SRK and Wife Gauri, Owners of IPL Franchise ‘KKR' Get Show-Cause Notices

NEW DELHI: Actor Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri, who promote IPL franchise ‘Kolkata Kinght Riders’, and Jaipur IPL Cricket that promotes ‘Rajasthan Royals’ have been issued showcause notices for alleged violation of the Companies Act.

Shah Rukh Khan and wife Gauri Khan in Trouble.

“After expiry of notice period, criminal proceedings will be filed against the companies and the directors,” the Registrar of Companies (RoC), Mumbai, informed the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).

The notices were issued to the companies and their promoters and directors for not filing mandatory yearly returns.

The MCA, on last Wednesday, had directed the RoC to collect within a week all details on IPL franchisees, including the bidding process, sweat equity and memorandum of association.

“My ministry is merely collecting information that we should have in the normal course of those companies that are franchisee companies,” Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had told reporters on Monday, clarifying that this was not a probe.

The RoC-Mumbai, which in quiredinto the details of Red Chillies Entertainment and Knight Riders Sports, and Jaipur IPL Cricket, in a communication to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on April 22, said that “after expiry of the notice period, criminal proceeding will be filed against the companies and their directors.” The RoC said that these companies have not been filing balance sheets and annual returns.

According to an official sources, the companies have been given 15 days to respond to the notices given RoC-Mumbai.

E-mails sent to Red Chillies Entertainments and Knight Riders Sports remained unanswered, while the Jaipur IPL Cricket remained silent on the RoC notice.

Red Chillies Entertainment, promoted Rukh Khan and Gauri, which hold 55 per cent stake in Knight Riders Sports, has been charged for not filing balance sheet for 200607 with the RoC as required under the Companies Act, 1956.

Knight Rider Sports has not filed annual returns for the period up to September 2008 and September 2009. As regards Jaipur IPL Cricket, its directors too have been issued notices.

Pictures of IPL Awards 2010 Red Carpet

Preity Zinta

Shilpa Shetty With Husband Raj Kundra

Dia Mirza

Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jessia Rampal

Mugdha Godse

Gaurav Kapur

Lalit Modi

Anil Kumble with his family

Amrita Rao

Yusuf Pathan and Irfan Pathan

Vijay Mallya

Vida Samadzai

Talat Aziz with his wife Bina

Siddharth Mallya.

Shamita Shetty

Sameera Reddy

Ronit Roy

Priyanka Chopra's parents, Ashok Chopra and Madhu Chopra

IPL Awards 2010 Night, View Pictures of Bollywood and Cricket Stars Perfoming at the Event

Despite the raging controversy around the IPL, Bollywood and Cricket stars who attended and made their presence felt at the Awards Ceremony/Function.

Photographs From IPL Awards 2010

Yuvraj Singh, Shah Rukh Khan and Adam Gilchrist attends the IPL Awards Night at the Grand Hyatt on April 23, 2010 in Mumbai, India.

Actress Katrina Kaif performs on stage at the IPL Awards Night at the Grand Hyatt on April 23, 2010 in Mumbai, India.

Actress Priyanka Chopra performs on stage at the IPL Awards Night at the Grand Hyatt on April 23, 2010 in Mumbai.

Saurav Ganguly attends the IPL Awards Night at the Grand Hyatt on April 23, 2010 in Mumbai.

Lalit Modi hugs Preity Zinta during the IPL Awards Night at the Grand Hyatt on April 23, 2010 in Mumbai, India.

Karan Johar with Shilpa Shetty attends the IPL Awards Night

Actress Neha Dhupia (L) with Royal Challengers Bangalore owner Vijay Mallya (R) at the IPL Awards Night at the Grand Hyatt on April 23, 2010 in Mumbai, India.

Yuvraj Singh (C) performs on stage with Mugdha Godse (R) & Neha Dhupia (L) at the IPL Awards Night

Sameera Reddy with Lalit Modi

Preity Zinta at IPL awards 2010

Lalit Modi with Mehr Rampal

A R Rahman performs on stage at the IPL Awards Night

Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra, who own the Rajasthan Royals IPL team, at the awards ceremony picture: Viral Bhayani The IPL controversy is getting murkier and murkier, with more and more big names coming under the scanner for allegedly being involved in money laundering, match-fixing, receiving kick-backs and being proxies. But at the Sahara IPL Awards held at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai on April 23, the gathering of Bollywood stars and cricket stars were not focusing on the scandal. They were there to honour the best from this year's IPL tournament. And they also showed their support for the man in the middle of one of the biggest scandals ever seen in India - IPL commissioner Lalit Modi.

Bollywood representatives at the event included Shah Rukh Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Preity Zinta, (all three IPL team owners), Arjun Rampal, Karan Johar, Amrita Rao, Sameera Reddy, and many others. Meanwhile, the IPL players were all there too. And there was a lot of bonding going on between everyone.

Shilpa Shetty posted a picture of herself with Preity Zinta on her Twitter account and wrote, "Revelry off the field and Rivalry on the field;) ha ha. PZs such a sport!"

And what did Preity have to say? She posted on her Twitter account, "It was so nice to see Lalit (Modi) smile despite all hell breaking loose in the media. U have 2 give it 2 him for making IPL what it is!"

Preity added later, "Hope the truth comes out and media speculation stops! Breaks my heart to see IPL bashing by any and everyone."

Arjun Rampal, who has been organising the IPL after-parties with his wife Mehr, tweeted, "Just finished the IPL awards. Srk rocked the house was in great form, Karan was superb and an endearing speech from Lalit Modi."

He continued, "The sportsmen were truly sporting, Bajji, Yusuf, Rahul and Dada..take a bow. Vijay Mallya can sing. Dada and Srk still need to practice."


The first ever IPL awards concluded tonight in Grand Hyatt in Mumbai. As expected Sachin Tendulkar dominated the ceremony as he picked up 3 major awards that includes the Jury awards for Best Batsman followed by the two viewers choice award for Best Batsman and Best Captain.

The Jury was formed by Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara, Umpire Simon Taufel, former Indian quickie Javagal Srinath, Commentator Harsha Bhogle and Lalit Modi asthey also handed out awards to the likes Kieron Pollard (Best Debut Performance) , Jacques Kallis (Best Consistent Performer) and even M.A Chinnaswamy Stadium and DY Patil Stadium took the honors for the best Stadium respectively.

Legendary Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev was awarded with an Indian Captain’s Choice Award (An Indian Cricketing Legend I would want in my team).


List of IPL 2010 Award winners


IPL Jury Awards

Best Debut Performance: Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians)

Best Batsman: Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai Indians)

Best Bowler: Pragyan Ojha (Deccan Chargers)

Best Dramatic Performance: Harbhajan Singh (Mumbai Indians)

Most Consistent Performer: Jacques Kallis (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Best Breakthrough Performance 2008: Brendon McCullum (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Best Breakthrough Performance 2009: Anil Kumble (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Best Fielder: AB de Villiers (Delhi Daredevils)

Best Ground: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Best Stadium Experience: DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai


Viewers’ Choice Awards

Best Catch: David Hussey (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Best Batsman: Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai Indians)

Best Captain: Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai Indians)

Best Bowler: Pragyan Ojha (Deccan Chargers)

Best Commentator: Ravi Shastri

Most Stylish Player: Robin Uthappa (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Most Fan-Friendly Cricketer: Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers)

Best Fielder: Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings)


Statistical Awards

Most Economical Bowler: Ravichandran Ashwin (Chennai Super Kings)

Fastest Hundred: Yusuf Pathan (Rajasthan Royals)

Highest Percentage of Runs Scored in Boundaries: Virender Sehwag (Delhi Daredevils)

Indian Cricketing Legend I Would Want in my Team: Kapil Dev


IPL Awards Jury

Lalit Modi (Convener)

Sunil Gavaskar

Brian Lara

Javagal Srinath

Simon Taufel

Harsha Bogle

IT Raids Against SRK's KKR Find 'Evidence' of Dubious Ownership Pattern, Mauritius-Based Shell Companies Linked

A battery of 10 officials from the IRS and the income tax (IT) department strode into the CAB and KKR franchise offices at Eden Gardens to check for IPL-related documents and computer files. Tax officials who conducted search operations at the offices of the Bengal Cricket Association (CAB) and Shah Rukh Khan Co-Owned Kolkata Knight Riders till the early hours of Thursday in Kolkata claimed to have found "incriminating evidence" of irregularities. Kolkata Knight Riders franchise/Team is jointly owned by SRK, Juhi Chawla and husband Jai Mehta.

Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla

"We have found incriminating evidence. We will investigate further. We needed to have a look at certain transactions and we've found whatever we were looking for," said Indian Revenue Service Deputy Director Akhilendu Jadhav.

The main angle that the sleuths of the Directorate of Income Tax Investigation were looking for on the probe into the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises was the legality of money transfers from tax havens abroad, primarily Mauritius, officials explained.

Juhi Chawla's Husband Jai Mehta

This apart, officials of the Directorate of Enforcement were probing the legitimacy of transactions between the franchise and the state's cricket board, the officials added.

Searches at both the board's office at the Eden Gardens stadium and the premises of Kolkata Knight Riders and its parent Red Chillies Entertainment of actor Shah Rukh Khan at ITC Sonar Bangla and Shakespeare Sarani began at 3 pm on Wednesday.

CAB joint secretary Biswarup Dey, who was present during the raids, said the IT officials went through various files of KKR and IPL.

“We handed over whatever they wanted. Some were related to 2008. Some papers we could not give which we would give later,” said Dey.

IT officials reportedly could not trace some files pertaining to agreements between the KKR and CAB. IT officials may visit the offices again, sources said.

The I-T raids may have been part of a nationwide crackdown on all the franchises in wake of the IPL scam, but it has raised serious questions about the ownership pattern in KKR. The public perception is that the KKR is co-owned by Bollywood badshah Shah Rukh and his one-time co-star Juhi Mehta and her husband Jay Mehta, but the I-T sleuths are now probing several Mauritius-based shell companies that have been linked to the Kolkata franchise.

According to sources, the I-T officials were specifically looking for files of a Mauritius-based company, through which funds have been routed to Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt Ltd, a company owned by Shah Rukh Khan and wife Gauri, that co-owns KKR. Interestingly, sources say, the taxmen have found out that Shah Rukh and Jay Mehta have very little stake in the team. The majority money had come from Mauritius. Investigators are trying to track down the money route to the source. Knights are rated the second most valuable IPL franchise brand.

I-T officials hit four places simultaneously on Wednesday afternoon: the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) office, a CAB library that KKR (Red Chillies) uses as its office, KKR’s public relations agency Gameplan, and even ITC Sonar that hosted the Knights during matches at Eden. Late in the evening, IT officials also called upon CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya’s house. Taxmen are also looking into Red Chilles’ dealings with a company called Craving Dreams that handled all their post-match IPL parties at the official team hotel.

An income-tax report, published in the media earlier this week, not only raises certain uncomfortable questions about the holding pattern in three franchises, namely, KKR, Kings XI Punjab and the Rajasthan Royals, but also hints that IPL chairman Lalit Modi has interests in all three.

The federal revenue department had Wednesday broadened the probe into the financial deals of IPL, even conducting search operations on three of its event management and broadcast firms in Mumbai, apart from the franchises.

The 10 franchises under scrutiny are Kochi's Rendezvous Sports, Pune's Sahara group, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab.

BCCI to Ask Lalit Modi to Quit From Job as IPL Commissioner On April 26

IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi is certain to lose his job. Sources say Indian cricket board, BCCI will ask him to resign from his post on April 26.


The top officials of BCCI are to meet in Mumbai on April 23. IPL franchise owners have been asked to attend the meeting from which Modi will be excluded. Sources say if Modi doesn't step down, then BCCI will convene special annual general meeting to oust him.

Sources say BCCI President Shashank Manohar and secretary N Srinivasan are planning to move a resolution against Modi at the board’s working committee meeting on May 2. The resolution could either reduce Modi's powers in the IPL, or remove him from it altogether.

The meeting will discuss allegations against Modi and all other issues related to the Kochi IPL franchise bid. The BCCI working committee meeting would be preceded by a meeting of the IPL's governing council on April 25.

"All the allegations (against Modi) and other issues would be discussed in the governing council. The date would be announced soon," said Rajiv Shukla, the BCCI's media and finance committee chairman, in Delhi.

But Modi has a tougher opponent in the government. Government sources say the Revenue Secretary and Enforcement Directorate will be briefing Income Tax officials on Monday on how to speed up a probe against Modi.

The Enforcement Directorate is likely to soon start an investigation into Modi's foreign transactions. A report in the Economic Times quoting sources says the Income Tax department is in possession of a report, which suggests Modi is allegedly into large-scale betting and money-laundering.

Sources also claim that the Income Tax department has sent BCCI a questionnaire with 10 questions on various aspects of the IPL deal.

Despite the problems Modi found the time to tweet about the IPL controversy. "Lots in media - speculations. welcome all investigation - ready to extend all cooperation," he posted on Twitter.

Modi and IPL:

Lalit Modi made an advance tax payment of Rs 19 lakh in 2007. In 2008, when the first edition of IPL was launched, the advance tax shot up to Rs 2.5 crore. In 2009, when the IPL was shifted to South Africa, Modi paid Rs 32 lakh as advance tax, but in 2010, the advance tax component has gone upto Rs 11 crore.

Sunanda Pushkar Gives Up Stake (Sweat Equity) in Kochi IPL Team

Dubai-based Sunanda Pushkar has given up her stake in the IPL Kochi franchise following a row involving her boyfriend and Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor and Lalit Modi, her lawyer said on Sunday.

Sunanda Pushkar

Lawyer Ashish Mehta read out a statement to NDTV news channel saying Ms. Pushkar had “voluntarily” given up the sweat equity Rendezvous Sports World had offered her.

In the statement Ms. Sunanda has said she was shocked to find "certain vested interests" questioning her credentials and because of the "unpleasant publicity" she was opting out.

Ms. Sunanda further said, "as a woman professional, I am shocked to find how easily certain parties with vested interests, questioned my credentials mainly because I am a woman. I, therefore, voluntarily offer to return to Rendezvous the sweat equity they had offered me.

"I do not intend to seek compensation for the efforts I have made so far for them. As a mother of a half-Malayali son, I wish Kerala cricket well and I hope this team succeeds handsomely in IPL-4 and in the years to come," she said.

She had been looking forward to "contributing over the next ten years to building the team's brand, organising events for it and marketing the team in India and the Gulf in particular."

"Given the deeply unpleasant publicity surrounding my involvement however, I can no longer imagine being able to find the enthusiasm required to associate myself with any IPL activity in foreseeable future."

“The decision has nothing to do with Tharoor. This is her own decision,” he said. Rendezvous Sports World is a member of the consortium that won the Kochi Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise.

What is Sweat Equity, What Does the Term Mean ?
Sweat equity is a term used to describe the contribution made to a project by people who contribute their time and effort. It can be contrasted with financial equity which is the money contributed towards the project. It is used to refer to a form of compensation by businesses to their owners or employees. The term is sometimes used in partnership agreements where one or more of the partners contributes no financial capital. In the case of a business startup, employees might, upon incorporation, receive stock or stock options in return for working for below-market salaries (or in some cases no salary at all).

The term is sometimes used to describe the efforts put into a start-up company by the founders in exchange for ownership shares of the company. This concept, also called "stock for services" and sometimes "equity compensation" or "sweat equity" can also be seen when start-up companies use their shares of stock to entice service providers to provide necessary corporate services in exchange for a discount or for deferring service fees until a later date, see e.g. "Idea Makers and Idea Brokers in High Technology Entrepreneurship" by Todd L. Juneau et al., Greenwood Press, 2003, which describes equity for service programs involving patent lawyers and securities lawyers who specialize in start-up companies as clients.

Shahrukh Khan Denies Offering any Role To Sunanda Pushkar in His IPL Franchise KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan has denied offering any role in the team to Dubai-based entrepreneur Sunanda Pushkar. Earlier, Sunanda had said that she was offered a similar role to manage affairs of Kolkata Knight Riders, but she had refused.

Pushkar is a friend of the Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor.

"Just so that the channels get it right. We never offered a stake in KKR to anybody ever, including this lady in the midst of (the) Kochi thing," the Bollywood superstar wrote on his twitter page.

Pushkar has a Rs. 70 crore stake in the Kochi franchise, which was given to her for free. It is alleged that she is a shareholder on behalf of Tharoor.

The shareholding pattern of the franchise turned into a massive controversy after IPL commissioner Lalit Modi named all the stakeholders on his Twitter page.

Modi claimed that he was asked not to reveal Pushkar's stake by Tharoor, who is speculated to marry her after completing the divorce proceedings with his Canadian wife.

Tharoor, however, has denied the charge, insisting that he has no financial stake in the franchise.

Shashi Tharoor-Sunanda Pushkar-Lalit Modi Controversy Regarding Ownership of IPL Kochi Team: The Inside Story

All Details About Why the Controversy Started, Why are they Fighting , Lalit Modi-Shashi Tharoor At War.
Your guide to a story with super-hot ingredients: politics, love, drugs, money, crime, and a bit of cricket

How did Union Minister Shashi Tharoor get entangled in the ongoing IPL Controversy?
By working behind-the-scenes to cobble up a consortium that bid and bagged the franchise for the Kochi team.

What is the controversy all about?
The people who constitute the consortium. IPL commissioner Lalit Modi wants to know who they are, but claims even the people who presented the bid documents did not have the answer. He persisted and got the answer, which he then posted on Twitter.

What happended after That?
One of the stakeholders, Rendezvous Sports World, has given 19 per cent of its 25 per cent equity, to Sunanda Pushkar.

So what?
She is close to Tharoor. She has been spotted with the minister at various events, including some official functions.

Who is Sunanda Pushkar, Whats Her Background?
She is a 48-year-old Kashmiri working as director (sales) with a UAE-based realty company and an entrepreneur running a spa in Dubai. Her family had migrated from J&K after their house was set on fire by militants in 1990. She was married to a Kashmiri, Sanjay Raina, who worked in a hotel in New Delhi. They were divorced. She went to Dubai where she married Sujit Menon, who dealt in fire-fighting equipment and was an event manager. Menon died in a road mishap in Delhi. Pushkar has a 15-year-old son.

So what if Sunanda is Tharoor's friend and also has a stake in Kochi?
Being a minister, Tharoor should not have taken interest in IPL, which is a private enterprise. But, even if he did, his proximity to Pushkar raises questions about propriety. Sunanda said on Wednesday that she is no proxy for Tharoor, but still, the deal is worth a mind-boggling Rs 1,500 crore, and she will have to face uncomfortable questions.

What are the questions that face Sunanda Pushkar regarding te IPL Controversy?

• Why is Pushkar getting a stake without investing a paisa?

• Would anyone pay Rs 70 crore (as Rendezvous claims) for Pushkar's marketing and brand-building skills? Apparently, she was once tapped by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but this has not been refuted by SRK's team.

• Is the money meant to compensate Tharoor for his efforts to put together the consortium?

• Does the money represent the minister's investment in the franchise? Or, was it a means for him to invest ill-gotten wealth?

• Was it right for a Central minister to be so closely associated with an IPL team?

• Shouldn't Tharoor have revealed to IPL his friendship with Pushkar at the time of helping put together the bid?

What does Tharoor say about the Controversy?
Role didn’t extend beyond mentoring bid.

What is Lalit Modi saying?
If Tharoor was only mentoring, why did he call and request Modi not to delve into the ownership of the Kochi franchise?

What’s Tharoor’s reply to Lamit Modi?
First, he did not call Modi. Second, he asked Modi not to drag his personal life into IPL. Then, his aide raked up stories on Modi's indiscretions during his stint in the US for studies. Modi had been arrested for drug possession, kidnap and assault. He opted for a ‘plea bargain’ wherein he was convicted for kidnap and assault and in exchange was not tried on the drug charge. He received a suspended sentence, which meant that he would not have to be put in prison unless he was arrested again in a criminal case.

What now?

The BJP is rubbing its hands in glee, having got another opportunity to target Tharoor. Congressmen are putting up a brave front, but are actually feeling jittery about how far the players in this drama will go to dig up dirt about each other, and on others who might have a stake in IPL through their proxies.

Any effect on IPL?
Unlikely for now, but cannot rule out more skeletons coming out of the cupboard in the coming months.

Speaking of skeletons, what is the underworld connection here?
Tharoor got an SMS telling him to either apologise to Modi or... Speculation is that the SMS originated from the underworld, specifically Dawood Ibrahim's aide Chhota Shakeel. Delhi police are investigating.

Lalit Modi says he has no hidden agenda in the tussle with Tharoor

Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi maintained that there was a question mark over the ownership of the Kochi franchise as the owners themselves did not know some of the people involved with it. Modi, who had been pulled up over the issue by the Indian cricket board chief, however, played it down saying that this is a small issue and it would be sorted out after the IPL is over.

“With regards to the eight franchisees, we know about all the stake holders, but there are still some doubts over the ownership of the Kochi franchise. Even the people who signed the tender documents don’t know who they are,” Modi told reporters here.

Modi said he had nothing to hide and “this is a small issue, but an issue nevertheless”. “Will deal with Kochi once the IPL is over. I will also explain my side to the IPL governing council and we have no hidden agenda, no hidden stakes,” he said.

‘IT’S MY JOB’ Says Lalit Modi

Undeterred by Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor launching an attack on him on Kochi franchise issue, Lalit Modi asserted that it was his job to seek details of every shareholder and authenticate. “It is my job as Chairman of IPL to seek details and authenticate the shareholding of every franchise... how would otherwise I know where the money is coming from,” Modi said on Tharoor’s accusation of he causing impropriety by divulging the details of the shareholding of Kochi franchise.

Wondering as to why any third party (Tharoor), which is not a shareholder in any of the franchise, should be exercised about IPL seeking details, Modi said that he did not know about who Sunanda Pushkar was till he read about her in the newspapers. Sunanda Pushkar, who was given 19 per cent of the 25 per cent equity held by Rendezvous Sports World in Kochi franchise, was reported to be very close to Tharoor, who is also reported to be planning to marry her.

Modi, who has been credited for success of IPL which he had earlier said would help make BCCI the richest sports entity in the world in next 3-4 years, also wondered as to why Sunanda should be given free equity and quipped “whether she is bringing any value?”

Questioning Tharoor making a phone call to IPL for not disclosing the identity of shareholders of Rendezvous, he said “his call has been minuted and the entire conversation has been minuted by IPL”.

He said that his main concern was always to find out the sources of money and identity of shareholders to keep IPL, which has dislodged TV programmes , to keep the working transparent and entity above board, particularly on account of the huge money involved.

‘MODI ASKED A LOT OF PERSONAL QUESTIONS’

Strongly reacting to Lalit Modi’s statement that there was a question mark over the owners of Kochi franchise, its CEO Shailandra Gaikwad hit back at the IPL Commissioner, saying the new team was deliberately made to go through a “tough time” for outbidding some big business houses. Gaikwad said that the franchise was being targeted because it outbid some big business houses whom Modi wanted to rope in for the subsequent editions of IPL.

“We are being put to an unnecessary process and the reasons are obvious. If we did not have all the papers in place how could we win the bid. It is unfair now to make us go through these problems,” an angry Gaikwad said.

He alleged that Modi had asked a lot of personal details during the meeting with owners in Bangalore.“We were asked a lot of personal questions about some of our owners which we could not readily answer. He asked questions about when did you meet Sunanda (Pushkar) and other such irrelevant things”.

Shashi Tharoor’s Girlfriend Sunanda Pushkar Quit Dubai Job a Week Before Kochi IPL Team Sale

Thursday, April 15: Sunanda Pushkar, who is being described as Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor’s would-be wife (Fiance), resigned her position in a Dubai property investment company just a week before the Chennai auction where Rendezvous Sports World bid $333.3 million to own the Kochi Indian Premier League franchise.
To Know all about Sunanda Pushkar Click Here

Sunanda Pushkar
To Know all about Sunanda Pushkar Click Here

Enquiries with Pushkar’s former employer, Dubai-based Tecom Investments, a member of Dubai Holding, revealed that Shashi Tharoor’s sweetheart resigned her job on March 13 this year, exactly a week before the Chennai auction. Pushkar worked as a “specialist” in leasing and property investment.

Abdullah, a Tecom Investment spokesman, confirmed that “she worked for us and quit on March 13”. Pushkar, who owns a spa in Dubai, worked at Tecom Investments since June 27, 2005.

Sources revealed Sunanda and Tharoor were scheduled to tie the knot/get married on June 26, which is also her birthday. It is understood she had sent out text messages to some of her closest friends, disclosing the date of her marriage/wedding to the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha member. In a statement to ‘India Abroad News Service’, Pushkar said she “is not a proxy” for Tharoor, though there have been speculations to the contrary. Pushkar continued in her statement that “My own business interests and assets are substantial, and efforts to besmirch Tharoor by presenting me as a proxy for him are personally insulting for me as a woman and as a friend.”

She said she was contacted by Rendezvous Sports World, one of the consortium members of the Kochi IPL franchise, to take advantage of “my extensive international experience as a business executive, marketing manager and entrepreneur”.

“Because this is a start-up effort, I was told that in lieu of a salary they would grant me minor equity in Rendezvous in return for my efforts, a common practice across the world for... projects of this nature,” Pushkar said.

Other sources Deccan Herald spoke to in Dubai said Pushkar, who lived in an apartment on Sheikh Zayed Road, was a “middle level” employee holding the position of sales manager in Tecom. Before joining Tecom, Pushkar ran a spa, but she disappeared from the Emirate city once she quit her job in the company.

The Group CEO of Tecom Investments is Abdullatif Al Mulla. Tecom was the promoter of the SmartCity Kochi project, the agreement for which was signed with the Kerala government on May 13, 2007.

The Rs 1,500-crore project, however, ran into rough weather and was stalled following differences between the promoter and the Kerala government over the issue of freehold rights over the 246-acre land on which the proposed IT facility was to come up in Vazhakkala. Click Here For Full Coverage on Sunanda Pushkar

Owners of IPL Teams/Franchise and The Prices at Which They Were Bought

The spiralling controversy over the shareholders of the Kochi franhise has led to questions over the ownership of the eight franchisees now playing in the Indian Premier League.

Though most of the names of the shareholders of the franchisees have been in public domain, the spat between Lalit Modi and Shashi Tharoor has brought the focus back on them.

If Modi has questioned the ownership of the new franchise Kochi, the Kerala team’s shareholders want to know the owners of all the franchises if there is no confidentiality about them. The other franchise sold last month was bought by Sahara India. A couple of franchisees sold a small stake here and there, but most of the chief promoters of the eight franchisees remain intact. Below get details and Information on the different IPL teams, owners and prices they were purchased at.

Here is a List of All the Franchises in the Indian Premier League, their owners and the Price of Purchase:

Rajasthan Royals

The Jaipur team was bought by UK-based company Emerging Media for $67 million to own the team for a period of 10 years.

Suresh Chelaram, Lalit Modi’s brother-in-law and a Nigeria-based businessman, has 44.1% stake, UK-based businessman Manoj Badale has 32.4% stake while the rest is controlled by two companies promoted by Raj Kundra, actress Shilpa Shetty and media mogul Lachlan Murdoch.

Chennai Super Kings

The Chennai team was bought by India Cements for $91 million to own the team for 10 years. India Cements is headed by cricket board secretary N Srinivasan.

Bangalore Royal Challengers

The Bangalore team was bought by Vijay Mallya’s UB Group for $111.6 million.

Kings XI Punjab

The Mohali team was bought by Bollywood diva Preity Zinta, her former industrialist beau Ness Wadia, along with renowned industrialists Karan Paul and Mohit Burman for $76 million. Mohit is the brother of Modi’s step-son-in-law Gaurav.

Kolkata Knight Riders

The team is owned by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, actress Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta, who bought it for $75.09 million.

Deccan Chargers

The Hyderabad team was bought by Deccan Chronicle, a media house, for $107 million. Owners are Venkat Reddy and Daughter Gayatri Reddy.

Mumbai Indians

The Mumbai team is owned by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited for $111.9 million.

Delhi Daredevils

The Delhi IPL team is owned by GMR Holdings for $84 million.

Sunanda Pushkar Had Plastic Surgery of Nose Done By Rhinoplasty Surgen Dr Ashok Gupta

April 16 2010: Sunanda Pushkar's face recently launched a thousand IPL controversies. However, if you've had enough of it, you could try an older variation. A city surgeon performed three cosmetic surgeries on Shashi Tharoor’s girlfriend and Fiancee 10 years ago.

Here Are Photographs of Sunanda Pushkar Before and After Plastic Surgery of Nose

Sunanda Pushkar Before Plastic Surgery of Nose

The swelling 5 days after surgery on Sunanda's Nose

Sunanda Pushkar After Plastic Surgery, as She Appears Now

The one you've been spotting these days is only a new and improved version. City sources say that the woman, who is in the eye of the Modi-Tharoor storm, had a nose job done by a leading Mumbai-based cosmetic surgeon ten years ago.

When contacted, Dr Ashok Gupta, who runs a clinic at Laud Mansion, admitted, after some initial hesitation, that he had performed surgeries for Pushkar.

“Many patients come to me for various things. Sunanda Pushkar was one of them. I conducted a rhinoplasty for her in 2000. She had also sought some other changes,” said Dr Gupta, who received the Padma Shri in 2009 for his contribution to the field of plastic surgery.

Pushkar wanted the size of her nose reduced as well the bridge straightened. Sources said that Pushkar also had two other fat reduction surgeries before the nose job. She was in hospital for three days and was registered under the name ‘Su’. Sources said that she is fondly called by the name her friends at the time. Pushkar came to Dr Gupta through a common friend who also knew her late second husband, sources said.

In 2000, such a surgery could have cost anywhere between Rs 3 to 4 lakh. However, sources said, she was not charged for the operation because she had come with a recommendation. Pushkar paid only the hospital charges, the sources said.

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi recently alleged that the Dubai-based entrepreneur was gifted a stake of Rs 70 crore in the Kochi franchise. The surgery took place in Mumbai in July 2000, by which time Pushkar was already a widow.

Shilpa Shetty-Raj Kundra To Launch a Football League ?

After doing reasonably well as co-owners of Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty might be launching an international football league along the lines of IPL soon this year.


Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra already own an IPL cricket team, and it is possible that they might be adding a new game to their business empire. Rumours are that the couple plan to launch a football league which will be owned by celebs and private companies. Indian and international footballers will be part of the league. Apparently Shilpa is keen to promote the game, and also provide opportunities to footballers across the country.

Says a source close to the couple, "It will be a private football league (by invitation only). Six elite corporates and six A-List celebrities will co-own the football teams. The league will be christened the Football India Cup.

Talks are on with the All India Football Federation to be affiliated with them. Team owners will buy international footballers. Retired footballers at the top of their form may also be included. There will be four international footballers and seven Indian ones for each team."

Raj and Shilpa are waiting for a window to be given to launch the football league. Only the letter in intent has been signed. The source adds, "Raj has always been extremely passionate about football and has wanted to form a league along international lines for some time now. He wants to improve the infrastructure for the Indian youth. Shilpa's hubby hopes that one day India will have 11 football players who will win us the World Cup."

The source says, "In fact, last year, he even met AIFF general secretary, Alberto Colaco and discusssed development projects, football competitions, the general football structure and the opportunities available in India.

Moreover, Shilpa and Raj are good friends of Praful Patel, AIFF president. It is hoped that with his involvement, the sport will be encouraged now. Football is huge in India and Britain. Kundra feels it's good to encourage another sport. For him, it's not another business. There are 300,000 registered footballers in India. The football league will offer them all job opportunities."

Who knows, with Shilpa's connections, David Beckham might be part of her planned football league!

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor too Bid For an IPL Team and Lose

Saif Ali Khan reasons why he lost the bid at the IPL auction.

Yesterday besides Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor too made a bid for the Pune IPL team at Chennai's auction, but lost to the Sahara group.

But Saif, in his usual style, takes it on the chin. He isn't disappointed that they lost the bid. He views it as just like a business deal and he accepts that no one can't win them all.

Saif says, "It is a business proposition that made sense to us at a certain price -- but certainly not at $370 million! And it doesn't make economic sense to us anymore."

Was bidding for the team was because he comes from a "crickey family" or because it made good business sense? Saif says candidly, It was bothâ we love cricket. And glamour and IPL go together well - but at a certain price only."

Salman Khan Bids For IPL Pune Team in Chennai, Loses

Salman Khan bided for IPL Team Pune at Yesterday's auction. Even Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor unsuccessfully bid for the Pune team at the auction, and Sahara Adventure Sports Group snapped up the city as the highest bidder with $370 million (Rs 1,702 crore). Kerala-based consortium Rendezvous Sports bid $333.33 million (Rs 1,333.33 crore) to get Kochi as the other franchisee to make the Indian Premier League T20 Tournment, a 10-team affair from 2011 (Bidding for IPL 2011 Edition 4 teams in Chennai).

Interestingly, Katrina Kaif was also there but she was not bidding with Salman. In fact, she was representing the Adani Group from Ahmedabad which was bidding for Pune as well.

Earlier there were rumors that Salman and Adani Group may jointly bid for Ahmedabad team in IPL. And Salman can also be their Brand Ambassador. The details are not known as yet.

Katrina Kaif's present at the IPL teams bidding process in Chennai yesterday (21st March 2010), raised a commotion when she left with Salman, even though they arrived separately. She clarifies, "I wasn't bidding with Salman. I accompanied Reshma who is my close friend. Reshma (from Matrix) and I had gone to represent Matrix who put in a bid with the Adani Group. I was not bidding at all. Salman had put in a separate bid."

The 2 new IPL teams cost more than first 8 squads put together. Sahara Gets Pune For Rs 1702cr, Rendezvous Kochi For Rs 1533cr

Barely two years ago, when Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd made the highest bid for an Indian Premier League franchise (Rs 441 crore for Mumbai), many termed it as a massive gamble on a risky concept. The IPL sure has come a long way in a short time, with the Sahara group on Sunday bidding Rs 1,702 crore for Pune and Rendezvous Sports forking out Rs 1,533 crore for Kochi.

In fact, these two bids, worth a total of about Rs 3,235 crore, add up to more than the Rs 2,853 crore collectively paid by the existing eight franchise owners in the first auction, on January 24, 2008.

The IPL is invariably full of surprises and Sunday was no different. Favourites Adani Group and VC Digital (Videocon Group) were pipped by Sahara and a consortium of real estate players and businessmen brought together by Union minister Shashi Tharoor under the banner of Rendezvous Sports. The two new teams will become part of IPL in the 2011 edition. The franchises will be valid for 10 years.

The bidding, conducted behind closed doors, lasted less than an hour after the contenders trooped into a hotel in Chennai. The base price for each team was $225 million, more than four times the rate at which the first IPL auction began in 2008. IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said five eligible bids were received in all, which included Rendezvous Sports, Sahara, Aman Vohra, Adani and VC Digital. There was a dash of glamour with Salman Khan and Saif Ali Khan dropping in to represent some groups.

Sahara topped with a $370-million (Rs 1,702 crore) bid for a clutch of cities which included Ahmedabad, Nagpur or Pune. Eventually, the Subrata Roy-controlled group opted for Pune.

Size of bids surprises all, even Modi

The Sahara group won the bid for IPL franchise Pune on Sunday. Giving reasons for their choice of city, Abhijit Sarkar, corporate communications head at Sahara, told TOI: ‘‘It’s close to Aamby Valley. We have our business reasons for choosing Pune.”

The second bid was for $333.33 million (Rs 1,533 crore) from a consortium of investors under Rendezvous Sports who opted for Kochi as their base camp. “It would suffice at this point of time to let you know that we are a group of investors passionate about cricket.

“Some are from Kerala, some from other parts of India and some from abroad. I would not like to reveal too many details at this point of time,” said Vivek Venugopal, a builder from Kerala and one of the investors in the state. However, it is learnt that the group also includes Anchor Switches, Rosy Blue Diamond, Mukesh Patel, and Ravi and Sanjay Gaikwad.

Anchor Switches is a company from Gujarat owned by Mehul Shah. Rosy Blue Diamond is one of the world’s largest diamond manufacturing companies. Dilip Mehta is the CEO of this company, which owns jewellry brand ‘Orra’. Ravi and Sanjay Gaikwad are Mumbai-based businessmen. Sanjay Gaikwad is the CEO of UFO Moviez while Mukesh Patel is an education baron who runs technology, management and engineering institutions.

The size of the bids surprised one and all, including Modi himself. “I was expecting something in the range of $320m, but this does come as a surprise to me.

“You talk about recession, but all I can say is that there’s no recession in IPL,’’ exulted a beaming Modi. Among the losers, Aman Vohra placed a bid of $261.3 million, Adani Group bid $315 million for Ahmedabad and VC Digital bid $319.9 million for Pune.

‘‘Kochi does not have a cricket stadium as yet. The Kerala Cricket Association is in the process of building a world class cricket stadium. Till the ground becomes ready, IPL will provide alternative venues to Rendezvous,” Modi added. Pune, on the other hand, has a stadium under construction 30km from the city.

Sources close to Tharoor were, however, categorical that they would insist on some of the matches being held in Kochi. “We’ve a stadium there. If we have an IPL team, it’s for hosting matches in Kerala,” they said.

The bidders have 48 hours to pay 10 percent of their bid amount while the names of the two teams are yet to be finalised.

Asked about reports of a second IPL overseas, Modi said: “We are just looking at exhibition of Twenty20 matches overseas. There is no second tour.”

Will Pakistani players be allowed to play in the next IPL? “We hope Pakistan players can take part in the next edition. The auction for players will happen in September-October.”

Interview: Deepika Padukone’s Taken to IPL T20 Cricket Tournament Like None Other

Deepika Padukone’s taken to the DLF Indan Premier League Championship like none other, even managing to churn out rumours of a budding romance with Siddharth Mallya.

Deepika Padukone at the Royal Challengers Bangalore match versus Kings XI Punjab on Tuesday, 16th March 2010 at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Cricket over films for now?

I am busy shooting for my movies. I am working on two films. One is a Yashraj film that is being directed by Pradeep Sarkar and has Neil (Neil Nitin Mukesh) opposite me. The other movie is Break Ke Baad, a movie produced by Kunal Kohli. Danish Aslam is directing and stars Imran Khan. Right now I am in Delhi shooting for the first schedule of Break ke Baad.

The IPL debut

I got a call to perform from the organisers. It was a chance for me to perform along with artistes like Lionel Richie, so I jumped at this once-in-a-life time opportunity. It was a huge opportunity to perform at an international level and IPL is connected with sports, so I am happy I did it.

Being brand ambassador for Royal Challengers Bangalore

I am really happy they won. The first half didn’t look promising but in the second innings, they kept the runs in check and were consistent. In fact, they were consist right till the end but they should not take it easy now. They should work hard and aim to win the rest of the matches.

Your cricket IQ?.

I love sports and I do my research. Now that I am connected with the IPL, I am doing my homework on the teams, the players, the game et al.

Kim Sharma With Boyfriend Carlos Marin at Surily Goel’s IPL Fashion Launch

The ladies trooped into Tina Tahiliani Parikh’s Bandra store to check out their designer friend Surily Goel’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Pleasing pastels merged with a line inspired by an IPL team... Surily had lots of exciting designs on offer. Herself sporting a chic white shift dress, she welcomed her friends to an afternoon of fashion indulgence.

The stylish sirens were all there — Surily’s best buddies Renu Chainani and Nandita Mahtani; good friends Queenie, Sharmilla Khanna and Rhea Pillai; Poonam Bhagat, Laila Lamba, Penny Patel, Rita Dhody, Prerna Goel, Haseena Jethmalani, Maheep Kapoor, Deanne Pandey, Neelam Kothari... the ladies were on a shopping mission, it seemed! Kaajal Anand and Pinky Reddy were in a light-hearted mood, obviously enjoying the afternoon, while Kim Sharma flaunted her boyfriend Carlos Marin and introduced him to her friends. Ambika Hinduja made an appearance and Namrata Dutt Kumar and her daughter Sakshi made an even rarer appearance. Arpita Khan dropped in to do some shopping too. Coconut water coolers helped cool down the hot quotient in the store!

Kim Sharma and her boyfriend Carlos Marin checked out the designs

Surily Goel

Rhea Pillai

Nandita Mahtani

Queenie

Arpita Khan

Deepika Padukone With Siddharth Mallya, Son of Vijay Mallya at IPL Matches (View Photographs)

Pictures of Deepika Padukone with Siddharth Mallya at IPL 2010 match between Kings punjab vs RC bangalore match. Before you make judgments, Siddarth is the son of Vijay mallya (owner of Royal challengers Bangalore IPL team) for which Deepika padukone and Katrina kaif are the brand ambassadors. Check out Deepika and Siddhartha together enjoying the Indian Premier League match, giving rise to rumors that they were dating each other.

Photo: Deepika Padukone Hugs Siddharth Mallya at an IPL T20 Match

Earlier too, the gorgeous Deepika Padukone was the center of attraction on the opening day of IPL 2010. Not only did she give a red-hot performance on the ‘ Uff Teri Adaa ’ her famous dance number from Kartik Calling Kartik but she was also spotted and photographed having a good time with Royal Challengers owner, Vijay Mallya and his son Siddharth. The sprawling DY Patil Stadium played host to the Royal Challengers owner, Vijay Mallya and his son and Kingfiher scion Siddharth Mallya. And Deepika bloomed in their company at one of the VIP lounges.


The two youngsters were so busy with each other that they hardly looked up to watch the ongoing match. Apart from taking a 5 minute break from their conversation to have dinner; Deepika seemed at utmost comfort interacting with the Kingfisher heir and his friends. The onlookers claim the sparks were flying as the duo looked totally immersed in each other while chatting. The two seemed very fond of each other’s company, so much so that they even chose to leave the venue together just minutes into the second half of the match.

Deepika Having a good time with Siddhart Mallya