal Verma for allegedly kidnapping and extorting money from Bengali film producer
Days after actor-couple Puja Banerjee and Kunal Verma said that they were the target of a financial fraud, Bengali film producer Shyam Sunder Dey has now accused them of kidnapping him in Goa, physical assault and extortion of money. An FIR was filed against the duo by Shyam's wife, Malabika Dey. (Also Read | Actors Puja Banerjee and Kunal Verma lose all savings after fraud by close friend: 'Zero pe laake khada kar diya hai') As per a Times of India report, Shyam said after his family left, he decided to stay back in Goa for some work. Shyam alleged that one day when he was driving a rented car, a black Jaguar "came out of nowhere and forced me to a halt". Two men then asked him to step out of his car but he refused. But after noticing Puja was there, he let his "guard down, thinking this must be a misunderstanding". Shyam said he was taken to Amber Villa and was initially kept on the first floor and then shifted upstairs. He accused Kunal of beating him and Puja of not helping despite his pleadings. "I stayed at the villa from the 1st to the 4th of June. I wasn't allowed to leave. Every day, I tried to reason with Puja and Kunal — I reminded them we were like family and pleaded with them to stop. But all I faced were threats. I told her, 'Your husband is beating me, fine. But other men are thrashing me in front of you, and you're silent?' How can this be right?" Shyam told Times of India. "I am not saying that the money they demanded was compensation for the abduction. Yes, we had professional transactions. But no business loss, no due payment can justify this kind of madness. Abduction or kidnapping can never be a fair or lawful way to settle anything. There is no excuse for what happened," he added. Taking to Facebook, Malabika shared a detailed note on what happened, including claims of physical and mental assault on Shyam. "This incident is not just a serious crime, it is a betrayal and a breach of trust towards a friend. In addition to physical and mental abuse on Shyam, our entire family is suffering deep mental damage from this incident. We are tackling the legal way and have full confidence in the judicial system. I urge all creative society members to be alert," she wrote. Malabika said that Shyam was threatened with his involvement in a drug case if he didn't pay around ₹64 lakh. She wrote that Shyam paid ₹23 lakh, including cash, to "Puja's assistant Munmun in Kolkata and RTGS transfer to Puja and Kunal's bank accounts". She also shared pictures of the FIR copy, WhatsApp chats, and financial documents of the transactions. In her post in Bengali, Malabika wrote, "More horrible aspects of this incident: Puja and Kunal snatched Shyam's mobile phones, forcefully collected his personal information and passwords. They recorded multiple videos with Sham, where he was forced to say and sign printed paper that he voluntarily stayed at Amber Villa Resort." She added that with the help of the Goa Police, Shyam was rescued safely. An FIR was filed against Puja and Kunal under Section 126(2), 137(2), 140(2), 308(2), 115(2), 351(3), 61(2) & 3(5). Recently, in an interview with ETimes, Puja had said, 'These past 2-3 months have been extremely difficult for us, and we have no idea what will happen next. We have been victims of a fraudulent financial scam and we lost a huge amount…We lost all our savings in this fraud.' Puja and Kunal had said that the person was close to them. "When you trust someone for the past 3 years... Has been with you, became a part of your home and family..." Kunal had said.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Former BJP minister's corruption allegations: Goa court tells police to register FIR
A sessions court in Goa has directed the Goa Police to register an FIR to investigate bribery allegations raised by BJP leader and former Goa transport minister Pandurang Madkaikar. In March, Madkaikar alleged that ministers in the ruling BJP government were 'busy counting money' and that he had paid a bribe of Rs 15-20 lakh to the personal assistant of a minister to process a file. Later, Madkaikar withdrew the allegations. However, a group of activists led by one Kashinath Shetye lodged a complaint with the anti-corruption branch of the Goa Police in March, seeking an investigation into the matter. The complainants also sought action against Madkaikar if the investigation proved that he had made a false statement. They then filed an application in the court of the Sessions Judge, North Goa, Tiswadi Merces, under section 175(3) of the BNSS, seeking directions for an FIR to be lodged. The police opposed the application. In an order last week, the court directed the police inspector of the anti-corruption branch 'to register FIR and proceed in accordance with law'. Shetye submitted to the court that after receiving the complaint, an FIR ought to have been registered and an inquiry ought to have been carried out by the investigating agency. The counsel for police submitted that an inquiry has been conducted and, 'since the ingredient of the offence have not been made out, the offence is not registered'. However, the court observed that a video of Madkaikar making corruption allegations, which had gone viral, 'by itself ought to have been the material for registering the FIR'. Observing that an FIR should be registered, the court said that 'whether the statements were made correctly or wrongly ought to have been decided after registering of the FIR'. 'The statements made by Pandurang Madkaikar definitely show that huge amount is required to be paid as bribe to clear the files. The applicants have alleged that the culprits ought to have been booked under section 7 and under section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act,' the court said. On March 4, Madkaikar, who served as a minister in the Manohar Parrikar-led Cabinet, had told the media, 'I will tell you very frankly, it's not corruption, it's loot. Loot is going on in Goa. Rampant loot… All Ministers are busy counting money. Last week, I paid Rs 15-20 lakh to one minister for a small work (sic). He took one file, which I had processed from the department…to his home and left a message that if someone comes to inquire about that file, tell that fellow to come and meet me. So, I sent my manager to meet the minister… Then he was told to meet his PA. He met his PA, and the PA directly demanded Rs 15-20 lakh. I was also a minister. So, I know what procedures are followed in that department.'
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Puja Banerjee And Kunal Verma Accused Of Abduction And Extortion By A Producer's Wife After Losing Money In A Scam
TV couple Kunal Verma and Puja Banerjee, who had claimed to lose their life-long savings in a scam last week, have been accused of kidnapping a Bengali film producer in Goa and extorting money from him. The couple, allegedly, attempted to take over his properties. The Goa Police filed an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Puja Banerjee, Kunal Verma, and their associate Piyush Kothari. The charges listed-Sections 126(2), 137(2), 140(2), 308(2), 115(2), 351(3), 61(2), and 3(5)-cover serious offenses such as abduction, unlawful confinement, extortion, criminal threats, and conspiracy. The incident comes to light after the producer's wife shared a detailed post on Facebook (June 14), alleging the couple of using coercive methods to extract money from her husband. Malabika Dey, the wife of producer Shyam Sunder Dey, attached Whatsapp screenshots, payment receipts and FIR documents to her post. What's Happening Popular television couple Kunal Verma and Puja Banerjee have been accused of kidnapping Bengali film producer Shyam Sunder Dey in Goa. The couple, allegedly, extorted money from the producer and attempted to take over his properties. The producer's wife shared a post on Facebook, alleging the couple of abduction and extortion. Malabika Dey also attached Whatsapp screenshots, payment receipts and FIR documents to her Facebook post. Malabika Dey wrote, "My husband was kidnapped, held against his will, threatened, and physically assaulted by Puja Banerjee, Kunal Verma, and their influential associate Piyush Kothari over several days as part of an extortion attempt. "While on a business trip in Goa, my husband drove a rented car when Puja and others intercepted him and forcibly took him to an undisclosed location." "In Goa, my husband was subjected to mental torture, and they demanded Rs 64 lakh from him. They threatened to falsely accuse him of a drug case if he didn't fulfil their demand. Shyam paid Rs 23 lakh . I've saved all the receipts and transaction proofs showing the transfers made to Puja and Kunal's accounts," claimed Malabika. She went on to add, "Shyam's mobile phones were taken by Puja and Kunal, who also forced him to reveal personal details and passwords. They made multiple video recordings, compelling him to speak as instructed. For now, he has been safely recovered with the assistance of the Goa Police, headed by the North Goa Superintendent of Police." Losing Savings In A Scam Last week, in a vlog, the couple revealed that they had lost their savings in a financial scam. Puja didn't reveal the exact amount. "These last two-three months have been extremely difficult for us. We have no idea what will happen next. We have been victims of a financial scam. We lost a big amount. We lost all of our life's savings. We have to start our life from zero but we won't give up. We don't want to give up. In these tough times, all we want is your support and prayers. We have full faith in God," Puja Banerjee said. In A Nutshell A week after losing their life-long savings in a scam, TV couple Kunal Verma and Puja Banerjee have been accused of extortion and abduction of a Bengali film producer in Goa.
