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Khaleej Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
'Felt humiliated': UAE-based businessman shares ordeal with Indian Customs over his Rolex
When UAE-based businessman Vasu Shroff, known as Dubai's Textile King, landed at Jaipur Airport at 7.30pm on April 12, he was expecting a peaceful welcome. Instead, the 85-year-old entrepreneur said he was 'humiliated and harassed.' 'I was treated like a criminal and smuggler at the airport,' said Shroff, who was visiting India for a two-day trip. Shroff, a wheelchair-bound business tycoon with a track record in business and community service, flew to Jaipur to meet a few VIP's including Bhajan Lal Sharma, Chief Minister of Rajasthan and attend a religious event. However, his visit turned distressing from the moment he got off the plane. As a helper pushed his wheelchair through the baggage area and toward the exit, an immigration officer suddenly stopped him and asked to see his passport. 'I had no idea why he was asking for my passport,' Shroff said. He was even more surprised when the officer pointed at his Rolex watch and said he could not carry it without declaring it. Confused, Shroff looked around for a declaration counter. 'To my surprise, there was no proper declaration point at the airport,' he said. The officer directed him to a small 5x3 ft desk and said that this was where items should be declared. 'It didn't look like a red or green channel. It was just a desk,' Shroff added, questioning the airport's infrastructure. What followed was a frustrating ordeal. Shroff, who was awarded the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India for his contribution to business and social service, was made to wait for more than two hours in his wheelchair as officials handled the matter. 'I requested the officers to prepare the paperwork,' he said. Since he had to reach a temple 200 kilometers away before midnight, he asked if he could pay any duty the next day. But they refused. 'I was just trying to get to my destination,' said Shroff. 'But they wouldn't let me go and made me wait for hours.' It wasn't just the delay that hurt, it was how he was treated. 'They treated me like I was a criminal,' he said. 'In Dubai and across the Gulf, I have always been treated with respect. But here, in my own country, I was made to feel like I did something wrong.' Shroff is also the chairman of India Club and Indian High School in Dubai. 'Deeply disrespectful' treatment As the incident stretched on, Shroff's lawyer Dharmendre Singh, an advocate in the Delhi Supreme Court and Jaipur High Court, stepped in. Singh pointed out to the lack of proper customs infrastructure and said the officials' behaviour was unacceptable. 'There were no clear red or green channels at Jaipur Airport,' said Singh. 'The way Shroff was treated was not only unfair but deeply disrespectful.' Despite Shroff's willingness to cooperate, his watch was taken away. Singh said officials wrongly insisted that the Rolex could only be re-exported to Dubai after paying a questionable duty. 'They misled Shroff and his assistant,' Singh said. Return to Dubai On April 14, when Shroff was returning to Dubai, his assistant tried to collect the watch. But officials demanded Rs10,000 (Dh431.68), which Singh said was an unjustified amount. 'The only valid charge was Rs30 (Dh1.30) for locker fees,' he added. 'Yet they insisted on more money, which raises questions about the process.' Singh said that the Rolex watch worn by Shroff is a high-end luxury timepiece valued at around Rs3.5 million (Dh151,088.05). According to Indian customs rules, luxury items brought into the country without proper declaration may attract a duty of approximately 38 per cent, which in this case would amount to nearly Rs1.3 million (Dh56,118.42) . 'However, instead of following the proper legal procedure, officials at the airport demanded only Rs10,000 in cash, an amount that has no legal basis. This shows they were either unaware of the correct customs law or deliberately ignored it,' said Singh. 'They didn't follow due process, and the random amount they asked raises serious questions about their understanding and intent.' In the end, Shroff had to fly back without his watch. 'I was forced to leave without it,' he said. 'I felt humiliated. I sat there for over five hours. All I wanted was to meet a few people and visit a temple.' Shroff later gave power of attorney to Singh, who finally retrieved the watch on April 19 and brought it to Dubai himself. 'I traveled to the UAE just to return his watch,' said Singh. But the experience has left a bitter memory for Shroff. 'I have lived and worked in Dubai for decades, building a business and helping the community. But when I came to my own country, I was treated like I did something wrong,' he said. 'No one should have to go through what I did.' Shroff is now calling for better systems at Indian airports, especially in cities like Jaipur, to ensure clear customs procedures and respectful treatment of travellers.
Mid East Info
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Mid East Info
Pro Panja UAE Cup marks league's global debut with India-Pakistan ArmWrestling faceoff - Middle East Business News and Information
India's premier Arm Wrestling tournament, Pro Panja League, marked a significant milestone as it hosted its first-ever international event, Pro Panja UAE Cup, at the vibrant city of Dubai on April 19th at the India Club. The event saw some of India's best ArmWrestlers take on major athletes from the UAE, Kuwait and Pakistan. The matches were sanctioned by the Dubai Sports Council and were technically overseen by the Emirates Body Building and Fitness Federation. Mr Omar Ali from the Ministry of Sports, Mr Faisal Alzabi, Head of Emirates Body Building and Fitness Federation and Mr Bharat Chachare, CEO of India Club graced the event as chief guests. Also present were Actor and Co-Founder of the Pro Panja League, Mr. Parvinn Dabass and Bollywood star and President of the People's ArmWrestling Federation India, Mrs. Preeti Jhangiani. In the first match, Talal Ali of Bahrain enjoyed a dominant 3-0 win over Arjun Menon of India. Next, Prasad Kanhangad of UAE beat compatriot Ramboo 3-0. India's Umesh Kattuparambil and Asker Ali defeated Ameer Alturkumani of Kuwait and Ali Sehi of the UAE 3-0, respectively. Lastly, in the highly anticipated clash between India's Mazahir Saidu and Umer Awan of Pakistan, the former prevailed 3-0. After the crucial win, an elated Mazahir said, 'It was an amazing experience competing in Pro Panja League's inaugural International event. This was an important match for me because I was competing against a Pakistani ArmWrestler. India vs Pakistan is the biggest rivalry in sports and getting a win for India was truly special.' After winning his match against Arjun Menon, Bahraini ArmWrestler Talal Ali called out Asker Ali for a match. Talal is the current Bahrain National Champion, three-time Arab Champion and the GCC Champion. Asker Ali accepted his challenge after winning his match. After the successful event, Parvinn Dabass stated, 'Couldn't be happier with the welcome Pro Panja League has received here in Dubai. Seeing Indian ArmWrestlers compete with international stars was truly a special moment for me and I would like to thank India Club for being such a grand host and the Pro Panja UAE Cup is going to become a regular fixture on the International ArmWrestling Calendar based in the UAE.' Preeti Jhanghiani spoke on similar lines and said, ' This event is a testament to the sport's growing popularity and we can't wait to bring more such international events on an even larger scale to the fans. The energy in Dubai was electric and such a reception motivates us to grow the sport even more and dream bigger.'
Gulf Today
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
India's Pro Panja League takes arm wrestling to world stage with UAE Cup
Pro Panja League, India's premier professional Arm Wrestling tournament, is set to mark a significant moment in the league's journey, making its international debut on April 19 at the India Club, who are also the venue partner for the tournament in Abu Dhabi. The 'Pro Panja UAE Cup' is the first-ever occasion when the league is organizing an international event. The event will bring together some of India's best arm wrestlers alongside the best arm wrestlers from around the world. The event is sanctioned by the Dubai Sports Council and will technically be overlooked by the Emirates Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation. Actor and co-Founder of the Pro Panja League, Parvinn Dabass and Bollywood star and President of the People's Armwrestling Federation India, Preeti Jhangiani will be making a special appearance at the event, alongside Raz Khan, who is the representative for Pro Panja League in the UAE. A total of five matches will be played at the event, with the huge India-Pakistan headline clash being between India's Mazahir Saidu (110 kg), who is India's Number 1 and also the captain of Kochi KD's in the Pro Panja League, and Pakistan's Omer Jamshaid (105 kg). In the 90 kg category, Arjun Menon from India will take on Talal Ali from Bahrain, while another Indian, Umesh Kattuparambil (80 kg) will compete against Ameer Alturkumani (85 kg) from UAE. In the other three matches at the landmark event, Prasad Kanhangad (75 kg) of India will be pitted against UAE's Rambo (80 kg), while India's Asker Ali (85 kg) will fight it out against Ali (90 kg). Speaking about the international debut, Dabass said, "The Pro Panja UAE Cup is a natural progression in our vision to make arm wrestling a mainstream, globally recognized sport. The UAE has emerged as a hub for combat sports and we are thrilled to bring the energy and excitement of Pro Panja to such an enthusiastic audience and I thank our UAE partners especially India Club and Faisal Al Zaabi for their support.' Sharing her enthusiasm for the same, Bollywood Star Jhanghiani added, 'Having seen the Pro Panja League up close, I have to say it's a superb mix of sports and entertainment and Bollywood masala, everyone who watches falls in love with Pro Panja and now I'm honoured to be meeting my UAE fans through this platform.'
Mid East Info
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Mid East Info
Pro Panja League is set for international debut as it goes global with UAE Cup 2025
Pro Panja League, India's premier professional Arm Wrestling tournament, is set to mark a significant moment in the league's journey, making its international debut on April 19th at the India Club, who are also the venue partner for the tournament in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The 'Pro Panja UAE Cup' is the first-ever occasion when the league is organizing an international event. The event will bring together some of India's best arm wrestlers alongside the best arm wrestlers from around the world. The event is sanctioned by the Dubai Sports Council and will technically be overlooked by the Emirates Body Building and Fitness Federation. Actor and Co-Founder of the Pro Panja League, Mr. Parvinn Dabass and Bollywood Star and President of the People's ArmWrestling Federation India , Mrs. Preeti Jhangiani will be making a special appearance at the event, alongside Mr. Raz Khan, who is the representative for Pro Panja League in the UAE. A total of five matches will be played at the event, with the huge India-Pakistan headline clash being between India's Mazahir Saidu (110 kg), who is India's Number 1 and also the captain of Kochi KD's in the Pro Panja League, and Pakistan's Omer Jamshaid (105 kg). In the 90 kg category, Arjun Menon from India will take on Talal Ali from Bahrain, while another Indian, Umesh Kattuparambil (80 kg) will compete against Ameer Alturkumani (85 kg) from UAE. In the other three matches at the landmark event, Prasad Kanhangad (75 kg) of India will be pitted against UAE's Rambo (80 kg), while India's Asker Ali (85 kg) will fight it out against Ali (90 kg). Speaking about the international debut, Parvinn Dabass, Co-founder of Pro Panja League, said, 'The Pro Panja UAE Cup is a natural progression in our vision to make arm wrestling a mainstream, globally recognized sport. The UAE has emerged as a hub for combat sports and we are thrilled to bring the energy and excitement of Pro Panja to such an enthusiastic audience and I thank our UAE partners especially India Club and Mr Faisal Alzaabi for their support .' Sharing her enthusiasm for the same, Bollywood Star, Preeti Jhanghiani added, 'Having seen the Pro Panja League up close, I have to say it's a superb mix of sports and entertainment and Bollywood masala, everyone who watches falls in love with Pro Panja and now I'm honoured to be meeting my UAE fans through this platform .'
Arab Times
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait stuns Nepal in nail-biter to clinch historic T20I title
HONG KONG, April 14: In a pulsating final at the Mission Road Ground, Kuwait scripted history by clinching a thrilling 3-run win over Nepal, becoming the champion of the Hong Kong Men's T20I Series 2025, powered by India Club and presented by Hong Kong China Cricket. Opting to bowl first, Nepal made early breakthroughs, but Clinto Anto (26 off 14) and Ravija Sandaruwan (63 off 36) laid a solid foundation with aggressive strokeplay. Their efforts were backed by Usman Ghani (23 off 15) and a handy finish by skipper Mohamed Aslam (13* off 15), guiding Kuwait to a competitive 174/7 in 20 overs. Among Nepal's bowlers, Sompal Kami (2/26) and Nandan Yadav (2/34) impressed, while Yasin Patel, playing his 50th T20I, kept things tight with 2 economical wickets. Nepal's chase got off to a horror start, collapsing to 92/8 despite a lone warrior effort from Basir Ahmad, who smashed a brilliant 80 off 43 balls. Debutant Naveenraj Rajendran (2/26) and Anudeep Chandamara (3/18) triggered a top-order collapse, with Yasin Patel's miserly spell (2/24) putting a stranglehold in the powerplay. However, a late resurgence led by Nandan Yadav (37 off 14) and Basir brought Nepal right back into the contest. Needing 11 off the final over, a no-ball six from Anudeep swung the pendulum, but the bowler held his nerve, delivering two dots and the final wicket as Clinto Anto took the catch to seal an epic win. Anudeep Chandamara was deservedly named Player of the Final for his match-turning spell. This result is all the more significant given Nepal's impressive stature in world cricket. Having played in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 — where it came within a whisker of defeating South Africa, losing by just 1 run — Nepal entered this series ranked 17th in the world, compared to Kuwait's 24th. Since the T20I ranking system was officially introduced in 2019, this victory marks one of Kuwait's biggest scalps and a giant leap forward. With the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, set to be played in India and Sri Lanka, Kuwait will be eyeing the Asia Qualifiers in September 2025 with renewed belief and purpose
