SPECIAL FEATURE: SMALL SCREEN REVOLUTION

Financial Scandal: Dubai Based NRIs dupe Indian Government

Futures Trading in Pepper, Groundnuts

Malayali Appointed as PESB Chairperson

Beware of Child Kidnapping by Sex Maniac

keralamonitor.com

Recently a strange but unfortunate development occurred near the Church complex at Mattrah area in Muscat from where three Bangladeshi expatriates tried to kidnap and molest a very small Malayali Christian girl of less than ten years old. the incident happened when the girl was coming out alone from the church premises after the Friday mass. According to eyewitnesses, children normally came out of the church hall five to ten minutes before completing their prayers.

When a girl was coming out alone, three antisocial elements -believed to be Bangladeshishis-- tried to take her away to an isolated place. One of the culprits told the girl that her father is wating in the nearby building and guided her to the building. However, as the girl was followed by another small girl the culprits could not take away the girl. Fortunately somebody came through that isolated road and the culprits managed to escape. While church sources said that the culprits were trying to forcefully take the girl away for obvious reasons in a vehicle, much details are not disclosed about the whole incident. Even if the girl is less than ten year old, she is physically well built and grown, said an eyewitness.

After the incident, the girl's father was always looking around the same area to find out whether the culprits are coming again with the same purpose. While the Bengalis did not come to the same spot the next Friday, her father found out that one person was suspiciously moving in the Church area. As the father did not see the Bengali when he tried to take away the girl, he called his brother and the girl herself who identified the culprit. The Friday crowd of six hundred people who were in the church premises surrounded the Bengali and some of them manhandled him. A section of the crowd bashed him up to such an extent that the situation was going out of control. An expired labour card showed that the culprit is a Bangladeshi citizen. However the case was not reported to the police. It is learned that the same culprits, believed to be a group of sex maniac, had created similar problems near the Temple complex located near the Church complex.

So beware of such sex maniacs and don't leave your children especially small girls alone even during day time. According to the rumour mill in Muscat, the Bengali trio wanted to take away the girl in a vehicle but something went wrong and the entire operation was foiled. The very fact that the same culprit came back to the same location of crime, despite the public alert, indicates that they had some ulteriour motives.

FOUR ARRESTED IN MUSCAT FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

As part of an ongoing fight against drug traffickers in the Gulf, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) have arrested four culprits who were trying to smuggle about 250 kg of hashish worth several thousand Rials to one of the neighbouring countries.

On getting a tip off, a special team caught the five culprits who were loading huge quantity of hashish to a truck for smuggling the illegal drug to a neighbouring countries.Omani Government and the ROP have arrested a number of criminals involved in the multi million drug trafficking through the Sultanate.

The arrested are Mehdi bin Abdullah Mohammed and Abdul Aziz bin Najeeb bin Khamis (both Omanis) and two Pakistani citizens Zakir Khan Waleed Khan and Bashir Ahmed Khan.

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August 14, 2001

FUTURES TRADING IN PEPPER, GROUNDNUT

Kochi: The India Pepper and Spice Trade Association, International Commodity Exchange Division, Kochi has been granted permission last month to commence futures trading in dollar denominated contracts after meeting the International Standards and the basis fixed from the internationally traded varieties. In response to the department's invitation for application from the associations interested in conducting future trading in sugar, 14 applications have been received which are being processed.
Rajkot seed, Oil and Bullion Merchants Association Ltd., Rajkot has been granted in principle approval for conducting futures trading in groundnut and cotton seed. This includes groundnut, its oil and oil cake, cottonseed, its oil and oilcake and RBD palmolein. In principle approval has also been granted to the Commodity Exchange of India., Ahmedabad for setting up a regional commodity exchange in Gujarat for conducting futures trading in castor seed, rapeseed/mustard seed, groundnut, sunflower, cottonseed, sesame seed, copra, coconut, safflower seed, their oils and cakes. The Association has been directed to fulfil all the norms to commence futures trading.

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Junk in Dubai, fraud in Moscow, rich in Mumbai Russian debt repayment scheme defrauded by NRIs, Indian businessmen to make a killing

RITU SARIN

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 11: WHEN it was signed in 1993, the Finance Ministry had reason to be relieved. Under the Debt Repayment Scheme with Russia, it was decided that India would pay roughly $1 billion (Rs 3,000 crore) for all its piled-up debts with exports of goods and services. The time period: $1 billion over 12 years and the rest over the next 33.

Eight years later, however, a huge question mark hangs over the scheme as investigating agencies discover evidence of massive fraud and money laundering with a majority of the export consignments being diverted to Dubai instead of Russia. Much of this fraud took place between 1997-99 and with Rs 18,512 crore still to be paid, Finance Ministry officials are a worried lot. As first reported in The Indian Express (July 13, 2001), Finance Secretary Ajit Kumar called a high-level meeting of chairmen of several public-sector banks to discuss the scam and the RBI has been asked to submit a report on when went wrong with the
monitoring mechanism.

The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) has since been made the nodal agency to monitor investigations and senior officials in the agency admit that a ‘‘large majority’’ of the exports have been found to be diverted to Dubai.

An internal note states that several exporters who opened Letters of Credit (LCs) were either ‘‘non-existent or fly-by-night’’ operators and that the value of the exports was usually inflated’’ resulting in fraudulent claims of duty drawback and income tax. The note concludes, ‘‘Contrary to our belief that the Russian debt is being settled in rupees and goods and services, the Russian debt is being settled in hard currency.’’ This is because while goods meant for Russia were actually being dumped or sold in Dubai, the money generated from the sales was being routed through hawala from Dubai in dollars for purchasing rupee LCs and restarting the cycle.

As yet, the agencies have unearthed export fraud to the tune of Rs 423.70 crore for which duty drawback worth Rs 70 crore has been claimed. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating allegations of FEMA violations in 35 separate cases in which exports worth Rs 289 crore have been carried out. Nine persons were arrested by the ED in Mumbai and are now out on bail.

Significantly, ED officials confirmed the fact that it was either Indian nationals or NRIs who were running the entire network. While most of the exporters involved in the fraud have been operating from Gujarat and Maharashtra, they have also set up front companies in Dubai and Moscow. Investigators have tracked down several importing firms in Moscow with names such as Arina, Zao Syclope 1000, Termoecostroi and 000 Lorence Ltd.

The exporters have been getting double benefits because besides the 15% differential in the Rupee-Rouble rate for participants in the scheme, they also get between 10%-18% concessions by way of duty drawback and later, income tax.

Enforcement Director S S Dawra told The Indian Express that they have obtained evidence against the fraudulent companies and that a pattern of money laundering was likely to be established. ‘‘We have statements from the exporters that goods were diverted to Dubai, proof of non-existence of the suppliers of goods and plenty of instances to show money laundering. Indian banks should have been more vigilant and ensured they received proof of the goods landing in
Russia.’’

Most important is the assessment of the investigators that Indian exporters blatantly misused provisions of the scheme for years before the fraud was detected. Several big business houses are understood to have carried out huge volumes of exports to avail of the double benefits, besides indulging in heavy over-invoicing of goods. CEIB officials say the consignments shipped to Dubai have been over-invoiced as much as between 5-15 times. Among other goods, huge quantities of garments, pharmaceuticals, ball-point pens have been shipped, but they never reached Russian shores.

The Russians have never officially complained about non-receipt of goods because one, it is Indians who also control the imports from Moscow and two, because the the nominated Russian bank, the Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs (BFEA), has been getting roubles in exchange for the rupees sold at the weekly auctions held in Moscow since 1993.

As yet, the issue has not been discussed bilaterally between India and Russia and when contacted, Victor V Koudriashov, the Russian Acting Trade Commissioner in Delhi said he would not like to comment till the scam was the subject of investigations.((c)Indian Express

Malayali Appointed as PESB Chairperson

Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved reappointment of Shri T.K.A. Nair, as Chairperson, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) for a second term of three years with effect from 20.08.2001 and up to 19.08.2004

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Special Feature

Small screen revolution gives artists new avenues of glamour, stardom

COMEDIAN SALIMKUMAR INTERVIEWED BY SHYAMKUMAR

keralamonitor.com

At a time when the traditional role of pulp and yellow magazines is being taken over by mushrooming satellite channels in Kerala, film stars and small-scale artists find new avenues to excel from the small screen. Even when there is a shortage of good cinema, TV serials-- especially mega serials running continuously for several months-- are the latest trend in Malayalam visual media.

Famous comedian Salim Kumar who has emerged from the small screen has started focusing on cinema. After successfully releasing Thenkashipattanam he has signed up for four new films like Punyam and Shakthi Velu. Salim Kumar shot into prominence after appearing in the small screen through the Asianet special comedy programmes. Now he feels that over exposure in the small screen will reduce his growing star value. He has been advised to reduce the number of TV serials and focus on the film industry. Thanks to lower quality of programmes and shortage of good items, satellite channels keep on airing the same stuff, sometimes creating negative impact on some artists. Film glamour and TV stardom are different things -film stars are respected and admired. But serial artists are rarely admired as there are several so called mega serials, he says.

Salim Kumar's growth chart began from the Ernakulam Maharajas College "Even though I am acting seriously, people take it as comedy." He wanted to bean advocate, but ended up as a comedian par excellence. Now he has his own comedy troupe-Cochin Stallions--specialising in mimicry. He started acting and mimicry in schools. A graduate in Malayalam, he has acted in 40 films in a short span of time.

 

Tesni Khan:

After completing her SSLC, Tesni Khan, a popular star on the small screen, joined Kala Bhavan for Music course and worked simultaneously in the professional dance troupe. During one of her stage programmes, Director Baby was impressed with her performance and offered her a chance to act in film "Daisy". Even if she has acted in around 20 films, all roles have been either insignificant or secondary. Her performance was notable in Oru Mutham Mani Mutham, Veendum Chila Veettu Karyangal etc, but it is the small screen revolution that helped her to get important roles and became a familiar face to the TV viewers. Dhanyam, Samayam, Gokulam..the list of serials starring Ms. Khan is long.

"Serial is more important than films because there is no dominant role assigned to any single heroine. Starring multi heroines, TV serials allow artists like me to climb up their popularity chart. Some artists in mega serials became popular after telecasting some episodes and get new offers. They go for better offers or develop some differences with the directors. All of a sudden they change the script and don't mind even eliminating that character through an accident, or sudden death through illness," she says. That gives chance for good actors to come up in the field. "Whoever is performing better and readily available, will flourish." "It is a good development that instead of small artists wasting their life doing insignificant roles in movies, they can develop their careers. Still unmarried because Ms.Khan feels it is very difficult to remain in the entertainment field and lead a peaceful family life.

"A normal married life is far better than acting in serials. K.P.A.C. Lalitha, a talented actress could continue in field because her director husband gave her all support. Even if they get adulterated to get chance in films and serials, mentally they are innocent," she says. Her fathers is a famous magician and mother a dancer. She is the first magician in Kerala to ride a motorcycle blind folded.

Serials are also helping a number of families to earn their bread and butter. "We don't expect big five or six figure fees from films. Maximum that we earn from a film will be Rs. 15,000 to Rs.25,000. Acting in a serial, they get Rs. 2200 per day. Film artists like Kalpana get big amounts, but small time artists are happy with what they get from serials. "Serial artists are getting more respect and affection from the ordinary viewers as if the serial characters are part of their family life," Tesni Khan says.

Some serials will become mega serials because the producer and directors get continued support from advertisers. "When a serial and its story line are good, people don't mind watching them for a number of months. It affects the artistic value of serials, but artists are paid for their work," says Seema G. Nair, another actress who shot into prominence through a ghost character in a horror serial. "It affects the artistic value of serials, but it is a means of livelihood for us." she says.

Jose Thomas,

Film Director did a few serious films, which did not succeed. "People don't need such serious movies now. They want entertainment, and laugh for two and half hours in theatres," So deviated from serious moves to comedy films. "Comedy is an important ingredient for any successful movie or serial. Presenting comedy in a manner acceptable to the public is the main factor for the success of such movies," he says. "I am also planning a new mega serial in the background of Kuttanadan village life -depicting the farmers and workers life." People have always liked comedy movies because it is a unique human character.

Seema G.Nair

Famous in her ghost role, started with professional drama--her mother late Cherthala Sumathi was a famous drama actress. She ventured out to drama acting with Cochin Sanghamithra-- "Kanyakumariyile oru Kadankatha" was staged in 1250 theatres and Seema who played the heroine role shot into prominence. Even though she has been active in drama and bagged the best drama actress award in 1994 from Kerala Government, Ezhilam Pala, a TV serial gave her a good break.

Koottanadu Saloo

A Gulf Malayali turned film star-- still prefers acting in film. After completing three serials and five movies recently. He was working as a driver in Qatar for three years--he knows fluent Arabic. Even though he was a small time actor in dramas, it was not paying him much. So he migrated to the Gulf where he found the atmosphere not conducive to develop his acting. He was firmly determined to become an actor and the TV boom gave him the big break.

Rajesh:

Rajesh, a famous Malayali dancer, got dance training from Joseph Master and attended a number of courses and programmes to study various dimensions of modern dancing After working in the stage field for 17 years, he looks young and energetic due to the regular excercise. "Dance is the best form of exercise. When Asianet started new music programmes, I got a number of assignments. When I choreographed music for Asianet, it developed my confidence. Danced in a few films like "Sundari Kakka"- While working in Choice School, dance is still a means of livelihood for Rajesh. He owns Electrobattles dance troupe, Fort Kochi. "Even small kids are twisting, rocking and rolling-thanks to the influence of small screen," he says. Many feel that Rajesh is an aspiring dance master whose potential is not fully recognised by the Kerala film industry. But the small screen viewers have recognised his talent.

Sunil Sushasree

He became Assistant Director of Lenin Rajendran after completing his course from the Pune Film Institute. While he acted in a number of films and serials he could not establish himself as an actor. However, he has no intention to leave the field and is determined to remain in direction. A new satellite TV -D-Net to be launched soon from Kerala has offered him an assignment.

(c)keralamonitor.com 2001