September 11, 2025

THE CLIFF NEWS

National Daily Bilingual Newspaper

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Dream11 Exit Leaves Smaller Cricket Leagues and Players Facing Uncertainty

After Dream11 withdrew its sponsorship of the Indian cricket team following the government’s new law curbing online gaming, the shockwaves are being felt across the wider cricketing ecosystem. For the BCCI, the world’s richest cricket board, it is business as usual as it prepares to issue a fresh sponsorship tender. But the impact could be far more severe for smaller state T20 leagues and their teams, which rely heavily on sponsorship from fantasy-gaming platforms and offshore betting websites to stay afloat. From Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to Mumbai and Delhi, leagues are bracing for a financial squeeze. Domestic Leagues and Gaming Platforms Santosh N, managing partner of D & P Advisory, which tracks IPL’s brand valuation, explained that these smaller domestic leagues were crucial for online fantasy platforms. “They keep the users engaged throughout the year. If nothing is available for 200 days, users drift away or uninstall the apps. These companies back smaller leagues not for revenue, but to keep their audiences hooked,” he said. According to Santosh, the fallout could ripple beyond leagues and franchises, hurting not just players but also brand ambassadors, broadcasters, and even professionals from other industries engaged in promotional campaigns. Big Names in Fantasy Gaming Promotions Dream11, India’s biggest fantasy-gaming operator, has roped in cricket superstars like M. S. Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan, R. Ashwin, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, and Jasprit Bumrah as brand ambassadors. It also partnered with several IPL teams, placing its branding on T-shirts and helmets. Its main competitor, Mobile Premier League (MPL), served as the Indian team’s apparel sponsor between November 2020 and December 2022, with Virat Kohli as its face. During that period, MPL also sponsored India’s contingent at the Tokyo Olympics, the Asian Games, and the Commonwealth Games. Another rival, My11Circle, endorsed by then-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, also signed up players such as Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, and Ruturaj Gaikwad—even while Dream11 remained active in Indian cricket. Regulatory Landscape The Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), a self-regulatory industry body, features a mix of prominent figures: bureaucrat Bimal Julka as chairman, former Supreme Court judge A.K. Sikri as ombudsman, sports executive Joy Bhattacharya as director general, and Dream11 co-founder Harsh Jain as president. With the new law reshaping India’s fantasy-gaming sector, the industry’s once-flourishing ties with cricket could be entering a period of deep uncertainty—testing not just the business models of gaming platforms but also the financial stability of leagues and the players associated with them.

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Editor04 mins

India Likely to Seal $1-Billion Defence Deal With US for 113 GE F-404 Engines

New Delhi: Amid escalating tariff tensions with Washington, India is set to sign a major defence deal with the US to procure 113 General Electric F-404 engines for its homegrown Tejas LCA fighter jets, according to defence officials quoted by ANI. The agreement, valued at around $1 billion, is expected to be finalised by September. The deal follows last week’s approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security for the purchase of 97 additional Tejas Mk-1A aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at a cost of ₹62,000 crore, aimed at strengthening the Indian Air Force’s depleting squadron strength. Boost to HAL Production Officials said the engine supply will help HAL complete the delivery of 180 Tejas Mk-1A jets on schedule. Production has been delayed due to GE’s earlier supply bottlenecks, with HAL still awaiting engines to ramp up deliveries. HAL has planned phased deliveries — the first batch of 83 jets by 2029–30, followed by the additional 97 by 2033–34 — provided GE can maintain its commitment of supplying two engines per month. Parallel Negotiations for GE-414 Engines HAL is also in talks with GE to acquire 200 more powerful F-414 engines to power the next-generation variants of Tejas and the indigenous fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Strategic Push The indigenous fighter jet programme, strongly backed by the Defence Ministry and Air Headquarters, is expected to promote defence indigenisation and provide opportunities to Indian MSMEs. The defence deal comes alongside India–US 2+2 discussions on defence and security cooperation, where both nations are working towards a new 10-year framework for their strategic defence partnership.

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Editor03 mins

Businessman Amit Thepade Arrested by ED in ₹117-Crore Canara Bank Fraud Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested businessman Amit Thepade in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to an alleged ₹117.06-crore fraud in Canara Bank. Officials said Thepade defrauded the public sector bank by availing loans against properties that had either already been sold or were double-mortgaged. The loans, taken through two of his firms, were allegedly diverted for personal use. Arrest in Mumbai Hotel According to the ED, Thepade had been evading authorities for several months before being tracked down at a five-star hotel in South Mumbai, where he had been staying for nearly two months. During searches at the premises, the agency seized ₹9.5 lakh in cash, gold, diamond jewellery and bullion worth ₹2.33 crore, two vehicles, and digital devices suspected to hold crucial evidence. More than 50 bank accounts were also frozen. Court Custody and Probe Details A city special court has remanded Thepade to ED custody for five days. Officials said financial documents recovered in the searches are being examined for their evidentiary value. The investigation stems from two CBI cases registered in December 2022 against Thepade’s companies — Galaxy Constructions and Contractors Pvt Ltd and Mitsom Enterprises Pvt Ltd. Both firms allegedly obtained credit facilities from Canara Bank by mortgaging immovable assets fraudulently. Modus Operandi “ED investigation revealed that the accused had conspired to defraud the bank by mortgaging properties that had already been sold, or by double-mortgaging the same assets to secure loans. The funds were then siphoned off for personal use,” an official said. The agency further alleged that Thepade played a pivotal role in creating a complex financial network to circulate and disguise the illicit funds, attempting to pass them off as legitimate assets. His arrest followed extensive surveillance and forensic financial analysis, which traced multiple suspicious transactions aimed at concealing the origin of the loan money.

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Editor03 mins

PM Modi Reportedly Ignored Trump’s Calls Amid Tariff Tensions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly refused to take four calls from US President Donald Trump in recent weeks, according to reports. Citing diplomatic sources, the report suggests Modi’s decision reflected both “the depth of his anger and his caution” following Washington’s tariff escalation. Japanese daily Nikkei Asia has echoed these claims, stating that Modi’s avoidance of Trump’s calls only heightened the US president’s frustration. Tariff Dispute Strains Relations Bilateral ties have been under stress since President Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, the highest imposed on any country other than Brazil. The measures also included an additional 25 per cent duty on India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. In response, India has firmly rejected US pressure, with Prime Minister Modi declaring that he would “never compromise” the interests of Indian farmers. According to reports, Modi felt “insulted” by Washington’s actions, and his refusal to engage in talks with Trump reflects his deep displeasure. Pakistan Angle Adds to Strain Another factor souring India’s perception of Trump has been his repeated claims since May that he mediated to stop fighting between India and Pakistan—an assertion New Delhi has strongly denied. Trump’s emphasis on boosting ties with Islamabad, coupled with what observers describe as his “deal-driven style of diplomacy,” has further strained US-India relations. China Factor in the Spotlight Analyst Mark Frazier, suggested that Washington’s vision of an Indo-Pacific alignment—where India plays a central role in containing China—is “falling apart.” He argued that India never intended to be a permanent counterweight to Beijing and instead shares with China broader goals of expanding global influence and industrial growth. Frazier also noted that Chinese investments and technology could provide a boost to Indian industry, while India could, in turn, support Beijing’s economic and geopolitical ambitions. Modi’s Upcoming China Visit Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit China at the end of August to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. This will be his first visit to the country and is widely seen as a step toward easing tensions with Beijing, while also navigating the uncertain trajectory of US-China relations.

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Editor04 mins

Wrestler Neha Sangwan suspended for two years over weight management lapses

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has suspended Neha Sangwan for two years after the 59kg wrestler was disqualified from the Junior World Championships in Bulgaria for failing to make weight. In a notice, WFI president Sanjay Singh said this was not an isolated incident, citing similar lapses at last year’s U20 Worlds in Spain and the international ranking series in Hungary earlier this year. “Your repeated negligence and inability to maintain professional discipline have adversely impacted the performance and reputation of the Indian wrestling team at the international level,” Singh wrote. Neha, 18, is regarded as one of India’s brightest young talents, having won the U17 world title in 2023, two consecutive U17 Asian golds, and medals at senior-level ranking series this year. She had also beaten Olympian Anshu Malik in the senior trials earlier. However, coaches admitted that weight management has been a recurring issue. Neha becomes the first Indian wrestler to be disqualified for a weigh-in failure since Vinesh Phogat’s Paris Olympics episode, when she missed the 50kg final weigh-in after beating Japan’s Yui Susaki in the semis. The suspension rules Neha out of both junior and senior Worlds next month, with Sarika Malik named as her replacement in the 59kg category. WFI officials indicated the ban could be reduced after a hearing, given Neha’s young age and potential. Women’s team chief coach Virender Dahiya stressed she remains in India’s long-term plans: “She is very talented, but as a professional wrestler she needs to learn to maintain her category weight.”

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Editor03 mins

नर्सिंग कॉलेज घोटाला मामला: जस्टिस अतुल श्रीधरन ने सुनवाई से खुद को अलग किया

मध्यप्रदेश हाईकोर्ट में नर्सिंग कॉलेज “घोटाले” से जुड़े मामले की सुनवाई कर रही डिवीजन बेंच के सदस्य जस्टिस अतुल श्रीधरन ने मंगलवार को खुद को इस मामले से अलग कर लिया। उन्होंने बताया कि उनका स्थानांतरण छत्तीसगढ़ हाईकोर्ट में हो चुका है, इसलिए मुख्य न्यायाधीश से नई बेंच गठित करने का अनुरोध किया है। यह जनहित याचिका (PIL) लॉ स्टूडेंट्स यूनियन के अध्यक्ष विशाल बघेल द्वारा दायर की गई थी। याचिका में आरोप लगाया गया था कि मध्यप्रदेश नर्सिंग काउंसिल ने नर्सिंग कॉलेजों को मान्यता देने में भारी अनियमितताएं की हैं। दर्जनों कॉलेज बिना आवश्यक संसाधनों और स्टाफ के केवल कागज़ों पर ही संचालित हो रहे हैं। सुनवाई के दौरान कोर्ट ने प्रदेशभर के सभी नर्सिंग कॉलेजों की मान्यता की जांच सीबीआई से करवाई। जांच में कॉलेजों को तीन श्रेणियों में बांटा गया— पिछली सुनवाई में याचिकाकर्ता ने एक अवमानना याचिका दायर कर आरोप लगाया कि कोर्ट के आदेश के बावजूद ‘अयोग्य’ कॉलेजों के छात्रों को ‘योग्य’ कॉलेजों में स्थानांतरित नहीं किया जा रहा है। इस पर एमपी नर्सिंग काउंसिल का तर्क था कि छात्रों को केवल उसी जिले के किसी अन्य कॉलेज में ही स्थानांतरित किया जा सकता है। हालांकि, अदालत ने नियम को शिथिल करते हुए कहा कि छात्रों के हित में उन्हें अन्य जिलों के कॉलेजों में भी स्थानांतरित किया जा सकता है।

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भोपाल बना साइबर और ऑनलाइन ट्रेडिंग ठगी का नया गढ़

राजधानी भोपाल इन दिनों साइबर और ऑनलाइन ट्रेडिंग घोटालों के लिए सुर्खियों में है। पिछले एक वर्ष में शहर से कई अंतरराज्यीय साइबर फ्रॉड गिरोहों का भंडाफोड़ हुआ है। हैरानी की बात यह है कि इनमें से अधिकांश गिरोहों का पर्दाफाश स्थानीय पुलिस ने नहीं, बल्कि अन्य राज्यों की साइबर क्राइम यूनिट्स ने किया। जांच में सामने आया है कि भोपाल में सक्रिय संगठित गिरोह फर्जी ऑनलाइन ट्रेडिंग योजनाओं, नकली नौकरी के ऑफ़र और सोशल मीडिया रिवार्ड स्कैम के जरिए देशभर में हजारों लोगों को ठग चुके हैं। साइबर पुलिस अधिकारियों ने बताया कि देशभर के संदिग्ध साइबर फ्रॉड, सिम कार्ड और बैंक खातों से जुड़ा डाटा ‘समन्वय पोर्टल’ या ज्वाइंट साइबर क्राइम कोऑर्डिनेशन टीम (JCCT) पर अपलोड किया जाता है और इसकी नियमित निगरानी की जाती है। इसी डाटा के आधार पर स्थानीय साइबर अपराधियों की पहचान की जा रही है। सबसे चौंकाने वाला खुलासा इस साल फरवरी में हुआ, जब पुलिस ने ऐशबाग स्थित एक कॉल सेंटर पर छापा मारा। यह सेंटर अफज़ल खान और उसकी बेटी साहिबा पिछले तीन साल से चला रहे थे। इसके बाद अंबाला, कानपुर और उत्तर प्रदेश एसटीएफ की टीमें भोपाल पहुंचीं और यहां से सक्रिय कई गैंग्स को गिरफ्तार किया। कानपुर साइबर पुलिस ने अक्टूबर 2024 में भोपाल के रोहित सोनी और तीन अन्य आरोपियों को गिरफ्तार कर 20 राज्यों में फैले 22 करोड़ रुपये के ट्रेडिंग स्कैम का पर्दाफाश किया। वहीं, जून 2025 में यूपी एसटीएफ ने शाहडोल से तीन आरोपियों को पकड़ा, जो फर्जी सोशल मीडिया टास्क रिवार्ड स्कीम चला रहे थे। स्थानीय पुलिस पर आरोप है कि वे शहर में चल रहे इन रैकेट्स से अनजान बने रहे। अतिरिक्त डीसीपी शैलेंद्र सिंह चौहान का कहना है कि मार्च 2025 में स्थानीय लोगों की पहचान कर कार्रवाई शुरू की गई थी। हालांकि, स्थानीय स्तर पर शिकायतें न मिलने के कारण सख्त कार्रवाई नहीं की जा सकी। उन्होंने बताया कि JCCT से मिली जानकारी—जैसे म्यूल बैंक अकाउंट, फर्जी सिम कार्ड और साइबर फ्रॉड संदिग्धों के डाटा—की बारीकी से निगरानी की जा रही है और उसके आधार पर नियमित कार्रवाई हो रही है। भोपाल से जुड़े साइबर व ऑनलाइन फ्रॉड मामले

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Editor01 mins

Virar Apartment Collapse: 3 Dead, Several Feared Trapped

Virar (Maharashtra): At least three persons were killed and eight others injured when a portion of the Ramabai Apartment in Virar East collapsed late Tuesday night. According to officials, several residents are feared trapped under the debris. Teams from the police, fire brigade, NDRF and ambulance services rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations. Eyewitnesses said one wing of the two-winged structure came crashing down during a birthday party on the fourth floor. “Around 15–20 people are feared trapped,” a witness said. So far, eight people have been rescued and shifted to VVCMC hospital. Authorities have evacuated the other wing of the building to avert further casualties. The extent of the damage is being assessed as search and rescue efforts continue.

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Editor01 mins

PM Modi in Gujarat: Inaugurates Maruti’s EV, lauds “democracy, demography” and India-Japan ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated Maruti Suzuki’s new EV and battery plant in Hansalpur, Ahmedabad, flagged off the India-made e-VITARA and praised India’s strengths — its democracy, young demography and a large skilled workforce — as key drivers of the country’s manufacturing and export push. He said the rise of companies like Maruti Suzuki, which now manufactures in India and even exports cars back to Japan, reflects global confidence in the nation and the success of the Make in India push. Modi described “Make in India, Make for the World” as a major leap toward the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, adding that the day marked a milestone in India-Japan friendship as India-made EVs and hybrid battery electrode manufacturing begin to go global. He also fondly recalled late Osamu Suzuki and said Maruti’s 13th year in Gujarat marks a new “teenage” phase for the automaker to spread its wings. During the visit the PM toured the new plant and congratulated Suzuki and Japan for their partnership. Officials said the new facilities are expected to give a significant boost to India’s battery ecosystem as local production of hybrid battery electrodes gets under way at the TDS Lithium-Ion Battery plant. Modi also highlighted Ahmedabad’s growing global profile — from its UNESCO World Heritage status and historic gates to the Sabarmati Ashram and a stadium with one-lakh seating capacity — pointing out the city’s ability to host large concerts and major sporting events. He recalled the recent record-setting concert that drew over 2.5 lakh people and noted Ahmedabad is now shining on the world map. On infrastructure, Modi virtually dedicated three Western Railway projects worth about ₹1,400 crore — Mahesana-Palanpur doubling, Kalol-Katosan gauge conversion and the Bechraji-Ranuj line — and flagged off a new passenger service and a car-loaded freight train, which Western Railway called “transformative” for Gujarat’s socio-economic development. In a sharp attack on the Congress, the prime minister invoked Operation Sindoor and accused the party of past inaction on terrorism, saying today’s government does not spare terrorists or their patrons. He framed recent swift security actions as evidence of India’s resolve and the armed forces’ valour. Modi also took aim at economic concerns facing farmers, assuring them that the government will protect their interests amid international trade tensions — comments that came as the U.S. announced higher tariffs affecting India.

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जेपी नड्डा के दौरे से पहले श्योपुर और सिंगरौली मेडिकल कॉलेजों में शुरू हो सकती है पढ़ाई

भारतीय जनता पार्टी के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष और केंद्रीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जे.पी. नड्डा के दो दिवसीय मध्यप्रदेश दौरे (सोमवार से) से पहले श्योपुर और सिंगरौली के सरकारी मेडिकल कॉलेजों में शैक्षणिक सत्र शुरू होने की संभावना जताई जा रही है। चिकित्सा शिक्षा संचालनालय (DME) के अधिकारियों ने बताया कि नेशनल मेडिकल कमीशन (NMC) से इस संबंध में लगातार संपर्क किया जा रहा है। यदि लेटर ऑफ परमिशन (LoP) मिल जाता है तो एमपी नीट यूजी काउंसलिंग के दूसरे चरण में लगभग 200 नए MBBS सीटें जोड़ी जाएंगी। फिलहाल पहले चरण की काउंसलिंग सोमवार को समाप्त हो रही है। अधिकारियों के मुताबिक, दोनों कॉलेजों का निरीक्षण पहले ही हो चुका है और अब औपचारिक स्वीकृति का इंतजार है। राज्य सरकार ने प्रत्येक कॉलेज में 150-150 MBBS सीटों के लिए आवेदन किया है, लेकिन फिलहाल संभावना है कि 100-100 सीटों की मान्यता मिलेगी। एक बार अनुमति मिलते ही दूसरे राउंड की काउंसलिंग में इन कॉलेजों में प्रवेश की प्रक्रिया शुरू हो जाएगी। गौरतलब है कि पिछले शैक्षणिक सत्र में नीमच, मंदसौर और सिवनी मेडिकल कॉलेजों को भी दूसरे चरण में मान्यता मिली थी और उसी समय प्रवेश कराए गए थे। श्योपुर और सिंगरौली मेडिकल कॉलेजों के जुड़ने से मध्यप्रदेश में मेडिकल कॉलेजों की संख्या 29 से बढ़कर 31 हो जाएगी। इनमें से 17 सरकारी और 12 निजी कॉलेज हैं। नए कॉलेजों के साथ सरकारी मेडिकल कॉलेजों की संख्या बढ़कर 21 हो जाएगी। इसी के साथ प्रदेश में MBBS सीटों की कुल संख्या 4775 से बढ़कर 4975 हो जाएगी। वर्तमान में सरकारी कॉलेजों में 2575 सीटें और निजी कॉलेजों में 2200 सीटें उपलब्ध हैं।

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