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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Detained in Doha: Tech Mahindra Qatar head's parents plead for justice
A paneer paratha made by his mother and an English version of the Bhagvad Gita handed over by his parents to 'help find courage' in the darkest hour are the straws of hope that 45-year-old Amit Gupta — the Region Head of Tech Mahindra for Qatar and Kuwait — has been grasping at, over six months after he was allegedly detained by authorities in Qatar in January for 'unknown reasons'. His parents have travelled from Vadodara to Doha, camping there since May this year, to provide 'moral support' to their son, even as the anguish continues for the family seeking justice. Retired ONGC employee JP Gupta (73) and his wife Pushpa (65) have been granted weekly half an hour in-person meetings with Amit, who remains confined in 'a room without windows' at an undisclosed detention center in Doha since January. When they first met Amit on their arrival in May, the Guptas said he 'cried like a child'. JP Gupta says, 'Since he was taken into custody on January 1, he has not been informed till date what are the charges against him; neither is there any formal case that we are aware of. He has been locked in a room since that day, with no human interaction. When we met him, we could see that it had taken a toll on his health. He only cries for help and asks us to speak to those who can help. We have been telling him that we are trying every possible avenue but we have not found any glimmer of hope yet…' Hanging on to hope Gupta adds that they handed over an English version of the Bhagvad Gita to Amit to 'help him find courage'. Gupta says, 'The authorities allowed us to bring food for him in the last two meetings… He had asked his mother to bring paneer paratha. We were able to take one piece of paneer paratha… We gave him the English Bhagvad Gita … we were not allowed to hand over the Hindi version. It is our hope that in these small interactions, he will hold on to his inner strength, which is fast depleting… All we have been asking for is a fair trial. If there is a crime he has committed, let the Qatari authorities prosecute him and end this uncertainty. At least tell us what is the reason that he is in such confinement…' The parents described that the meeting was facilitated with the intervention of the Embassy of India while Amit's company, Tech Mahindra, has extended logistical support to allow the parents to travel to Doha to meet Amit. 'Tech Mahindra applied for our visas and also arranged for our tickets. They had also arranged for our stay at a hotel, but we requested them to allow us to stay in Amit's apartment here…' said his parents. 'We met with the Ambassador of India to the State of Qatar and the Embassy of India has told us that it has been trying its best but the Qatari authorities have been saying that they are preparing a report… It appears that without an intervention at the ministerial level, authorities in Doha have refused to entertain the pleas. We can only implore that our numerous letters to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar's office should be heard for the safety of our son,' his father said. Gupta says that Amit's local lawyer has not been allowed to meet him as yet. Of cries and solitary confinement 'They tell us that the lawyer can only interact once the case comes to the court… We have learnt that the Qatar authorities did inform the local court that they need to extend his custody but at the end of the stipulated period, the courts granted extension without considering the pleas of Amit's lawyers… Amit has no information about what is happening outside. We have been allowed to meet about four times — for half an hour on Sundays. At the main gate of the detention centre, our passports are taken and a vehicle is sent to the road to ferry us inside the facility… We are then frisked, and our belongings deposited. We are taken to a room and made to wait for about 15 minutes before Amit is brought out for a face to face interaction. He only keeps crying… They last interrogated him in January and thereafter, he is only in solitary confinement,' shares his father. This is the second visit of the senior-citizen couple to Doha since Amit's detention. Although the couple has sought an extension of visa to stay back, they feel that being in Doha will not expedite the case against their son. 'We are only keen on staying back to be able to meet him and give him strength. Over the phone, he expresses extreme thoughts and it leaves us worried… It is an ordeal, not just for him but for the entire family that is awaiting his release. It is our request that the Indian government must intervene to initiate the process as it may be. We are only seeking basic human rights for our son. If the Indian government does not intervene in such matters, where should common Indians go?' Gupta says. Amit moved to Doha in 2013 to work with Tech Mahindra and has been elevated to the position of Region Head of Qatar and Kuwait, reporting to his Dubai-based manager. He was detained on January 1 for an alleged probe, details of which are yet to be disclosed by the Qatari authorities.
India Today
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Sanskrit shlok, Banarasi cape: Aishwarya Rai's Cannes outfit celebrates India
After slaying it in sindoor and saree, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made another strong sartorial statement at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. This time, in a black gown with a silver cape that celebrates India. Think Banarasi brocade and a Sanskrit shlok from the Bhagvad Gita inscribed on bold red lips, parted beachy waves and her million-dollar smile, Cannes queen Aishwarya was dressed to impress in a Gaurav Gupta creation. She opted for a corseted black gown accentuated with starry-silver embellishments. A Banarasi silver cape, with a not-so-long train as per the new Cannes dress code, completed her look. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan poses on the Cannes red carpet in a Gaurav Gupta gown (Photo: Instagram/GauravGupta) The embellishments, meanwhile, depicted an abstract rendition of the cosmos in bursts of silver, gold, charcoal and black, accented with micro-glass crystals to capture dimension and light. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gaurav Gupta (@gauravguptaofficial)In an Instagram post, designer Gaurav Gupta revealed that the Banarasi brocade cape, handwoven in Varanasi, is inscribed with a Sanskrit shloka from the holy Bhagavad Gita, a picture of which the designer exclusively shared with India Today. Exclusive: Sanskrit shloka from the Bhagavad Gita inscribed on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Cannes outfit. As for jewellery, she skipped the heavy necklace in favour of multiple rings, including her signature inverted V wedding ring, and a striking pair of statement earrings. In a notable styling move, she traded her usual sleek, middle-parted hair for relaxed, side-parted beachy is not the first time Aishwarya has trusted designer Gaurav Gupta for her Cannes appearance. In 2022, she attended the prestigious film festival in a sculpted lavender Aishwarya's first Cannes 2025 red carpet look sparked speculation over her sindoor, believed to be a nod to India's strike against terrorism, her latest appearance is a tribute to her roots, her Watch advertisement
India Today
14-05-2025
- India Today
Drew solace from Gita, says Indian-American in jail for 47 days in false kidnapping case
Mahendra Patel, a 57-year-old Indian-origin engineer, who was accused in a false kidnapping case, said he found comfort in the teachings of the Bhagvad Gita during his 47 days in the Cobb County Jail in Georgia. He said even a white inmate sought a copy of the Hindu who said he was shocked by his arrest, was released on a USD 10,000 bond after spending 47 days in Indian-American was accused by 26-year-old Caroline Miller of trying to abduct her two-year-old child at a Walmart store on March 18. He walked out of jail on a bond on May 6. Talking to reporters outside the courthouse, the 57-year-old said, "It feels great. Finally, I am out.""I am so happy to be back with my family — my daughters, my circle," Atlanta-based news portal, NRI Pulse, quoted Patel as MAN SOUGHT A COPY OF GITA, SAYS PATELWhile in jail, Patel said he relied on faith and inner strength to persevere. He spent time reading the Bhagavad Gita, the sacred Hindu scripture, NRI Pulse moment that stood out to him was when a white inmate saw him reading the book and asked if he could have a copy, according to the told him, Of course. We'll send you 10 if you want. It felt like a bigger, deeper message," Patel credited his daughter, Elena, for leading efforts to organise legal aid and raise public awareness while he was incarcerated. He also expressed gratitude to her and his attorney, Ashley Merchant, for their relentless support.A petition urging his release collected more than 47,000 signatures and attracted widespread support from across the his gratitude to the people who extended their support to him, Patel said he was deeply moved by the show of solidarity."I am overwhelmed. I don't know how I will ever repay the support I have received," he being asked about the accusations and statements made by Caroline Miller, Patel chose not to respond directly, most likely because the case was he said, "We take everything in life positively. Whatever comes, it's her karma. We go on with our life."HE IS ENTITLED TO A BOND: JUDGEAccording to the police complaint, Patel was accused of trying to grab the toddler from Miller, riding a motorised cart with her two Patel has maintained his innocence, saying he only reached out to ensure the child didn't fall off the cart after Miller helped direct him to the Tylenol section for his mother's denied bond, Patel's legal team presented surveillance footage from the store, which they say shows no signs of force or an attempt to flee the scene. The footage, although partially obscured, was enough for Cobb County Superior Court Judge A Gregory Poole to grant Patel's release, stating, "I'm going to grant this man a bond. He's entitled to a bond."
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat alludes to the Ramayana in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack
New Delhi The duty of the king is to protect people, and the king must perform his duty, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Saturday, following the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Mr. Bhagwat criticised Pakistan for its 'evil act'. He was speaking in Delhi at the launch of a book, The Hindu Manifesto, authored by Swami Vigyananand, a senior functionary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and initiator of the World Hindu Congress. 'Our dharma is that we must not get beaten by tyrants and must teach a lesson to goons,' the RSS chief said, adding, 'The king's job is to protect people and he must perform his duty.' Giving the example of Ravana from the epic Ramayana, Mr. Bhagwat said that it was known he had all the qualities to become 'the best' king, whether as a great administrator or follower of Shiva or in scholarship. Ravana had everything but he had to die because he was not using these qualities for good, he said. 'It was known that whatever you do, Ravan couldn't be made a good person. Then, only one option was left — that his present body should be destroyed so that he could get another soul and body. This is why God killed him and this killing is not violence; it's non-violence only,' Mr. Bhagwat said. 'India's nature is non-violence is to change people. It is to make people some people can never change. You do whatever possible for them. They won't change and they will keep creating nuisance in the what one can do in this situation?' Mr. Bhagwat said. He also spoke of how the Bhagvad Gita said that Arjuna had to kill his own brothers because that was 'the only way out for them'.
