Sunday, 25 January 2009
Pavan must marry first then speak
'Drona' - Getting ready for release
Mahesh - Parvathy flick to start from 2nd Feb
No Differences Between Kalyan Ram And Jr NTR
Talking about legendary film families, there are the Kapoors and Bachchans in Bollywood but apart from them, the only name that can be thought of in this entire nation is that of the Nandamuri clan which has got an array of heroes and an equally visible political presence.
However, just like any other house, even here there were quite a few family feuds and cold wars were on for quite a while. But now, it appears that all that seems to have become a thing of the past and two men are finding their name flashing on the list. They are Nandamuri Kalyanram and NTR Jr.
There is news that Kalyan Ram is making a movie with NTR Jr and both of them are said to have been through few rounds of talks on the same. If this is true then there are no doubts in saying that a major family issue seems to have been settled since NTR Jr was often the odd one out according to the Nandamuri folk. So all is well that ends well and let us wait for a movie now.
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Behind The Scene: Naidu, an iron leg?
| |
Lagadapati lobbying for Jayasudha
Though the Congress is yet to start its exercise for selection of candidates for the next elections, Vijayawada Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal is learnt to be seriously lobbying for an Assembly seat for film star-turned-Congress leader Jayasudha.
It is an open secret that Jayasudha has been a "close" friend of Rajagopal and it was he, who was responsible for Jayasudha shifting loyalties from Telugu Desam to the Congress. She has been an active participant in all the programmes taken up by Lagadapati in Vijayawada.
However, ever since she joined the Congress party, she has hardly visited Gandhi Bhavan because there was none to acknowledge her presence there. She could not spend some time even with PCC president D Srinivas, leave alone talk about a ticket to her in the elections.
So, she thought the best way to lobby for a ticket is through Rajagopal. It is learnt the MP represented the matter to Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajagopal and also with the high command for the party ticket to Jayasudha either from Vijayawada or from a suitable place in Krishna district, so that he can ensure her victory.
We created 10K fake jobs: Satyam’s CFO
HYDERABAD /MUMBAI : Satyam Computer Services’ Chief Financial Officer Srinivas Vadlamani has given a new turn to ongoing investigations by confessing to having created around 10,000 artificial jobs in the company.
He told CID officials interrogating him that this helped in drawing around Rs 20 crore per month from the related but fictitious salary accounts. Though Srinivas claimed that the fake jobs were created from 2004 onwards, CID officials are looking into Satyam’s history right till 2001.
A source close to the investigations said that even the firm’s founder B Ramalinga Raju, while being interrogated at Masab Tank, confessed to having not only diverted Satyam money to Maytas Infra and Maytas Properties, but also invested in lands in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
In fact, the Company Law Board directed Raju and four others on Wednesday not to sell shares and other properties without its permission, apparently worried that they might liquidate assets.
SEBI doesn’t know extent of fraud
Meanwhile, market regulator SEBI said on Wednesday that it was finding it difficult to ascertain the extent of the fraud in scam-hit Satyam Computer Services because it has not yet been able to interrogate Raju.
The ex-chairman of Raju was arrested soon after his confession to a massive fraud and is in police custody – making it difficult for the SEBI team to access him. The police are seeking extension of custody and their plea would be decided on Thursday by a Hyderabad court, which would also determine if a SEBI team can interrogate Raju.
SEBI has also asked promoters of listed companies to disclose if they have pledged shares with lenders. The notice comes after it was found that Raju had pledged nearly all his shares.
Agencies
Lawyer: "Raju did not commit any fraud"
Ever since Satyam scandal broke out, there is one person that the media has been constantly hunting for inputs: S Bharat Kumar, the city-based lawyer. His phones have not stopped ringing since then
S Bharat Kumar (48) is a low profile advocate who has dealt with high profile cases. By taking up former Satyam chairman B Ramalinga Raju's case, he has shot into international limelight.
Bharat started his career as an apprentice with famous lawyer K G Kannabiran. He was active with the "Indian Express" daily as a columnist for 10 years on legal matters and court cases. Some of the important cases handled by him were the Pulicat lake case defending the environmentalists and a case against Al-kabeer. He was also with Fenoplast, Tatas and other corporates fighting cases for them.
Anything pertaining to Satyam or Rajus is now routed through Bharat. However, he still keeps a low profile and agreed for this exclusive interview to Deccan Post after much persuasion. Answering the calls from an undisclosed location, Bharat spoke slowly, measuring each word with caution.
Why did you accept Ramalinga Raju's case?
I feel it is an honour to be the defence counsel for Ramalinga Raju. He is a great philanthropist and a person who is responsible for the overall economic development in the state. Working for him is a great opportunity. It is a life-time opportunity.
It seems the funds from Satyam are siphoned off and diverted to Maytas Infra and inflated profits were shown from time to time?
No comments. I cannot speak or disclose anything which will hamper the case proceedings and affect the interests of my client.
What is your understanding of the case?
First of all I don't agree that Raju is involved in misappropriation of funds. I have come across hundreds of people, they are calling me all the time, none of them agrees or believes that Raju is involved in this issue. No one believes this. Raju did not commit any fraud. The people have been fed with speculative stories depicting the issue as an embezzlement, and siphoning of funds. If all the allegations made against him are taken at the face value, at the best they can constitute a case of falsification of accounts. Even that cannot be sustained against him.
Will Raju get bail?
Of course, Yes.Yes.
Is it true that a battery of 25 advocates have come forward to argue the case for Raju?
There is a group of 25 advocates who are working on various aspects of this case. See I cannot disclose to you everything. Some kind of legal research is also involved in this case. Since several dimensions are involved to this case we require specialised efforts from different advocates and they formed a group for the defence of Raju. It also touches several aspects of company law, Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Act etc. The litigations are going to be multifold. So a big group is required to deal with these cases.
What do you foresee for Raju?
I have no comments to make. But as far as bail is concerned, Raju has a fair chance of getting bail.
Raju agreed that he has fudged the accounts?
I cannot comment on that. If I have to answer this and elaborate on this, it will harm the defence of my client.
But Raju has given it in writing?
It is a statement of facts as they exist in Satyam. More than that, I cannot offer any further details. Please..
Will Satyam sustain this onslaught?
I do not know about the future of Satyam. I am not fighting for Satyam or Maytas. I am defending Raju. I am representing Ramalinga Raju. I have nothing to do with the companies. As far as I know, Maytas is nowhere related to Satyam issue.
Friday, 23 January 2009
Satyameva Jayathe on 6th Feb
Top Story: TRS to get out of Maha Kootami?
Going by the latest reports, Telangana Rashtra Samithi is understood to have decided to get out of Maha Kootami, much before it is officially formed.
TRS State executive, which met here on Thursday under the leadership of party president K Chandrasekhara Rao, is learnt to have decided not to compromise on the number of Lok Sabha seats to be shared with other members of Maha Kootami. "Under any circumstances, let us not accept less than 10 Lok Sabha seats. If we can't get them, it is better we stay away from Maha Kootami and decide on our own way," KCR reportedly told the party leaders.
The TRS president is also angry with the way the Left parties are taking Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu for a ride and forcing him to be tough with TRS on seat sharing. Though CPI State secretary K Narayana tried to blame it on the media, KCR reportedly told the negotiators that irrespective of the media reports, there was no compromise on the number of LS seats.
Now, TD is in trouble. If it gives 10 seats to TRS and two each to CPI and CPI-M, it would be left with just three seats in Telangana. It creates a lot of unrest among the party cadres, which ultimately reflects on the party's prospects in the Assembly. So, it is a devil and the deep sea situation for Naidu!