New York Indian Community

NYC - Indian News Corner

October 7, 2020 - Indian student Sachin Aji Bhaskar (24) from Buffalo, NY was sentenced today to twenty years in prison on charges of sexual enticement of a minor.

According to the charges filed in the case, Sachin Aji Bhaskar, a citizen of India on a US Student Visa communicated..........Read More


September 25, 2020 - NYC Indian and Plainview, NY retail store owner Amardeep Singh (45) entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York today to resolve the COVID-19 price gouging criminal case under Defense Production Act.

According to the terms of Deferred Prosecution Agreement, Amardeep Singh will donate COVID Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) valued at more than $450,000........Read More


August 13, 2020 - August 13, 2020 - New York Indian community will celebrate the Hindu festival Ganesh Chaturthi from August 26-30, 2020 four days after the actual day of the festival. ........Read More


August 10, 2020 - Come August 15, 2020, Empire State Building and Times Square in New York City will be awash with lighting ceremony, India Flag Hoisting and Indian Tri Colors illumination.

The 2020 NYC India Independence Day celebrations will be held on actual date of Indian Independence Day........Read More


July 17, 2020 - Sohrab Sharma (29), co-founder of cryptocurrency company Centra Tech pleaded guilty today for conspiring to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and mail fraud in connection with a scheme to induce victims to invest more than $25 million dollars worth of digital funds.

Centra Tech, a Miami, FL based company was co-founded by Sohrab Sharma along with Raymond Trapani and Robert Farkas.

Centra Tech was purported to offer cryptocurrency-related financial products and soliciting investors to purchase securities in the form of digital tokens through, among other means, an initial coin offering (“ICO”)...........Read More


June 29, 2020 - Prabjot Nagra (26) a citizen of India was arrested today and charged by criminal complaint for attempting to smuggle more than 9000 pounds of marijuana into the United States.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Prabjot Nagra..........Read More


June 24, 2020 - NYC Indian Ophthalmologist Ameet Goyal (57) from Rye, NY has been charged today in a superseding indictment for fraudulently obtaining Government-guaranteed loans intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic while on pretrial release.

NYC Indian Eye Doctor Ameet Goyal was previously indicted for healthcare fraud offenses related to Medicare and Medicaid billing in November 2019.

And, due to pending criminal charges, Dr Ameet Goyal and his ophthalmology practice The Eye Assocates Group were ineligible for Covid-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) administered by Small Business Administration. .............Read More


June 22, 2020 - June 22, 2020 - Horseheads, New York Indian Bhaskar Patel (69) was sentenced Friday, June 19, 2020 in Vermont Federal District Court to a term of three years of probation with conditions of supervised release in connection with a kickback and bribery scheme related to federal energy savings performance contracts (“ESPCs”).

Besides the three years of probation sentencing, the Vermont Federal District Court entered a forfeiture judgment of $2,536,119.19 against Bhaskar Patel. .............Read More


June 16, 2020 - Gurpreet Singh (30) a citizen of India was arrested today and charged by criminal complaint for attempting to smuggle more than 3000 pounds of marijuana into the United States.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Gurpreet Singh..........Read More


June 9, 2020 - Arshdeep Singh (21) a citizen of India was arrested today and charged by criminal complaint for attempting to smuggle marijuana into the United States.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Arshdeep Singh..........Read More


April 24, 2020 - NYC Indian and Plainview, NY retail store owner Amardeep Singh (45) is charged today under Defense Production Act for hoarding and selling scarce COVID-19 essentials such as face masks, face shields, surgical gowns and disinfecting products at inflated prices.

Amardeep Singh a.k.a Bobby Singh and Bobby Sidana owns and operates a network of retail entities (Singh Entities)........Read More


March 9, 2020 - Indian House Hunter and Easton, PA resident Ashok Singh (58) is sentenced to seven years in prison today in Queens Supreme Court for raping a woman after helping her find a place to live in Richmond Hill, Queens.........Read More


March 5, 2020 - Indian student Sachin Aji Bhaskar (23) from Buffalo, NY pleaded guilty today to charges of sexual enticement of a minor.

According to the charges filed in the case, Sachin Aji Bhaskar, a citizen of India on a US Student Visa communicated with a 11 year old girl from Buffalo, NY by text and email..........Read More


February 13, 2020 - Uber Driver, a Citizen of India and a recent resident of Philadelphia, PA Jaswinder Singh (30) is sentenced to 12 months in prison today for knowingly transporting illegal aliens for financial gain into the United States.

Jaswider Singh was charged in May 2019 for transporting illegal aliens in Syracuse, NY Federal court........Read More


January 21, 2020 - NYC Indian Otolaryngologist (ENT Specialist) Dr. Rajendra Bhayani has agreed to pay the U.S. $1,109,000 to resolve civil allegations involving adult homes healthcare program services.

Dr. Rajendra Bhayani and his medical practice New York Otolaryngology & Aesthetic Surgery, P.C. in Brooklyn and Queens........Read More


November 26, 2019 - Hedge fund Premium Point Investments founder, CEO & CIO Anilesh Ahuja (51) is sentenced to 50 months in prison prison in connection for securities fraud-related offenses.

The sentencing of NYC Indian Anilesh Ahuja is followed by his conviction by a jury trial for engaging in a securities mismarking scheme from 2014 to 2016 on July 11, 2019........Read More


November 22, 2019 - Easton, PA resident Ashok Singh (58) was found guilty today of raping a woman after helping her find a place to live in Richmond Hill, Queens in a re-trial.

The two-week-long re-trial of Pennsylvania Indian Askhok Singh was followed by a 2018 hung jury........Read More


November 22, 2019 - NYC Indian Ophthalmologist Ameet Goyal (56) from Rye, NY is arrested and indicted today for fraudulently billing patients, Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance programs millions of dollars for complex eye surgeries that were never performed.

Besides a criminal complaint, a Civil Fraud Lawsuit was filed against Dr. Ameet Goyal and his medical practice The Eye Associates Group by the government under the False Claims Act.............Read More



September 12, 2019 - Eight NYC Indians from Long Island City, Richmond Hill, Deer Park, Jamaica etc. are arrested today for distributing millions of Opioid pills imported from India.

The eight NYC Indians allegedly received and repackaged misbranded Tramadol and other drugs at a warehouse in Queens, NY and shipped to individuals and entities in the United States.

The eight NYC Indians arrested and charged in the Opioid drug trafficking case are:............Read More


August 30, 2019 - Queens, NYC Indian Realtor Reshmi Maharaj (53), has been sentenced to up to six years in prison for stealing nearly $600,000 in payments from prospective homeowners for the purported “short sale” of several Queens and Brooklyn properties in 2015.

Conviction of Reshmi Maharaj

Indian real estate agent Reshmi Maharaj was convicted on August 12, 2019 following a four week bench trial on the charges of:............Read More


August 26, 2019 - Kamal Zafar (51) and Jamal Zafar (48) of South Huntington, NY and Armughanul Asar (68) of College Point, NY were charged in transnational call center fraud scheme targeted at thousands of individuals in the United States.

The three NYC Indians allegedly impersonated federal employees and netted over $2 million from victims across the United States............Read More


August 22, 2019 - Jayesh Patel (49), co-owner of Econo Lodge Inn & Suites near Syracuse airport, and Munchies convenience store in Solvay, NY was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison for money laundering and maintaining drug-involved premises.

..........Read More


August 20, 2019 - INew York Indian community will celebrate the Hindu festival of Dushahra Navratri from September 6-8, 2019, three weeks before the actual date of nine-day festival........Read More


August 13, 2019 - Indian student Vishwanath Akuthota (27) of Albany, NY was sentenced today to 12-months in prison for intentionally damaging computer equipment owned by The College of St. Rose.

The 12-months prison sentence will be followed by one year of supervised release........Read More


July 29, 2019 - Indian IT Consultant Shivanand Maharaj (39) of Cresskill, NJ was found guilty of honest services wire fraud, paying kickbacks in connection with an employee benefit plan by a jury today in Manhattan federal court.

The federal jury after a two week trial convicted Shivanand Maharaj on.......Read More


July 21, 2019 - New York Indian community will celebrate the Hindu festival Ganesh Chaturthi from September 4-8, 2019.

The 2019 NYC Ganesh Utsav festival celebrations are scheduled to take place at.......Read More


July 17, 2019 - Bail bondswoman and hotel owner Hema Patel (51) from McAllen, TX was sentenced today to three years of imprisonment for smuggling illegal aliens from Indian in Central Islip, NY federal court.

Besides the three year imprisonment, Hema Patel was ordered by the court to forfeit her:.......Read More


July 13, 2019 - Come August 18, 2019, Madison Avenue in New York City will be awash in the vibrant colors of India.

The 2019 NYC India Independence Day celebrations will be held three days after the actual date of Indian Independence Day........Read More


July 11, 2019 - Hedge fund founder, CEO & CIO Anilesh Ahuja (51) and former trader Jeremy Shor (44) of Premium Point Investments (PPI) were found guilty today of securities fraud-related offenses in Manhattan federal court.

New Rochelle, NY resident Anilesh Ahuja and Jeremy Shor of New York, NY were convicted after a six-week trial in Manhattan federal court.......Read More


July 5, 2019 - Talwar, an Indian national on visitors visa was arrested by the New York office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations on charges of raping a minor in Germany.

Talwar, a citizen of India was lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a visitor on April 7, 2019 with authorization to remain until October 6, 2019.

However, the U.S. Department of State had cancelled the Talwar's visitors visa as he was found to have been wanted in Germany for the rape of a minor.

Talwar was arrested in Richmond Hill, NY on June 12, 2019 by ICE ERO pursuant to the federal arrest warrant issued in the Eastern District of New York.

The Indian national, Talwar, was initially remanded to the custody of U.S. Marshals Service and extradited to Germany July 2, 2019 and transferred to German law enforcement custody.
June 27, 2019 - Queens, NYC Indian couple Rameshwar Singh (44) and Leela Singh (42) have been convicted at trial of assault for bludgeoning their former roommate in the head during a February 2018 physical alteration inside of their shared residence in Jamaica.

Rameshwar Singh and Leela Singh were convicted June 26, 2019 of second-degree assault following a week-long jury trial.

According to the trial testimony:

..at approximately 4 p.m. on February 23, 2018, the victim approached the defendants - his roommates - inside of their 170th Street apartment in Jamaica, Queens. Shortly thereafter, a verbal dispute ensued and escalated into a physical fight. During the fight, both defendants grabbed a dangerous object and struck the victim in the head. The then-34-year-old victim was removed to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for three lacerations sustained to his head that required nearly 25 staples to close.

Potential Penalty

On the second-degree conviction of assault, Rameshwar Singh faces a potential penalty of three to seven years in prison as a predicate felon.

And, Leela Singh may receive up to seven years of incarceration or probation.

Sentencing for NYC Indian couple Rameshwar Singh and Leela Singh is set for July 16, 2019 and July 30, 2019 respectively.


June 27, 2019 - NYC Indians Gursimardeep Singh (34) and Daljeet Singh (46) from Bronx and College Point, NY respectively are among the eleven defendants charged with Credit Card “Bust Out” Scheme on June 26, 2019.

According the five complaints unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn, Gursimardeep Singh and Daljeet Singh along with the other nine defendants operated a ‘bust out’ scheme using fraudulently obtained credit cards to finance expenses ranging from furniture to real estate totaling $3 million.

The other nine defendants charged in credit card bust out scheme are:

• Mohammed Akhtar (43) of Flushing, NY
• Hafeez Ali (54) of Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, NY
• Shaila Khondkar (48) of Jamaica, NY
• Bahader Thiara (42) of Queens Village, NY
• Perminder Thiara (40) of Queens Village, NY
• Nadezhda Epshteyn (44) of Rockaway Park, NY
• Cyrus Shroff (45) of Rockaway Park, NY
• Zainoelbaks Karimbux (50) of Bellerose, NY
• Anis Khan (32) of Sheepshead Bay, NY

According to the court filings:

...between January 2013 and December 2017, the defendants used synthetic identities created by using various types of personal identification information (names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers) from different individuals to create a fake identity and obtain credit cards from financial institutions. They then used those cards for expenditures that they had no intention to repay, including mortgages on three residential properties in Queens, New York. The defendants also used shell companies, that did little or no legitimate business, to record hundreds of thousands of dollars on the fraudulently obtained credit cards, and then received payment for the sham transactions from financial institutions and credit card processors.

Charges and Potential Penalty

Of the eleven, nine defendants were arrested and released on bond after making initial court appearances.

Bahader Thiara, Hafeez Ali, Mohammad Akhtar, Nadezhda Epshteyn, Cyrus Shroff, Anis Khan, Daljeet Singh, Zainoelbaks Karimbux and Gursimardeep Singh Rai are charged with access device fraud.

Bahader Thiara, Perminder Thiara and Shaila Khondkar are charged with money laundering conspiracy.

If convicted, the defendants charged with access device fraud face up to 10 years imprisonment and up to 20 years for money laundering conspiracy.

Gursimardeep Singh, Daljeet Singh and the other defendants must be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.


June 24, 2019 - Harbir Parmar (25), an NYC ride-share driver was sentenced in White Plains federal court to three years in prison today for kidnapping and wire fraud.

Howard Beach, NY resident Harbir Parmar pleaded guilty on March 11, 2019 to charges of kidnapping a rider.

According to the Indictment and court statements:

On February 21, 2018, PARMAR, who worked as a driver for a ridesharing company (“Company-1”), picked up an individual (“Victim-1”) in New York, New York, who sought to be driven to White Plains, New York. After Victim-1 fell asleep in the backseat of the vehicle, PARMAR changed Victim-1’s destination in Company-1’s mobile application to an address in Boston, Massachusetts, and proceeded to drive toward that location. When Victim-1 awoke, the vehicle was in Connecticut. Victim-1 requested that she be taken to White Plains or to the police station, but PARMAR refused. PARMAR instead dropped Victim-1 off on the side of I-95 in Branford, Connecticut. Victim-1 went to a nearby convenience store where she sought assistance.

In addition, from December 2016 through February 2018, PARMAR sent false information about the destinations of Company-1’s customers through Company-1’s mobile application on several occasions. At times, he also sent false information about the application of a cleaning fee to be applied to the accounts of Company-1’s customers. In these instances, customers of Company-1 filed complaints with Company-1 about being overcharged for their rides. These instances have resulted in thousands of dollars in improper charges to the accounts of Company-1’s customers.

In addition to the three-year prison term, NYC Indian Harbir Parmar, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $3,642 in restitution and forfeiture.


May 31, 2019 - Mamunar Khan a.k.a Mumunar Khan (59) co-owner of Deshi Bazaar Halal grocery store in Queens was indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges of arson.

According to the court documents & statements:

.. ..Khan set fire to a supermarket while it was open for business, demonstrating total disregard for the safety of employees, customers and the firefighters who responded to the blaze.

..on February 3, 2019, Khan wearing blue latex gloves allegedly pushed a cart filled with unknown flammable material down an aisle in Premium Supermarket, located at 1196 Liberty Avenue in Brooklyn.

...Khan, then used a lighter to ignite the material, and then exited the store.

..as the fire spread through the store, a video camera recorded Khan driving away in a Mercedes-Benz SUV. The fire caused substantial damage to Premium Supermarket and the structure of the building.

Deshi Bazaar is located at 74-16 101st Ave, Ozone Park, NY 11416.

Arrest & Potential Penalty

Mamunar Khan was arrested on charges of arson on May 6, 2019.

If convicted, Khan faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years' imprisonment, and a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment.

The charge in the indictment against the co-owner of Deshi Bazaar is an allegation, and Mamunar Khan is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of law.

Court Documents:
Mamunar Khan Arson Indictment

May 24, 2019 - Gunjt Malhotra (30) of Ghaziabad, India, and Gurjeet Singh (22) and Jas Pal (54) of Queens, NY were charged in million dollar computer repair fraud scheme targeted at elders today.

According to the United States Attorney for the NY Southern District office, Gunjit Malhotra, Gurjeet Singh and Jas Pal allegedly participated in a conspiracy that exploited elderly victims for several years by remotely accessing their computers and convincing victims to pay for computer support services they did not need, and which were never actually provided.

The alleged conspiracy netted at least $1.3 million for the three conspirators - Gunjit Malhotra, Gurjeet Singh and Jas Pal.

According to the criminal complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

MALHOTRA, SINGH, PAL, and others engaged in a scheme in which they and their co-conspirators purported to provide computer repair services to victims located throughout the United States, many of whom are elderly. The defendants and their co-conspirators provided their victims’ false and misleading information to extract payment for computer repair services. For example, the defendants and their co-conspirators: (i) claimed to be associated with major technology software companies when, in fact, they were not; (ii) promised to provide computer services when none were provided; and (iii) represented that computer repair services were needed when they knew that was false. As part of their scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators accessed their victims’ computers and caused them to freeze or, in other instances, installed software on their victims’ computers and caused their victims’ email accounts to send emails that thanked the perpetrators for providing computer services. In connection with the scheme, the defendants and others established several companies. The victims typically sent payments to those companies via private and commercial interstate mail carrier, among other methods. In total, the defendants and their co-conspirators have obtained from their victims more than $1.3 million.

Charges & Potential Penalty

The criminal charges against Gunjit Malhotra, Gurjeet Singh and Jas Pal include:

• One count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud
• One count of conspiracy to access a protected computer in furtherance of fraud

On the mail fraud count, Gunjit Malhotra, Gurjeet Singh and Jas Pal face a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.

And, the conspiracy to access a protected computer count includes maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The aggravated identity theft charge against Gunjeet Singh carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison.

Gunjit Malhotra, Gurjeet Singh and Jas Pal were arrested on May 23, 2019.

Gunjit Malhotra, Gurjeet Singh and Jas Pal must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Court Documents:
Malhotra, Singh & Pal Million-Dollar Elder Fraud Scheme Complaint

May 24, 2019 - An unnamed New York City Indian is among 31 criminal aliens arrested by the New York office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations during the five day “Public Safety” operation from May 9-23, 2019.

Besides the Indian national, the arrested individuals include nationals of China, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, St. Kitts, and Ukraine.

Arrests were made in five counties covering the cities of Bronx, Brooklyn, Hempstead, Hicksville, New Hyde Park, Huntington Station, Central Islip etc.

Of the 31 arrested individuals, more than 26 were convicted criminals or had criminal charges pending and more than 29 had been issued a final order of removal and failed to depart the United States, or had been previously removed from the United States.

Some of the individuals arrested during the May 9-23, 2019 enforcement actions may face federal criminal prosecution for illegal re-entry after removal.

258,085 aliens have been removed or returned by ICE in fiscal year 2018.


May 23, 2019 - Jaswinder Singh (30), of Philadelphia, PA was charged with transporting two illegal aliens today in Syracuse, NY federal court.

The charges against Jaswinder Singh include:

• Transporting aliens in the United States
• Transporting aliens knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that the aliens were in the United States illegally

The criminal complaint filed in the court:

..alleges that Singh received approximately $2,200 as payment for his services.

..further alleges that an agent from the United States Border Patrol stopped Singh’s vehicle in St. Lawrence County near the Canadian border, after a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Unit helicopter spotted multiple people entering a vehicle in the area after crossing the St. Lawrence River from Canada into the United States.

Potential Penalty

The charge of transporting illegal aliens filed against Jaswinder Singh carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.

Jaswinder Singh was arraigned in the court today and was detained pending resolution of the charges.

Jaswinder Singh must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.


April 16, 2019 - Indian student Vishwanath Akuthota (27) of Albany, NY pleaded guilty today to causing damage to computers owned by The College of St. Rose.

According to the charges filed in the case, Akuthota, a citizen of India on a US Student Visa, used “USB Killer Device” on February 14, 2019 to destroy computer equipment and caused more than $58,000 in damage to The College of St. Rose.

Akuthota was arrested in North Carolina on February 22, 2019 and has been in custody since then.

According to the plea agreement:

...Akuthota inserted a “USB Killer” device into 66 computers, as well as numerous computer monitors and computer-enhanced podiums, owned by the college in Albany. The “USB Killer” device, when inserted into a computer’s USB port, sends a command causing the computer’s on-board capacitors to rapidly charge and then discharge repeatedly, thereby overloading and physically destroying the computer’s USB port and electrical system.

Akuthota admitted that he intentionally destroyed the computers, and recorded himself doing so using his iPhone, including making statements such as “I’m going to kill this guy” before inserting the USB Killer into a computer’s USB port.

Akuthota also admitted that his actions caused $58,471 in damage, and has agreed to pay restitution in that amount to the College.

Potential Penalty

For destroying computers using a “USB Killer Device”, Akuthota faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years.

Sentencing for Indian student Vishwanath Akuthota is scheduled for August 12, 2019.


April 5, 2019 - Mohan S. Saini (63), an Arlington, MA resident was sentenced to three days in jail (time served) yesterday for transporting an illegal alien Anil Singh within the United States.

In addition to three-day jail term, Saini was slapped with three years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and a fine of $50,000.

According to the information related to the case:

In February 2018, Saini hired Claudio to help him pick up an illegal alien near the border and transport him to Massachusetts. On February 18, 2018, Saini and Claudio drove in separate cars to the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation near Hogansburg, New York. While there, Claudio waited in a public parking lot and Saini drove to a remote location where he picked up Anil Singh, an illegal alien from India who had just crossed the border. Saini transported Singh to where Claudio was waiting, and Singh transferred to Claudio’s car. After Singh was successfully transferred to Claudio’s car, they all left the reservation driving east toward Massachusetts.

A Border Patrol Agent had observed the transfer of Singh between the cars on the reservation. After Saini and Claudio had left the reservation, they were each stopped and arrested by Border Patrol.

Melvin Claudio (22), of Lawrence, MA, the accomplice of Mohan Saini, was sentenced to four days in jail (time served) followed by three years of supervised release, and 50 hours of community service.

And the illegal alien and citizen of India, Anil Singh (28), was convicted of the misdemeanor offense of entry without inspection on February 26, 2018, and sentenced to eight days in jail (time served).


March 28, 2019 - Jayesh Patel (49), co-owner of Econo Lodge Inn & Suites near Syracuse airport, and Munchies convenience store in Solvay, NY pleaded guilty today to money laundering and selling crack cocaine.

According to the plea agreement:

Patel, co-owner of the Munchies convenience store in Solvay, New York, and the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites, located near the Syracuse airport, admitted that he sold crack cocaine on a nearly daily basis to drug customers inside Munchies and the Econo Lodge. Patel further admitted to laundering drug proceeds through his business account at Solvay Bank.

Law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Munchies, the Econo Lodge, and Patel’s residence and vehicle, seizing funds held in bank accounts and in U.S. currency. In all, these seizures totaled over $1 million, most of which were the proceeds from drug trafficking.

Potential Penalty

For engaging in a monetary transaction in criminally derived property, and to maintaining a drug-involved premises, Jayesh patel faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.

Sentencing for Liverpool, NY resident Jayesh Patel is scheduled for July 24, 2019.


March 23, 2019 - Anjaneyulu Katam (46), a Rochester, NY resident and co-owner of Indian IT companies Prosoft and Reliance IT Services was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison March 22, 2019 for securing illegal H-1B visas for Indian nationals.

Located in Monroe county, both Prosoft and Reliance offer IT staffing and consulting services through petitioning H1-B visas for beneficiaries residing in India.

While Anjaneyulu Katam was President of Prosoft, Reliance IT Services was managed by his wife Mahalakshmi Cheruvu.

H1-B Visa Criminal Complaint

According to the complaint filed in the court:

..between 2011 and 2016, Katam and Cheruvu ran businesses in which they falsified immigration documents for Indian nationals to enter the U.S. and work in tech industries involving computer programming. The husband and wife manipulated the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers temporarily to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. The complaint states that Katam and Cheruvu falsified visa applications, work experience documents and work contracts, which they then submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of State, in order to secure H-1B visas for Indian nationals. Their efforts resulted in the unlawful entry and employment of several Indian nationals within the United States.

Anjaneyulu Katam and Mahalakshmi Cheurvu were both arrested and charged in November 2017 and were released on conditions after initial court appearance.

The complaint against Anjaneyulu Katam and Mahalakshmi Cheurvu includes multiple counts of visa fraud, money laundering, false statements, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Anjaneyulu Pleads Guilty

Anjaneyulu Katam pleaded guilty to visa fraud in September 2018 and was sentenced to prison on March 22, 2019.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Rossi:

..between 2011 and 2017, Katam ran businesses in which he falsified immigration documents for Indian nationals to enter the U.S. and work in tech industries involving computer programming. The defendant manipulated the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers temporarily to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. Katam falsified visa applications, work experience documents, and work contracts, which he then submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of State, in order to secure illegal H-1B visas for Indian nationals. This resulted in the unlawful entry and employment of several Indian nationals within the United States.

Anjaneyulu was sentenced to serve 12 months and one day in prison and fined $5,000.

Besides the prison term and fine, Anjaneyulu Katam will forfeit approximately $1,090,490.32 to the United States Government.

The H1-B visa fraud investigation against Anjaneyulu Katam and Mahalakshmi Cheruvu was conducted over a period of one year by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations-Labor Racketeering and Fraud New York Region, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, New York Field Office.

Anjaneyulu H1-B Visa Fraud Court Documents:
H1-B Visa Fraud Criminal Complaint

September 3, 2018 - New York Indian community will celebrate the Hindu festival Dushahra Navratri on Sunday, September 16, 2018, three weeks before the actual nine-day festival.

Dushahra Navratri Festival - September 16, 2018

Dasara festival this year is from October 9-18, 2018.

The 2018 NYC Dushahra Utsav Navratri festival celebrations are scheduled to take place on September 16, 2018 at Lido Beach, 630 Lido Blvd, Lido Beach NY 11561.

Besides free admission & parking, the one-day NYC Dasara Utsav includes burning of a 30ft effigy of the demon king Ravan, Ram Leela, free health camp, astrology, mehndi, fireworks, ethnic food stalls, kids rides, arts and crafts fair, cultural programs etc.

2018 Dasara - Location & Hours

Lido Beach
630 Lido Blvd
Lido Beach, NY 11561
Date - September 16, 2018 (Sunday)
Admission - Free
Parking - Free
Hours: 12PM-7PM

Dasara Navratri Utsav in New Jersey

Edison, NJ Dushahra Navratri Utsav 2018


August 6, 2018 - New York Indian community will celebrate the Hindu festival Ganesh Chaturthi from September 12-16, 2018.

Ganesh Utsav Festival - September 12-16, 2018

The 2018 NYC Ganesh Utsav festival celebrations are scheduled to take place at YMCA – Padavan-Preller Fields in Bellerose, New York.

Besides free admission and Darshan, the five-day NYC Ganesh Utsav includes maha poojas, aartis and cultural programs.

2018 NYC Ganesh Utsav - Location & Hours

YMCA – Padavan-Preller Fields
236-02 Hillside Ave
Bellerose, NY 11426
Date - September 12-16, 2018
Hours: 9AM-9PM

2018 Ganesh Utsav Links
Edison, New Jersey Ganesh Utsav 2018

July 11, 2018 - Come August 19, 2018, Madison Avenue in New York City will be awash in the vibrant colors of India.

Folks, mark your calendar right now because August 19 is the date of this year's India Day Parade in NYC.

The 2018 NYC India Day Parade includes celebrities like Kamal Haasan, Kailash Kher, Mickey Singh, Shibani Kasyap and Sir Vivian Richards.

An annual fixture, NYC India Day Parade starts this year at 12PM on Madison Avenue and E 38th St and ends between E 25 & 26th Streets near Madison Square Park.

NYC India Day Parade - Details

* Starts at 12PM Madison Ave from 40th St and ends at Madison Ave and 26th St.

* Cultural program at the end of the parade from 1PM-6PM between E 25th & E 26th St on Madison Avenue.

* Food courts and merchandise booths are open from 11AM-6PM on E 26th St and Madison Avenue.

Stick to the subway and avoid going by car as parking is a headache in Manhattan.

Related Information

Oak Tree Road, Edison 2018 India Day Parade
NYC Indian Buffets
NYC Biryani Joints

October 2, 2017 - Hicksville Indian community will celebrate the Hindu Diwali: Festival of Lights on October 15, 2017 three days before the actual date.

Diwali: Festival of Lights this year is from October 18-19, 2017....Read More


August 26, 2017 - Here is Your Chance to Own One of the Finest Domain Names that will Resonate with Most Indians.
Short and Sweet, ....Read More



August 25, 2017 - New York Indian community will celebrate the Hindu festival Dushahra Navratri on Sunday, October 15, 2017, fifteen days after the actual nine-day festival.

Dushahra Navratri Festival - October 15, 2017

Dasara festival this year is from September 20-30, 2017.

The 2017 NYC Dushahra Utsav Navratri festival celebrations are scheduled to take place on October 15 at Lido Beach, 630 Lido Blvd, Lido Beach NY 11561.

Besides free admission & parking, the one-day NYC Dasara Utsav includes burning of a 30ft effigy of the demon king Ravan, Ram Leela, free health camp, astrology, mehndi, fireworks, ethnic food stalls, kids rides, arts and crafts fair, cultural programs etc.

2017 Dasara - Location & Hours

Lido Beach
630 Lido Blvd
Lido Beach, NY 11561
Date - October 15, 2017 (Sunday)
Rain Date - October 22, 2017 (Sunday)
Admission - Free
Parking - Free
Hours: 1PM-8PM



June 14, 2017 - Come August 20, 2017, Madison Avenue in New York City will be awash in the vibrant colors of India.

India Day Parade in NYC

Folks, mark your calendar right now because August 20 is the date of this year's India Day Parade in NYC.

An annual fixture, NYC India Day Parade starts this year at 12PM on Madison Avenue and 40th St and ends at 23rd St.

India Day Parade - Details

* Starts at 12PM Madison Ave from 40th St and ends at Madison Ave and 27th St.

* Cultural program at the end of the parade from 3PM-6PM on Madison Ave at E.23rd St.

* Food courts and merchandise booths are open from 11AM-6PM between E 24th & E 26th St on Madison Avenue.

Stick to the subway and avoid going by car as parking is a headache in Manhattan.

Related Information

NYC Indian Buffets
NYC Biryani Joints

August 18, 2015 -; A Ratha Yatra Parade ahead of upcoming Krishna Janmashtami festival is scheduled for Sunday, August 30, 2015 in South Richmond Hill, NY.

2014 Ratha Yatra Parade
(Picture Courtesy Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir)

Organized by Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir, the Ratha Yatra Parade is scheduled to start at 12PM.

Ratha Yatra Parade -; Details

* Starts at 12PM Corner of Liberty Avenue and 123rd Street.

* Will continue all the way and end at Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir @ 111-14 101 Avenue in South Richmond Hill, NY.

If you plan on attending Ratha Yatra Parade, make sure to visit Govinda's Vegetarian Grill in Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir for a hearty prasadam meal.

Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir
111-14 101 Avenue
South Richmond Hill, NY 11419
Ph: 917-604-1085

Related Information

Queens, NY Indian Restaurants

Madras Mahal NYC Closes

June 9, 2015 -; Madras Mahal, a long-time South Indian restaurant in Curry Hill aka Murray Hill area of New York City, has shut its doors.

Mysore Masala Dosa

While no announcement as to the reason has come forth from the owners of Madras Mahal, the severe competition in the neighborhood, mediocre food and the depressed economy are likely causes.

Like so many other ethnic restaurants in New York City, Madras Mahal too waged a futile struggle to build a strong, lasting brand in an age of Groupons, Yelps and food carts.

Madras Mahal also had the misfortune to be located just a few blocks from Saravanaa Bhavan, a giant among South Indian vegetarian restaurants.

Considering our experience at Madras Mahal, we're not shedding any tears over its demise.

Here's an excerpt from NYIndia's review of Madras Mahal:

If there was a competition for the Indian restaurant serving the worst Masala Dosa and Idlis in New York,Madras Mahal in Murray Hill would stand a very good chance of winning the First Prize.

....Idlis (you get two for $4.95) were disgustingly bad. What landed on our table was an incompletely cooked round white mass.

....Mysore Masala Dosa ($7.95) was big and a bit crisp. But that's all the positive stuff we can say about it.

Madras Mahal's tasteless Dosa had very little masala paste smeared inside, which is what gives a nice spicy flavor to the Dosa. The onion/potato filling inside the Dosa was mildly spiced but the accompanying Sambar and Coconut Chutney were flavorless and bland.

Related Madras Mahal Content:
Madras Mahal NYC Review: Bad Dosa & Idlis; Good Pongal

Immigrant Affairs Office Set Up in Queens NYC

January 18, 2015 -; The Queens District Attorney Richard A.Brown has set up an Office of Immigrant Affairs to assist the county's huge immigrant population more easily access the criminal justice system.

A highly diverse ethnic community, Queens is home to over one million foreign born people many of whom fall victim to violent and/or financial crimes.

Scam artists and criminals of various kinds target immigrants because they are unfamiliar with the legal system and often don't speak English.

A lot of crimes directed at immigrants in Queens (as well as in other parts of America) go unreported because the immigrants are completely unfamiliar with how to navigate the criminal justice system. Compounding the problem, many of the victims are illegal immigrants wary of approaching the authorities.

Career prosecutor Carmencita N. Gutierrez has been named the first director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs. She was previously Deputy Bureau Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau in the District Attorney's office.

Gutierrez' mandate is to serve as liaison to the various immigrant communities in Queens to ensure they are aware of and know how to access the criminal justice system if they are victimized. Her responsibilities include assisting community members and groups who come forward with questions, concerns or complaints and directing them to appropriate bureaus and divisions within the Queens DA's Office.

The Office of Immigrant Affairs will operate within the District Attorney's Special Prosecution Division.

Members of the public can reach the Office of Immigrant Affairs by calling 718-286-6690.

Indian gets Prison Time for Killing Queens Indian

January 13, 2015 -; Vishwanand Subryan, 24, of 830 Hamilton Street in Schenectady, New York, will go to prison for a hit-and-run car crash that killed a 59-year-old Indian grandma, Raj K. Chohan in Richmond Hill, Queens on September 13, 2013.


Following the accident and his arrest, an intoxilyzer test administrated at the 112 Precinct in Queens, NYC found Subryan with a blood alcohol level of .09%, which is slightly over the legal limit of .08th percent in New York State.

Subrayn pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular manslaughter on November 10, 2014.

On Monday, January 12, 2015, Queens Supreme Court Judge Dorothy Chin-;Brandt imposed an indeterminate sentence of 1 1/2 to 4 years in prison ands three -;years post-release ignition interlock.

According to New York law governing indeterminate sentencing, Subrayn will be eligible for parole (i.e. be able to meet the Prison Parole Board) after serving a minimum sentence of 1 1/2 years.


January 2, 2015 -; An American Driver's License is a must have for any person in this country.

A U.S. Driver's License is not merely a document to drive legally in the country. The Driver's License also serves as an Identity Card to access most state and federal services, open bank accounts and for entry into airports, courts and most federal buildings.

Owing to pressure from anti-immigrant foes, most states bar the Department of Motor Vehicles from issuing a Driver's License to illegal immigrants.

Fortunately, there are a few states that now offer Driver's License to illegal immigrants also.

California became the latest state to offer a Driver's License to illegal immigrants.

Unfortunately, New York state still does not issue Driver's License to illegal immigrants.

10 states where Indian illegal immigrants can get a Driver's License

1. California (effective January 2, 2015)
2. Maryland (effective January 1, 2014)
3. Connecticut (effective January 1, 2015)
4. Vermont (effective January 1, 2014)
5. Illinois (effective November 28, 2013)
6. Nevada (effective January 1, 2014)
7. Washington (effective July 25, 1993)
8. Utah (effective March 8, 2005)
9. New Mexico (effective 2003)
10. Colorado (effective January 1, 2014)
and the jurisdiction of
11. Washington D.C. (effective May 1, 2014)

Indian Crook Chatwal Avoids Prison Term

December 18, 2014 - In a travesty of justice, millionaire Indian crook Sant Singh Chatwal has managed to avoid prison term for his campaign funding crimes and got a slap on the wrist.

Sant Chatwal had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act and witness tampering.

A NYC judge sentenced Chatwal, a hotelier and Hillary Clinton supporter, to three years of probation, 1,000 hours of community service and a $500,000 fine on December 18, 2014.

Sant Chatwal and his son Vikram Chatwal (arrested at a Florida airport for possessing illegal drugs) have brought shame to the Indian community through their disgraceful behavior.

Sant Singh Chatwal Judgment NYC Court Document
Sant Chatwal Probation Judgment Copy

8 Muslims Indicted in NYC Desi Travel Scam

December 12, 2014 - 10 desi travel agents who allegedly swindled 200 travelers of more than $1 million have been indicted in New York State Supreme Court.


Several of the victims who lost their money are likely Indians.

The travel ticket fraud is said to have disrupted many victims' long-planned international travel, preventing some victims from attending weddings or visiting sick family members in India.

Defendants

Of the 10 defendants, at least eight appear to be Muslims (going by their names) and are based in Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and Pakistan.

The defendants have been charged with varying counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Identity Theft in the First Degree, and Scheme to Defraud, among other charges.

SADAQAT ALI, D.O.B. 7/19/1966
Bronx, NY

SUMIT CHAWLA, D.O.B. 9/21/1972
Pakistan

ZUBAIR DAR, D.O.B. 4/28/1965
Queens, NY

SARFRAZ KHAN, D.O.B. 8/16/1963
Queens, NY

SHAH NAWAZ KIANI, D.O.B. 3/29/1985
Pakistan

RANA MUHAMMAD TARIQ, D.O.B. 4/1/1982
Pakistan

MUHAMMAD ASIF, D.O.B. 4/1/2982
Pakistan

CHAUDHARY MUHAMMAD ARIF, D.O.B. 3/30/1958
Brooklyn, NY

JOHN DOE #2,
Queens, NY

MANJEET SINGH, A/K/A SHAMMIN TAMANA, D.O.B. 4/26/1974
Queens, NY

Here's an excerpt from Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr's announcement:

According to the indictment and statements made on the record in court, between June 2012 and November 2014, the defendants are accused of operating a business involving multiple incorporated travel agencies-;including Bombay Travel and Tours, Raj Travel, Gandhi Travel, Patel Travel and Maha Guru Travel-;and several bank accounts that were fraudulently opened in the name of the aforementioned travel agencies, using falsified passports and licenses. The defendants placed advertisements in predominately Indian-American publications throughout the U.S. and purported to offer competitively priced tickets to and from popular destinations in India.

Travelers seeking assistance with arrangements were instructed to provide names, passport numbers, and flight information, and deposit payment checks directly into bank accounts controlled by the defendants. However, in lieu of using customers' checks to pay for tickets, the defendants pocketed the money and instead used stolen credit card information-;including that of American Express, Citibank, and Discover card holders-;to buy the tickets that were later sent to their customers. When travelers arrived at the airport for their scheduled trips, many were informed that their tickets had been cancelled, or that they would not be able to travel using the illegally purchased tickets, for which they had already paid thousands of dollars to the defendants.

Ravinder goes to Prison

Ravinder Dharamshot of Queens Village, NY has been sentenced to 10-years in prison for robberies of two gas stations and a deli in 2013.

All three robberies happened in Queens.

The total money robbed in the three incidents amounted to about $1,500.

Ravinder pleaded guilty to first degree robbery in July 2014 and was sentenced on September 19 by Judge Barry S.Kron. The robberies were done in partnership with Umair Farooq, who is already serving a 10-year sentence.

NY Malayalee gets 2-Year Jail Term

September 16, 2014 - Nyack (NY Mallu resident Jojo John (36) was sentenced today to two years in prison for crashing a power boat into a construction barge 30-miles from Manhattan under the influence of alcohol on July 26, 2013.

The crash took the lives of Jojo's friends, bride to be Lindsey Stewart (30) of Piermont and a best man Mark Lennon (30) of Pearl River.

In June 2014, Jojo pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter.

Jojo had nearly twice the legal blood alcohol level in his body when he was driving the Stingray power boat. According to New York law, the legal limit for alcohol to operate a boat or vehicle is .08%.

Hail from South India

Jojo John's family hails from the South Indian state of Kerala and have lived in the Hudson Valley area for about 15 years.

At his sentencing before Judge William Kelley today at the Rockland County courthouse, Jojo expressed remorse over the incident:

There are days when I question why God took two people and not me. I find myself crying a lot because of how my heart feels about them not being here ... I'm standing here heartbroken.

Jojo John was a member of the Hudson Valley Malayalee Association.

"It is very said for the Indian community today to see such a sentence for Jojo John,....All of us are feeling miserable actually," Indian community activist P.T.Thomas told the media.

Although Jojo has been sentenced to two years at the Rockland County Jail, he may get out in 16 months provided he exhibitys good behavior.

Jojo also faces civil court cases from the victims' families.

Singh Pleads Guilty to Singh Murder

September 11, 2014 - Richmond Hill resident Nermal Singh (52) will likely get 11 years in prison for killing a homeless man Gaswander "Giani" Singh.

Nermal Singh pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter of Gaswander Singh earlier this week before Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder.

According to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, Nermal Singh admitted to taking a 3-;ft piece of wood and slamming it into the head and face of Gaswander Singh who was lying in his sleeping bag on 121st St, off of Jamaica Avenue on August 12, 2011.

As per the criminal complaint, Nermal Singh had become enraged because Gaswander Singh had earlier said he wanted to have sex with Nermal's mentally-;challenged sister. A fight between the two men was stopped by passing cops but later that night Nermal Singh went to the location where the homeless man Gaswander Singh slept and beat him to death.

Nermal Singh's sentencing is set for October 2, 2014.

Bollywood Flop Sunny Deol is Grand Marshal

August 11, 2014 - Sunny Deol is not only a flop in Bollywood but a terrible actor even by the lowly Indian standards.

Yet the Federation of Indian Associations for NY, NJ and CT has picked this creature as Grand Marshal of the India Day Parade 2014 2014 on Madison Ave to celebrate India's Independence day.

Sunny Deol's only claim to fame is that he happens to be son of yesteryear Hindi film hero Dharmendra.

In a country of a billion plus people are there no talented people that we stoop to import flops like Sunny Deol as Grand Marshal.

Indian-American businessman Vivek Ranadive is the other Grand Marshal of the India Day Parade 2014.

NYC India Day Parade is scheduled for August 17, 2014.

Indian Day Parade -; Details

* Starts at 12PM Madison Ave from 40th St and ends at Madison Ave and 27th St.

* Cultural program at the end of the parade from 3PM-6PM on Madison Ave at E.23rd St.

* Food courts and merchandise booths are open from 11 AM-6PM between E 24th & E 26th St on Madison Avenue.

Stick to the subway and avoid going by car as parking is a headache even during normal days in Manhattan.

Small-time Bollywood Actor Closes Bhojan

Bhojan Indian vegetarian restaurant @ 102 Lexington Avenue in New York City has closed.

Bhojan was one of the Indian restaurants owned by small-;time Bollywood actor Shiva Natarajan.

In an effort to attract diners, Natarajan offered Groupon deals on multiple ocasions. But that did not help the restaurant.

Natarajan is opening Haldi Indian Cuisine at the same location in August 2014.

A few years back, I ordered a takeout from Bhojan and the horror of that meal still lingers on my tastebuds.

Besides Bhojan, Natarajan has closed Tadka and Singapura in the past in NYC.

Kailash Parbat Comes Down to Curry Hill

Rejoice!

Mumbai landmark vegetarian restaurant Kailash Parbatis opening an Indian outpost in Manhattan at 99 Lexington Avenue.

Kailash Parbat will bring Chaats (Indian street food) and Sindhi food to NYC diners.


The stretch of Manhattan where Kailash Parbat is located is known as Curry Hill because of the profusion of Indian restaurants dotting the Murray Hill landscape.

Famous for Pani Puri and other Chaats, Kailash Parbat has also earned a reputation for its Sindhi (Punjabi) food.

Kailash Parbat had its origins in Karachi in the 1940s when the Mulchandani brothers peddled Pani Puri, Ragda and other Indian street food on Bans Road.

After Partition in 1947, the Mulchandanis left Pakistan and dropped anchor in Mumbai.

Kailash Parbat NYC Menu

Besides a variety of Chaat (Samosa Chaat, Pani Puri, Sev Puri, Bhel Puri, Dahi Puri etc), you can expect to see Sindhi Curry, Koki, Bhindi Basar, Seyal Paneer, Kasuri Methi Bhatura, Paneer Bhatura, Masala Bhatura, Cheese Bhatura, Pindiwale Chole Masala, Methi Malai Mutter and Diwani Handi on the menu of Kailash Parbat NYC.

Don't be surprised to see Indian-Chinese food too on the menu because Indians now drool at the mere mention of Gobi Manchurian and Chop Suey.

Shalom Bombay Closed

Shalom Bombay Kosher Indian restaurant at 344 Lexington Ave in Murray Hill has closed.

The Teaneck, New Jersey location of Shalom Bombay continues to be open.

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