Siddharth Prabhakar

6 days ago | newindianexpress.com | Siddharth Prabhakar

By Siddharth Prabhakar CHENNAI: Twenty Irular families living for decades in a village near Tirukazhkundram in Chengalpattu district now fear displacement after local authorities began inquiries a few weeks ago. Of the 40 Irular families living in the locality, 20 of them do not have pattas (land title deed). Except one or two, most of them live in permanent dwellings which were constructed with the help of a local trust a few years ago, residents said.

1 week ago | newindianexpress.com | Siddharth Prabhakar

CHENNAI: About four weeks after the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA) sent show cause notices to 15 firms running opinion trading apps, a few of them have stopped offering their services in Tamil Nadu, while others are expected to soon follow suit, official sources said. Opinion trading application, better known as prediction markets, is a relatively new concept to India in which users are allowed to place bets on the outcomes of future events, not restricted to sport alone.

1 week ago | newindianexpress.com | Siddharth Prabhakar

By Siddharth Prabhakar CHENNAI: TD Prabhavathy, wife of disgraced educationist TD Naidu who allegedly cheated medical education aspirants by promising admission in his unrecognised institution in Tiruvallur district, will also face trial under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the case. A special CBI court last week dismissed a discharge petition filed by Prabhavathy and said that prima facie, she had committed the offence under PMLA.

2 weeks ago | newindianexpress.com | Siddharth Prabhakar

By Siddharth Prabhakar According to Customs sources, Yogesh and Jagadeesh were immediately let off on bail as the vipers and possum are not covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) or the Wildlife Protection Act. The cuscus too is protected only under Appendix II of CITES and Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act. While Yogesh could not be reached, Sunil denied his pet shop had any links with smuggled wildlife.

2 weeks ago | newindianexpress.com | Siddharth Prabhakar

CHENNAI: With smuggling of e-cigarettes into India on the rise, customs officials across the country have been put on alert following inputs that some of the banned devices may be laced with New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), including synthetic opioids, methamphetamine and ketamine, in addition to nicotine. The alert was issued after the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) warned countries of this emerging trend, sources said.