Author: Team Admin

New Delhi: Starting October 4, cheques deposited in banks will be cleared within a few hours on the same day, under the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) new settlement framework aimed at faster and more secure transactions. Private lenders including HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank confirmed that they will implement the same-day clearance system from Friday. Customers have been urged to maintain sufficient balances to avoid cheque bounce and ensure that cheque details are filled correctly to prevent rejection. To enhance security, banks are encouraging the use of the Positive Pay System, which requires account holders to pre-submit…

New Delhi: Philanthropist Bill Gates highlighted the enduring influence of Mahatma Gandhi’s principles, saying that Gandhi’s ideals of equality and dignity remain central to the Gates Foundation’s mission. Speaking at a special celebration organized by the Consulate General of India in Seattle in partnership with the Gates Foundation on Thursday, Gates praised India’s role in pioneering innovations with the potential to transform lives across the Global South. The event, which showcased Indian culture, arts, and cuisine, was held to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 156th birth anniversary. “It’s fitting that we’re gathering on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. The ideals he championed—the equality…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: In a significant ruling, the High Court has overturned the conviction of a man who had been sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment by a POCSO Fast Track Court on charges of kidnapping a 17-year-old girl. The case dates back to February 17, 2015, when Mapusa police arrested the accused following a complaint lodged by the girl’s guardian. He was initially booked for kidnapping and rape, though the trial court in January 2023 acquitted him of rape and convicted him solely of kidnapping. However, the High Court observed that the girl had voluntarily left her home…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: Goa has emerged with one of the highest rates of deaths caused by negligent driving among India’s smaller states, according to the 2023 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report. The state registered 156 cases of negligent road accidents, leading to 185 fatalities last year — translating into a rate of 9.9 deaths per lakh population. Of these, 33 were hit-and-run incidents that killed 42 people, while 123 other accidents claimed 143 lives. These figures exclude accidental deaths from non-traffic causes. The NCRB data further highlights that Goa recorded the highest rate of crimes affecting the human…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: Goa registered fewer economic offences in 2023 than in the previous year, but official figures reveal a worrying surge in high-value frauds and scams. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 155 cases of economic offences were filed in 2023, a steep fall from 260 in 2022, though higher than the 131 cases recorded in 2021. With Goa’s population estimated at 15.8 lakh, the rate of such crimes stood at 9.8 per lakh. While the overall number of cases dipped, cheating, forgery and fraud accounted for the bulk, with 126 cases, followed by 28 of…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The Special Court in Panaji has remanded Anjuna resident and panch member Shivshankar Anant Mayekar to nine days of Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody in connection with an alleged land scam. Mayekar is accused of fabricating documents and misrepresenting ownership to illegally take control of land belonging to the Communidade of Anjuna. The ED is now probing the alleged laundering of funds generated from these disputed land deals. Earlier in September, the agency had carried out searches at 12 different premises across Goa as part of its investigation. Raids were conducted at Mayekar’s office and residence, as…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: Panaji police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown persons following a complaint lodged by the Forest Department regarding a missing file on Goa’s proposed tiger reserve. According to sources, the Deputy Conservator of Forests (North, Wildlife) approached Panaji police after the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) directed the department to take action. Notably, the Forest Department did not conduct any internal inquiry before filing the complaint. The issue surfaced during the CEC’s first hearing on September 16, when petitioner Goa Foundation submitted that the tiger reserve proposal, finalized by the State Forest…