Most Recent Reports Archieves
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January -December 2000 More
January - December 2001 More
- Cochin International Airports lacks financial transparency: CAG, AG Reports.
- UAE Ministry of Education, Companies conduct f School Website Competition
- first exclusive Benedetti-Milano jewellery boutique in the UAE
- US Worldwide Caution against Terrorrist Hits on American Targets
January - December 2002 More
keralamonitor.com News November 29, 2002
E X C L U S I V E How the Local Partners were Cheated by the Gujarathi Business Tycoons
June 8, 2003
Investigation is going on against the Indian businessman and his family members who have allegedly cheated their Arab business partners in a multi million-hotel project and other businesses. The Gujarathi businessman was one of the main partners with an influential business group in the hotel project. The project involved a total investment of $26.25 million (Equivalent to more than Hundred Crores of Indian Rupees?) financed with an equity capital of $7.5 million. Te founder shareholders including the Gujarathi businessman had subscribed to 60 per cent of the share capital ($4.5 million).
Indian Shaikhs trying to fabricate false case against Indian Scribe, approach police
A Winner of lat years Pravasi Bharathi Award has approached the law enforcement agencies against an Indian scribe working for an english daily in Muscat and to stop him from writing critical reports . The prominent NRI businessman were exposed for their fradulent means of controlling two Indian community schools illegally as their private property, and charging exhorbitant fees to squeeze parents and some other cases. The scribe has been receiving anonymous threatening calls in the past for reporting the Indian school issue. While they like the media to treat them as heroes for receiving numerous awards and honours, these Shaikhs beccame restless when some accurate critical reports appeared for the first time in their corporate history - More Recent Reports on School School News
Founder Promoter Allegedly took 10 percent Cut for Every deal including Royalty paid to Singapore Hotel Chain More
At least four members of an Indian business family settled in a Gulf country (Oman) are facing high level investigation for allegedly cheating some influential people. According to reliable sources, four members of a north Indian business family who have the citizenship of the host country are under the custody of investigative agencies for allegedly cheating and money swindling from major projects, including a hotel project. More
July-August ReportsSeptember October Archives 2002 Recent Special News KM Special News January 2002 Dec 2001 (II) December 2001 November 2001 More KM Special Reports News Archives ReportsSeptember October Archives 2002 More News UAE School Students becomes Television Presenters-- On-line contest to drive showroom traffic in the UAE- -U.S.-India Economic Dialogue Intensified --'Woox Wall' launched in Middle East World Congress for Preserving Religious DiversityIndia, Russia Sign Agreement for setting up an Indian Bank in Moscow --Minister Maran to lead Indian Delegation to Doha WTo meet Cars sales expected to be less than 1 million units in 2005-06- More News
January - December 2003
Adivasis under State Terror The Plight of the Indigenous Communities in Kerala
Dr.K.M.Seethi * For the 3.2-lakh indigenous Adivasi (tribal) people of Kerala, what happened in the broad daylight in Muthanga on 19 February was nothing short of state terrorism. The heinous crime committed on the innocent Adivasis points to the hidden agenda of the 'civilised' and the politics of 'consensus' with respect to their extermination. Sadly, the Adivasis have become humans without human dignity and without the basic right to life. More
Hire the Editor to Fire Reporter!
Two Indian business tycoons, (one mentioned above and another who was caught in a financial crime) recently came out with a unique plan to get a journalist sacked from a local newspaper. The duo approached a European editor and promised to give "Sponsorship" worth RO 16,000 (Nearly 1.8 million Indian Rupees) as a reward for sacking a journalist who caused much embarassment to them. The tycoon's displeasure was caused by some reports about corruption in educational institutios illegally controlled by the two groups. The journalist who received anonymous threatening calls and letters in the past had reported the same to the higher authorities. However, instead of shielding the man who stoood for a public cause, the "editor " appeared to be more keen to consider the sponsorship-sacking-deal! In addition to get the journalist sacked, the duo also wanted to "Plant" their own mercenary writer in his place! A newly appointed senior diplomat brought in, sorry flown in, his own man as the replacement. People who fear media criticism would go to the extent of planting their own editors and reporters! Great march towards media freedom and democracy!
CBO Examines bank's exposure to Construction Group' headed by NRK Tycoon
DUBAI - The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) which regulates the banking sector in Oman has advised all leading commercial banks to report their total credit exposure to a diversified Construction Company with operations in Oman, Qatar, Brunai, India and other Gulf countries. The company is headed by a prominent Non Resident Keralaite businessman with strong political contacts .
The CBO advise came as a precaution to prevent the recurrance of earlier bank frauds precipitated by the Ali Redha Group, a trading company which dupedvarious banks to the tune of 50 million Rials. Some cheques issued by the Construction group bounced and the apex bank started a due diligence procedure to prevent the reurrance of Ali Redha episode. The gropup which employs nearly 4,000 workers in various prestigious building projects has been facing sever liquidity problem, as the payment for completed projects is delayed and banks almost stopped Overdraft facility. The concerned authorities are examining whether the Overdraft facility given to finance individual projects was misused in any way. Corporate world is keenly watching whether the Malayali Managing Director who has been busy building up a mighty business empire back home by acquiring star hotels and properties has lost interest in the local business.
The mute question is whether the huge bank liability will fall on the local Arab sponsors, who are anyway not happy with the Malabari. The tycoon was one of the parties behind the premature transfer of the former Indian Ambassador K M Meena using money power and political clout. Thanks to the timely intervention of the CBO and Omani Government, another banking crisis may be averted. The CBO monitoring is on and a clear picture will be evident soon. "The group has lot of money outstanding for the completed projects. It is not a case like Ali Redha, but the CBO move is a matter of concern," says a top banker.
Construction Group's Bank Accounts Monitored, Bad Loans under Scrutiny
Bank Account of a leading Construction Group headed by a prominent Non Resident Indian (NRI) is being monitored by the concerned authorities. Some of the cheques issued by the number one construction group with diversified interest have bounced. KM sources said the bank account has been either frozen or put under scrutiny. Suppliers of construction materials have been delayed payment for several months. All the corporate loans sanctioned from a bank which incured several hundred croresof loss due to bad loans are also under scrutiny. The prominent NRI who has been managing the company is having serious differences of opinion with the new generation of sponsors. Another leading business house continues to face problems related to bad loans from the same bank. Their movement outside the country is still monitored. Banks have lost a few million Rials in another fraud case involving a major livestock company, which allegedly produced fake documents to obtain loans. Transparency, strong auditing procedures and media reporting have made life uncomfortable for business tycoons, who are doing everything possible to escape from the mess. Illegitimate pregnancy cannot be hidden from the public eye for long...
Riyadh Plant to Produce Semi-Luxury Arab Sports Cars Design from India
Mohammed Ali wins multicrore Express Highway project in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram - February 13, 2003 A multi crore Access Controlled High-speed Corridors project connecting Kasargod and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala is likely to be awarded to the prominent Non Resident Indian businessman Dr.P.Mohammed Ali. One of the richest Indian in the Gulf, Mohammed Ali who had a humble beginning from Oman has been a successful businessmen. More
Indian Shaikh Wants Journalist to be Sacked. How the Local Partner was Cheated by the Indian Business Tycoons Investigation is going on against the Indian businessman and his family members who have allegedly cheated their Arab business partners in a multi million-hotel project and other businesses. The Gujarathi businessman was one of the main partners with an influential business group in the hotel project. The project involved a total investment of $26.25 million (Equivalent to more than Hundred Crores of Indian Rupees?) financed with an equity capital of $7.5 million. Te founder shareholders including the Gujarathi businessman had subscribed to 60 per cent of the share capital ($4.5 million). However, one of the reasons for the investigation is an allegation that the construction cost of the hotel has been highly inflated and many items, which are shown as imported specially for the projects are procured from the local market! It is learned that the project was handled by a construction company with strong links to the Gujarthi business family. Surprisingly, it is alleged that the Gujarathi businessman who took a leading role in promoting the hotel project hurriedly sold his share and got out of a loss making venture leaving the financial burden of liabilities and bank borrowings to the local partners! Full Report
Special Reports of Kerala Monitor
January - December 2004
- Malayali Carpenter commits suicide for non payment of salary
- Malayali commits suicide in Muscat due to labour problem
- Visa Racket Active, 35 Indians duped by Recruitment Agent
- Posted Feb 5, 2002 Indian Embassy helpless?
Malayalis on strike against non payment of salary, repatriation, seek NORKA help
More than 200 employees of ELCO in Oman face bleak future.
MEA Files Counter Affidavit in Delhi High Court case Against the Indian Ambassador
Advocate of the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi has filed a strong Counter Affidavit in Delhi High Court defending some of the punitive actions taken by the Indian Ambassador in Oman, the patron of Indian Schools, against certain prominent businessmen in Muscat. In response, the advocates of the petition has asked for more time to "study" the points made by the MEA. In the counter affidavit MEA retaliated most of the points raised in the petition, arguing that since the case occurred in Oman, filing a case challenging such an action in an Indian court would tantamount to interference in the domestic affairs of another sovereign nation. It is also argued that the petitioner was not involved in any community activities before he was appointed as the chairman of the Indian Schools. Watch this space for more.
Manipulation of Document with Official's Help
Changing Date of Birth by senior Indian School Muscat Staff could take place only with the tacit support of an Official who approved an affidavit which was just signed in the presence of a judicial personality in India. It is difficult to believe that changing someone's date of birth or other crucial information in a passport was done carelessly. As in the past, KM brought the issue to the notice of the Indian community, but some senior board members are apparently upset about KM reporting for obvious reasons. It is learned that the official has been removed from the consular section, but is that step enough to prevent recurrance of such cases in future?
By taking advantage of the weak position of the senior official in question, members of the school Management committee have been "getting things" done out of the way from the administrator, who calls the final shot in crucial matters, including the school finances. It is learned that recently two lakh Rials have been transferred from one bank account to another. However, the School which is having huge surplus fund is unwilling to give a small loan to the infant Indian School in Seeb to finance its building construction. Even though the parent school is offered the same rate of interest given by banks where the money is deposited, the SMC members say there is no fund to support another community school? It is easy for the SMC to spend money for replacing the school main switch board several times in an year, or "buy" the highest quality paints for building renovation with the help of such "administrators" by squeezing the ordinary parents. It is another matter that the lowest quality paint is used to decorate the school building.
- Indian School Darsait MC Approves resolution against Sugathan Gopalan
- Indian School Darsait Management Committee members have approached the Indian School Board, after a stormy committee meeting to remove Sugathan Gopalan from the School Committee. The latest controversy is surrounding the Republic Day Celebrations held at the school premises in which the SMC member has allegely violated the protocol. The power struggle within the SMC has reached a new stage as the Board has constituted a special Committee to investigate the charges against Sugathan Gopalan. Sugathan claims that he played an important role in developing the ISD. The board will also examine charges made by Sugathan against other SMC members..Watch this space for more.
Red Alert to Indian School Parents Pregnant Student - This is an appeal to the parents of Indian schools in the Gulf - Please monitor the movement of your grown up children, especially girl students in senior classes. The family of an Indian School Student who has been involved in an illicit love affair with the driver of the school bus is facing an unpleasant situation now. Even though the school had reportedly warned the student (12th Standard) and the driver about the affair , things have been going out of control. KM sources revealed that the youth has been abscoding. Dont allow your grown up daughters to use mobile phones, Internet chatting or go alone with the young school bus drivers . A Club premise was alleged used as a rendevouz by the girl and the youth to engage in illicit relationship --- Watch this space.
