Pearls Group fraud: ED attaches 169 Punjab properties worth Rs 3,436 crore

IANS | December 18, 2025 4:09 PM

New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS) As many as 169 immovable properties valued at Rs 3,436.56 crore and located in Ludhiana, Punjab, were attached by the ED in connection with a Rs 48,000 crore fraud committed under the garb of a real estate investment scheme floated by Pearls Agrotech Corporation Ltd (PACL), an official said on Thursday.

Delhi Police bust fake call centre targeting US citizens; 7 arrested

IANS | December 18, 2025 3:39 PM

New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS) The Cyber Cell of the Crime Branch, Delhi Police, has busted an illegal international call centre operating from Gujranwala Town in North Delhi that was impersonating Apple Technical Support to defraud US citizens, officials said on Thursday.

MoS Margherita, Fiji Health Minister discuss medical cooperation

IANS | December 18, 2025 3:28 PM

New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS) Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita held a meeting with Fiji's Minister of Health and Medical Services Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu in New Delhi on Thursday, discussing ongoing health and medical cooperation between both countries.

India's passenger vehicle retail soars 22 pc post GST reforms: Report

IANS | December 18, 2025 2:56 PM

New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS) India’s passenger vehicle industry posted strong year‑on‑year gains in wholesale and retail volumes in November 2025, driven by sustained post‑festive demand, recent GST rate cuts and the winter wedding season, a report said on Thursday.

EPFO gives employers 6-month window to enroll employees for provident fund cover

IANS | December 18, 2025 2:43 PM

New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS) The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on Thursday urged employers to avail of its special enrolment scheme which provides a six-month compliance window to voluntarily enrol eligible employees who were left out of EPF coverage in the earlier period from July 1, 2017 to October 31, 2025.