Month: September 2024

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has identified and arrested four individuals in connection with an online gaming app, Fiewin. The app, initially presented as a legitimate platform for users to earn money through games, is now under investigation for its role in defrauding users of over Rs 400 crore. The money was then laundered using digital wallets linked to a global crypto exchange.
World’s largest crypto platform Binance claimed that its Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) provided critical intelligence that helped ED in tracing the funds and uncovering the fraud network. According to a report by The Economic Times, the ED probe also discovered that the platform Chinese nationals allegedly operated the illegal betting/gaming app with the help of their Indian accomplices.

Fiewin gaming app scam: What is it and how it worked

In a report, Binance explained that the Fiewin app gained traction by promising users the opportunity to earn money easily by playing mini-games. The app allowed new users to quickly create an account and begin participating in the app’s activities, with the option to “top up” their in-app balance via various payment methods.
However, reports have surfaced suggesting that once users’ accounts accumulated substantial funds, the app stopped allowing them to withdraw the funds, leaving them unable to recover their money.
An investigation by the ED revealed that Rs 400 crore was stolen through this scheme. This money was transferred into various cryptocurrency addresses, which were later traced back to the operation.
Local police across the country began receiving reports from victims who lost funds to the Fiewin app. Due to the growing number of victims reporting the scams, the case was escalated to ED.
Through its investigation, ED discovered that the app had been part of a cross-border criminal network it used various methods to obfuscate the origin and movement of illicit funds by utilizing bank accounts of “mules” and cryptocurrency wallets, creating a complex web of transactions to hinder detection and tracing.
The investigation has led to the arrest of several individuals who played key roles in facilitating the fraud, working in tandem with handlers linked to Fiewin’s gaming apps. The criminals communicated via privacy-focused messaging apps and operated from various locations, ED added.

What ED said about the scam

“Public-private collaborations are crucial in tackling complex financial crimes. Binance’s specialised investigation team is a great example of how private-sector firms can work closely with law enforcement. In this case, they provided us with analytical support that contributed to the investigation,” an ED representative said.

What Binance said about the scam

“This case showcases the critical importance of collaboration between public institutions like the ED and private entities like Binance in addressing the new types of digital threats.” Binance Investigation Specialist, Ferdinando D. added.

Raj Kapoor and Nargis shared one of the most iconic partnerships in Indian cinema, marked by a deep personal and professional bond. The duo also shared a romantic relationship despite Raj being a married man at the time.

Raj Kapoor and Nargis shared one of the most iconic partnerships in Indian cinema, marked by a deep personal and professional bond. The duo also shared a romantic relationship despite Raj being a married man at the time.
In the book Raj Kapoor: The One and Only Showman, written by his daughter Ritu Nanda, Raj reminisced about his first encounter with Nargis when he was 22 and she was just 16.He recalled how he rang the doorbell of her flat in Marine Drive, intending to meet her mother, Jaddan Bai.
However, it was Nargis who answered the door. He described the moment vividly, expressing that she appeared to him like an angel, saying, “She was no less than an angel!” He noted her short hair and how a strand fell over her left eye, making it seem as if she was looking at him with just one eye.
Raj later recreated this memorable first meeting in the film Bobby, where Dimple Kapadia’s character opens the door in a similar fashion for Rishi Kapoor’s Raja when they first encounter each other.
Raj expressed that women have always held significant importance in his life, but Nargis meant more to him than anyone else. He mentioned that he would often tell her that while Krishna was his wife and the mother of his children, he wanted Nargis to be the mother of his films. He emphasized that this was exactly what she became for him, and he cherished beautiful memories of their work together.
Raj noted that there was a unique charm in Nargis’s looks, gait, and speech, stating that she couldn’t be cast in just any role despite her remarkable adaptability. He reflected on her exceptional calibre, remarking that such a kind of person is no longer found in films today.
For the unversed, the affair soon ended and Nargis tied the knot with Sunil Dutt. She never worked with Raj Kapoor again, but their relationship caused a rift between the Dutts and the Kapoors. This went on for 24 years till she was invited to Rishi Kapoor’s wedding with Neetu Kapoor.

In numerology, karmic numbers refer to lessons learned in previous lives that you are apparently here to experience and overcome in this life. That is, these are those unresolved issues, patterns, or actions, of which you need to grow and heal in order to break a cycle of negativity. These numbers point out where we have to work on ourselves to develop and be in step with our life’s purpose.

What Are Karmic Numbers?

Karmic numbers derive from your full birth name, particularly the consonants, or your date of birth.The main karmic numbers are 13, 14, 16, and 19. Each has its unique energy and is assigned to particular karmic debts or lessons that need some attention. They imply some areas where balance, responsibility, and wisdom have to be developed for spiritual evolution.
The Karmic Number 13 teaches lessons of hard work and responsibility. Past lives perhaps mark laziness or avoidance of responsibilities. You are asked to develop discipline and perseverance with high work values in this lifetime. It is all about discovering the right balance between effort and reward.
Karmic Number 14 has to do with freedom and control. Past-life indulgences or excesses, such as addiction or reckless behavior, can manifest in challenges with self-control. The lesson here is learning moderation and mastering personal freedom without falling into destructive habits.
Karmic Number 16 often brings in the shattering of ego. It can be a spiritual awakening number that teaches balance within itself by allowing for humility to be applied to correction, such as the misuse of power or arrogance in the past. The lesson of 16 is in trusting the higher self and developing inner wisdom, often coming from loss or drastic changes.
Karmic Number 19 teaches the lesson of individuality and personal responsibility. The reason behind it may either be that you relied too much on others in other lifetimes or have avoided taking responsibility all these years and have now ended up with outstanding and sundry karma. You are here in this life, encouraged to learn self-reliance and find your own feelings of empowerment.
Karmic numbers, therefore, are not punishment but an opportunity to evolve. Recognizing the patterns would set you free from past behaviors and transform your life. The lessons from your karmic numbers will help clean out old karmic debts, balance life situations, and bring more consciousness and fulfillment to your life.

“The beauty of art is that it transcends age, class, boundaries. Today, with technology, artists are no longer confined to the walls of a studio or gallery, the world is their canvas”- Paresh Maitypic Anindya Saha

Bengal is known as a region steeped in art and culture. Now, with the Bengal Biennale, people of Santiniketan and Kolkata are about to witness something they have never seen before, in November and December respectively. Artist Paresh Maity who is at the heart of this event, shares his vision on Bengal’s artscape and the Biennale’s significance. “It’s going to be a feast for the senses on a large scale with art taking over streets, galleries, and hearts,” he introduces CT to what can be expected from the festival.

‘It’s not just an event, it’s a movement’

The Padma Shri awardee promises a spectacle for a few days in the city, as landmarks such as Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, Birla Academy and Academy of Fine Arts to name a few, are set to turn into canvases.He says, “It’s not just an event– it’s a movement. Bengal has always had art in its DNA, but this? This is another level.”
Colours are pure emotion– life is all about colours, isn’t it?’
Reflecting on the usage of vibrant colours in his artwork, he says life is all about colours: “You look at a vivid sunset, and suddenly, the world feels brighter. I believe in the healing power of colours, they lift spirits, and my paintings reflect that.” He adds, “People have told me that my art has pulled them out of a bad day. That’s the magic of colour. It doesn’t just fill a canvas, it fills hearts.”

An installation that reflects urban life for the Bengal Biennale
A cast bronze sculpture, weighing seven tonnes and 26 feet in length titled ‘Urbanscape’ is what defines Maity’s installation for the Biennale. “It reflects urban life, how we coexist in a city that’s bustling but somehow harmonised,” he explains, adding, “It’ll be displayed at Victoria Memorial, and will be two and a half floors high. It took over a year to make it in Jaipur, and every ounce of bronze in it has a story to tell.”
‘A large-scale sculpture requires focus and foresight’
Working on a large-scale piece needs logistical and creative juggling, feels Paresh. He explains, “One has to constantly battle scale and perspective. It demands complete focus and good foresight, especially because optical illusions can trick you. But I would not have it any other way. I live for the thrill of it.’

“I will be painting one of the majestic Bankura horses at the Biennale, along with students and artists, as a nod to our past. It’s about taking something old and making it new again”- Paresh Maity