- 2 days ago
This episode of Super 6 details a controversy surrounding four kilograms of gold missing from Kerala's Sabarimala shrine, an issue dating back to 2019.
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00:00Hello and welcome. Good evening. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today.
00:04I'm Akshita Anandakopal. Over the next one hour, we'll be getting you all the big stories coming in from the southern states.
00:10But let's begin with a quick glimpse of what to expect over the next one hour.
00:14Our top story this evening on Super 6 is what's happening in Kerala.
00:19The fact that you're seeing a brazen, shocking gold loot that's happening in the most revered shrine in the state of Kerala, in Shabramala.
00:26I wonder why more people aren't talking about the fact that four kilos of gold have gone missing from the temple.
00:33And nobody has any clue of exactly who's taken that gold, how it went missing.
00:38Essentially, years of corruption that's now come to the fore.
00:42There's a detailed investigation that's been kicked off.
00:45Kerala BJP chief Rajesh Chandra Shekhar will be joining me live in just a few moments from now on his protest that he held today and the BJP's demand for a detailed investigation.
00:55Also coming up on the show at 6.30 this evening, we're going to be talking about the Kantara craze and beyond.
01:03We've been seeing multiple incidents inside theatres of people dressed up as the Deiva and coming there, imitating essentially the Bhuta Kola in theatres.
01:14I will explain to you why exactly that's offensive to an entire community.
01:18There's been an appeal that's been put out by Rishabh Shetty as well.
01:20So those details coming your way at 6.30 this evening.
01:24I'm Akshita Nandakopal.
01:25Let's begin by taking a look at the top 10 stories of the day.
01:33The central government has blamed the Tamil Nadu government for the cough syrup deaths.
01:38Sources say that the centre believes that the Tamil Nadu FDA is to blame.
01:43But the government, the state government responding, has claimed they did not procure the syrup and took immediate action to avoid damage.
01:50Prime Minister Modi launched a sharp attack on the Congress, questioning why the previous erstwhile UPA government chose not to retaliate militarily against Pakistan after 26-11.
02:04Prime Minister Modi refers to recent remarks perpetually by Pichita Pru.
02:09As the leadership war haunts Tata government, plays peacemaker in Tata trouble and asks Tata honchos to restore stability, Tata's son's chief, Noel Tata, meet with Amit Shah.
02:37Zubin Garg, death probe, sees a mega twist.
02:43A singer's cousin has been arrested.
02:45Zubin's cop cousin arrested in death probe.
02:47Cousin was present with Zubin in Singapore.
02:49ED heat on Malayalam superstar, father-son duo ED raid superstar Mamoti's property son Dulkar Salman also raided in a car smuggling case.
03:06Yet another instance of blatant war mongering by Pakistan.
03:10Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif warns of another war with India.
03:14He says chances of another war are real and he's not denying the risk of conflict.
03:22UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is in India.
03:25Starmer visits Yashraj Film Studio in Mumbai and views the Premier League trophy as he visits a youth football training centre.
03:32Mumbai is set for a whole new take-off.
03:37Prime Minister Modi's unveiled the second international airport for the maximum city with a capacity of handling nine crore flyers and three million tons of cargo every year.
03:45The Navi Mumbai International Airport is one of the mega aviation landmarks of India now.
03:50Fresh political tensions erupt in Tripura as the Trinamul Congress alleges its state headquarters in Agartala was vandalised by BJP.
04:01You are more sure activists.
04:02Incident deepens political divide after attack of BJP MP in North Bengal a few days ago.
04:07All right, let's begin with breaking news that's coming in right now of a deadly fire that broke out in a cracker factory in Andhra Pradesh's East Kudavri district.
04:24And the information coming in is that six people have died, eight injured in that fire cracker factory.
04:31The blaze spread due to inflammable chemicals.
04:34Rescue relief operations are underway.
04:36Prime Minister Modi's expressed his grief, expressing his condolences over the incident.
04:41Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu has also taken note of this tragedy.
04:45We see it happening far too often of these kind of deadly blazes that are reported at fire cracker factories.
04:52And now this one taking place in East Kudavri district where the confirmation has come in that six deaths have been reported.
04:58Eight people have been injured.
04:59So there is a concern that their death toll could climb up.
05:02Apoorva Jai Chandran is joining us with more updates on this information that's just coming in.
05:09Apoorva, we understand that rescue and relief operations are underway.
05:12There have been messages of condolences that's come in from the state in the center.
05:16Well, that's it, Akshita.
05:21In fact, it's a tragic event that took place earlier during today.
05:25In fact, what we are getting to learn is that this afternoon, this incident took place near a fire factory, a fire cracker factory,
05:32where over six people have so far been deceased in this tragic accident, while eight people have sustained previous injuries.
05:39We are also getting to learn from officials that several more have also sustained injuries as well as fire and rescue operations had been completed just a short while back.
05:48All of those people who have been injured and those who have been deceased have also been moved to the Rajamandri Hospital there,
05:54government hospital for treatment as well.
05:55In fact, the chief minister has also entrusted officials to go ahead on the ground and also see that any help and every help possible can be given to those who have lost their loved ones
06:06and all of them who have also been grievously injured and sustained injuries in this accident as well.
06:11We've also seen that, you know, the state government there, there's also a fire that has been lodged into the incident as to seeing where or what kind of malpractices had taken place
06:20due to which this fire had broken out at the fire, you know, firecracker factory as well.
06:25Had there been any kind of, you know, instigation or had there been any other, you know, spark or something else that had caused for this accident to take place.
06:33An affair has been lodged and investigation is also underway into the same.
06:37All right, Apoorva, thanks for that update.
06:39Unfortunate news that's coming in, but we will track very closely the rescue and relief efforts.
06:48But let's bring you our top story here on Super 6.
06:51And let's be clear that this by far is the biggest story of the week coming in from the southern states.
06:56It's a wonder nobody else is talking about what's happening in Kerala.
06:59In the most worshipped temple in the state, in Shabarimala, a gold loot has been unearthed.
07:05Four kilos mysteriously disappeared.
07:08And it hasn't happened right now.
07:10It's been happening for years under the nose of the authorities.
07:14And yet nothing has been done.
07:15The Travancore Devaswam board, TDD, is facing fire over allegations of theft of gold received as offerings at Shabarimala.
07:25And the corruption is so brazen that there was even an attempt by the board to pass off gold cladding as copper plates.
07:31And so maybe that was another attempt to cover up what happened.
07:35Gold was even handed over to a sponsor who's been giving one version after another over why.
07:39And imagine this, there's been zero documentation of the gold that's actually been offered to the temple.
07:44So we don't really know how much was it, though the Kerala High Court has now finally taken cognizance.
07:50But the question everyone's asking is where have these four kilos of gold gone?
07:54Well, essentially, here's what we know.
07:56Twelve copper plates, which is actually gold, by the way, weighing a total of 42.8 kgs.
08:02And covering the Dwarapalikas, which are the idols outside the sanctum usually, these were removed.
08:09They were entrusted to one of the sponsors, Unni Krishnan, who's a Bengaluru-based businessman.
08:14He was given the task of gold plating the idols in 2019.
08:18The Kerala High Court has found that the items returned after renovation weighed only 38.2 kg.
08:23So that difference there, a reduction of 4.54 kgs ignored by the Devaswam board.
08:30Remember the timeline.
08:31What I've spoken about, this happened in 2019.
08:35And today is when we found out about it.
08:37And this has led to questions about a cover-up and lapses.
08:40Cover-up one is clearly that gold plates were referred to as copper plates.
08:45Idols were handed over to a sponsor.
08:47And that, by the way, is completely unethical.
08:50This is work of gold plating that should be done by the Devaswam board.
08:54Why was it handed over to a sponsor based in Bengaluru?
08:57And there was no record whatsoever made of the gold that was actually offered.
09:02The Devaswam board, too, didn't even bother checking the weight of these idols after renovation.
09:07There's a 4 kg difference.
09:09And they claim they had no idea whatsoever.
09:32We have been demonstrating in the assembly for the last three days, demanding the resignation of the Devaswam minister and the expulsion of the Devaswam board members.
09:45It is very clear from the High Court verdict that the Dwarabalaga sculpture in Sabarimala was sold to a millionaire.
09:56And their doors also were taken away.
10:03Now there are very serious allegations.
10:06So we are demanding the resignation of the minister and the expulsion of the Devaswam board members.
10:11Two ministers, Muhammad Riyas and Saji Chariyan, they were coming into the well and creating the problem.
10:19It was unprecedented, which is not at all good for the parliamentary democracy.
10:25And I condemn their activities.
10:27Being an opposition party, it is going to be an opposition party.
10:31It is going to be an opposition party.
10:34Being an opposition party, it is only natural for them to oppose all the steps, all the steps taken by the government.
11:03As well as the Devaswam board.
11:06So it is nothing but politics.
11:08Politics, that is all.
11:09That is all.
11:11See, factually, their allegations are incorrect.
11:14Now, there are several questions being asked right now of the Kerala government.
11:22Because mind you, while the Travancore Devaswam board is an autonomous body, it comes under the state government.
11:29You even have a Devaswam minister in Kerala.
11:32This was a protest that was held by the BJP earlier today.
11:35And joining me on this broadcast right now is the Kerala BJP chief, former union minister, Rajiv Chandrasekhar.
11:43Mr. Rajiv Chandrasekhar, you held a protest earlier today.
11:47And what we're seeing right now, the revelations that have come to the fore on Shabramala,
11:52the multiple levels of corruption are shocking.
11:56All of it from years ago also coming to light.
11:59Mr. Rajiv Chandrasekhar, if you're with us, what do you make of what's happening?
12:03Who is responsible, sir?
12:07Look, it is shocking.
12:10I mean, it is an understatement to say it is shocking.
12:12I mean, you know, I've been in parliament for 18 years.
12:17I was the one who broke the 2G scam in parliament.
12:20And so I have become reasonably immune, in a sense, or at least thick-skinned about political corruption
12:27because you see so much of it around.
12:29But that you would see a day when a sitting government would, with the constitutional responsibility
12:38of overseeing Devaswam boards under Article 25, actually be responsible for looting gold
12:46from a sacred shrine like Shabramala.
12:48I frankly never had the wildest imagination that in my life I would live to see a day like this.
12:57And it is horrible, it is horrifying, it is shocking, and it is absolutely a reflection of the political culture,
13:05this anything-goes kind of a culture that has certainly been prevailing in Kerala for many years
13:12but has taken a certain different dimension and velocity over the last 10 years under Pindra Ivijan.
13:19And for him, Hindu baiting, going against Shabramala was something that he saw as being politically useful for him.
13:27So when you create a culture like this, where attacking Hindus and making Hindu temples vulnerable
13:36or susceptible to political pressure the norm, then I suspect that you are also opening the door
13:43to all the brokers in your party and your government to do this kind of criminal activity.
13:50And so it is what it is today.
13:53And our party is very clear about this, that we want to see the guilty identified,
13:59we want to see them prosecuted, and we believe strongly that this is not something that just started in the last few years.
14:06There is a long history to this, and we have asked for an investigation for the last 30 years
14:12of all the devaswams and all the temples, because there are now new reports coming out
14:17that other temples have also lost gold, other temples have lost land,
14:21approximately 25,000 acres of temple land have been stolen.
14:25So it is an issue that needs to be investigated, if not for our sakes,
14:33at least for the sakes of all the Muslim devotees of Kerala.
14:37You, the Hindu devotees, yes.
14:39Mr. Rajiv Chandrasekar, you know, you refer to political corruption,
14:43but the government also says we're completely shocked.
14:46The Devaswar minister says he wasn't in charge years ago, so how can you pin it on the government?
14:50What's your response to that?
14:51Yeah, Akshita, I have seen too many cases of politicians play the surprised act.
14:58I've seen this during the Congress time, during UPA,
15:02when we had worthies like Montek Singh Aluwalya and Chidambram and, you know, Kapil Sibal say,
15:11how can there be spectrum scam?
15:13This is a zero-loss scam.
15:15Look, I'm immune to this type of political response because we know that a crime has happened.
15:21There is no question about the fact that there is a crime that has happened.
15:24A crime has happened because it is their own government system that is now admitting,
15:28and the high court has taken cognizance of it,
15:31that four and a half kgs of gold has gone missing from Shabrimala just in the last six years.
15:35So what has gone missing before, what else has been stolen,
15:41which other temples have fallen prey to this type of looting,
15:44is a matter that is a subject legitimate question for any Malayali, any citizen,
15:49even if he is not politically aware or is aware or she is aware,
15:54is a legitimate question that is to be asked in a democracy.
15:58A crime has been committed.
15:59Who is the criminal?
16:00Who is the beneficiary of this crime?
16:02What is this criminal going to face?
16:04What penalty is he going to face?
16:05Who is going to prosecute him?
16:07These are legitimate questions when a crime is committed, Achita.
16:10And so this is not to be seen only through the prism of politics.
16:14And I certainly, if I'm sounding agitated today,
16:17it is not because I'm a BJP party president or I'm a BJP karakarta.
16:22It is because I'm an Ayapabat.
16:24I have gone there for 20 years to Shabrimala.
16:26And the last thing that I all thought about was that I should worry about the gold in Shabrimala
16:32being stolen by people close to a state government.
16:36So, look, forgive me for being a little worked up about this,
16:42but this is an issue that deserves being worked up.
16:45No, I understand your anger as an Ayapabat devotee and of every devotee essentially at this point,
16:53because, you know, it's something, of course, that's a matter of emotion also for every devotee
17:02that this is what's happening in Shabrimala.
17:04It is really, it is an issue that every genuine Malayali who's interested in the functioning of our democracy
17:17is concerned about, because if a state government that is elected on the plank of everything will be okay,
17:2510 years ago, Pindrai Vijayan's promise to the people of Kerala was
17:29That means everything will be made okay.
17:34And we have seen the last 10 years exactly the opposite.
17:39So, this is not just about Ayapabat bucks.
17:42It is also about this pervasive culture of corruption that seems to be corroding and holding our state back.
17:48You're saying that, you know, one religion is being targeted here, or that, you know, this is Ayapabat devotees being targeted.
17:55The state says, look, we're as committed and to ensuring the welfare of Ayapabat devotees to looking out for what's happening in the Shabrimala temple.
18:04They're citing the fact that an Ayapabat summit was also held, Mr. Raji Chandrasekhar.
18:08Now, what can I say? I mean, when the 2G scam came out, Kapil Sibyl scrambled and said there is a zero loss.
18:18When the coal block scam came out, P. Chidambaram, the India Alliance partner of the CPM, said coal is in the earth.
18:26How can there be a scam?
18:27Look, this justification of every corruption scam that comes out is an age-old practice by those who have been caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
18:36It's neither new nor is it novel.
18:40Now, for Pindrai Vijayan and I today read out a speech that he made as his opposition leader in 2006.
18:48And he said, and I'm paraphrasing in English, he said that those in public life and those in government must have a sense of accountability
18:55and also must have a little shame when they do the wrong thing.
19:00And if you have both those things and a scam is committed, you will resign.
19:05This was his words to the then Chief Minister Uman Chandi of the Congress when Uman Chandi was caught in corruption.
19:13Now, these words have to be read back to the current Chief Minister that in politics and in democracy,
19:20when people believe you and give you a mandate, you owe them a sense of accountability
19:25and you also should have a sense of shame when you do something wrong, when you betray the people.
19:30Now, both those aspects are not in display as far as this government goes.
19:35And that is why people are asking him, what was good for the Goos in 2016 is surely good for the Ganders in 2024.
19:46You laid out some principles, Mr. Pindrai Vijayan, in 2016, lived by the same principles in 2025, now that you're the CM.
19:53There's also, of course, a huge debate over freeing temples from government hold.
20:00It's something that I've seen in Tamil Nadu, also neighboring to Kerala right now.
20:05Do you think that there is a similar debate in Kerala as well, Mr. Raji Chandrasekar,
20:10about whether temples should be freed from government control?
20:13What do you think about that?
20:15No, look, I want to make two points about this, Akshita, and I'll make these.
20:19These are very responsible points, and please don't misunderstand this for some random religious commentary.
20:28Number one, it is clear to me, and I'm sure it's clear to most people who dispassionately look at this issue in Kerala,
20:37that there is a clear reverse discrimination happening against the Hindu community.
20:42And I ask you a very simple question.
20:45Why is it that in a state that has got many, many religious shrines of almost every community in this state,
20:54why is it that the Hindu temples are the ones that are being constantly targeted for looting, corruption, and malfeasance?
21:02Number one.
21:03So, I would argue strongly, Article 14 of our constitution guarantees non-discrimination for everybody.
21:12Why is it that the Hindus in Kerala are being discriminated?
21:15Number one.
21:16Number two, the broader point about state and government.
21:20Now, you mentioned the Ayyappa Sangamam that the government of Kerala organized.
21:25This is the same government in 2018 that wanted to destroy the traditions of Shabarimala that has registered over 3,000 cases.
21:35Those cases are still pending against Ayyappa Bucks.
21:38They did not withdraw even one of those cases before they had this Ayyappa Sangamam.
21:42And in this Ayyappa Sangamam, totally unprovoked, totally without any reason, the chief minister says,
21:50those who expect the state government to give up control of Devaswams should stop dreaming because we will never give up control on the Devaswams.
21:59Now, you know why.
22:01The state control of Devaswams is because, just like the Congress and the UPA wanted control on public sector banks,
22:07this is the piggy bank that is being looted by the CPM government.
22:12Point number one, this is absolutely unambiguous.
22:15And the activities and what has come out in the last five days just prove me out.
22:21What we are asking is not for relinquishing state control of Devaswams boards.
22:28The BJP's point here is, if the state government is regulating a Devaswams board,
22:33then the state government should be accountable for that regulation and oversight.
22:36They should hold themselves accountable.
22:39There should be transparency.
22:41The Devaswams vigilance reports for the last 30 years have not been made public.
22:45Why not?
22:47We are asking for the Devaswams vigilance reports over the last 30 years to be made public.
22:52So, we don't have an ideological view on whether temples should be controlled by and overseen by governments or not.
23:01But certainly when the governments do oversee temples and Devaswams boards, they have to be accountable for that oversight and they should not be predators of the Devaswams board.
23:11They should not loot the Devaswams board in temples as is happening in Kerala today.
23:15So, then Mr. Rajiv Chandra Shekhar, you know, when you talk about what's happening in Shabramala, do you think the rot runs right up to the ministers?
23:23Because the government right now is saying that, look, this was on the part of the Devaswams board, that officers of the TTB are involved, that this has nothing to do with the government, the ministers.
23:33What do you think?
23:36Let us not be naive.
23:38The CPM, the entire ideology about the CPM, okay, Marxist ideology of the CPM, exemplified by the dictator Stalin and Mao Zedong.
23:51Nobody in that system can move a step without their big bosses saying move a step.
23:58This is a CPM.
24:01They have killed and maimed and used the politics of violence like no other political party has ever done in the history of Indian democracy.
24:09So, to feed me or to put a story out there saying that it is some small guy in the Devaswams board who had the guts and the temerity to somehow, you know, undermine this all-powerful chief minister
24:26and these vicious, violent Marxist Kader and go do a private corruption scam of his or her own.
24:35Well, I wasn't born yesterday.
24:37Nor was any Malayali who was listening to this born yesterday.
24:40Nobody is buying the story.
24:42In the CPM, unless the chief minister says, do this, nobody does anything.
24:47Unless the minister says, do this, nobody in that ministry or that department will move a finger.
24:53So, this is the CPM.
24:56This is not the Congress.
24:57The Congress has a much more federal form of corruption where each minister can do his thing and fill his pockets, as you can see in Karnataka.
25:05But in the CPM system, centralized control, control of the political leadership on their cadres, on their government setup is a known fact.
25:17There is empirical evidence.
25:19There is real evidence.
25:20And there is a history of facts to prove that.
25:22So, if somebody is trying to feed a story today that there is some junior guy responsible for this multi-crore corruption, multi-year corruption,
25:31sorry, but the Malayalis are not buying it.
25:33And maybe somebody else may in Moscow or in China or Beijing, but certainly not in Kerala.
25:40It is a big allegation to make because what you're suggesting then is that this goes right up to the chief minister of Kerala.
25:46The Kerala High Court has stepped in.
25:48They've ordered an SIT investigation into what's happened and where this missing gold is.
25:54Mr. Rajiv Chandrasekhar, thank you for your time.
25:56Thank you for joining us here on India Today.
25:58But this is a story that we should be talking about more.
26:02Four kilos of gold vanishes.
26:05And for years, nobody knows.
26:06It's come to the light by some coincidence now.
26:09And now that it's come to the fore, why should anyone keep quiet?
26:12Shouldn't we dig out the details of where this gold disappeared and who's responsible for it?
26:18Hopefully, with the investigation moving forward, we will get those answers.
26:22Okay, let's move on and get you the latest updates on the Tamil Nadu stampede fallout.
26:30What happened in Karur over 11 days ago?
26:33It continues to trigger a political and legal firestorm.
26:36The TVK, the Tamil Nadu Vetri Karagam, has claimed that Vijay, while speaking to many of the victims of the stampede,
26:42did express his condolences.
26:44But these families apparently, and this is what the TVK says,
26:47these families have given him the clean shit, saying to Vijay that we know you had no role to play and keep fighting.
26:55This is what the TVK says.
26:56They've said, we have no idea what's actually happened.
26:59Because remember, Vijay still hasn't visited Karur, still hasn't met these victims.
27:10There is no end to the political storm over the deadly Karur stampede.
27:15Now there's a no-blame twist.
27:17The TVK has claimed that the families of the victims have absolved party chief Vijay of all responsibility
27:24and urged him to carry on his political journey.
27:29According to TVK, during video calls made by Vijay to 33 grieving families,
27:34the actor-turned-politician was told he had no role in the tragedy.
27:39The party said victims gave Vijay a clean shit without exception.
27:44During the calls, Vijay reportedly expressed deep condolences
28:07and also assured the families that he stands with them even if he can't undo their loss.
28:14One of the victim's relatives, Sangavi, confirmed the call
28:18and said that Vijay promised to meet her in person once granted permission.
28:37TVK advocates visited the DGP's office on Wednesday to seek clearance for his visit to Karur.
28:51The DMK hit back questioning Vijay's timing,
28:54his delayed arrival at the rally on the fateful day
28:57and also accusing him of shirking responsibility.
29:01How are you seeing this whole video conference thing in the state?
29:04I don't know. Maybe they would have been prepared to talk like that.
29:08Vijay is the only reason for this stampede.
29:12Already announced that he will meet the people at 12 o'clock in that point.
29:16And why did he come at 7 o'clock?
29:19What is the reason?
29:20He has not told anything about that.
29:23Meanwhile, the legal front is also heating up.
29:28A grieving parent who lost his 13-year-old son
29:31has filed a plea in the Supreme Court for a CBI investigation.
29:36The TVK, too, has moved the Apex Court,
29:39seeking a court-monitored probe into the incident.
29:43And all of this as the BJP's petition challenging the High Court's refusal of a CBI probe
29:48also awaits Supreme Court hearing.
29:50The stampede has hit political equations in Tamil Nadu,
29:54which goes to polls next year.
29:56While deputant Vijay now has to redraw his campaign plans,
30:00other parties, wary of upsetting the superstar's fans,
30:03are treading cautiously.
30:07With Anika Keshav in Chennai, Bureau Report, India Today.
30:10And while there have been many reactions that have come in from actors
30:22over Vijay's political entry,
30:25listened in to what Kannada superstar Shivraj Kumar,
30:27or Shivanna, as he's popularly called,
30:29had to say about the stampede.
30:31While backing Vijay's political entry,
30:33Shivraj Kumar has also said Vijay should think clearly
30:37before taking any step.
30:39Hinting, of course, at the fact that
30:41the stampede could have also been avoided.
30:44This is, in fact, the advice that Shivraj Kumar,
30:47who will be considered to be Vijay's senior,
30:50essentially, in the film industry,
30:52has offered to the TVK chief.
30:54Keshag Kumar, Kamil for Shrestha,
31:04of course, the nationality of the state.
31:11Keshag Kumar, Kamil for Shrestha,
31:13I really love the European Union of Shrestha,
31:15and I think that's really very important.
31:18I've been trying to really do a lot on full-time
31:20and put it together for the two years.
31:22and the questions will still be asked where is vijay why is he taking so long to go and meet the
31:45victims he's video called them imagine that he still hasn't gone to karoor it's been over 10
31:51days and no matter how much pressure anyone seems to pile it looks like vijay is completely reluctant
31:55to go and meet the victims most basic step expected when you've had every political
32:00representative there to meet with the families let's move on and take you through operation
32:07namkor it's in full effect what is this operation about there are 17 locations across kerala and
32:13tamil nadu that have been raided this is a car smuggling case and the biggest names that have
32:18emerged right now and let's get you the footage of the ed raids and of top malayalam actors dulkar
32:24salman prithviraj sukumaran and others who are in the eye of the storm our apologies for the wrong
32:30images on our screens right now we will fix that immediately as the ed has raided malayalam
32:36superstar mamoti and his son actor dulkar salman ed officials along with crpf personnel conducted
32:43these searches at mamoti's chennai based film production company and multiple houses
32:49of dulkar salman as well now the probe is focused on the smuggling of pre-owned luxury vehicles into
32:55india and this is through the indo-butad border and related unauthorized foreign exchange transactions
33:02as well so trouble mounting for the mamoti family right now and it's not just him but also his son
33:07dulkar salman who's facing heat meanwhile let's also talk about what's happening with big boss
33:19canada season 12 in karnataka for now there's a pause that's been hit on in fact this particular
33:25reality show and that's because the set where big boss canada is short the house it's been sealed by
33:30authorities after violations of environmental rules were found politics has also taken center stage on
33:36issue with the bjp slamming the karnataka government this set is located in birdie of karnataka and
33:43officials uh from the state pollution control board inspected the set found several rules being flouted
33:49and so that entire area has been sealed off contestants were forced to move out of the set
33:54this is in fact a huge reality show as is big boss in every state so big boss canada is also a huge hit
34:00it's hosted uh by canada star kichasudeep uh and after several lapses came to the fore like untreated
34:07wastewater being released into surroundings uh we're seeing that entire area being shut down the bjp and
34:13jds meanwhile have slammed the karnataka government alleging that this was revenge by dk shov kumar
34:19against the film industry because they didn't turn up at an event that was hosted by the karnataka
34:25deputy chief minister
34:39still i'll say cc employment is important whatever is there that would have been an opportunity
34:44you know
34:57do
35:05extraordinaries
35:08That's right.
35:10I was not able to do my duty and get my duty.
35:14I was able to do the formal formal decision to speak with the DCEP and SP.
35:17If you have to look at it, we should not look at it.
35:20We should have to look at it.
35:22If you have to look at it, we will rectify it.
35:24I will take the opportunity to take the opportunity.
35:26I was able to do the formal decision to speak with him.
35:31He will not be able to do his job.
35:33He will not be able to do his job.
35:35We have nothing to do with the Big Boss program.
35:51And even I do not know that Big Boss program is going on there.
35:56So there the owner of that land, he was running that illegally.
36:02They have not taken CFE, they have not taken CFO, they have not even submitted an application
36:08also.
36:09They are running an STP, they have established their installed generators and for all those
36:17things they have to comply with all the conditions and they have to take the permission.
36:21There is no politics in that.
36:23So only legal action has been taken by the Pollution Control Board.
36:29When it happens, we have not seen such a situation in this country.
36:35But in Karanak, what is the least, what is the least, what is the least, what is the least,
36:38what is the least.
36:39After the election, the people who have met the opposition party, they have to action on that.
36:45And today, why do you not have to worry about what is the job, how is it, I don't know.
36:50Whatever the Big Boss is going on, what is the least, what is the least, what is the least.
36:54This is not the least, what is the least.
37:03revengeful activities once again come publicly. See for this smaller reason the
37:14commercial entertainment in Karnataka which is big boss, the statement which
37:21is given by earlier deputy CM, I will look up net and bolt will be tited. This
37:29is further serial of revengeful activity by the government of Karnataka. The
37:36government of Karnataka will take revenge for either in the political
37:41parties and their opponents. Now they're treated all the filmmakers as their
37:48opponent. So there's one particular statement of DK Shiv Kumar that the BGP
37:55and JDS are quoting to say that this is a crackdown on movie stars, a move of
38:00revenge because none of them turned up for an event held by DK Shiv Kumar.
38:04At least the first thing is, the film chamber and academy are a good thing. I have a warning
38:13and request. It is not my program. It's not my program. It's not my program. It's your
38:18program. What's your job? My father is a kid. He says, I'm a kid. He's a kid. He's
38:22a kid. I'm a kid. I'm a kid. I'm a kid. I'm a kid. I'm a kid. I'm a kid. I'm a kid.
38:25I'm a kid. I'm a kid. He's a kid. He's a kid. He's a kid. He's a kid. He's a kid.
38:38I know that. But Salba, he'll go.
38:43Let me bring in Nagarjun Dwarkarnath for more details on this.
38:50Nagarjun, multiple violations, we understand,
38:54that have been reported at the set of Big Boss Kannada.
38:57But what happens now going forward,
38:59especially with the kind of political fight that's broken out now over this?
39:03Well, what we are hearing is that D.K. Shukumar,
39:06Deputy Chief Minister, has intervened.
39:08In fact, the JDS and BJP has blamed him for this whole chaos that has happened now.
39:12D.K. Shukumar, in the media statement, has said that he's told the D.C.
39:15and the local officials to give them some time to rectify the mistakes that they had done,
39:19which is of sewage water, untreated water being let into the nearby fields
39:24and also the sewage treatment plan not working and illegally operating within the premises.
39:29And hence, Deputy Chief Minister has said that local officials will have to give them
39:3310 to 15 days' time so that they can rectify the mistakes and then start their operations.
39:37We'll have to see from tomorrow if the officials will let them go back to the place
39:41and start the shoot.
39:42Meanwhile, when the sewage treatment plant on also the untreated water
39:45will be not let into the open fields right there.
39:49And for all the Big Boss Kannada fans, what does this mean, Nagarjan?
39:52Is the shooting completely stalled?
39:54Does this mean pause on the reality show?
39:58It's a small pause, is what the makers are saying.
40:02As of now, the contestants are removed from the shooting sets and taken to a nearby hotel.
40:07They have been told not to interact with any public.
40:09Carefully, the contestants have been put in a nearby resort in Bangalore,
40:13South District, outside of Bangalore, is what we are told.
40:16So that they are kept away.
40:17And in a couple of days, the shooting will resume, is what the makers are saying.
40:21All right, Nagarjan, thanks very much for joining us with all of those details.
40:28400 crores and counting for Kanthara Chapter 1.
40:31The craze over Rishab Shetty's film is insane, but amid that, there's been a growing trend
40:36to imitate the divine theatres.
40:39What do I mean?
40:42Look at this video from a theatre in Tamil Nadu's Dindikal,
40:46where a fan dressed up as a deva pretended to be possessed
40:51and ran through the hall screaming the now-famous Guliga Roar.
40:59There have been many incidents like this and this is extremely...
41:04To understand is that Bhuta Kola is not a performance for entertainment.
41:09That's the video from Dindikal.
41:31What a lot of fans don't seem to understand
41:33is that Bhuta Kola is not a performance for entertainment.
41:35This is a sacred ritual that connects the Tuluvas of coastal Karnataka
41:40with their ancestral spirits, their land and their identity.
41:44The dancers who perform Bhuta Kola undergo strict spiritual, mental and physical discipline.
41:51They don't just act possessed like what's happening here.
41:54They're revered as spiritual mediums for divine forces.
41:58And to reduce that to some sort of a cosplay moment in a movie theatre,
42:02it's literally sacrilegious for an entire community.
42:05The equivalent of mocking a religious prayer or ritual.
42:09So for all the fans out there, Bhuta Kola is not for show.
42:13It's not a costume, it's not a TikTok trend, it's not a reel for the Tuluvas.
42:18It's identity, it's spirituality and community
42:21all rolled into one very, very personal and deeply personal experience,
42:26a communal experience.
42:27So let's give the practice its due respect.
42:30It's not fiction.
42:30This is a respected practice that's followed even today.
42:34We're lucky to have been given a glimpse into their world.
42:37Let's not make them regret it.
42:39All right, and as I wrap up this broadcast,
42:50let's get you a sense of the huge raging hit that Pawan Kalyan's latest film,
42:56They Call Him OG, has been smashing box office records,
42:59crossing 300 crores globally.
43:01In a thunderous return to the big screen,
43:17Pawan Kalyan leads the high-octane action drama,
43:20They Call Him OG.
43:23And it's more than a film, it's a phenomenon.
43:26Marking this milestone, They Call Him OG has enjoyed an impressive run at the box office
43:37and has earned an estimated 178.65 crore net in India in its first 10 days.
43:46The worldwide gross approaching 300 crore rupees.
43:50Power Stars film has crossed the 200 crore mark in the box office worldwide
43:57in only three days of its release.
44:00This also marks the superstar's first film to scale this mark.
44:04It had opened on Friday with 63.75 crore net,
44:08and despite a 70% dip on Saturday,
44:11the worldwide total in just two days and premieres reached 171 crore rupees.
44:20In the Telugu states,
44:31the film has registered the third highest opening day,
44:35trailing only behind Junior NTR and Ramcharan's RRR.
44:38and Allu Arjun's starrer Pushpa 2, The Roon.
44:55In fact, the film has opened to record-breaking numbers,
45:00domestically,
45:01surpassing superstar Rajnikan's coolie,
45:04which belongs to a similar action-packed genre.
45:13Directed by Sujit,
45:15the movie also stars Imran Hashmi as the antagonist.
45:18Along with Priyanka Mohan,
45:34Prakash Raj,
45:36Arjun Das,
45:37and Shreya Reddy,
45:38among others in prominent roles.
45:40Pawan plays the titular character,
45:43Ojas Gambhira,
45:44a former gangster
45:45who is forced to come out of retirement
45:48due to circumstances.
45:49Imran in his Telugu debut,
46:08plays the antagonist,
46:09Omi Bhaw.
46:10Oji has received mixed reviews from critics upon its release,
46:22but has performed well at the box office so far.
46:25It is also Pawan's highest grossing film already.
46:28Pawan Kalyan was last seen in the 2022 film,
46:52Bhimala Naya,
46:53which was a commercial success
46:55and emerged as the fourth highest grossing Telugu film of that year.
47:11Pawan Kalyan,
47:12who is also Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,
47:15had to divide his time between his political responsibilities
47:18and completing the film.
47:22Despite this,
47:26They Call Homoji opened with a lot of excitement,
47:29which the film continues to rake in at the box office.
47:36Entertainment Bureau,
47:38India Today.
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