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Dark clouds hover over Vijay Mallya’s empire

February 5, 2014

More than a year after one of India’s top airlines, Kingfisher, stopped flying, its flamboyant owner Vijay Mallya is battling against losing control of his $2.2-billion or Rs. 13,640 crore ($1=Rs. 62) corporate empire.

Mr. Mallya, once the self-proclaimed “King of Good Times”, made his fortune in the liquor business and controls a conglomerate spanning beer, airlines, fertilisers and engineering.

But in several firms in his United Breweries Group, 58-year-old Mr. Mallya’s ownership has substantially shrunk, while in others, large portions of his holdings are pledged with banks — and in some cases are starting to be sold off.

“The legacy of the empire, which he inherited from his dad, is at risk,” said a Mumbai-based analyst from a group that has lent to Mr. Mallya’s companies, asking not to be named.

Mr. Mallya, owner of a Formula One team and host of lavish yacht parties with Bollywood stars and politicians as guests, was India’s 29th richest man in 2007, worth an estimated $1.5 billion or Rs. 9,300 crore, according to Forbes.

But pressure on Mr. Mallya has mounted over the past two years since Kingfisher Airlines’ fortunes went into a downward spiral, hit by high fuel prices, fierce competition and heavy interest costs.

The company, which has never made a profit since it began flying in 2005, owes vast sums to banks, airports, fuel suppliers and staff, while owners of Kingfisher’s grounded planes have taken them back.

Bitter legal battle

Last year, banks which say they lent more than $1.5 billion or Rs. 9,300 crore to Kingfisher started demanding immediate repayment after Mr. Mallya failed to come up with a convincing airline revival plan.

Mr. Mallya is now in a bitter legal battle with lenders to prevent them from selling properties and assets given as security against loans, which the banks say include his beloved personal villa in Goa.

As part of a money-raising strategy, Mr. Mallya in 2012 abandoned control of his United Spirits to British drinks group Diageo — although a court has since annulled the decision in response to a petition from Kingfisher creditors chasing their dues.

Meanwhile, Dutch brewer Heineken last year upped its holding in United Breweries, which makes Kingfisher beer, to near 39 per cent, overtaking Mr. Mallya’s stake.

Badrinath priest rape: Victim runs hotels in area, devotees allege conspiracy

Afternoon Voice

February 5, 2014

Woman, who has accused head priest of Badrinath temple Keshavan Namboothiri of molesting her at a Delhi hotel, is a native of Uttarakhand and owns a hotel in Badrinath.

It is believed that she got married only last year. After getting married, she went to Kedarnath-Badrinath shrine where she doled gifts to the staff and priests.

The paper also reported that she used to meet Keshavan Namboothiri at the temple very often for seeking his blessings.

Keshavan Namboothiri was arrested on charges of molestation and wrongful confinement of a pregnant woman on Tuesday. The woman alleged that the priest called her up on Monday and told her he was unwell and wanted to meet her. On reaching the hotel room, she found cigarette stubs and could smell alcohol.
The 36-year-old priest pulled her towards him and touched her inappropriately. She claimed she pushed him and ran out of the room but he ran behind to stop her. Her statement was recorded and an FIR registered under sections 342 (wrongful confinement) and 354 (assault to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of IPC. Namboodiri’s cousin who was present with him at the hotel has also been arrested for abetting the offence.

“As soon as I learnt about the incident, I was shocked. I can’t speak. I have known him personally. It could be a conspiracy against him,” another priest, Bhuvan Chandra Unniyal told Dehradun amarujala.
The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has suspended Namboothiri following the reports of his arrest. “He can be reinstated in case he can prove himself innocent before the police,” Chairman of the committee, Ganesh Godiyal, said in Dehradun.

Meanwhile, locals have expressed their shock over the incident and alleged conspiracy. They said an independent probe should be initiated against Keshavan Namboothiri so that the truth emerges.

AAP government to challenge Amar Singh’s acquittal in Cash for votes

Afternoon Voice

February 5, 2014

The Delhi government is all set to challenge the acquittal of former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and five others in the cash for votes scam.

The government has written to the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung recommending the order of a lower Court in cash for votes to be challenged in the High Court.

A Delhi court had in November 2013 acquitted Amar Singh, former BJP leader Sudheendra Kulkarni and three other BJP leaders in the sensational scam.

The Law and Home Department of Delhi government have written to the L-G to challenge the order. Government sources say they feel that there was enough evidence against the accused.

The five people were arrested by the Delhi Police in 2011 on the charges of trying to bribe the MPs to vote for the government during a trust vote on Nuclear deal in 2008.

The case of the Delhi Police against these leaders has been collapsed. The Court had also observed the whole idea of the BJP MPs was to expose the horse trading and not to indulge in it. These BJP leaders have always maintained that they were whistleblowers and not accused.

Those who were discharged from the trial include BJP MP Ashok Argal, and two former BJP MPs Faggan Singh Kulsate and Mahavir Bhagora. Suhail Hindustani, who was accused of participating in the scam, was also acquitted.

According to the court’s decision, only Amar Singh’s aide Sanjeev Saxena is facing trial for giving bribe.

2-rupee beauty treatment for common skin problems!

Afternoon Voice

February 5, 2014

Good things do come in small packages! Limes – the green coloured citrus fruit found in abundance in India is full of vitamin C, citric acid, flavonoids and antioxidants which neutralise the action of free radicals in our body, increasing our immunity to fight against deadly diseases like cancer. Not just this, limes make an excellent home remedy to banish skin problems as well. Here’s how you can make packs using lime juice.

To lighten dark spots

Use lime juice to lighten dark spots on the skin. Apply on the area with a cotton ball and leave it for 30 minutes. Lime juice has bleaching properties which help lighten skin. Be sure to stay indoors and not expose your skin to direct sunlight after this remedy can make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Do apply sunscreen before you step out. Not just on face, you could even lighten dark underarms using this remedy.

Anti-pimple pack

Pimples or acne erupt without a warning especially in oily skin. In order to keep them at bay, regularly apply a pack of lime juice with honey. Honey has anti-bacterial properties while lime juice is acidic in nature which will control the oil. Use it every week as part of your skincare regimen. If your pimple’s gone but left a scar, simply massage some fresh lime juice on it to bleach your skin and reduce its appearance.

To remove tan

If too much sun exposure has left your skin tanned, you can make use of this tried-and-tested home-made pack. Mix some gram flour (besan) and curd (dahi) and add some lime juice to this paste. Apply it evenly on your skin and let it dry. Now, wash your face with water and pat dry. Do this weekly once for better results. You could also try some more home-made packs for tanned skin.

For glowing skin

If making a face pack takes too much of your time, simply make it a habit to have a glass of lukewarm water with some honey and freshly-squeezed lime juice in it. Drink this in the morning to start your day on a healthy note and get an inner glow in your skin.

To banish dandruff

If you’ve tried all anti-dandruff shampoos but still not got rid of it, it’s time to switch to this home remedy. Simply add some lime juice in water and use it as a last rinse when you wash your hair. Its acid will help rid your scalp of dandruff. You could also use lemons for skin problems like acne,
blackheads, etc.

Limes are green in colour and slightly smaller in size than lemons. They are available almost throughout the year in India. In order to make these packs, you could buy fresh limes and squeeze out their juice, or you could also opt for bottled lime juice available in most grocery stores.

Jewellery essentials of a Maharashtrian Bride

Afternoon Voice

February 5, 2014

Dressed in a beautiful yellow saree with a golden border, hair tied as a bun and decorated with pearl ornaments and gajra, she is the gorgeous Maharashtrian bride. Unlike the other Indian communities where the brides usually wear red, this saree, traditionally a Paithani, comes in very typical colours of golden yellow, leaf green or aubergine.

Apart from the attractive sunshine yellow of the saree, what set her apart are the traditional ornaments that she dons. Maharashtrians mostly prefer blending in pearl jewellery along with gold, which has several references in Marathi literature and poetry as well. Here are the typical adornments of a traditional Maharashtrian bride.

Mundavalya

This is a unisex ornament, worn by the bride as well as the groom. It is basically a string (sometimes two) of pearls, tied horizontally across the forehead from the temple. There are two more pearl lines that drop from either side of the forehead to the shoulders, beautifully framing the face. The mundavalya are tied after the bride is ready to walk to the mandap. This literally means that she is ready to get married.

Tanmani

This is an absolute must for a Maharashtrian bride. It is a choker with 3-4 pearl lines that sit firmly onto it. The off-white pearls are accompanied by a few coloured pearls just to add to the beauty of the neckpiece. This essentially comes with a resham string that holds it and can be adjusted at the back of the neck to tighten or loosen it.

Kolhapuri saaz

As the name suggests, this ornament is originally from the city of Kolhapur in Maharashtra. This necklace is suggestive of the woman’s marital status and is gifted by the groom’s family. In many Maharashtrian communities, a Kolhapuri saaz is as important as the mangalsutra, and many women in rural Maharashtra still wear it every day. It consists of gold beads (Jav mani), gold elements of leaves, petals etc., and a round pendant with a red stone in the centre, woven in a gold wire. Traditionally, this necklace included 21 separate design elements, of which 10 are a reflection of Lord Vishnu’s avatars, 8 are auspicious patterns or ashtamangal, and two are ruby and emeralds. The last piece is the taviz to protect from evil.

Chuda

Maharashtrian bridal chuda is very different than the red chuda. It has glass bangles in green, a symbol of fertility, new life and creativity. It is customary to wear these in odd numbers and in different numbers in both hands. For example, 11 in one and 13 in the other or 13 and 17, and so on. Solid gold bangles called patlya and carved gold kadas called tode are worn along with the green glass bangles. The bride wears the chuda amidst much celebration after the mehendi. The patlya and tode, often gifted by the groom’s family, depict the financial status of the family. Solid, heavy gold rather than intricate carvings are usually preferred.

Vaaki

Vaaki or armlet is an essential for the Maharashtrian bride. Ideally worn one on each arm, many brides these days wear just one vaaki. A traditional design is in flat, solid gold with precious stones in the centre.

Nath

Just like the mundavalya and the tanmani, the nath makes a Maharashtrian bride different than the rest. This traditional nosepiece has pearls woven in a typical Paisley shape, and has a white stone in the centre. The more extravagant families are known to have a diamond for this white stone. There is a red stone or a red coloured pearl that is also a part of the typical design. A nath comes in different styles, depending on the part of Maharashtra the bride belongs to. A brahmani nath is the most popular design, and is studded with basra moti and emeralds. Just like the patlya and tode, the nathalso stands for the financial status of the family.

Mangalsutra

Even though the designs have evolved and changed over the years, the meaning and importance of the mangasultra have not changed. It literally means mangal (holy) and sutra (thread). The black beads string end with two golden cups, each standing for the parents’ and the in-laws’ home. It literally means that the bride’s new home and her parents’ home are tied together in a delicate thread. Each golden cup is filled with haldi and kumkum before the husband ties it around the bride’s neck.

Ambada

The bride ties her hair into a neat, round bun (ambada) and embellishes it with traditional hair jewels called khopa or bejewelled pins, followed by jasmine gajras.

Jodvi

Jodvi or tow-rings, always in silver, are gifted by the mother-in-law and signify the bride’s entry in the new household. These are a must for every Maharashtrian bride.

The diversity that India has when it comes to cultures and traditions is beyond plain exciting! Every community and region in India has a different story to narrate. These were the absolute essentials for a traditional Maharashtrian bride. If you would like to read about rituals and wedding essentials from other Indian communities, let us know in the comments section below.

Failure of the system Part – II

Afternoon Voice

February 5, 2014

I was sure that passengers will have to struggle to get a seat in the next bus too. A group of hooligans is always present while boarding the bus for creating trouble for commuters. If things continue to remain like this then how will the problems of common man be resolved? An old person who was standing beside me was suffering in silence while travelling in the bus. He meekly smiled at me and said, “I am a regular commuter of this bus. I usually travel as a standing passenger which is very common aspect. I am only able to occupy a seat on rare occasions. We need to adjust with the system! You can’t change the world, you need to change yourself!” I was surprised to notice that inspite of undergoing hardships daily this elderly person couldn’t learn the lesson to become unruly for grabbing a seat. He calmly replied, “I am a man of principles. I am sure, one day people will learn to follow the rules and become disciplined”. I smiled and said “hmmm”! However, I remained unconvinced by his statement and began thinking whether people will look towards such men and learn from them.

I thought I should raise this issue to change at least one person. So I tried to convince a youngster sitting beside us and said him that what he did was wrong. The youth should have followed the rules which would have made the lives of fellow commuters easier. He surprised me by saying that if everyone follows the rule then he too will follow. Refusing to vacate the seat for the elderly he told me, “Take it easy. Anyway we have boarded the bus and let’s avoid arguments.”

Unfortunately my mind would not stop thinking about the steps to be taken to reform the system? What would happen if I sit on the road observing a dharna in front of the bus and call it off until justice was attained? Then people would call me mad. Commuters might address me as an “educated idiot”! Many bystanders might comment that I didn’t have any other work to do! Even the media will label me as an ‘anarchist’! The incident would go down in history as someone had tried to challenge the deteriorated system in vain.

There are many people who criticise about the collapse of the system but they do not join hands to correct it. The reason why this is happening is that the society is fractured and the pieces do not forge into a unity to oppose the unruly elements. Each one has his own point of view for evaluating the injustice. For instance, take the example of transport system where categories of buses ranging from most luxurious to most ordinary exist. You are entitled to receive amenities as per your purchasing power. People select buses according to their purchasing power. Then who will fight for the common man’s rights? Only the anarchist!?

Akshara Damle

Ignorant about Awas Yojana

Prakash Jha

February 5, 2014

With an eye on the upcoming election the central government had announced the Rajiv Awas Yojana for providing affordable homes to slum dwellers residing in urban areas. On the other hand, the common man is unaware about how to avail the benefits of this scheme and which officials to be contacted. What is the use of the government sponsored schemes if citizens are unable to derive benefits out of it? The UPA government is already wasting the tax-payers hard earned money by spending crores of money on the welfare schemes announced by it. Will the newly launched scheme be implemented effectively or will it just remain on paper?

When AV spoke to people about the Rajiv Awas Yojana many of them were unaware about it. Vinod Suhar, a Santacruz resident said, “I have heard that slum residents will be provided affordable homes. However, I don’t know how to apply for this scheme. Till date no official has arrived at my house for explaining about this scheme.”

Hari Chavan, a Borivali resident said, “I heard about this scheme but don’t know how I will avail its benefits. Nobody came forward to provide guidance to me about this scheme.”

Sonali Patil, a housewife from Kandivali said, “I am unaware about the Rajiv Awas Yojana and don’t know how to utilise this scheme. Nobody has provided any guidance to me about this scheme.”

Akhilesh Tiwari, a Malad resident said, “The government is only interested in introducing new schemes but they are not creating awareness about it. I came to know about this scheme after you informed me about it.”

Suhas Kutadakar a Dahisar resident said, “It is the responsibility of the government to guide citizens about how to utilize this scheme.”

Rajeev Singh an Andheri resident said, “I have heard about this scheme but I am unaware about its objectives. I merely know slum dwellers will be provided affordable homes but don’t know more about it.”

Sangeeta Pawar a Goregaon resident said, “I had watched the Rajeev Awas Yojana advertisement aired on television which mentioned that cities would become slum free. But I don’t how the government is planning to implement this scheme.”

On the flip side, Congress party leaders denied that people are unaware of this scheme. They were confident that people will be benefitted out of this scheme.

Krishna Hegde, Congress MLA from Vile Parle said,“People residing in slum areas are educated and they are aware about how to utilise these schemes. When the SRA scheme was announced then several people residing in slums derived benefit out of it. We are airing advertisement in media for creating awareness among people about this scheme.”

Janardhan Chandurkar, Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president said, “Everyone is aware about the Rajiv Awas Yojana and many other schemes announced by the government. We are also providing guidance to people about the utilization of the scheme.”

Sachin Sawant, Congress spokesperson said, “People know about the scheme through the advertisement aired on television and news. Party workers are creating awareness about the scheme by interacting with people. If people have any doubts they can directly contact our party workers.”

The Rajiv Awas Yojana was launched in June 2011 in two phases the preparatory phase for a period of two years which ended in June 2013 and implementation phase. Subsequently, 33 slum clusters were identified and tenders were passed for carrying out socio-economic, biometric and technical survey.

Shiv Sena protest against Pakistani band at Mumbai Press Club

Afternoon Voice

February 4, 2014

A group of 50 workers from political party Shiv Sena barged into a press conference being held by Pakistani band Mekaal Hasan at the Press Club near Azad Maidan, demanding that the musicians return immediately to their country.

The band, which plays Sufi rock, was scheduled to announce a joint concert with Indian performers at the city’s Press Club.

The Shiv Sena workers were carrying placards and saffron flags; they moved with relative ease past the policemen posted outside, a standard precaution in Mumbai where the Sena regularly disrupts or protests against the presence of Pakistani artists.

“The police did not do very much. They stood around like bystanders,” alleged Gurbir Singh, an official with the Press Club.

Mr. Singh said that the Sena had warned yesterday in its mouthpiece “Saamna” that the press conference should be cancelled.

A police station is right across the road from the Press Club; senior police sources claimed reinforcements were rushed in to handle the Sainiks, some of whom have been arrested.
There were no reports of vandalism, however.

The Shiv Sainiks have always made their views on Pakistan loud and clear. Last year, they had raised objections to hiring Pakistani artists to perform in India.

CBI seeks two-weeks time to file reply on plea in Adarsh scam

Afternoon Voice

February 4, 2014

The CBI on Tuesday sought two-weeks time to file its affidavit in reply to a plea questioning the Maharashtra Governor’s order refusing sanction to prosecute former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in the Adarsh scam.

The application relied on a Supreme Court order and said that the CBI does not require sanction from the governor to prosecute public servants in cases which are being monitored by the judiciary. A division bench of justices P V Hardas and Ajey Gadkari adjourned the plea for two weeks after CBI sought time to file its affidavit.

“The Supreme Court ruled that there is no requirement of sanction for the CBI under section 6-A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act to prosecute government servants in cases that are being monitored by the judiciary,” the application, filed by former journalist Ketan Tirodkar, said.

It further said that the CBI’s compilation of documents submitted to the Governor for sanction to prosecute Chavan were foolproof and point out to the “faulty” decision of grant of additional FSI to the society allegedly by Chavan.

“In return, Chavan’s mother-in-law and brother of his father-in-law were alloted flats in the society,” the application claimed.

Tirodkar filed the application after Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan refused permission to CBI to prosecute Chavan.

Chavan was accused of approving additional FSI (floor space index) to Adarsh society in exchange of two flats for his relatives. He was also charged with illegally approving as the then revenue minister the allotment of 40 per cent of the flats to civilians when the society was meant for Kargil war widows and defence personnel.

The two-member inquiry commission had in its final report indicted Chavan for alleged favouritism to the society.

“There was certainly a nexus between the acts of Chavan and benefits derived by his close relatives. The membership process clearly indicates that grant of requisite permission by Chavan was by way of quid pro quo,” the report said.

ATS allowed to arrest Bhatkal in 2011 triple blast case

Afternoon Voice

February 4, 2014

Mumbai anti-terrorism squad (ATS) was today allowed by a Delhi court to arrest Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and his aide Asadullah Akhtar in connection with the July 13, 2011 Mumbai terror attack case in which over 20 persons were killed and 141 injured.

District Judge I S Mehta allowed the pleas of Mumbai ATS in which it had sought custody of Bhatkal and Akhtar in connection with the case saying their custodial interrogation was required to complete the probe.

“Since ATS Mumbai has filed applications through ACP Mangesh Pote on September 4, 2013 for taking custody and there is production warrant of the accused persons, I allow the applications of ATS Mumbai, Maharashtra, for arresting the accused Mohammad Ahmed Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akhtar….,” the judge said.

Bhatkal, who was in custody of Karnataka Police in connection with the 2010 blasts at Chinnaswamy Stadium, was produced before the court.

Mumbai ATS told the court that names of Bhatkal and Akhtar had cropped up during the investigation into the July 2011 blasts cases and both the accused would be brought to Delhi after completion of the probe there.
The court allowed the plea and directed the Tihar Jail Superintendent to hand over the custody of Bhatkal and Akhtar to Mumbai ATS.

“Jail Superintendent Tihar is directed to hand over the custody of accused Mohd Ahmed Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akhtar to CID ACP Mangesh Pote…,” it said.

Akhtar is lodged in jail under judicial custody.

Three powerful blasts had ripped through crowded areas in Mumbai on July 13, 2011 evening killing at least 21 people and injuring 141.

The first explosion had rocked Zaveri Bazar, a popular jewellery market, at 6.50 pm and a minute later another blast shook the busy business area Opera House. A third blast ripped through crowded Dadar area in Central Mumbai at 7.04 pm.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested Bhatkal, wanted in over 40 terror cases and carrying a reward of Rs 35 lakh, and Akhtar from Indo-Nepal border on the night of August 28 last year.

Bhatkal, who hails from Bhatkal village of Udupi district in North Karnataka, is wanted in a string of terror attacks in Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi and Hyderabad, the agency had said.

30-year-old Bhatkal, who was earlier associated with banned outfit Students Islamic Movement of India, is suspected to have hatched a conspiracy with others to wage war against India.

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