Latest news with #Rs1.75
Hans India
20-05-2025
- Hans India
300 duped of Rs 9 crore; 2 cops suspended for lapses
Mangaluru: A recruitment agency in Mangaluru has been accused of swindling nearly 300 job aspirants from across South India of more than Rs 9 crore, in a growing scandal that has also led to the suspension of two local police officers for dereliction of duty. The firm, Hire Grow Elegant Overseas International, operating from the city's Bendoorwell locality, allegedly promised employment opportunities abroad and collected over Rs1.75 lakh per candidate towards medical tests, visa processing, travel arrangements, and documentation. However, the agency reportedly shut shop on May 2 without delivering any promised services, returning only the original documents submitted by the candidates. The scam came to light after complaints were filed by aspirants from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Goa. Many had paid in instalments via digital QR code transactions. Some victims alleged they were even summoned at odd hours for paperwork under the pretext of urgent visa requirements. Taking note of the mounting complaints, the Dakshina Kannada district unit of the Congress labour wing intervened and alerted the police. It also pointed out that the agency had no valid registration under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Significantly, the Protector of Emigrants (PoE) office in Bengaluru had warned the Mangaluru police in late 2024 about the agency's operations, but no follow-up action was taken. Following pressure from the victims and political groups, the investigation was handed over to the City Crime Branch (CCB), which arrested the agency's owner, Masiuallah Atiualla Khan. He has been remanded to judicial custody. Three others are also facing investigation, with a case registered at Kadri police station. Meanwhile, in a major administrative action, two police personnel have been suspended for mishandling the case. Inspector Somasekhar G.C. of Mangaluru East Police Station was found to have ignored prior complaints and failed to initiate legal proceedings, even after the PoE's alerts. His negligence allegedly allowed the agency to defraud more job seekers to the tune of Rs 1.82 crore. In addition, PSI Umesh Kumar M.N., previously handling the case at Mangaluru East and currently posted at Barke Police Station, has been suspended for multiple lapses in the investigation. According to a press release issued by the city police, he failed to arrest suspects, gather financial evidence, or properly examine victims and witnesses. 'Both officers demonstrated negligence, irresponsibility, and a breach of official duty. Departmental disciplinary action has been initiated,' the statement said. The incident has renewed concerns over unregulated recruitment firms operating in the region and the failure of enforcement agencies to act on time. For the hundreds of aspiring migrant workers now left in limbo, it is a sobering reminder of the risks associated with chasing overseas employment through unverified channels.
Gulf News
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
Why the Malayalam film industry is bleeding money: Box office flops reveal a grim reality
Dubai: Ask any Malayalam movie fan and they'll tell you we're in a golden era — a phase of fearless storytelling, breakout talent, and creative highs. But speak to a producer or industry insider, and the mood quickly shifts. Behind the global acclaim and critical buzz lies a sobering truth: Malayalam cinema, for all its brilliance, is struggling to stay financially afloat. In March 2025, the harsh economics of the Kerala film industry came into sharp focus. According to reports, out of the 15 Malayalam films released last month in March, only one — L2: Empuraan, the high-octane Mohanlal–Prithviraj action thriller — managed to break even, let alone turn a profit. Mounted on a massive Rs1.75 billion, the film grossed Rs3.25 billion worldwide within its first month, standing out as a rare commercial outlier in an otherwise grim financial landscape, according to Malayalam news website Manorama. But what's ailing the Malayalam film industry? Gulf News tracked down Dubai-based producer Sophia Paul, known for backing landmark films like Bangalore Days and Minnal Murali, in Kerala and she offered a frank diagnosis of the situation. "It's simple. Content-wise, many of the films just weren't strong enough. Malayalam movies have never been iconic star-driven. Unlike Bollywood, big stars doesn't guarantee a hit anymore. Look at Tovino's Identity — such a huge film, but it didn't do well. Only for Mohanlal do stars still guarantee an opening," she told Gulf News. Plus, the audience's viewing habits have changed completely. "Earlier, there would be 200 people at a show; now it's different. People are reluctant to head into cinemas for every film and would rather wait till it lands on a web streaming platform. The reality is sobering because it's not easy for Malayalam films to be picked up by OTT platforms either," she added. Her observations reflect a wider industry crisis. Yet Empuraan is the exception, not the rule. Despite an exceptional year in 2024, when Malayalam cinema more than doubled its box office share from 5 per cent to 10 per cent and crossed the Rs10 billion gross box office collection milestone for the first time, the financial health of the industry remains precarious. According to a recent Ormax report, the industry saw over 100 per cent growth compared to 2023. Still, the reality is stark: even with this impressive growth, Malayalam cinema recorded losses amounting to between Rs6.6 billion to Rs 7 billion. Out of 204 films released in 2024 — which included 199 new titles and five remastered classics — only 26 emerged as box office successes. The Kerala Film Producers' Association (KFPA) reports that while production costs skyrocketed to Rs10 billion, less than 30 per cent was actually recovered. Skyrocketing actor fees and inflated production costs were identified by industry insiders as major culprits behind this grim financial scenario. Veteran producer Suresh Kumar also echoed similar concerns, recently challenging Malayalam stars to name even one film that consistently crossed the Rs 1billion mark at the box office, underscoring how fragile commercial success remains. Stakeholders agree that while Malayalam cinema continues to excel in terms of content and critical acclaim — often outperforming other Indian industries weighed down by formulaic storytelling — the industry must address its pressing challenges. Rising production budgets, shifting viewer habits, dwindling OTT support, and overreliance on star power have combined to create a perfect storm. Still, the phenomenal success of Empuraan offers a glimmer of hope. It proves that with smart planning, big-screen spectacle, and genuinely compelling content, Malayalam cinema can still command not just critical acclaim but major box office rewards. But unless there's serious introspection — and swift correction — the industry risks undermining its hard-earned global reputation.
Express Tribune
28-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
The relief claim
Listen to article Domestic power consumers and industrialists are in a fix as the arithmetic at work to come up with some relief in their energy bills is no less than a joke. It seems there is either some serious confusion at work on the part of the government, or the finance gurus are in a hypothetical world of their own in adjusting the slabs of tariffs to keep the IMF engrossed. As far as the Washington-based lender is concerned, it has no mercy for the sizzling consumers as well as the struggling production units, now in an existential phase literally, expecting a sigh of relief. This has led to unrest and a slump in industrial produce that is already uncompetitive in terms of exports. The IMF's nod, nonetheless, to slash the power rates by a mere Re1 could not stand the test of oracle as it became an instant victim of a pending litigation. Likewise, the inflation-hit populace had a bolt from the blue as the federal cabinet slapped an additional Rs10 per litre petroleum levy, torpedoing a supposed reduction of Rs1.75 per unit in electricity tariffs. This pun was in contrast to the much-trumpeted claim of a Rs8 per unit cut in energy bills that was to be unveiled as a Pakistan Day gift to the nation. But that is nowhere to be seen, as inherent hurdles in the form of regulatory bodies' input and a lethargic approval module go on to scuttle any solace that salaried and lower-income consumers could ever hope for. This trial and tribulation at the international fora that holds the valve of our economy and the incapacity of the government to walk the talk in terms of relief have jaundiced growth and confidence of the masses. Pakistan's energy tariff is one of the highest in the region, and a set of shady accords with energy generators are coming to compromise on sovereignty. It is an enigma that requests made to the IMF for some breathing space for the poor are assuredly shot down, whereas the same pro-reforms donor looks the other way when the talk of taxing the elite is put off for some other day.
