Gujarati Samaj of Houston Hosts Navratri, Diwali Celebrations
Gautam Adani US indictment: Adani Group Calls Charges ‘Baseless’
New York: Gautam Adani-led Adani Group has responded to the bribery and fraud allegations by the US Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission, calling the charges “baseless”.
The investigation centers on Adani Green Energy Ltd. and another organisation’s contract to provide 12 gigawatts of solar power to the Indian government. US prosecutors assert that Adani and his associates manipulated records to attract billions in Wall Street investments whilst coordinating payments or planning to pay over $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials for securing energy contracts.
Following the news of the indictment, Adani Group stocks crashed up to 20% with the overall market capitalization of the group companies plunging by Rs 2.25 lakh crore. However, in its first reaction to the charges, Adani Group has denied the allegations.
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York has unsealed a five-count criminal indictment, as reported by Reuters, citing US prosecutors.
The US justice department website details that between 2020 and 2024, the accused allegedly disbursed over $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials. These actions were purportedly aimed at securing energy contracts expected to yield more than $2 bil-
lion in post-tax profits over twenty years.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, states: “A five-count criminal indictment was unsealed in federal court charging Gautam Adani, Sagar R. Adani, and Vneet S. Jaain, with conspiracies to commit securities and wire fraud and substantive securities fraud for their roles in a multi-billion-dollar scheme to obtain funds from U.S. investors and global financial institutions on the basis of false and misleading statements.”
The investigation revealed Gautam Adani’s direct involvement through personal meetings with Indian officials regarding the alleged bribery scheme. The evidence includes electronic communications, detailed spreadsheets, and photographic documentation of bribe records. Sagar Adani report-
edly documented bribe specifics via mobile phone, whilst Vneet S. Jaain recorded bribe payment summaries.
Prosecuting the case would take months, if not years, meaning that it will fall to the incoming Trump administration’s Justice Department to determine how to proceed. Peace, the Brooklyn US attorney who was appointed during the Biden administration, is expected to step down and be replaced by whomever Donald Trump picks to lead the office.
Neither a White House press official nor a representative for the Trump transition team immediately responded to emailed requests seeking comment.
Although the US and India have an extradition treaty, it’s likely that India would fight to protect its citizens from being forced to
stand trial in the US. If convicted the defendants could face years behind bars, prosecutors said on Wednesday.
Beyond the Justice Department investigation, Adani has been dealing with claims from short-seller Hindenburg Research that the conglomerate manipulated its stock price and committed accounting fraud. The group has denied those allegations and its shares climbed back from their initial plunge.
After also initially cratering on the short-seller’s claims, Gautam Adani’s fortune has rebounded as well. He’s the world’s 18th richest person with more than $85.5 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Separately, units of the conglomerate’s clean-energy arm sold a 20year green dollar bond earlier on Wednesday in an offering that was oversubscribed.
Prosecutors on Wednesday charged four of the eight defendants with conspiring to obstruct justice by deleting electronic evidence and lying to representatives of the Justice Department, Securities and Exchange Commission and FBI.
The SEC, which is a civil law enforcement agency, provided detailed allegations against both
Adanis and another one of the codefendants, Cyril Sebastien Dominique Cabanes, in a parallel lawsuit. The regulator identified the firm involved in the alleged bribery scheme, which wasn’t named in the indictment, as Adani Green Energy Ltd.
According to the regulator, Gautam Adani spearheaded an effort to pay or promise hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes to Indian state government officials to induce them to enter contracts that Adani Green needed to develop India’s largest solar power plant project. Another company involved in the power plant project, Azure Power Global Ltd, agreed to pay some of the bribes, the SEC alleged.
In its lawsuit, the SEC said Cabanes served as a director on the board at Azure Power Global and as a representative of the company’s largest stockholder, pension fund company Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec, which is known as CDPQ. While serving as a director, Cabanes, and others, “schemed” to make payments to bribe state government officials in India, the SEC said in its lawsuit. A lawyer listed by the SEC as representing Cabanes didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. A representative for Azure Power Global didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment outside of normal business hours. -- ToI
Applying the Wisdom of Ayurveda for Effective Weight Management
HoustoN A transformative workshop on weight management will be held on Saturday, November 30, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Sri Sharadamba Temple in Richmond, Texas. The event will offer participants an opportunity to explore holistic strategies for sustainable and balanced weight management, blending Ayurvedic principles, functional medicine, and mindful living.
The workshop will be led by His Holiness Swami Vidyadhishananda, a Himalayan siddha monk, Sanskrit scholar, and meditation adept. He will be joined by Sadhvi Girija, an ordained nun and expert in pranayama, alongside Minakshi Acharya, a certified health coach. Together, the presenters will provide participants with a practical approach to weight management rooted in ancient traditions and supported by modern health science.
“Weight management is about achieving harmony within the body, mind, and environment. Ayurveda views weight not simply as a physical attribute but as a reflection of one’s internal balance, encompassing digestion, metabolism, mental state, and lifestyle habits,” says Minakshi Acharya, Workshop Presenter and Board Secretary of Self Enquiry Life Fellowship.
A wide range of topics will be covered, including the benefits of healthy fats like MCT oil and virgin coconut oil for promoting
with himalayan monk Swami VidyadhiShananda
His Holiness Swami Vidyadhishananda will lead the workshop on Effective Weight Management.
satiety and sustained energy, as well as the role of lauric acid in supporting metabolism and immune health. The workshop will explore the role of polyphenols, plant-based antioxidants that can help regulate metabolism, reduce inflammation, and support weight loss.
In addition to dietary insights, the presenters will highlight the
benefits of intermittent fasting, an approach known to improve insulin sensitivity and regulate blood sugar, and its potential for weight management. Attendees will learn practical strategies for cultivating a mindful approach to eating, including techniques to improve awareness of hunger and fullness cues, reducing the tendency for emotional or unconscious snack-
ing.
“Excess unwanted weight is a telling indicator that something in our body or lifestyle may be out of balance,” says Acharya.
The workshop will also focus on the importance of gut health, with discussions on prebiotic foods, such as root vegetables and ancient grains, that nourish beneficial gut bacteria and support
digestion, immunity, and weight regulation. Pranayama breathing exercises will be emphasized that helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, enhance digestion, and improve metabolic function. Participants will learn the benefits of yoga-vinyasa and other physical activities designed to improve circulation, boost calorie burn, and reduce stress.
“This workshop is the first of its kind to be offered by our Nonprofit. His Holiness developed the curriculum in response to requests from people who were looking for holistic ways to maintain their weight,” says Sarah Kern, Program Director of the host Nonprofit, Self Enquiry Life Fellowship.
The workshop will take place at Sri Sharadamba Temple in Shankara Hall on Saturday, November 30th, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A light vegetarian lunch is included in the registration fee. Advance registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit https://hansavedas. org/houston
Ayurvedic Principles of Weight Management
Date: November 30, 2024
Location: Sri Sharadamba Temple, Shankara Hall, 10315 Clodine Rd, Richmond, TX 77407
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Register: https://hansavedas.org/ houston
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India Top Source of International Students in US After 15-Year Gap
New DelHi: After a 15-year gap, India has reclaimed its position as the leading source of international students in the United States for the 2023-24 academic year, surpassing China. According to the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange 2024 report released on Monday, India registered a 23% year-over-year increase, sending over 3.3 lakh students to the US.
The development mirrors India’s performance in UK, where it became the top source of nonEuropean Union students in 2022-23, with a 39% increase to 1.7 lakh students, surpassing China. The growth in Indian students in the US is most notable in graduate programmes, which saw a 19% increase to almost two lakh students, and in optional practical training participation, which surged by 41% to over 97,000.
US made $50 billion from international pupils in 2023, 20% of it from Indians
Most Indian students (64.5%) enrolled in public institutions, while the remaining 35.5% attended private universities.
As per the global trends in international enrolment, US hosted an all-time high of over 11 lakh international students in 2023-24, a seven percent increase from the previous year.
India and China together ac-
counted for over half (54%) of this total. However, while India’s numbers surged, China’s enrolment declined by four percent to 2.7 lakh students.
Indian students’ contribution to the US economy in 2023 was significant, generating $11.8 billion, as per the International Student Economic Impact 2023.
The percentage of Indian students pursuing mathematics/computer science as per the latest report is 42.9%, followed by 24.5% studying engineering, and 11.2% studying business/management.
There are 5.4% of Indian students pursuing physical/life science programmes.
Across all international students in the US, 56% pursued STEM fields, with mathematics and computer science (25%) and engineering (19%) being the most popular disciplines. Business and management (14%) and physical and life sciences (8%) follow.
International students were distributed across 44 states, with the largest populations in California, New York and Texas. States like Missouri (+35%), Michigan (+14%), and Illinois (+13%) saw the highest growth in student numbers. For Indian students, Texas, New York, California, Massachusetts and Illinois were the top destinations.
In 2023, international students
made up six percent of the total US higher education population and contributed over $50 billion to the US economy.
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest growth rate among all regions, increasing by 13% for the second consecutive year. Among the top 25 countries sending students to US, eight reached record highs - Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, India, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan and Spain.
Scott Weinhold, senior bureau official for the US state department’s bureau of educational and cultural affairs, emphasised the broader impact of international education: “The experience of studying in the United States not only shapes the lives of individuals but also the future of our interconnected world.”
“The ties formed between the US and international students today are the basis for future business, trade, science, innovation and govt relations.”
In 2023-24, over half a million graduate students (5,02,291) studied in the US, marking an eight percent increase. Additionally, 2,42,782 students engaged in OPT programmes, a 22% increase, highlighting the growing trend of students seeking practical work experience post-study.
-- ToI
Most Students from Telugu States
VisakHapatNam: If India displaced China and became the top country to send students to US universities in 2023-24, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had a big role to play. Data from US consulate-general, Hyderabad, show that nearly 56% of Indian students who packed their bags for the US last year were from the two states - with 34% from Telangana and 22% from Andhra.
The number of US students enrolled in Indian institutions increased 300% over the previous year.
These details were shared by Hyderabad’s US consular chief Rebekah Drame and public affairs officer Alexander McLaren during a visit to Visakhapatnam Tuesday. Although they did not divulge the exact number of students from Telangana and Andhra, it could be around 1.8 lakh as India sent nearly 3.3 lakh students to the US in 2023.
“The demand for visas in India is insatiable. Last year we processed 1.4 million visas. While this represents just a tenth of a percent of the population, it is still an impressive number,” Drame said.
The consular chief added: “Over the past year and a half, our staff in Hyderabad more than doubled. By early 2025, we expect the team to nearly triple in size. Currently, we process about 1,600 visas per day, and this number is likely to increase to around 2,500 by Jan or Feb next year- potentially even more after that...”
The Hyderabad consulate conducted over 47,000 student visa interviews during the 2024 summer student visa season, up from 35,000 in 2023.
Public affairs officer McLaren cited the US’s Open Doors report released Monday highlighting the surge in numbers of Indian students. “This year India ranked as the number one country sending students to the US. Most Indian students are men pursuing master’s degrees. Expanding enrolments in undergraduate programmes could help diversify the student body,” said McLaren.
“One remarkable pilot programme was H-1B domestic revalidation initiative. For three months, 10,000 appointments were made available for H-1B holders residing in the US, allowing them to renew their visas without travelling back to India. This was successful and we are confident Washington will reinstate it as a regular programme next year,” he added. -- ToI
Ekal-USA Founder Ramesh Shah Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
BY JuHi Varma
HoustoN: More than fifty years later, he has not only achieved his American Dream but has dedicated himself to helping Indian children and needy rural and tribal villagers in India pursue their own dreams through the non-profit Ekal Vidyalaya foundation of USA.
Ramesh Shah came to the USA in the 1970s with few possessions and many dreams of building a better life. He came to Houston in 1976. His family joined him two years later.
Today, nearly five decades later, Ramesh ji is not only a respected member of Houston’s vibrant Indian community but also a driving force behind a nonprofit organization that has touched the lives of countless children in rural India— Ekal. “Ekal means ‘one’ in Sanskrit, we have a unique one-teacher one-school model,” said Ramesh ji in an interview.
As he celebrated his 80th birthday, Ramesh ji’s journey is a testament to the power of hard work, community spirit, and a deep commitment to making a difference.
These were the qualities that led him to Ekal, which he joined as an idealistic young volunteer eager to contribute to India. He rose to become a leader, founding Ekal USA in 2000, and eventually being appointed Secretary. As a testament to his accomplished leadership at Ekal and the impact on India’s rural and tribal villages, Ramesh ji was also conferred Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2017 (the highest honor given to the Indian diaspora by the President of India).
A new beginning in Houston
Ramesh ji’s early days in Houston were challenging. Coming from Gabat village in Gujarat, he had studied engineering and hoped to use his skills to carve out a career in the United States. Houston at that time was an unfamiliar territory, and the immigrant experience was marked by language barriers, cultural adjustments, and the pain of being away from loved ones. Theirs was one of the few Gujarati families in Houston, a community that would later grow to include many prominent IndianAmericans.
Ramesh ji went on to acquire an M.A. in economics and an M.B.A in finance. Through it all, however, he remained committed to helping his home country. “I also come from a village, and it’s because of education that I am here,” Ramesh ji said.
Ramesh ji established the Gujarati Samaj of Houston in 1979.
He said it was the strong moral foundation from his Indian upbringing that had made his success possible, and he wanted to pass that blessing forward.
Impact on the ground
Today, Ekal operates over 85,000 schools across rural India, Ramesh ji said. These schools provide basic education to children in remote and
underserved areas, often where access to formal schooling is limited or non-existent. The Ekal schools complement government schools, working together to support each other’s efforts.
“The teachers teach for three hours,” Ramesh ji said. “Most of our schools now operate after the government schools are done, so maybe 5 p.m., some places 4 p.m., even earlier up in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh where the sun rises early.”
The organization is highly inclusive, welcoming students of all religions, with a curriculum that is tailored to the local language and region of each school. The children also play games, sing songs and are taught traditional values.
“The teacher is always a local,” Ramesh ji said. “You cannot have a person from Assam going to Gujarat or someone from Kanyakumari going to UP. It is taught in the local language--math, storytelling-that is where Sanskrit comes in. Khel-kud. Also, we teach them to live together.”
Ekal Vidyalaya has a one-teacher, one-school model, with an emphasis on community involvement and sustainable education. The organization’s goal is not just to educate children but also to promote health awareness, empower women, and improve overall community development in these rural regions. “Urban as well as rural, they are both part of one Bharat,” Ramesh ji said.
The first Ekal Vidyalaya was founded in the1986 by Dr. Rakesh Popli in Jharkhand, a nuclear physics professor at IIT Kanpur and Purdue Graduate,and his wife Rama Popli, a primary education specialist.
One school led to another, growing steadily, but in the early 2000s this linear growth became exponential, after a strategic decision to reach out to the rapidly expanding NRI population.
“By 2004 we taught healthcare education, preventive healthcare
measures, empowerment,” he said. “Education, how to use RTI (Right to Information) act, how to take interest in finding how we can change society or ask the government what they are supposed to do. The people must also become economically viable. They must also earn a living.”
Ekal Holistic Village Empowerment:
Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation’s impact extends beyond education through its comprehensive empowerment programs aimed at holistic rural development. Ekal Arogya focuses on improving health awareness and preventive healthcare in rural communities, providing vital health education and promoting hygiene practices to 855,000 villagers and growing.
The Ekal Women Empowerment Centers offer skills training in areas like tailoring and handicrafts, enabling women to gain economic independence and contribute to their families’ well-being and trained more than 23,000 villagers at 100 plus training centers.
Through Ekal Computer Training Labs, more than 12,000 rural youth are equipped with basic computer skills, bridging the digital divide and enhancing their employability in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Additionally, Ekal Organic Farming encourages sustainable agricultural practices, teaching farmers how to grow crops without harmful chemicals, which helps protect the environment and improve community health. These programs collectively empower individuals to build a better, more sustainable future for themselves and their communities.
Looking to the future
Ekal USA, with 65 chapters nationwide and six in Texas with thousands of volunteers across the USA, primarily focuses on fundraising and provides an opportunity for individuals to contribute to India’s holistic development.
Ramesh ji and his wife Kokila
meeting locals, and understanding the needs of rural communities.
“And that opened up our eyes, because living in America, you forget that so many years after azadi, that there is no power, water, housing, there are no roads, simple things which we took for granted,” he said, speaking about the first such trip they took back in 1999.
The number of schools and the impact of Ekal continue to grow, as the organization expands its reach and deepens its impact across the country.
have traveled across India many times in the last two decades, from the mountainous Northeast down to Kanya Kumari, visiting villages,
Ekal’s global presence connects the vast and thriving Indian diaspora to their homeland, offering a reliable way to contribute to India’s progress. Supporters can be assured that their donations are being used wisely, directly benefiting communities and making a real impact. Finally, he would like to appeal to the Indian diaspora “Think about your own village back in India, and what you would do to see it progress.”
Ekal Vidyalaya Fact Sheet
Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation (Ekal-USA) is a Houston, Texasbased non-profit organization with over 70 chapters across multiple U.S. cities. It serves as the sister organization of Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India (Ekal-India), a Hindu nationalist group that operates single-teacher schools in India. Ekal-India has been accused of promoting hatred towards religious minorities.
Ekal-India was formally registered in New Delhi between 2000 and 2001. Both Ekal-USA and Ekal-India are part of the broader Ekal Abhiyan or Ekal Movement.
According to the Ekal Global website, the movement was started in the 1980s to provide “education to tribal children,” which has since become a project for the “holistic development of children.” According to a 2014 piece in the Hindustan Times, the schools also include “Hindu prayers, Indian values and promoting nationalism.”
Ekal-India operates on a “one-teacher school” model, where a single instructor teaches a curriculum designed by the organization to students in rural and tribal areas of India. According to a 2020 piece in Caravan Magazine, Bhaurao Deoras, a full-time worker with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the younger brother of the third RSS chief, Madhukar Dattatreya Deoras, first developed the concept of these single-teacher schools.
Ramesh Shah (center) and wife Kokilaben receive the Lifetime Achievement Award (right) from Ekal Advisor Subhash Gupta.
Fort Bend Diwali 2024 - An Indian Cultural Extravaganza
sugar laND: An amazingly devout 4 hour Fort Bend Diwali 2024 (12th Annual Vedic Fair) organized at the Sugar Land Town Square on Sunday Oct 20th highlighted Indian Workshops, performances, Recitation and LIVE concert left the audiences transfixed right from the beginning to the very end of the show. The celebrations featured MC Yogi an internationally acclaimed Hip Hop artist and also headlined various diverse aspects of the Vedic heritage like Saree, Henna, Rangoli, Indian classical Dance (Kathak) workshops along with presentations on Diwali by Kids.
The program started with the invocation of Goddess of wealth (Goddess Lakshmi) for the wellbeing of everyone in the Fort Bend community. Young residents of Fort Bend County presented on various aspects of Diwali the hindu festival of lights followed by high energy dance talent performances by various dance schools. Kids zone featured various free activities: Diya painting, coloring contest, bouncy. Visitors shopped Indian clothing, Jewelry, Diwali Decor, handicrafts, Henna tattoos and enjoyed vegetarian Indian street food by popular local Indian restaurants.
As part of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - World is one family, elected officials and leaders from the community were honored by Geetha Ravula, Fort Bend Diwali Chair followed by Community Aarti led by Hindus of Greater Houston involving the community leaders and audience. Arati is derived from Sanskrit word Aratrika, which means one that removes darkness or ignorance.
Pro Tem Mayor Alice Chen and Council member of Missouri city Sonya Brown-Marshall presented proclamations to all Hindus of Fort Bend County celebrating Diwali.
The Highlight of this year’s celebration is a live musical concert by International hip hop artist MC Yogi who connected with the kids, young and young at heart with rapping divine songs.
MC Yogi was born in San Francisco, at the age of 13 years he started rapping and at the age of 17 he started yoga. Having grown up immersed in hip hop culture he naturally began to integrate yoga, setting yogic wisdom to hip hop beats. He produced a compelling new sound and a series of successful albums that ranked num-
ber one on ITunes World music. He toured the world headlining at every major yoga festival. He had launched the first ever Super Sonic Yoga tour in Florida, a contemporary fully immersive sound experience with silent disco headphones hearing every beat and instruction clearly.
Another highlight of the evening was by 108 devotees of the Statue of Union team reciting Hanuman Chalisa. Statue of Union is the 90’ statue of Hindu God Hanuman, first tallest in the state of texas located in Sugar Land. Statue was inaugurated by His Holiness Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji on Aug 18, 2024.
The Prime Time Finale included 2 stage shows, The Ramayan Ballet, depicting the story behind celebrating Diwali and Brides of India, a vibrant display of Brides from various states of India.
An important part of the program is sharing 1000 Diwali meals in the ‘Diwali Spirit’ made by American Hindu residents. Meals are being shared with local shelters and the homeless.
Fort Bend Diwali 2024 - Celebrating festival of lights is organized by the office of the Fort Bend County Judge in collaboration with Ashirwad A Blessing Temple and Hindu Organizations of the Greater Houston and CoSponsored by TopDog Fireworks and Tara Capital.
Ashirwad A Blessing Temple imparts Vedic education, yoga & meditation classes online that instills time tested values and helps deal with mental health to the Fort Bend County residents and all over the world.
Community leaders in attendance
There were numerous Fort Bend residents attending the Diwali 2024 event at Sugar Land Town Center.
Brides fashion parade
Young performers with Top Dog.
Anmol Bishnoi Held in California; Arsh Dalla Arrested in Canada
Twenty-five-yearold Anmol Bishnoi, younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, was detained in California by the US Immigration Department last week. The Indian Express has learnt that officials of the FBI’s New Delhi office met Indian security officials and discussed the possibility of his deportation/extradition. Sources said the US Immigration Department found that one of Anmol’s travel documents was forged.
Anmol fled to the US on May 15, 2022 after making a fake passport in the name of one Bhanu. But he was exposed after the US Immigration Department found that one of the reference letters of a company, attached to his travel documents, was forged,” a source said.
Following his detention last Thursday, three FBI officials Friday met senior officials of multiple Indian agencies, headed by a senior official of the CBI, to discuss Anmol’s case status, a source in the security establishment said.
“In a meeting that lasted 45 minutes, the FBI officials discussed the cases and evidence against Anmol. Matters regarding his deportation will be clear once the outcome of his application for asylum is known,” the source said.
The FBI officials are said to have also discussed Anmol’s alleged in-
volvement in the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique and in the firing outside actor Salman Khan’s Mumbai residence.
“After the meeting, all Central agencies have started reopening their case files, making a list of direct/strong evidence against Anmol,” the source said.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for Anmol, an accused in two crimes chargesheeted by the agency. He was allegedly instrumental in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, who was shot dead in May 2022 – around eight months after Anmol was released on bail from a Jodhpur jail. Following the murder, Anmol disappeared and left India, allegedly on a fake passport.
In 2023, he was spotted at a wedding in California and was photographed along with leading Punjabi singers – a Red Corner Notice had been issued against him on December 6, 2022.
The Indian government shared the coordinates of Anmol with the US government, asking it to make a provisional arrest.
In September this year, the Rajasthan Police said there were 31 cases, including 22 cases in Rajasthan, and nine arrest warrants against Anmol.
He has also been implicated in the case of shots being fired outside Salman Khan’s residence on April 14. On November 5, Mumbai Police said in court that during its probe into the firing incident, an audio clip of Anmol and arrested accused Vicky Gupta, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, was found.
Earlier this month, police told a special court that they want to find out whether Anmol was involved in the October 12 murder of Baba Siddique. Last month, police told the court that they were initiating extradition proceedings against Anmol.
According to police in Delhi, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has a criminal syndicate encompassing Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi, and that Anmol is among those believed to be managing the gang’s “extortion operations” from abroad. -- IE
The 27-year-old Arsh Dalla, designated a terrorist by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in January 2023, has over 70 cases registered against him in India.
In 2020, two years after he left for Canada, gangster Arshdeep Singh Gill aka Arsh Dalla made a trip to India. Investigations later revealed that the visit was to kill his friendturned-rival Sukha Lamme.
Police say Dalla allegedly injected Lamme with poison, mutilated the body, and discarded it in a canal in Moga. For months afterwards, he allegedly operated Lamme’s social media handle, using the dead gangster’s identity to expand his extortion and smuggling rackets.
The deception came to light in May 2021, when the Punjab Police arrested one of Dalla’s gang members, who confessed to Lamme’s murder. By then, Dalla had returned to Canada, orchestrating a sprawling crime syndicate from his base in Surrey.
Over time, his ability to exploit legal loopholes and hide behind fake identities became his signature as he allegedly coordinated crimes across Moga and adjoining districts from the safety of his Canadian hideout.
The 27-year-old Dalla, designated a terrorist by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in January 2023, has over 70 cases registered against him in India.
With Dalla reportedly being detained in Canada on October 29, the Indian government is all set to seek his extradition.
Police say his network, which allegedly included his father Charanjit Singh and brother Baldeep,
thrived on extortion, arms smuggling, and targeted killings, with victims ranging from small traders to prominent figures, both in Punjab and Canada.
Dalla’s reported arrest in Canada came a day after a grenade attack at a petrol pump in Punjab’s Mansa district — a rare and alarming escalation in extortion tactics. It was the second FIR against the 27-year-old Dalla that week and the third in October. An FIR filed on October 23 accused him of making threatening calls to a rice sheller in Faridkot. On October 9, he was accused of carrying out the murder of a Sikh activist, Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau, in Faridkot district. Member of Parliament from Khadoor Sahib and Warris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh, who is in Dibrugarh jail, was also named in the case along with Dalla. But Dalla later released an audio clip in which he claimed responsibility for the murder while clarifying that Amritpal Singh was not involved.
Anmol Bishnoi: Brother of gangster Lawrence.
Arsh Dalla: 70 cases registered
Rice University Plans Strategic Expansion into India with Rice Global India
BY CHris stipes
Rice University, a global leader in research and innovation, is expanding its international presence with the launch of Rice Global India. This strategic initiative underscores the university’s commitment to fostering global collaboration and advancing its contributions to India’s rapidly growing education and technology sectors.
Rice Global India ribbon cutting(From left to right) Amy Dittmar, Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs; Ramamoorthy Ramesh, executive vice president for research; Caroline Levander, vice president for global; Reginald DesRoches, president.
The university hosted a ribboncutting ceremony at its new hub in Bengaluru, India’s third-largest city and the center of the country’s high-tech industry. This milestone lays the foundation for planned formal operations in the region and strengthens the university’s growing network across India, including its collaborations with top-tier research and academic institutions.
“India is a country of tremendous opportunity, one where we see the potential to make a meaningful impact through collaboration in research, innovation and education,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “Our presence in
India is a critical step in expanding our global reach, and we are excited to engage more with India’s academic leaders and industries to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. This expansion reflects our commitment to fostering a more inter-
connected world where education and research transcend borders.”
As part of this strategic expansion, Rice is deepening its collaborations with prestigious institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Bengaluru. These partnerships will foster advanced research initiatives, student and faculty exchanges and collaborations in key areas of mutual interest such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and sustainable energy, university leaders said.
Rice faculty and leadershipMembers of the Rice leadership team and faculty gathered in Bengaluru, India Nov. 18 to launch Rice Global India.
Why India?
India’s growing influence in areas such as energy, climate change, artificial intelligence and biotechnology aligns with Rice’s own research priorities outlined in the university’s recently unveiled strategic plan, Momentous: Personalized Scale for Global Impact. The strategic expansion highlights Rice’s intention to contribute to India’s innovation ecosystem by engaging in joint research initiatives, faculty collaborations and student exchanges with leading institutions.
“India’s position as one of the world’s fastest-growing education and technology markets makes it a crucial partner for Rice’s global vision,” said Caroline Levander, vice president for global at Rice.
“The U.S.-India relationship, underscored by initiatives like the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology, provides fertile ground for educational, technological and research exchanges.”
Founded in 1912, Rice is located in the heart of Houston, a coastal city considered the most diverse metropolis in the United States.
Members of the Rice leadership team and faculty gathered in Bengaluru, India Nov. 18 to launch Rice Global India.
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Sabarmati Report’: Truth & Drama of Godhra
BY aBHisHek sriVastaVa
Story: This film investigates the events and causes behind the 2002 Godhra incident, which led to the tragic loss of 59 train passengers.
Review: ‘The Sabarmati Report’ delves into the tragic Godhra incident, where 59 passengers aboard the Sabarmati Express lost their lives in 2002. With a crisp twohour runtime, the film manages to keep viewers engaged for the most part. The film seeks to challenge traditional narratives, suggesting that history has often been shaped by biased perspectives and calling for a re-evaluation. Unfortunately, a more grounded and realistic portrayal could have made it far more compelling. The first half largely sidelines the Godhra incident, focusing instead on the workings of a broadcast channel that manipulates its coverage to favour the then-ruling party, exploiting its close ties for political gain.
The film follows Samar Kumar (Vikrant Massey), a Hindi journalist, who is recruited by Mahika (Ridhi Dogra), a hard-nosed journalist working for a prominent broadcast channel. Together, they travel to Godhra to report on the tragic incident. However, Mahika receives a call from her boss that alters her narrative, framing the event as merely an unfortunate
accident. Samar, through his own investigation, uncovers a truth that starkly contrasts with his channel’s coverage. When he confronts his employer, he is abruptly fired. Struggling to find another job, he spirals into depression and turns to alcohol. As the incident’s fifth anniversary approaches, the network assigns Amrita Gill (Raashi Khanna) to revisit the case. She turns to Samar for guidance, and together, they prepare a fresh and unfiltered account of the events.
Vikrant Massey delivers an authentic portrayal of Samar Kumar, capturing the essence of an honest reporter with skill and sincerity. Raashi Khanna as Amrita, a producer, also gives a solid performance, but it’s Ridhi Dogra as Mahika—a ruthless, manipulative journalist—who truly commands attention. Her portrayal is sharp, exuding a chilling sense of arro-
gance and entitlement. However, the film stumbles in its research. It’s unrealistic to show journalists traveling long distances to Delhi solely to deliver tapes when, in that era, such tasks were often handled by bus drivers or flight passengers. Moreover, by 2002, OB vans were commonly used for transmitting footage via satellite. Also, Mahika’s character portrayal leans heavily into stereotypes, and viewers should take it with a pinch of salt.
‘The Sabarmati Report’ holds viewer attention through most of its runtime, but its slightly glossy treatment makes it feel less like a film based on true events and more like a typical commercial drama. While it succeeds in educating audiences about the lasting impact of this tragic incident, the cinematic embellishments somewhat dilute its authenticity.-- ToI
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