KUNAL DESHMUKH: (WITH) THE LOINS OF PUNs & JABs..!!!

Oh dear! Excuse the typo error. I meant the Lions of Punjab since I am personally & always immensely impressed with men of courage, wisdom and vision. Somehow my title went into sounding into an innuendo.  I will choose the liberty of thinking that perhaps those with a sense of humour would enjoy this inconsequential comedy of errors!

Infact, I do think that I posses a rather healthy and liberal sense of humour. What is life without a hearty laugh and comical twists of absurd yet funny incidents? Pick up the newspaper and it will tickle your mind with some of the most bizarre & fantastical stories you will ever hear or read. I must say our new breed of journalists have learnt to grow a funny bone and have taught us the same. Interestingly our new age news makers don’t fail to amuse and entertain either.

Recently, I read an article about Kunal Deshmukh’s aspirational directorial piece which he is calling Raja Natwarlal, so sadly, based on his ill-informed references of a major business tycoon, Mr.Subrata Roy Sahara, who is currently in a legal turmoil with the SEBI. For those who haven’t heard of Kunal Deshmukh I am not surprised. He is a dot in the massive Entertainment industry with his directorial ventures mostly revolving around Love, Sex and Drama. What is really baffling and worth mentioning is the ignorance that Deshmukh displays. I mean come on! A new age, educated 32 year old, metro-sexual man with such a horrible grasp on current affairs? Where on earth did he learn that Subrata Roy’s business dealt with chit funds? Who on earth told him that he is in a legal turmoil because of some non-existent property scam?  Mr.Deshmukh when you plan to enlighten us with your vision (I’d love to call them nightmares) and creative non-genius, atleast get your facts correct! So much for a spin with so few, rather, zero hard facts! Your statement only projects a pathetic attempt to exhibition your inspiration as “more 'shocking' and 'in-depth' than your last one” & your dumbness is both laughable and pitiable.

And there goes my hunger for a good laugh, fed. LOLs, ROTL..!!! Feed people only trivia and entertainment, you will wither their appetite & feed them nonsense, you will surely food poison them! I wouldn’t get into the elaborate details of what the SAHARA SEBI issue is about but in a gist it’s been revolving around SEBI’s conceited claim over investor protection arguing that Sahara’s business practices are unhealthy and harm the depositors. Sahara is an enormously diversified Indian conglomerate employing around 12 lacs employees with business interests in Motion Pictures, Hospitality, Para-banking (Mr.Deshmukh! you must, especially, Google Parabanking before you ignorantly ramble some mumbo jumbo about the subject and embarrass yourself further..!!!!), Retail, etc. Sahara has never been in the business of Chit funds and most certainly never in Lotteries either.

When someone like a Kunal Deshmukh makes such juvenile, foolish, ill informed statements, it’s scary!!! He comes from bracket of an industry that moulds impressions. So the least you expect from him is sound and good research on his subject of inspiration. Just making appearances match, doesn’t do the job. And if you are ill- informed on the subject then admit so. Saves you the embarrassment! Has he ever interviewed Mr.Subrata Roy? Has he reached out to his family for his research or spoken with his employees, ever? Has he ever made any intelligent enquiry about his businesses, as a part of his study? I assuming the answer is, No! What is even more amusing is what the journalist, Ms. Priya Gupta, finds interesting about the similarities. Being a journalist, I thought she knew the undertones of the Sahara SEBI issue and would have utilised the opportunity to dispel some myths about the matter.  She could have very easily burst Mr.Deshmukh’s bubble and conducted some responsible reporting.

G.K. Chesterton once said, “Journalism largely consists in saying "Lord Jones is dead" to people who never knew Lord Jones was alive.” Ms.Gupta, i thought you had more substance in you than taking a jab at a man who is much more seasoned than you are, experienced more life than you ever will, struggled his way up to accomplishments and fathers an army of loyal, hard working & honest workforce. Lead these many men; first, in your lifetime tell and then us what you found interesting about that. Likewise for you Mr.Deshmukh! Your Goliath emerges to lack any soul or intensity. Your statements in Media are imbecile and your knowledge of the subject is appalling. You sure you haven’t mixed David for Goliath? Or perhaps in your fit of ignorance you’ve drawn an incorrect analogy. You should probably draw the parallel with IGNORAMUS & STUPIDUS!! I already feel bad for myself for having apologised for my accidental innuendo, in the beginning. Mr.Deshmukh hasn’t even offered his! I knew he was ignorant and ill read, what I didn’t know was that he lacked mannerisms, too.


My commiserations to your nightmare “Raja Natwarlal”, Sir and my LOLs and ROTLs too!!! Also, please accept my loaded statements with puns and jabs at your intelligence, with no prospect of an apology!


With prayers for you in my heart,

A concerned Samaritan!!!

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SEBI trying to ‘siphon off’ investor refund: Sahara

Sahara India has alleged that market regulator Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is trying to "siphon off money from the funds" deposited by the group for refunding the investors of Sahara India Real Estate Corp Ltd (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Investment Corp Ltd (SHICL). SEBI has claimed that it has spent close to Rs 60 cr in 2013-14 on locating genuine investors of Sahara group companies Sahara India Real Estate Corp Ltd (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Investment Corp Ltd (SHICL).

Subrata Roy, founder of Sahara India Pariwar

"We have spent a huge chunk of our money on this and we are running out of money now. We had requested the Supreme Court to allow us to use the funds deposited by Sahara India so as we can meet the expenses incurred on this task," said a senior official from SEBI requesting anonymity.

The official explained that SEBI has spent a large amount on not just locating the investors but also on the storage of the documents submitted by Sahara. In an email response to The Sunday Guardian, Sahara India's counsel, Keshav Mohan, stated, "We suspect that this is a highly malicious campaign initiated by SEBI with a very clear intention to siphon off money from the funds that Saharas have deposited with SEBI, purely for the repayment to its investors. It is really unfortunate and unbecoming of a regulator, the way SEBI is blowing hot and cold, both at a time."

He further pointed out that on Thursday, the counsel for SEBI had argued in the Supreme Court that SIRECL and SHICL issues were public issues, while now SEBI has made a plea that Sahara's investors are untraceable. "We ask SEBI to disclose the basis of their contention, else withdraw their statement. The fact is that, when SEBI sent letters to about 20,000 account numbers and did not receive any responses for them, we immediately got affidavits from a large number of such investors and submitted to SEBI the affidavits, authentic Know Your Customer (KYC) documents and photographs of almost all those investors, who the regulator had tried to contact. Those who were already paid, confirmed that they had received redemption of their investments to their full satisfaction," Mohan noted.

In a strong rebuttal to SEBI's allegations, Mohan further added that the market regulator has not been following directions and has not refunded even Rs 1 cr to the investors, in the last 15 months. "It is not known, why SEBI is not following this direction, and why it is only interested in extracting money from Sahara...SEBI's intentions are unfair and acutely malafide."

Mohan also pointed out to the fact that on 4 March, SEBI told the court that it had completed the scanning and digitisation of the 3.03 crore investors' documents provided by Sahara. Therefore the verification process has still not started.

Mohan also recounted that the Minister of State for Finance, Namo Narayan Meena in a reply to a question in Parliament had said that the money given by Sahara is for refund to the investors only and the money would not be utilised for any other purpose. "The money received by SEBI will only be used for the repayment of the investors and till now SEBI has only refunded only Rs 1 cr. This is a sinister attempt by SEBI to eat away investors' money. Till now, in Saharas' case SEBI has not shown any intention to protect the interest of investors, for which it has been constituted... we will not let SEBI make this another Golden Forest Case where investors have still not got their hard earned money and will stand and fight till the end in the interest of our investors."

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Supreme Court Orders Sebi not to read further advertisements

In SEBI Sahara Case, today SEBI started its arguments on the contempt petition filed by SEBI alleging violation of the SC order dated 5-12-12 by Sahara. At the closing of arguments, counsel for SEBI stated that the arguments made by him also covered the contempt petitions earlier filed alleging breach of the order dated 31-8 -12 and argued that Shri Subrata Roy Sahara should also be held liable, besides the directors for the contempt. The Court however did not issue notice of contempt against Mr Subrata Roy Sahara, on the second contempt Petition.

Whilst referring to affidavit filed by Sahara on 4-1-12, SEBI argued that in the said affidavit undertaking has been given, which has been violated.   The Hon’ble Supreme Court also enquired with SEBI, as to how the said other group companies, which are independent legal entities, are bound by the said affidavit, filed by the two Sahara companies.  Counsel for SEBI indicated that this issue will be addressed by him separately. 

SEBI referred to an advertisement appeared in the news paper on 3^rd Sept. 2012 calling it as an instance of contemptuous conduct of Sahara. The Hon’ble Court, on referring to the said publication, observed that the same does not amount to contempt and indicated that SEBI may not read further advertisements.  

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Sahara blasts SEBI chief for ‘mischievous’ remarks

·         SEBI has just one-point programme – to destroy Sahara

·         Misleading, misinformation campaign

·         ‘We are being singled out for punishment’

·         Raises questions that why govt. depts. are not being punished

Hitting back at SEBI and its Chairman, Sahara India Pariwar has said that the market regulator has just one-point agenda to “destroy” the image of the diversified conglomerate.

Countering the allegations made by SEBI Chairman on the OFCDs raised by it, Sahara said in a public notice that he has recently “mischievously misled” the people. “Right from the beginning SEBI’s one point programme has been to hit and destroy Sahara by mischievously misleading campaign of misinformation though trial by media,” Sahara said.

Sahara recalled that when it promoted OFCDs for the first time in 2001, it had obtained a written permission for its OFCD issue from the Registrar of Companies (RoC) Kolkata under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs way back in 2001 and under Sec 60B (9) of the Companies Act, submitted prospectus to the same Registrar (filing the return) with the details of around 1.87 crore investors with their names, addresses and amounts raised etc.

Sahara is being accused of violating the rules pubic issue rules on the pretext that the raising of funds from more than 50 investors does not remain a private placement. But the fact is that even after informing of 1.87 crore investors in 2007, neither RoC nor any of the government departments raised any objection. On the contrary, in 2008, Sahara got permission from two RoCs – Kanpur and Mumbai - for raising funds through OFCD again. Moreover, all through these 10 years, various RoCs regularly did inspections, investigation and regularly took Balance Sheets and returns and other documents as per Companies Act. RoCs permitted Sahara and to that extent they were the concerned regulators for the OFCD, Sahara argued.

Recalling the SEBI’s wavering stand, Sahara said the regulator had forwarded a complaint against the Sahara companies - Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Limited and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Limited - received in April 2010 to two different Regional Directors of Corporate Affairs Ministry, for appropriate action.

SEBI had even said in its letter to the two Regional Directors, who were concerned with the ROCs which permitted the OFCDs that the issue did not fall under the market regulator’s purview since the companies were unlisted. (Copy of the letter - http://sahara.in/furtherprecedents/docs/1.pdf)

Subsequently, Sahara pointed out, the Minister of State for Finance had informed the Lok Sabha in April 2010 itself on a question relating to CitiCorp’s OFCD issue that in the matters of unlisted companies issuing securities to several thousands of persons, SEBI does not exercise any jurisdiction. This statement was based on what the Executive Director, SEBI informed the Finance Ministry. (Copy of the Question & Answer at Parliament - http://sahara.in/furtherprecedents/docs/2.pdf)

In November same year, however, SEBI took a complete U turn and submitted through an affidavit in Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court that SEBI is the regulator for Sahara OFCDs, Sahara said.

Sahara pointed out in its public statement that SEBI should be severely punished for lying in Parliament or in its affidavit in the High Court. Any other citizen would have been jailed for such an act, Sahara said.

Mr. Mohan Parasaran ji, the then Additional Solicitor General of India (and now the Solicitor General) had also expressed his opinion on the query raised by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs that Sahara was right and SEBI wrong. He mentioned in his letter, “SEBI has no jurisdiction over the unlisted companies like the Sahara Group of Companies which are not intending to get themselves listed.” (Opinion of Mr. Mohan Prasanan - http://sahara.in/furtherprecedents/docs/8.pdf) 

Dr. Ashok Nigam, Additional Solicitor General of India, appearing on behalf of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, also submitted through Affidavit in the Court that Sahara was right and SEBI was wrong. He also added, “In issuance of OFCD the petitioner company after their registration with the Registrar of Companies has been permissible under the law. The Central Government remains the regulating authority for the company. It has got its own control system in place which has been under constant review with the developments taking place in the corporate world and it has already increased its controlling aspect of such companies and would further strengthen the same by making keener and deeper scrutiny of private placement of companies”. (Copy of the Affidavit - http://sahara.in/furtherprecedents/docs/13.pdf )

In addition, as many as five other legal luminaries, including two former Chief Justices of India and one ex-Chairman of Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), expressed the opinion in favour of Sahara.

The Law Ministry with the signature of the then Minister Mr Veerappa Moily, officially communicated to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) that Sahara was right and SEBI was wrong. MCA had, in fact, asked for the Law Ministry’s opinion, but they never produced it anywhere. But, somehow, Sahara got the copy and produced it in the court. SEBI has not yet reacted to it in the Court. (Copy of the document - http://sahara.in/furtherprecedents/docs/14.pdf )

Contrary to its view on Sahara, SEBI took an altogether different stand in the Kalpana Bhandari Case before the Bombay High Court that it did not has jurisdiction over unlisted public companies that did not intend to list their shares.

Similarly, in another case ‘Society for Consumers and Investors Protection Vs. Union of India’ in Delhi High Court in, SEBI took a view that it did not command jurisdiction, under Section 55A of the Companies Act, 1956, over unlisted public companies which did not intend to get listed.

Further, in response to the Prayag Infotech Hi-Rise Ltd., letter dated 27^th January, 2009, SEBI took a similar stand that unlisted companies did not come under its regulatory purview.

Stating that the company is being singled out for imposing a severe punishment, that too with a retrospective affect, Sahara asked as to why all the government departments are not being penalized. Had they not given repeated permissions Sahara would not have faced such a huge problem and injustice, the statement said and asked: “Is Sahara alone supposed to be solely responsible for the sanctity of law and legal system of the country that everybody should be hell bent upon punishing it with retrospective effect?”

On the current Scenario of its case on OFCD issue, Sahara explained that almost 3 years back it had voluntarily declared through a reputed Charted Accountant Firm that the liability, along with interest, of these two companies was Rs. 24,000 crores.

Sahara, which apprehended public violence across the country, began to refund the deposits much before that Supreme Court judgment of August 31, 2012 and some payments dragged up to September 20, 2012. Thus, Sahara’s liability was reduced to just Rs. 2,610 crores. Sahara also declared the Rs. 2500 crores as buffer amount subject to final verification of amounts. These figures were also certified by the same CA firm that declared the original liability of Rs 24,000 crores.

Following the Supreme Court order, Sahara deposited Rs 5120 crores with SEBI but the regulator is yet to pay to the investors. Is this the SEBI way of protecting the interest of small investors?

Sahara pointed out that SEBI accepted the liability figure of Rs. 24,000 crore as suited them and was not ready to accept the updated figure of Rs 2610 crores. Both the figures have been provided by Sahara itself and they are not come out as a result of any investigation by SEBI or any other body. Moreover, SEBI is supposed to refund about Rs 2000 crore to Sahara after refunding Rs 2610 crore to investors.

“It is important to note that there has been not a single complaint against Sahara. Had the payments not been made, there would have been violence and complaints throughout the country,” Sahara said and pointed out that nothing of this sort has happened.

Sahara said that the future of over 11 lakh workers is at stake and all that the company wants is justice.

For details the following link can also be consulted - http://sahara.in/furtherprecedents/

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Sahara India Pariwar flags-off 1000 village adoption project

VEDAS project will fully adopt villages for overall development, directly benefiting 25 lakh Rural Indians in 7 States
With the flag-off of the VEDAS, the project gets launched in 172 villages of Kannauj (U.P.) and Araria (Bihar) Districts

Lucknow, June 10, 2013: Sahara India Pariwar, a major business conglomerate of India, today flagged off VEDAS, its 1000 village full adoption programme. VEDAS project was flagged by ‘Saharasri’ Subrata Roy Sahara, Managing Worker and Chairman, Sahara India Pariwar today, along with launching of project in 172 villages at districts Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh and district Araria in Bihar. Under VEDAS, Sahara is fully adopting 1000 villages for holistic and sustainable overall development.  The project aims to cover 4.5 lakh rural households, touching the lives of 25 lakh people of 7 States. 

Under VEDAS, Sahara will undertake numerous initiatives which include providing Safe Drinking Water through Water Purification Plants and distributing it through Water ATMs, imparting Joyful Education through more than 500 Education Resource Centers with smart interactive classrooms equipped with high end Q Cloud technology. Free Primary Health Care will be provided to all villages on regular basis through fleets of Mobile Health Unit (MHU) vans. This will be augmented with Medical Center for serious cases at Central Point Village, with each center catering to a cluster of around 50 villages within its immediate vicinity. To empower people of the villages, Sahara is setting up Empowerment Centers at each Center Point Village. The centers will impart training and will have workplace equipped with food & beverages processing units, machines for traditional Household goods manufacturing, facility to make local craft products and products based on local resources. Besides, it will help all small and big farmers increase their land yield through its teams of highly qualified agriculturists. For all round sanitation, community awareness and advocacy program will be initiated and community toilets will be renovated. Sahara will also provide assistance in safe migration to people going to big cities for opportunities. Under VEDAS, Solar Powered Lanterns will be distributed to 4.5 lakh families of these villages, so that they have a healthy and eco-friendly source of lighting.

On this occasion, Mr. Subrata Roy Sahara, Managing Worker and Chairman, Sahara India Pariwar said, “It is our dream that all our countrymen can get quality living. Even being the bread basket of the nation, our villages have always reeled behind in this walk of development. Only collective growth can make our beloved nation into a powerful nation and this requires sharing with and caring of our left out fellow brethrens. VEDAS is our humble initiative to fully adopt villages so that a substantial and sustainable rise in the quality of the life and livelihood of our rural brethrens can be achieved. Initially, we are taking 1000 villages across India and we intend to take this project to more villages in times to come”.

Notes to the Editor

Sahara India Pariwar is a major business conglomerate in India with operations in multiple sectors, including financial services, life insurance, mutual funds, housing finance,  infrastructure & housing, print and television news media, entertainment channels, cinema production, consumer merchandise retail, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, sports, and information technology.

Sahara India Pariwar has always been prompt in its services towards the nation and its nationals who have sacrificed their lives at the altar of nationalism. Sahara India Pariwar’s commitment to Social Welfare is evident from the fact that 25% of its profits every year are dedicated towards social development activities. In fact, it’s the firm conviction of the Chief Guardian of Sahara India Pariwar, Hon’ble Saharasri, Subrata Roy Sahara that every organization, along with its own development and progress should also contribute towards the cause of the society and the nation at large.

Sahara also works on various Health programmes, including Mobile Healthcare Units, under which 52 medical vans across the country are running 30 days a month, throughout the year, taking free primary healthcare services to the remotest rural areas where medical services do not exist. Besides this, Sahara also works on various programs on Nutrition, Literacy, Vocational Training, Civic Development, Behavioral Change, Communication and Rehabilitation of the Physically Challenged People.

Under its Disaster Management initiatives, Sahara has always stood up in the need of the hour of the country, be it super cyclone of Orissa, earthquake in Gujarat, drought in Rajasthan or floods in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Sahara has adopted Bhimasar-Chakasar village in Taluka Anjar, District Kutch for relocation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the village along with basic amenities, panchayat ghar, bus stop, post office, play ground, primary and secondary school and street lights. When the devastating earthquake hit Latur district of Maharashtra, Sahara India Pariwar came forward to rehabilitate the earthquake stricken citizens of the region and also developed a cluster of earthquake houses in Killari Village in Latur, The houses were handed over to the villagers by Reverend Mother Teresa.

Sahara is also providing monthly financial assistance is also provided to the families of the Martyrs of the Mumbai Nov '08 terror attack, Dantewada Massacre and to the families of Kargil War Martyrs. Today, it provides, monthly financial assistance to 320 families of martyrs.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Ghulam Zeeshan

Asst. Chief Manager, Corporate Communications, Sahara India Pariwar

Ph.: 0522 2304230; Mobile: 9335235621

Email: ghulam.zeeshan@gmail.com

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