The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has intensified its efforts to safeguard railway passengers by taking action against 14 e-catering websites found operating outside approved regulatory frameworks. The move is part of a broader initiative aimed at ensuring food safety, digital security, and greater transparency across railway catering services.

According to IRCTC, the identified platforms were operating without adhering to mandatory railway catering standards. Legal proceedings have already been initiated against the websites, while authorities continue to monitor online food delivery activities linked to train travel.

Concerns Over Food Safety and Hygiene

Officials stated that investigations revealed several unauthorized operators were sourcing and supplying food from kitchens that failed to meet prescribed hygiene and quality requirements. Reported violations included inadequate sanitation practices, lack of health screening for food handlers, and non-compliance with food safety protocols required under railway catering regulations.

IRCTC emphasized that such lapses could pose serious health risks to passengers and undermine confidence in railway food services.

Passengers Urged to Use Verified Ordering Channels

To avoid potential risks, passengers have been advised to place food orders only through IRCTC’s authorized channels, including its official e-catering portal, the Food on Track mobile application, and approved partner platforms.

The corporation warned that unauthorized websites may expose users to cyber threats such as payment fraud, identity theft, and misuse of personal information. Travelers have been urged to verify the authenticity of any platform before making transactions.

Digital Monitoring and Enforcement Measures Strengthened

As part of the enforcement campaign, IRCTC has deployed advanced monitoring systems designed to identify suspicious online activity, unauthorized vendors, and unusual booking patterns in real time. Authorities believe these measures will help detect violations quickly and prevent illegal operations from expanding within the railway ecosystem.

The organization is also preparing awareness initiatives to educate passengers about safe digital practices and the importance of using verified service providers.

Regulatory Reforms Under Consideration

Industry experts note that unauthorized e-catering services create a dual challenge by jeopardizing both food quality and online transaction security. In response, IRCTC is reportedly evaluating stronger licensing requirements and enhanced regulatory mechanisms to improve accountability among service providers.

Officials said these proposed measures would help create a more reliable and transparent food delivery environment for railway passengers while raising service standards across the sector.

Improved Complaint Resolution System

To strengthen oversight, IRCTC has upgraded its passenger grievance mechanism, enabling quicker complaint registration and faster response times. The enhanced system is expected to assist authorities in identifying unauthorized vendors and taking corrective action more efficiently.

Focus on Passenger Trust and Digital Security

The latest crackdown aligns with ongoing efforts to modernize public services and strengthen digital governance. IRCTC reiterated that maintaining passenger safety, secure online transactions, and high-quality catering services remains central to its mission.

Officials confirmed that surveillance and enforcement activities will continue on a long-term basis, with further technological upgrades and regulatory improvements expected in the coming months. Passengers have also been advised to avoid sharing personal or financial information on unverified websites and applications.

By tightening oversight and promoting the use of authorized platforms, IRCTC aims to create a safer, more transparent, and dependable e-catering ecosystem for millions of railway travelers across India.

A single flat owner has secured a precedent-setting victory after a six-year legal battle, with the Maharashtra Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (MahaREAT) ordering developers of the stalled Nilkanth Kingdom project in Mumbai to complete full Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) registration within 60 days.

The ruling, delivered in favour of a lone appellant, significantly strengthens the enforcement of RERA by clarifying that incomplete housing projects must be treated as active projects under the law, even if partial possession was granted before RERA came into force.

Tribunal Overturns Earlier Order

The latest order overturns MahaREAT’s own June 18, 2019 decision, which had earlier allowed registration only for unfinished amenities. The tribunal has now held that where Completion Certificates (CC) and Occupation Certificates (OC) are pending, the entire project remains incomplete and must be fully registered under RERA.

Legal experts say the clarification closes a long-used loophole that allowed developers of pre-RERA projects to avoid regulatory oversight by claiming partial completion.

Legal Significance Highlighted by Counsel

Counsel for the flat owner said the ruling reinforces the core intent of RERA — accountability and transparency. According to the tribunal’s interpretation, developers cannot escape their obligations simply because possession was handed over before RERA became operational.

“This judgment makes it clear that incomplete projects cannot be selectively registered. If essential approvals and amenities are pending, the project is active under RERA,” the lawyer said. Experts believe the decision could influence dozens of stalled or partially completed projects across Maharashtra.

Project Delays and Long-Standing Disputes

The case relates to Nilkanth Kingdom, a residential project in Vidyavihar (West) comprising seven buildings constructed on leased land. The project was launched in 2005, with possession initially promised by 2008. However, internal disputes among developers and prolonged legal challenges led to repeated delays.

While structures were largely completed by 2012–13, buyers received only fit-out possession. Key amenities such as a clubhouse and swimming pool remain unfinished to date, and statutory approvals including CC and OC were never obtained.

A Lone Battle Against Major Builders

The appeal before MahaREAT was filed solely by flat owner Stuti Galiya of N K Avanti Cooperative Housing Society. Nearly 499 other flat buyers and seven housing societies chose not to participate in the prolonged litigation.

Stuti pursued the case alone against 11 developers, many of whom are large corporate entities represented by leading law firms. The tribunal’s decision highlights how sustained legal effort by a single homebuyer can lead to systemic accountability.

Broader Impact on RERA Enforcement

The ruling significantly enhances the scope of RERA by reaffirming that the law applies to unfinished projects regardless of when possession was offered. Developers are now legally required to complete not just structural construction, but also promised amenities and statutory approvals.

Housing activists say the judgment strengthens buyer protection and sends a clear signal that partial completion will no longer shield developers from regulatory responsibility.

As stalled housing projects continue to affect thousands of buyers across the state, the verdict is being seen as a milestone in real estate jurisprudence — and a reminder that persistence can reshape accountability in India’s property sector.

Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has dismantled a cyber fraud gang that impersonated Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) officials to defraud unsuspecting consumers. Three men—Bikky Mandal alias Vicky (Asansol, West Bengal), Sumit Kumar Singh (Jamtara, Jharkhand), and Rajiv Kumar Mandal—have been arrested for siphoning money from victims’ bank accounts via malicious APK files disguised as official applications.

Modus Operandi of the Fraud
Investigators revealed that the gang contacted victims by phone, claiming to be IGL representatives and warning of pending bills, account updates, or possible disconnection. Victims were then instructed to download an APK file presented as IGL’s official app. Once installed, the fraudulent app requested extensive permissions, enabling the accused to access messages, read OTPs, mirror screens, and perform unauthorized banking transactions.

Fake Apps Mimicking Trusted Brands
Digital forensics on nine phones recovered from the suspects found seven devices containing multiple fraudulent apps. These apps imitated the look and feel of legitimate services, including IGL, State Bank of India, Tata Power, and RTO challan portals. Investigators noted that the apps were designed solely to gain user trust and covertly steal sensitive financial data, making detection difficult for ordinary users.

Links to Multiple Cybercrime Complaints
The gang has been linked to 35 separate cybercrime complaints filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Police records show that the accused had prior involvement in cyber fraud and cheating cases in their respective regions. Rajiv Kumar Mandal reportedly coordinated operations and managed fraudulent transactions.

Understanding APK Files
An APK (Android Package Kit) is the file format used to install apps on Android devices, similar to .exe files on computers. Fraudsters often tamper with APKs to distribute malicious software, posing as updates, bill payments, or government-related applications. Once installed, these apps can give attackers full control over the device.

IGL Advisory to Consumers
IGL has issued a warning to customers to avoid responding to suspicious calls regarding bill payments or service disconnection. The company advises verifying any such communication through official channels and only using authorised payment platforms. Consumers are also urged not to download apps received through calls or messages.

Tips to Stay Safe

• Install apps only from Google Play Store
• Avoid clicking on unknown links or APK files
• Keep the ‘Unknown Sources’ setting disabled
• Limit app permissions to only necessary functions
• Report suspected fraud immediately by calling 1930

Police have urged the public to stay vigilant and ignore unsolicited calls or messages requesting personal or financial information. Investigations into the cybercrime network are ongoing.