2G scam: CBI raids Niira Radia, ex-Trai chief, Raja's relatives

The CBI on Wednesday raided the homes and offices of business lobbyist Niira Radia, former telecom regulatory chief Pradeep Baijal and relatives of former communications minister A Raja over the 2G spectrum row. 

In a coordinated operation, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials searched the New Delhi homes and offices of Radia, whose intercepted telephonic conversations showed her lobbying for Raja when a new government came in last year. 

CBI deputy inspector general of police Vinita Thakur said that officials landed up at Radia's Sainik Farms house in south Delhi as well as her plush office on Barakhamba Road in the heart of the city in the morning. 

"The raids started early today (Wednesday)," Thakur said. "They will continue as long as needed. We hope to give out further details by evening." 

The residence of Baijal, who retired in 2006 after serving as TRAI chairman for nearly three years, was being also searched. He is currently working with Radia. The allegation against him was that as the chairman of the regulatory body, which recommends various policies to the Government, he had helped some telecom firms. 

A former IAS officer of 1966 batch, Baijal was the first disinvestment secretary after the ministry was formed. 

These searches come exactly a week after the December 8 searches at the residence of Raja and his four close associates including his personal secretary R K Chandolia in connection with the scam. 

47-year-old Raja was forced to resign as minister on November 14 in the wake of the CAG's report that the rates at which 2G spectrum was allotted resulted in a possible loss to the exchequer to the tune of Rs 1.76 lakh crore. 

Raids were also conducted at the residences of former telecom secretary Siddarth Behura, Chandolia, member Telecom Commission K Sridhar and deputy director general in the department of telecom A K Srivastava. 

Raja has been maintaining that he was ready for questioning by the CBI any time. 

The CBI had registered a case on October 21, 2009 against unknown department of telecom officials and private persons and companies for allegedly causing loss of Rs 22,000 crore to the exchequer. 

The figure of the loses mentioned in the agency's FIR were based on the findings of Central Vigilance Commission which had referred the case to the CBI. 

The CBI has earlier searched offices of wireless planning cell (WPC), the department responsible for allocating spectrum, and the office of deputy director general (access services) of the telecom ministry to probe the allegations of connivance of officials with private companies in allocation of Spectrum. 

It had also conducted searches in eight cities housing headquarters of various telecom firms in connection with its probe into the scam. 

Putin's 'mistress' features on cover of Vogue Russia

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's alleged mistress is Vogue Russia's cover girl for its January 2011 issue, a media report said. 

The 27-year-old former rhythmic Olympic gymnast Alina Kabayeva, wearing a gold Balmain dress with her hands on her hips, will feature on the front cover of Vogue's January 2011 edition, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported. 

The decision to put Kabayeva on Vogue Russia's front cover was taken by the magazine's new editor Viktoria Davydova who has courted controversy given the fact that Putin recently denied a newspaper report that he has left his wife Ludmila, with whom he has two daughters, for Kabayeva. 

While there is no substantive evidence that 58- year -old Putin is romantically linked to Kabayeva, who also happens to be an MP for his ruling United Russia party, the alleged affair has long been the hottest gossip topic among Russia's elite. 

The rumour first came to public prominence in 2008 when a Russian newspaper, owned by billionaire oligarch Alexander Lebedev, quoted a source as insisting the story was absolutely true. 

Lebedev shut the newspaper down soon afterwards claiming it had not been a commercial success though many suspected the real reason was to appease an angry Putin. 

The rumours later escalated when bloggers claimed that Kabayeva had subsequently given birth to Putin's love child. 

Putin has angrily claimed that there is "not one word of truth" in any of the allegations, while Kabayeva's spokesperson has refused to discuss what she derided as "nonsense". 

Putin has rarely been seen in public with his wife Ludmila in recent years, citing a heavy workload. He married Ludmila, a former air hostess, in 1983, the same year as Miss Kabayeva was born. 

Cola wars may pit Tendulkar against Dhoni

Beverage maker Coca-Cola is in talks to rope in Sachin Tendulkar for an endorsement deal ahead of the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, laying the pitch for a high-profile off-field battle between the star batsman and his captain, MS Dhoni, who will lead PepsiCo's campaign. 

"Coke is very keen to have Tendulkar on board," a celebrity management official familiar with the events told ET. This was confirmed by an industry executive, but both clarified that no contract has been signed yet between Coca-Cola and the cricketer. 

It could be a short-term deal, they said. Coca-Cola and sports management firm World Sport Group (WSG), which represents Tendulkar, declined to confirm or deny the talks. 

"We are always in discussions with any number of leading celebrities with regard to their support of our brands and initiatives, but we only announce formal agreements after they are signed," a Coca-Cola India spokesman said. 

Harish Krishnamachar, senior VP ( South Asia) of WSG, said, "We are not in a position to discuss commercial terms for Sachin. Once a sponsor is signed, we will let our client announce it." 

The ICC World Cup, which kicks off in February, is a high-stakes event for marketers across sectors, particularly for soft-drink makers coming as it does at the onset of the peak summer season. 

India, where cricket and cricketers leave all other sports and athletes miles behind in popularity and celebrity status, is co-hosting the world cup with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. 

PepsiCo, one of ICC's global sponsors, is planning a high-pitched campaign featuring Dhoni, who has replaced Tendulkar as the most valuable cricketer and commands more endorsement fee than the master batsman, during the event. 

It has already roped in ad agency Taproot exclusively for the world cup campaign. Interestingly, Tendulkar was with PepsiCo for close to a decade before the beverages firm dropped him two years ago on grounds that it wanted younger stars for endorsements. 

But the Little Master, playing what could be his last world cup, is still immensely popular and is playing near his peak, having scored the first — and so far only — double century in a one day international. He will desperately want to do well in the event and lift his first world cup on April 2. 

Coca-Cola can bet on him to ensure PepsiCo does not walk away with all the gains at the world cup — perhaps the largest event for marketers. 

But getting him on board may not be easy. According to media reports, Tendulkar recently refused a lucrative offer to endorse a liquor brand, which would have been the highest-ever deal for an Indian sportsperson. 

Earlier this month, Dhoni signed the highest endorsement deal for a sportsperson — a three-year deal with Vijay Mallya's United Breweries group for Rs 26 crore. And, within days, he renewed his existing endorsement deal with Maxx Mobile for seven years valued at Rs 29 crore. 

Tendulkar endorses close to 14 brands, including ITC's Sunfeast, Adidas, luxury Swiss watch maker Audemars Piguet, Canon, Aviva Life Insurance, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and appliances major Toshiba. He charges about $1 million per year per deal. 

Coca-Cola has in-form opening batsman Gautam Gambhir for endorsements and it sponsors IPL team Delhi Daredevils. 

Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt to marry as per Hindu style in Jodhpur

While it's splitsville for Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar after three rocky years of marriage, Hollywood's celebrity couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have decided to cement their bond further. Like Liz and Arun, who tied the knot according to Hindu customs in Jodhpur, the Brangelina couple, too, are looking to take the 'pheras' in this historic Rajputana city. 

British news portals have reported that the Hollywood royalty is planning a Hindu wedding in the New Year under the supervision of their spiritual guru, Ram Lal Siyag. Siyag, 84, the founder-patron of Jodhpur-based Adhyatma Vigyan Satsang Kendra, neither confirmed nor denied the news. 

The Siddha Yoga guru, who is said to have played a key role in bringing peace and harmony into the jet-set lives of Jolie and Pitt, is unconcerned about his name being bandied about in the western media. His disciples, too, refuse to disclose any detail about the glamour wedding. 

The news websites also reported that Guru Siyag initiated the star couple into the Hindu way of life by giving them a mantra, which they are to recite every morning and evening. The mantra, those close to Jolie and Pitt say, has helped them in their relationship. 

"Gurudev has been to the United States a few times and has many disciples there who not only follow his path of spiritual awakening through mantra-chanting and meditation but also organise siddha yoga camps," said a disciple. 

In addition, a lot of spiritual aspirants get online 'deeksha' through YouTube videos for the divine benefits of 'kundalini' awakening. "We do not keep a tab on each follower of Guru Siyag," says Kuldeep Ratnoo, a disciple, refusing to say anything about the proposed wedding.

Read more: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt to marry as per Hindu style in Jodhpur - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Angelina-Jolie-Brad-Pitt-to-marry-as-per-Hindu-style-in-Jodhpur/articleshow/7102608.cms#ixzz18AUuEsVG

CBI raids lead to DMK, Kanimozhi doors

The CBI raids in the 2G scam, which started Wednesday morning, has widened. It now includes a senior Tamil journalist Kamaraj of the Nakeeran weekly and an NGO Tamil Maiyam in Chennai that is patronised by Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, Tamil Nadu CM Karunanidhi's daughter and a close ally of former Union Telecom Minister A Raja.

The NGO Tamil Maiyam run by Father Jegath Gaspar, conducts the Chennai marathon and other events. Kanimozhi is one if its best-known trustees.

Journalist Kamaraj's wife Jeyasudha, is a senior executive at Vaishnavi Communications in Chennai, which is owned by corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.

Earlier, the CBI carried out searches at the residences of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and former Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Pradip Baijal in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.

The probe agency, in total, carried out raids at 27 places in Tamil Nadu and seven places in Delhi in connection with its investigations.

Last week , the CBI had carried out searches at the residences of former Telecom Minister A Raja in Delhi, Chennai and his village Velur besides conducting raids at the premises of a possible business associate and four other Telecom officials, including his personal secretary R K Chandolia, in connection with the 2G scam.

Now, Digvijay Singh can't find phone records of conversation with Karkare

Guwahati: A day after he claimed of having proof of his phone talk with Hemant Karkare just before the 26/11 attacks, Congress leader Digvijay Singh today said he has not been able to get the phone records but stuck to his remarks about threat to the police officer from right-wing Hindu groups. 

"I am not a liar, there is no need for me to lie that I had spoken to (slain Maharashtra ATS chief) Hemant Karkare," Singh, who has recently been made party in-charge of poll-bound Assam, told reporters here. 

The Congress general secretary, who yesterday claimed he had records to prove that he had spoken to Karkare, today said he had requested the Telecom Ministry to get the record of the call between him and the police officer from its centre in Pune. 

Singh said that he had sent a request in this regard to the General Manager of BSNL at Bhopal but "has got in writing from them that they cannot provide details of this number as the records are kept only for 12 months". 

He said he had spoken to Karkare from his number registered in Bhopal. The Congress leader had said that Karkare had spoken about threats from right-wing groups during the telephonic conversation with him. 

"There is no need for me to spread a lie. I stand by what I said. It's not a new thing and I have said it many times on the electronic media and to the print media," he said. 

Dismissing as "absolutely rubbish" suggestions that he was questioning the investigation in the 26/11 case or meant to say that Pakistani terrorists were not involved in the encounter of Karkare, he said, "BJP is a master of double speak and is creating confusion" on his remarks.

Band Baaja Baaraat review

Shruti (Anushka Sharma) is a 20-something no-nonsense girl from a middle class Delhi household. Focused and determined with pre-planned ambitions, her goals in life are well laid out by the time she reaches her final year of college.

Bittoo (Ranveer Singh), on the other hand, has no real aim in life. As a final year college student of Delhi University, he whiles away his life having fun with his buddies, barely scraping through his exams.

A chance and inopportune meeting (or as you would call it, fate) brings the two of them together on a tumultuous journey where they become partners in their very own, "Wedding planning ka bijness". The rules however, are clear: "Jisse vyapaar karo, usse kabhi na pyaar karo" (Don’t mix business with pleasure).

Together, their friendship and business, enters the ups and downs of the lavish Delhi weddings. And while trying to find themselves, Shruti and Bittoo discover each other and realize that in the course of their journey, unke khud ke rules ki bajegi band!

Source : MSN