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Kerala govt backed entry of ‘activist’ Bindu Ammini into Sabarimala, says Kerala HC while granting bail to two Hindu activists: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala govt backed entry of ‘activist’ Bindu Ammini into Sabarimala, says Kerala HC while granting bail to two Hindu activists: Details

In a significant order, the Kerala High Court on Thursday noted that the entry of women activists to Sabarimala Temple was a controversial issue and observed that the Kerala government supported the entry of activist women to Sabarimala Temple, reports Live Law.

Hearing the bail application of two persons accused of spraying ‘chemical spray’ on activist Bindu Ammini who had planned to desecrate Sabarimala, the Kerala High Court noted that it is not disputed that the Kerala Government was on one side and the RSS, BJP, and many Hindu organisations were on the other side of the Sabarimala issue.

“The RSS/BJP and many Hindu organisations protested against the entry of activist women to Sabarimala Temple. However, the Government of Kerala supported the entry of activist women to Sabarimala Temple,” said Kerala High Court.

Most importantly, the Kerala High Court also admitted that the Bindu Ammini was an ‘activist’ and not a devotee.

Granting bail to the two accused, a Bench of Justice B Sudheendra Kumar found that the allegations against BJP/RSS workers Prateesh Viswanath and CC Rajagopal appeared to be tainted with malafide.

“When viewed the above facts in the light of the admitted fact that the appellants are leaders/supporters of RSS/BJP, who opposed the entry of women activists to Sabarimala Temple, it appears that the allegations raised against the appellants by the victim before the police are prima facie tainted with malafide,” read Kerala High Court order.

No case against appellants as there is no evidence, says Kerala High Court

‘Activist’ Bindu Ammini, who had attempted to desecrate the Sabarimala’s age-old tradition barring women in the 10-50 age group to enter the shrine, had accused the two Hindu activists of spraying ‘chemical’ spray while waiting near the Ernakulam police commissioner’s office on November 26 seeking police protection to enter the Sabarimala shrine.

The alleged incident had taken place in the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s verdict allowing women entry into Sabarimala temple. The Supreme Court had refused to issue police protection to ‘activists’ like Bindu Ammini, who sought to enter the temple, stating that the issue was ’emotive’.

In her complaint, Ammini had claimed that a group of around five persons including the two appellants, Pratheesh R and CC Rajagopal, had approached her chanting the Ayyappa hymns, after which one person sprayed the substance on her. In her subsequent statement, she had claimed that the activists had touched her body in the presence of the public and humiliated her by calling ‘Urban Naxal’.

After referring to witness statements, statements made by Ammini and the audiovisual recording, the High Court concluded that no case against the appellants was disclosed from the material. The Kerala High Court pointed out that media persons were present at the spot, yet there was no visual showing Pratheesh and Rajagopal along with the first accused.

Watch: Video of lawyer lunching during virtual court session goes viral, Tushar Mehta asks him to send food over

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Video of lawyer lunching during virtual court session goes viral, Tushar Mehta asks him to send food over

A hilarious video has been doing the rounds on social media in which Patna High Court lawyer Kshatrashal Raj is seen having his lunch, during a virtual court session with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The advocate, without realising that he had inadvertently left his camera on, continues having his lunch, while SGI Tushar Mehta looks on.

The advocate is so engrossed in his lunch, that he does not realise that Mehta is still on the other side of his computer screen. Since the speaker of the computer seems to have been switched off, Tushar Mehta’s verbal indications go unheard. The SGI then picks up his phone to call up Kshatrashal Raj to inform him that his camera is on.

The advocate immediately leaves his plate and looks into the camera when Tushar Mehta amusingly makes hand gestures asking him to send some food across to him.

The video which has now gone viral, has been drawing amusing responses on the microblogging site.

With the new normal of work from home, college from home, virtual meetings and so on, such goof-ups have become extremely common. Recently, one ‘Shewta’ trended on Twitter after a recording of her conversation with her friend during an online class went viral. Shweta was narrating to her friend her conversations with her other close guy friend. Much to everyone’s amusement, Shweta had muted the speaker instead of muting her microphone, thereby spilling her friend’s secrets to her entire class.

Soon after the audio clip was shared on social media, netizens filled Twitter with the most innovative and hilarious memes and Shweta started trending on the microblogging site.

Similarly, a month back, one lawyer in Peru was caught having sex immediately after a court case- on a virtual meeting. Video footage showed the lawyer, unaware of being on camera, stripping off and sitting on his chair while a naked woman straddling him, as astonished court officials and other lawyers looked on. For a while, people tried to call out to him to alert him, but like in the aforementioned cases he also had the volume muted, because of which the warnings went unheard.

‘Even if life was taken away illegally, courts are helpless’: the Congress toolkit for protecting institutions

Abhishek Banerjee
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‘Even if life was taken away illegally, courts are helpless’: the Congress toolkit for protecting institutions

Recently, Rahul Gandhi made headlines in the media when he admitted that imposing the Emergency in 1975 was the wrong thing to do. But he added a caveat to his statement. He insisted that “Congress at no point tried to capture India’s institutional framework.” Accordingly, I have put together a brief 3 point toolkit to preserving India’s institutional framework, taking inspiration from the formidable Indira Gandhi and her illustrious grandson Rahul.

(1) Step one: Cancel Elections.

In the 1971 general elections, Indira Gandhi’s Congress won a massive mandate of 352 seats in the Lok Sabha, which used to have 518 seats at the time. Indira Gandhi had the people’s mandate to rule. There was only one problem though. The mandate was supposed to expire in five years and fresh elections would be needed. Because people can be ungrateful at times, this could have been a risky proposition.

That’s why the Congress government decided to cancel the elections of 1976. No elections means no dissent and no capture of institutions.

(2) Step two: Cancel Habeas Corpus

What can you do if the government picks you up tomorrow and throws you in jail? You have a right to know the charges against you. You have to be produced before a court. This is called Habeas Corpus. So the Congress government canceled Habeas Corpus. Possibly because Latin is a dead language anyway.

At a Supreme Court hearing in 1976, the Congress government explained why the fundamental rights under Article 21 had been canceled. At this, one of the Justices happened to ask if the right to life, which is included in Article 21 had also been canceled.

The Attorney General replied: “Even if life was taken away illegally, courts are helpless.“

How reassuring.

(3) Step three: Pick the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court correctly

Remember the pesky old judge who tried to trip up the Attorney General by asking him if the Congress government has given itself the power to take lives without a trial? Sounds like a troublemaker. His name was Justice Hans Raj Khanna. He would have become the next Chief Justice of India if traditions of seniority were anything to go by.

And that’s why his junior, Justice Mirza Hameedullah Beg, ascended to the post of CJI in January 1977. In one of his rulings on the Emergency, Justice M H Beg had observed: “We understand that the care and concern bestowed by the state authorities upon the welfare of detenues who are well housed, well-fed and well treated, is almost maternal.”

The Emergency is maternal? Canceling elections is maternal? Canceling the right to life is maternal? This guy gets it. This guy truly understands the meaning of the expression “India is Indira.”

With the right tools, any country can become a functioning democracy with strong institutions like India used to be during the Emergency. That’s why I have put together this toolkit. Now we just need approval from Mia Khalifa and Mo Dhaliwal.

‘Does money in Bollywood come from Ganga?’: Shiv Sena mouthpiece claims Taapsee Pannu, Anurag Kashyap targeted for supporting ‘farmer protests’

OpIndia Staff
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‘Does money in Bollywood come from Ganga?’: Shiv Sena mouthpiece claims Taapsee Pannu, Anurag Kashyap targeted for supporting ‘farmer protests’

Batting in support of director Anurag Kashyap and actor Taapsee Pannu, embroiled in a tax evasion case, Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana has published an editorial, stating that they are facing action for supporting the ‘farmers’ protests against the three farm laws passed by the government.

On Wednesday, the Income Tax Department launched raids at 22 locations linked to director Anurag Kashyap, producer Vikas Bahl, Producer Madhu Mantena and actress Taapsee Pannu in a tax evasion case. The following day, officials claimed that they found discrepancy and manipulation of income during the raids at various places linked to Pannu, Kashyap and his partners at the now-defunct production house, Phantom Films. According to the sources, I-T searches so far have found issues with Rs 5 crores in cash received by Ms Pannu and ₹ 300 crore income by Mr Kashyap’s former production house among other problems.

“Taapsee Pannu and Anurag Kashyap are known for putting across their opinions without any inhibitions. This brings us to the question if the remaining transactions in Bollywood are fair and transparent, and irregularities are only with Taapsee Pannu and Anurag Kashyap…Not only did they support the ‘farmers’ agitation but they also rallied behind people from across the world who extended their support to the protest. They are paying the price for it,” the Saamana editorial said.

Alluding that the raids were conducted with malafide intent, the editorial further asked why only Taapsee Pannu and Anurag Kashyap were targeted and not other celebrities in Bollywood. “Do the crores of rupees circulated in Bollywood come from Ganga?”

In what appeared as an attempt to whitewash the alleged wrongdoing rampant in Bollywood, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece further said that it is wrong to attack the film industry, especially when they are still reeling under the financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus lockdown.

“Bollywood is in a big financial crisis because of the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Directing movies was called off, new productions were shelved and theatres were closed down. It is not appropriate to exact political revenge when a big business is in a financial crisis,” the article on Saamana further said.

The editorial cited the arrest of ‘activist’ Disha Ravi, stating that her arrest evoked a widespread condemnation of the Modi government from across the world.

It also said that a campaign was launched against actor Deepika Padukone after her visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus in 2020. “Similar attacks were unleashed against Deepika Padukone after she visited the JNU to meet the students(to express solidarity with them). There was a silent agitation against her, her film was targeted,” the article said.

300 crores of undisclosed income, reveals IT Department, Taapsee Pannu received Rs 5 crores in cash

On Thursday, the Income Tax Department had said, “During the search, evidence of huge suppression of income by the leading Film Production house compared to the actual box office collections has been unearthed. The company officials have not been able to explain the discrepancy of around Rs. 300 crore. Evidence related to manipulation and under-valuation of share transactions of the production house amongst the film directors and shareholders, having tax implication of about Rs. 350 crore has been found and is being further investigated”.

The IT Department hinted at Anurag Kashyap-owned Phantom Films that was dissolved in the aftermath of MeToo allegations against one of its shareholders. The IT Department during the raids found cash receipts amounting to Rs 5 crores from the ‘leading actress’. Since we know Taapsee Pannu was being raided, it stands to reason that the cash receipts have been recovered from Pannu.

‘Malvani pattern a larger conspiracy to expel Hindus and settle Bangladeshis, Rohingya Muslims’: BJP leader Mangal Prabhat Lodha in Maha assembly

OpIndia Staff
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‘Malvani pattern a larger conspiracy to expel Hindus and settle Bangladeshis, Rohingya Muslims’: BJP leader Mangal Prabhat Lodha in Maha assembly

The Mumbai BJP President Mangal Prabhat Lodha raised the issue of Hindu exodus underway at the Malad-Malvani region while speaking at the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday. Dubbing it as ‘Malvani Pattern’, the BJP leader said the exodus of Hindus is a part of a bigger pattern that was witnessed in areas such as Kashmir, Kairana, and Assam where Hindu minorities were threatened and intimidated to leave.

“There is a pattern to this Hindu exodus. They are being threatened and intimidated to leave their houses. A concerted attempt is being made to evict them. Just like Kashmir, Kairana witnessed the exodus of Hindus, Malvani in Mumbai is also witnessing the same,” Lodha said.

Lodha, an MLA from the Malabar Hill assembly constituency, was participating in the ongoing discussion on the supplementary demands related to the Home Department when he expressed concerns over the decreasing population of Hindu voters in the Malvani assembly constituency.

“If you look at the Vidhan Sabha voters list in Malad-Malvani region, the number of Hindu voters have reduced by about 15,000 while the Muslim voters have risen by 12,000,” Lodha said.

Besides, Lodha said Hindus in Malvani are being persecuted through a planned conspiracy which entails evicting them so that Rohingya Muslims, Bangladeshis and others could be settled. Giving the example of Chheda Nagar of Malvani, Lodha said more than half of 106 Hindu families who used to stay earlier had left the neighbourhood. He urged chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to take cognisance of the matter and asked him to constitute a separate committee to look into the persecution of Hindu residents in the region.

The BJP leader also spoke about the posters of Lord Ram being torn apart by police officials in Malvani. He said not only police personnel ripped apart the posters but they also filed an FIR against those who reported the incident.

In January 2021, at least three VHP leaders were arrested for putting up posters of Ram Mandir Nidhi Sankalan Abhiyan, a mass contact and contribution campaign for the construction of a Bhavya & Divya mandir at the birthplace of Bhagwan Shri Ramlalla in Ayodhya. After returning in the evening, the VHP workers allegedly saw police officials removing the Ram Mandir Nidhi Sankalan posters and tearing them apart. Some VHP workers started recording the incident on their mobile phones. Realising that their act is being recorded on the mobile phone, one of the police officers accosted the VHP workers and purportedly started beating them.

Speaking about the intimidation and threat received by Hindu residents in Malvani, Lodha raised questions on police inaction against the culprits. He said no action has been taken about the complaint filed by him at the Malvani police station.

Muslim ruffians allegedly associated Maha cabinet minister accused of encroaching Hindu houses in Mumbai’s Malvani

Earlier in January, Lodha paid a visit to Malvani and met with the Hindu residents who were reportedly harassed by the Muslim ruffians to leave the region. Lodha had then filed a complaint with the local police and asked them to act against the hoodlums threatening the Hindu population.

The residents of the region claimed that the goons enjoyed political patronage from the local Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh, also a cabinet minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Allegedly, emboldened by their leader’s support, the Muslim hooligans have unabatedly encroached their lands and built madrassas and dargahs on government lands, the victims’ claim.

The victims also said the police had so far not taken any credible action against the culprits despite a number of FIRs filed in connection with the unlawful encroachment of their houses. Besides appropriating their houses, the victims alleged that the Muslim goons were also responsible for rampant drug peddling, unauthorised constructions and other illegal activities in their neighbourhood.

Tihar: Cops foil rapist Shahid’s plan to kill 2 Delhi riots accused through mercury poisoning, was inspired by ISIS

OpIndia Staff
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Tihar: Cops foil rapist Shahid’s plan to kill 2 Delhi riots accused through mercury poisoning, was inspired by ISIS

Delhi police officials nabbed two accused following a month-long internal investigation for conspiring to kill two Tihar jail inmates through mercury poisoning, reported The Times of India.

Reportedly, in January this year, Tihar jail officials intercepted a phone call between one Shahid and Aslam. Shahid has been lodged in India’s high-security prison on charges of gang-rape and murder. Aslam is a relative of the accused. The police overheard Shahid asking Aslam to arrange for the heavy metal mercury. After being alarmed at such an unusual demand, DCP Pramod Kushwaha constituted a team to unearth the sinister plan.

During the month-long investigation, the police increased surveillance on both Shahid and Aslam. The cops found that Aslam had been purchasing several thermometers and transferring the mercury in them to a tiny perfume bottle. The police soon arrested the accused, who divulged details of the conspiracy. Times of India reported that Shahid had asked Aslam to procure mercury to kill a fellow inmate, although he conceded that he did not know about the potential target.

The sinister plan to kill two Tihar jail inmates

Shahid was produced before the Court by the Special Cell of the Delhi police. He was then remanded to police custody. The accused revealed that he was in touch with ISIS terrorists, namely, Abdus Sarni and Azeemushan. They had conspired to kill two other inmates, who had allegedly vandalised a mosque and killed Muslims during the Delhi riots. Inspired by ISIS ideology, Shahid had planned to execute the murder by staging a brawl with the inmates.

The accused had conspired to poison the two inmates with mercury. Reportedly, one of the ISIS terrorist Azeemushan, involved in the nefarious plan, was in contact with another terrorist who happens to be an Unani doctor. He had explained the concept of mercury poisoning to him. Shahid, Azeemushan and Abdus Sarni then hatched the plan in Jail No.3. The police have taken Sarni and Azeemushan for interrogation, although they have not been arrested as of yet.

Shahid was associated with two ISIS terrorists, inspired by Islamist ideology

A police source informed that another accused has been interrogated, although his identity has been kept a secret. It must be mentioned that Abdus Sarni was among the 15 terrorists, convicted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a case related to ISIS. Similarly, Azeemushan was also charged by the NIA for his involvement in a terror case. The duo belonged to the Amroha IS module.

With an intention to set up an Islamic Caliphate in India, the local groups of Harkat ul Harb E Islam and Junood-ul-Khilafa-Fil-Hind owed allegiance to ISIS. They wanted to foment violence and terror attacks in the Delhi-NCR region. Their handler was based in Syria and identified as Yusuf al-Hindi aka Anjan Bhai. On the other hand, Shahid had gang-raped a woman and killed the victim along with her two children in 2015.

Kerala gold and dollar smuggling case: Kingpin Swapna Suresh names CM Pinarayi Vijayan and three other ministers

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala gold and dollar smuggling case: Kingpin Swapna Suresh names CM Pinarayi Vijayan and three other ministers

Ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Kerala, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has been pushed into a spot of bother as one of the main accused in the high-profile gold smuggling case has named Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

According to the reports, Swapna Suresh, the kingpin in the Kerala gold smuggling case, has now revealed to the Customs Department that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was very much involved in the gold and dollar smuggling cases. In a sensational disclosure, Swapna Suresh reportedly also detailed Kerala CM Vijayan’s close connections with the previous UAE Consul General.

During her interrogation, Swapna Suresh has stated that three other cabinet ministers, along with Kerala Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan, were also involved in a gold smuggling case, the Customs Department submitted before the Kerala High Court.

“Swapna Suresh was the mediator in the talks between the Chief Minister and the Consulate General as the CM does not understand or speak Arabic. Swapna’s statement states that the CM and ministers got crores of money as commission in the deal,” the customs affidavit said to Kerala HC.

Swapna Suresh confesses CM Vijayan had multiple ‘private meetings’ with the UAE consulate general

In a startling disclosure in October last year, Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, had revealed to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had held multiple meetings with the Consul General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2017.

In her statement to ED, she said Vijayan had also “unofficially” recommended the name of his then principal secretary M Shivasankar as the state government’s official point of contact with the UAE’s consulate. Swapna Suresh had also admitted before the probing agency that the private meetings between Vijayan and the UAE diplomats were held at CM Vijayan’s official residence in Thiruvananthapuram.

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate had revealed that the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was aware of Swapna Suresh’s appointment under the Information Technology (IT) department. Swapna Suresh had revealed to ED saying that she knew former principal secretary of Kerala chief minister M Shivasankar very closely and also knew Chief Minister during her tenure as a secretary to the consul general.

Following the disclosure by Swapna Suresh, CM Vijayan’s office had rejected the claims made by the accused and had called them fabricated.

Kerala Gold Scam

In July last year, the Customs officials in Kerala had nabbed a former employee of the UAE Consulate in Kerala named Sarith where he had divulged that Swapna Suresh, also a former staffer, had forged documents to misuse diplomatic privileges, to smuggle gold from UAE illegally.

On July 5, Suresh’s baggage, marked with the UAE Consulate address, was held at the airport. Swapna Suresh worked as the marketing liaison officer of Space Park under the Kerala State IT Infrastructure Limited (KSITIL) that comes directly under the IT department.

The call details of the main accused, Swapna Suresh, had revealed that the accused was in regular touch with Kerala’s Higher Education minister KT Jaleel.

Amazon Prime’s Aparna Purohit went to Supreme Court seeking bail, may end up bringing censorship on her company

OpIndia Staff
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Amazon Prime’s Aparna Purohit went to Supreme Court seeking bail, may end up bringing censorship on her company

The Supreme Court of India has expressed dissatisfaction with the new guidelines for OTT platforms as they do not provide any scope for prosecution. The apex court said that the guidelines have “no teeth” and a law is required to regulate OTT platforms. The court made the comments while hearing a bail plea by Aparna Purohit, the Commercial Head of Amazon Prime in India.

The Bench, comprising of Justices Ashok Bhushan and R Subhash Reddy, said, “One issue that has cropped up is uncontrolled viewing of scenes in Prime Video. Union of India has issued notified new Rules in this regard. The Rules are in the nature of guidelines with no effective regulation of screening or taking appropriate action.”

“Rules don’t list anything a about appropriate action to be taken against those who don’t abide by the guidelines. Solicitor General has submitted that steps will be taken for the same and it shall be placed before the Court,” it said.

The Court was hearing a matter related to the allegations against Amazon web series ‘Tandav’ of hurting religious sentiments of Hindus. Amazon Prime Video’s India Commercial Head Aparna Purohit was granted interim protection from arrest on the condition that she cooperates with the investigation and appears before the Police as and when summoned.

The Allahabad High Court had earlier refused to grant Purohit’s plea for anticipatory bai observing that there was a growing tendency in the film industry to insult Hindus Gods and Goddessses.

The union government had recently announced guidelines for OTT platforms, along with guidelines for social media platforms and digital media sites. The government refrained from introducing any censorship on the online streaming platforms, and only said that the platforms need to categorise content as suitable for various age groups. Now it is clear that the Supreme Court is not happy with this, and want more stringent control on the platforms. It is ironical that while the Amazon Prime executive had approached the apex court seeking protection for herself, she may end up bring more government control and censorship on her company and others in the sector.

Badminton coach Mathias Boe is also the coach of Pune 7 Aces, owned by girlfriend Taapsee Pannu and KRI Entertainment, both facing I-T probe

OpIndia Staff
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Badminton coach Mathias Boe is also the coach of Pune 7 Aces, owned by girlfriend Taapsee Pannu and KRI Entertainment, both facing I-T probe

Mathias Boe, the badminton player from Denmark who has been appointed to coach the Indian badminton team, created a controversy on Friday by asking sports minister Kiren Rijiju to intervene in income tax raid on his girlfriend Taapsee Pannu. While he wrote that he was in a ‘bit of turmoil’ due to ‘unnecessary stress’ on Taapsee, actually he has much deeper link to the ongoing income tax department action against several Bollywood personalities including Anurag Kashyap.

Apart from being the coach of India’s national players, Mathias Boe is also the coach of Pune 7 Aces, a franchisee badminton team that participates in the Premier Badminton League. Pune 7 Aces is owned by his girlfriend Taapsee Pannu, and talent management company KRI Entertainment.

After the raids on Kashyap’s Phantom film and others, the offices of KRI entertainment were also raided yesterday. The company manages several Bollywood actors, including Taapsee. According to I-T dept sources, the company has ties with Phantom Films, and their financial transactions are under the scanner.

Therefore, Mathias Boe is associated with a badminton team which is owned by Taapsee and KRI, both being probed by the income tax department for tax evasion. This means, he was not just worried about his girlfriend, but the franchisee team he coaches could also be in trouble.

Before becoming the coach, Marhias had earlier played for the Pune 7 Aces in the PBL, and was also led the team as skipper.

Questions are also being raised whether Mathias coaching Indian national team and the Pune 7 Aces team in PBL involves a conflict of interest case. It may be mentioned here that national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand had faced similar charges, because apart from the chief coach, he also runs his own academy, and is associated with Premier Badminton League, and a member of national selection team.

The raid on Phantom Films and others have unearthed a huge tax fraud. According to the I-T Dept, the company officials have not been able to explain the discrepancy of around Rs. 300 crore. “Evidence related to manipulation and under-valuation of share transactions of the production house amongst the film directors and shareholders, having tax implication of about Rs. 350 crore has been found and is being further investigated,” the department said.

‘Like Mahabharat, D-company also has several characters’: Ram Gopal Verma’s ‘D Company’ set to be yet another movie glorifying a terrorist?

OpIndia Staff
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‘Like Mahabharat, D-company also has several characters’: Ram Gopal Verma’s ‘D Company’ set to be yet another movie glorifying a terrorist?

Dreaded terrorist Dawood Ibrahim has fired the imagination of filmmakers and actors in Bollywood for decades. This obsession with the gangster has always resulted in Bollywood filmmakers glorifying him and his family members. The recent crop of Bollywood films, taking inspiration from the mafioso and featuring him and his D-company includes filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma’s upcoming film D Company, amongst others.

Varma had on January 23, taken to Twitter to share the teaser of the film. He wrote, “D Company is not just about Dawood Ibrahim but it’s about the various people who lived and died under its shadow. It is Produced by SPARK.”

In another tweet, he called D Company the ‘mother of all gangster films’. The film will release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

‘I owe my living to Dawood Ibrahim’: Filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma

Ram Gopal Varma while speaking about his upcoming work, D Company, said that he will be spreading like ‘Coronavirus 2.0 in 2021’ and ‘no vaccine’ can stop him.

When asked why he chooses to make films glorifying gangsters like Dawood Ibrahim and why not films on Mahatma Gandhi or Mother Teresa, the filmmaker confessed: “Because I owe my living to Dawood Ibrahim”. Ram Gopal Verma added that his upcoming film is extremely authentic as his “D Company sources are straight insiders”.

Further answering whether the movie will appeal to the real Dawood and what would he do if the gangster doesn’t like the reel, Dawood, in his film?, Ram Gopal Verma said confidently: “Trust me, he will love him”.

While extensively explaining his fascination with the syndicate, the Bollywood filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma, went on to compare his D Company with Mahabharat. He claimed that like the ancient Sanskrit epic, D company also concerns several characters and not just Dawood.

Talking about his dream project, RGV said in a statement, “This is my dream project and my research on the subject matter of D Company came from my extensive interactions over the last 20 years with gangsters to encounter cops to middlemen of the underworld and also many film people who were involved with the underworld. I have always been intrigued to tell the uniqueness of the Indian underworld and its strange and weird mix where everyone from criminals to politicians to cops to film stars were hopping into each other’s beds.”

Bollywood’s obsession with D-company

Bollywood has been long glorifying the criminal who has been a fugitive since 1986 to avoid criminal prosecution. Bollywood has never shied away from building a glamourous image of the underworld and an aura around the man, who is currently on the wanted list of Interpol for organised crime and counterfeiting.

Miffed with this trend continuing in Bollywood, the former IPS officer turned lawyer and now filmmaker YP Singh said: “They glorify gangsters by making them heroes, who pull off daring stunts and action scenes, but in real life they are merely rats who are holed up in other countries. The film industry must realise, they are encouraging youngsters to adopt crime,” added Singh.

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