BHUBANESWAR l friday l november 28, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l JEYPORE EDITION WinZO Founders arrested on Money Laundering Charges assets worth `505 crore confiscated Enforcement Directorate arrested directors of the online gaming platform —Saumya Singh Rathore and Paavan Nanda —from Bengaluru charge: customers pitted against bots The searches were carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Earlier, the agency had conducted search operations at four locations in Delhi and Gurgaon from November 18 to November 22 in an online betting case, and seized assets worth around `505 crore, a statement from Enforcement Directorate said ■ ■ The ED action is on the basis of FIRs filed against WinZO Games on grounds of cheating, blocking accounts and misuse of PAN It was found that WinZO was engaged in criminal activities and unscrupulous practices i.e. customers were made to play with algorithms/software without being made aware of that fact `489 cr was diverted to US and Singapore under overseas investments: ed CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Will put an end to K’taka ‘confusion’ soon, says Kharge D E V A R A J B H IR E H A L L I @ Bengaluru THE Congress high command, which has so far been silent on the power tussle between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and deputy CM D K Shivakumar, seems to have finally woken up to resolve the tug-of-war for CM post. On Thursday, AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge said both the leaders will be summoned to Delhi for talks and to put an end to ‘confusion’. Meanwhile, caste groups have rallied behind both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, complicating matters for the party’s central leadership. AHINDA (a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalit communities) and Karnataka State Federation of Backward Class Communities have warned the Congress of adverse implications if Siddaramaiah was forced out to make way for Shivakumar. On the other hand, the Karnataka Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha has vowed to vehemently fight if injustice is meted out to the Shivakumar, a powerful Vokkaliga leader aspiring to become Karnataka Face-off over promised ‘word’ Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar CM. Besides, prominent Vokkaliga seer Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji, pontiff of Adichunchanagiri Math and with other Vokkaliga seers are in support of Shivakumar. Kharge, talking to reporters in Bengaluru before leaving for Delhi on Thursday said: “I will , India’s wait to be a $5-tn economy could get longer The tug-of-war between Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar over the CM post turned into a war of words. Shivakumar insisted that “word power is world power,” prompting a repartee from the CM who said, “A word is not power unless it betters the world for the people.” call three-four key leaders and discuss the way forward, and thereby put an end to the confusion.” He said Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar will be called for discussions across the table with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. He said the central leadership will reach a decision after discussing with everyone. Sources said Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and senior leader K C Venugopal met in Delhi on Thursday evening, and Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar would soon be summoned for talks, tentatively to be held on November 29 or December 1. It is not immediately clear if Sonia Gandhi – who is abroad – will also be part of the crucial meeting. boyZONE: World cup’s here IMF says it could take at least one more year than earlier projected P U S H PI TA D E Y @ New Delhi INDIA’s ambition of becoming a $5-trillion economy will take longer than earlier thought, according to the latest projections by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The delay has been attributed to slower nominal GDP growth and sharper depreciation of the rupee. India initially aimed to achieve the $5-trillion milestone by 2024-25, before revising the target to 2027-28. However, the IMF now estimates the economy to cross the $4-trillion mark only in FY26 and reach $4.96 trillion in FY28, falling short of the goal. India is projected to hit $5.46 trillion by FY29 and cross $6 trillion in 2030. The rupee’s weakness has particularly weighed on dollar- 7 6 SLOW AND STEADY 6.016 5.462 5 4.959 4 3 6.628 4.12 4.5 2025-26 26-27 I ndia’s GDP projection ($ trillion) Source: IMF 27-28 28-29 29-30 30-31 denominated GDP figures. The currency has depreciated 4.26% so far this year. Lower inflation has also slowed growth in nominal GDP calcu, lated at cur rent market prices. Subhash Chandra Garg, former finance and economic affairs secretary, warned that missing the target timeline could indicate the “Indian economy becoming stuck in the lower middle-income trap.” Despite this, India is still expected to overtake Japan this year to emerge as the world’s fourth-largest economy . IMF projections suggest India could close FY26 with a GDP size of $4.12 trillion. India’s real GDP is expected to grow 6.6% in 2025-26. The IMF noted that reforms like the goods and services tax (GST) will help cushion the economy from global trade shocks, including the recent 50% tariffs imposed by the US. “India’s economy has continued to perform well. Following economic growth of 6.5% in FY 2024-25, real GDP expanded by 7.8% in the first quarter of FY 2025-26,” the IMF said after completing its annual Article IV consultation for India. @ Guwahati E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Cuttack such political involvement problematic. “Impugned letter In a significant ruling aimed at of the kind, which provides for insulating school administra- MPs/MLAs recommending tion from political influence, transfer of teachers, has the pothe Orissa High Court on tential of creating a seamless Thursday set aside the state nexus between the political government’s order that had parties/candidates and the empowered MPs and MLAs to community of teachers. This recommend transfers of school would not augur well to the syst e a c h e r s w i t h i n t h e i r tem,” Justice Shripad warned. constituencies. Highlighting the dangers of The single judge political proximity , bench of Justice he remarked, “One Dixit Krishna Shrineeds no research pad delivered the to visualise the judgment while confruits of poisonous sidering a batch of tree that would 24 petitions filed by grow on the soil of teachers affected by such nexus. As of the one-time teachnecessity, teachers er transfer policy . have to maintain safe Justice Shripad obdistance from political served that the imparties and elected MPs/MLAs pugned letter dated representatives.” recommending The state’s contenMay 13, 2025, issued by transfers has the potential of tion that such recomthe joint secretary in creating a nexus mendations were the directorate of secbetween the merely advisory also ondary and elementapolitical parties/ failed to impress the ry education had no candidates and identifiable legal au- the community of judge. “The vehement contention appears atthority. “Nothing has teachers tractive at the first been stated in the said Justice DK Shripad blush,” Justice Shriletter as to under what pad said, but added authority it has been issued, to claim legal efficacy ,” that in practice, the enormity the judge noted, adding that the of influence such recommendaletter preceded the promulga- tions of MPs/MLAs would cast t i o n o f f o r m a l t r a n s f e r on the officials hardly needs to be stated. guidelines. The judgment emphasised Although the state argued that the letter served merely as that transfer orders influenced an enabling measure allowing by such recommendations must MPs and MLAs to make recom- be treated as having been made mendations since they know on extraneous considerations the local requirement, the high and were therefore liable to be invalidated.  Continued on P5 court found the very nature of HC THE Assam assembly on Thursday passed a bill to ban polygamy making it an offence , which may lead to a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment, barring some exceptions. People belonging to the Scheduled Tribe category and those living in areas under the Sixth Schedule have been excluded from the purview of the the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025. “Women’s rights will not be compromised. Through the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill 2025, we secure legal protection, strict penalties and real accountability,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Prez addresses Assly, urges all to work with spirit of ‘Antyodaya’ E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e what to say, whether addressing an individual, a gathering or an assembly . The Odisha Vidhan Sabha witThe President said as public nessed a historic moment on representatives are always unThursday with President Drou- der scrutiny. People are eager padi Murmu becoming the first to know what they say and how head of the nation to address they conduct themselves. “Both the Assembly session. their words and conduct are inDescribing the occasion as a valuable. What MLAs say and homecoming for her, Murmu how they say it, in and outside said, “I am gripped by nostalgia the House, is known to everywhile addressing the members one. Their conduct and words of the Odisha Legislashould be such that, tive Assembly as old their admirers can memories of this place help build society and have resurfaced. As a the state,” she said. Exhorting the memlegislator, I had asked People have bers to fulfil the aspiquestions and as a entrusted huge ration of the people minister had anresponsibility to swered their questions the MLAs and it is and uplift the poor and the most marginin this very House.” your duty to alised under ‘AntyoPresident Murmu fulfil their expectations, d aya ’ p h i l o s o p hy, got emotional as she realise their Murmu said the peoreflected on her jourdreams and ple who have elected ney from a poor family bring smiles to their representatives in a remote tribal viltheir faces have great expectalage of the state to the tions that their highest office of the Droupadi Murmu, dreams will be realcountry “Where I have . President ised. “They have enreached today could trusted huge responnot have been possible without the love of the people sibility to the MLAs and it is and blessings of Lord Jagan- the duty of all of you to fulfil their expectations, realise their nath,” she said. She also recalled her associa- dreams and bring smiles to tion with many of the leaders their faces,” she said. The President also extolled present in the House. “I had the opportunity to work with some the ancient tradition of womof the current and past mem- en’s empowerment in Odisha. bers of this House, including “It is a matter of pride that the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Odisha Legislative Assembly Majhi and Union ministers has a long history of women’s Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual representation, including a woman chief minister. There Oram.” Calling the occasion a special has been no Legislative Asday in her life, Murmu said her sembly in Odisha without political journey had been a women’s representation, beprofound learning experience. fore and after independence,” Continued on P5 It taught her how to speak and she said.  @ Bhubaneswar Jr India hockey captain Rohit Yadav & coach PR Sreejesh | P jawahar 24 The Junior Hockey World Cup begins in Chennai and Madurai on Friday. The final is on Dec 10. A quick glance... Teams 72 Matches 7 2 Germany have won the seven times, the most by any team India and Argentina have won the tournament twice each, the 2nd-most Deepti top earner this time at WPL auction 1 Pakistan, Australia have won the crown once each After releasing Deepti Sharma initially, UP Warriorz matched the Right to Match price of `3.2cr set by Delhi Capitals. The player of the World Cup is now 2nd-highest paid behind Smriti Mandhana at WPL HC quashes provision for Assam passes bill banning recommendation of teacher polygamy; UCC next in line transfers by MPs & MLAs e x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e President Droupadi Murmu with Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Speaker Surama Padhy before her address to the state Assembly on Thursday | EXPRESS Sarma said after the bill was passed. The bill will cover people from Hindu, Muslim, Christian and all other societies, Sarma said. The bill will be sent for Presidential assent. After bringing laws against polygamy and child marriage, the BJP-led government’s focus is now on Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Sarma “assured” the House that if the NDA retained power, it would bring UCC in Assam which is expected to go to polls early next year. “Stop me but if you cannot, I will bring UCC in the first session of the Assembly ,” the chief minister said, challenging the Opposition. “ S o m e people at- tributed our actions to politics but we had to take these…Child m a r r i a g e a n d p o l yg a m y snatched Muslim women and girls’ minimum right to live,” he added. The bill proposes 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for offenders, a ban on contesting elections to rural and urban local bodies, and deletion of names from list of beneficiaries of government schemes. Offenders will not be entitled to public employment and denied government scheme benefits. The bill defines ‘polygamy’ as an act of marrying another person when either of the parties already has a subsisting marriage or a living spouse from whom he/she is not legally divorced, or their marriage is not legally annulled. Repeat offenders will attract a jail term of 20 years. hasina handed 21-year jail term for graft A court on Thursday sentenced deposed PM Sheikh Hasina to 21 years in a corruption case; her son and daughter got a jail term of 5 year each | P9 media rights in focus ICC warns members of 30% reduction in revenue next cycle ment published a few days ago. “The ICC,” a line in the docuCricket could be the biggest ment says, “have warned to exmoney spanner for India but pect a 30% revenue decrease in the International Cricket 2028 when their media conCouncil seems to be extracts come up for renewal. pecting a revenue cut Xpress This knowledge necessiin 2028. It has apparto prepare imSpecial tates KNCBand do everyently warned its memmediately bers to expect a reducthing we can to safeguard tion of up to 30 per cent in domestic and HP cricket by 2028 when the next media rights taking the necessary measures.” cycle is up for renewal. This This could have big ramificaline was contained in a Dutch tions up and down the food Cricket Board’s financial docu- chain, barring the Big Three of s w a r oo p s w am i nathan @ Chennai India, England and Australia. Most of the other cricketing nations, be it Full Members or Associate, depend on ICC funding to meet a lot of the working capital expenditures. A 30% reduction in media contracts may be felt at all levels including player contracts, the capacity to host Test matches, running grassroot programmes and giving young players development-based contracts. Per the document, the KNCB, an Associate board, will aim to reduce their long-term dependency on ICC. To do this, some of the steps they will take are ‘attracting long-term private partnerships’ as well as ‘securing event specific partners’, including for next year’s men’s T20 WC. Qualifying for that World Cup in India has given them a significant boost. One reason why the ICC may expect a reduction in media rights in the next cycle is the merger between Disney Star and Jio. It could result in reduced competition within the India media rights market, which usually bids aggressively for India’s international as well as prominent ICC properties like World Cup.