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Former Bigg Boss Malayalam contestants Sijo Thomas and Sai Krishna allege winner Jinto of misconduct and harassment towards women
Former Bigg Boss Malayalam contestants Sijo Thomas and Sai Krishna allege winner Jinto of misconduct and harassment towards women

Time of India

time3 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Time of India

Former Bigg Boss Malayalam contestants Sijo Thomas and Sai Krishna allege winner Jinto of misconduct and harassment towards women

Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6 winner Jinto faces serious allegations of harassment and misconduct from fellow contestants Sijo Thomas and Sai Krishna. They released an audio clip revealing a young woman's disturbing experiences with Jinto, who allegedly made false promises to aspiring actresses and models, manipulating them with fake assurances of film roles and demanding inappropriate 'adjustments'. Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6 winner and fitness trainer Jinto finds himself at the center of yet another controversy, following his recent questioning by the Excise Department in connection with a drug case in Kochi. Now, serious allegations of harassment and misconduct have been raised by his fellow Bigg Boss contestants, Sijo Thomas and Sai Krishna . The two social media influencers have taken to their respective YouTube channels to release an audio clip in which a young woman makes disturbing revelations about Jinto. According to Sijo and Sai Krishna, Jinto has allegedly been making false promises to aspiring actresses and models, claiming he can help them get roles in films or even secure a spot on the Bigg Boss show. "Jinto takes advantage of his position and pretends to offer opportunities in the entertainment industry. But behind the scenes, he manipulates women with fake assurances and lures them into compromising situations," said Sai Krishna. The duo alleged that Jinto frequently collects phone numbers of young women, requests nude photos, and invites them to his flat under the guise of discussing career opportunities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Health: the best shoes to walk and stand all day Ultra-Comfortable Shoes Undo "He uses his role as a fitness trainer to tell them he can help them lose weight, give them a makeover, or turn them into models. Some women have confided in me through messages, saying that Jinto demanded 'adjustments' in exchange for film roles,' Sijo alleges. The allegations suggest that Jinto has a pattern of behavior, with Sai Krishna stating that even transgender individuals have reportedly been affected by his actions. According to them, several women have experienced harassment but are hesitant to speak publicly, fearing repercussions. Only a few have come forward through audio recordings. Further, Sai Krishna described a disturbing pattern of intimidation: 'When a girl threatens to speak out, Jinto allegedly tries to silence her with threats. If that doesn't work, he spins a story accusing her of stealing or causing trouble in his apartment.' The situation escalated after Jinto reportedly made defamatory remarks about Sijo and his wife during a public event, prompting Sijo to file a legal complaint.

Thailand considers excise tax hikes on imported EVs
Thailand considers excise tax hikes on imported EVs

Bangkok Post

time4 days ago

  • Automotive
  • Bangkok Post

Thailand considers excise tax hikes on imported EVs

The Ministry of Finance is studying the imposition of a higher excise tax on imported electric vehicles (EVs) that use a low proportion of local content. Electric pickup trucks in particular are being looked at by the Excise Department, said a ministry source who requested anonymity. Any increases would be part of a package being developed to support domestic investment in the electric pickup truck industry, According to the source, imported EVs from China that benefit from a zero import tariff may be subject to a higher excise tax if they contain zero local content or just a low level of local content. Thailand has a free trade agreement (FTA) with China, allowing many Chinese imports — including EVs — to enjoy zero import duty. This has created competitive imbalances with automakers from other countries who face import tariffs ranging from 40% to 80%. According to the source, the Excise Department is collaborating with the Board of Investment (BoI), which is working on measures to support the pickup truck industry. Importers who meet BoI conditions would be eligible for support. Speaking at the 'Unlocking Thailand's Future' conference on Thursday night, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra proposed the government impose a high excise tax on imported EVs that use a low proportion of local content. He said FTAs with some countries that enjoy zero import tariffs on EVs negatively affect the ecosystem of the domestic automotive industry. He did not name the countries. Using car seats made in Thailand was one example of the kind of local content foreign EV makers could source, he said. Thaksin also mentioned that promoting the use of EVs would help reduce pollution. Currently, Thailand imports 60 million litres of diesel a day, 25 million litres of gasoline and another 10 million litres of other types of fuel, equivalent to the output capacity of a 40,000-megawatt power plant. He also expressed support for Thailand to become a hub for green electricity. Producing 40,000MW of green electricity from solar energy for 24-hour power generation would require about 1.4 million rai of land. He said Thailand has sufficient land to make this possible, and that the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) could undertake this initiative by establishing a separate division, or a 'Green Egat'.

State govt. mulls ban on toddy shops within ORR limits
State govt. mulls ban on toddy shops within ORR limits

The Hindu

time5 days ago

  • The Hindu

State govt. mulls ban on toddy shops within ORR limits

The Telangana Excise and Prohibition Department has proposed shutting down all toddy shops operating within the limits of the Outer Ring Road (ORR), in a bid to crack down on the sale of adulterated toddy. The government is actively considering the proposal and has sought a detailed report from the Excise Department, according to informed sources. The move comes after the Kukatpally adulterated toddy incident that claimed at least ten lives and left over 50 individuals hospitalised. The case has led to mounting concern over the increasing use of banned substances including alprazolam, chloral hydrate and other chemicals in toddy. Sharing the rationale behind the move, a source close to the development, said that the Kukatpally incident not only triggered public outrage but also drew parallels to a similar episode in 2004, which led then Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy to shut down toddy shops in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. According to data compiled by the Excise Department, a total of 454 toddy shops operate within ORR limits, functioning under 390 cooperative societies. These include 53 shops in Hyderabad, 50 in Secunderabad, 79 in Malkajgiri of Rangareddy district, 52 in Medchal, 158 in Saroornagar and 62 in Shamshabad. If the ban is implemented, it would impact toddy sales across major urban zones including Hyderabad, Secunderabad and parts of Rangareddy, particularly under the excise divisions of Malkajgiri, Medchal, Shadnagar and Saroornagar. Additionally, the government is likely to cancel Tree For Trade (TFT) toddy concessions (licensing of toddy shops to individual tappers or Tappers' Cooperative Societies) in these areas as part of the broader crackdown. Authorities maintain that removing toddy outlets from the ORR region is the only effective way to prevent the distribution of adulterated toddy in urban areas. The State government is expected to make a final decision on the proposal in the coming weeks.

Chandigarh has 1,131 road stretches — 637 don't match with their signboards: Report
Chandigarh has 1,131 road stretches — 637 don't match with their signboards: Report

Indian Express

time15-07-2025

  • Indian Express

Chandigarh has 1,131 road stretches — 637 don't match with their signboards: Report

Of the 1,131 road stretches in Chandigarh, 637 have not matched with their dedicated signboards, a survey report said during the District Road Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday. According to the report, apart from the 637 road stretches having mismatched signboards, 178 had no signage at all and 175 lacked boards specifically for two-wheelers. The meeting of the District Road Safety Committee held under the chairmanship of Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, and was attended by the SSP (Traffic & Security), SDMs, representatives from the Department of Health Services (DHS), Engineering Department, Office of the Chief Architect, the Excise Department, and officers of the Municipal Corporation. In the meeting, it was apprised that a review was conducted regarding the Speed Limit Mapping Project by Lepton Software in partnership with Google Maps, aimed at displaying accurate official speed limits across Chandigarh roads on digital navigation platforms. During the data verification exercise conducted as part of the project, it was observed that several discrepancies exist between the officially notified speed limits and the speed signages currently displayed on various roads. Taking serious note of the discrepancies, the Deputy Commissioner directed all concerned departments, including the Engineering Department, Police (Traffic Wing), and other relevant civic agencies, to initiate immediate action in a time-bound manner for rectification of wrongly displayed speed signages. He emphasised that accurate speed limit signage is crucial not only for commuter safety but also for the effective implementation of speed regulations by enforcement agencies. The meeting also discussed that the encroachments at Sector 29/30 light point will be addressed through a joint survey by SDM (East) and stakeholder departments, with enforcement measures including boundary walls and iron railings. The Chief Engineer, Chandigarh, was also asked to implement speed calming measures on the high-traffic Jan Marg stretch between Sectors 9 and 10 using 15 mm raised strips, post-monsoon. Regarding illegal taxi operations near Novotel Hotel, Tribune Chowk, officials reported the installation of crash guard grills to prevent unauthorised entry, with completion expected by early July. The traffic police have been asked to submit an action taken report. Expressing concern over a liquor vend at Dhanas Light Point — citing lack of parking and its location near a congested junction—the Deputy Commissioner instructed the Excise Department not to allot the spot in future auctions and to look for a more suitable site.

New wine shop licences will need legislature nod; none issued: Ajit Pawar
New wine shop licences will need legislature nod; none issued: Ajit Pawar

Indian Express

time14-07-2025

  • Business
  • Indian Express

New wine shop licences will need legislature nod; none issued: Ajit Pawar

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Sunday clarified that no new licences have been issued, and any such decision would require the approval of the state legislature, as mandated by a rule in place since 1974. 'A decision was taken back then that liquor shop licences cannot be granted without taking the legislature into confidence. That rule still stands… Alcohol addiction affects men, but the real suffering is borne by women. These rules were made keeping that social impact in mind,' he said. Pawar's remarks came after the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) accused the government of planning to issue 328 new liquor licences to boost revenue. A report published in Loksatta stated that the state government was set to lift a 50-year-long freeze on issuing new wine shop licences. According to the report, the government will issue new licences as per the recommendation of the recently formed committee. The move is part of a broader strategy to increase revenue through the Excise Department, which is the fourth-largest contributor to the state's income, generating around Rs 43,000 crore annually. With welfare schemes such as 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' demanding significant funding, the government is exploring additional sources of income. If the recommendations of a recently formed committee are implemented, the excise revenue is expected to rise by Rs 14,000 crore per year, Loksatta reported. However, the decision has sparked controversy and allegations of conflict of interest. A committee to implement these reforms was formed under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister and Excise Minister Ajit Pawar. Industry experts and opposition leaders questioned the appropriateness of Pawar leading the committee, suggesting it may benefit his close network. NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad alleged that the government is trying to recover funds spent on schemes like Ladki Bahin by reviving long-suspended licenses. 'This is like turning a brother into a drunkard to run the household for a sister,' Awhad said. 'The moral cost of such a policy will be immense.' Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut called for an inquiry into the alleged distribution of licences to relatives of ministers. 'Liquor licences are being delivered directly to homes of ruling party MLAs,' Raut said. According to officials, the Excise Department had submitted proposals to increase state excise revenue, including the liberalisation of wine sales and issuing new licences. However, they confirmed that no decision has been made, and the 1974 rule remains binding. Maharashtra currently has around 1,700 foreign liquor and 3,500 country liquor licences, all issued before 1974.

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