Latest news with #Subramanian
India.com
3 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Meet Ambiga Subramanian, faced many problems, separated from husband, youngest self-made female millionaire in India, her business was…
Ambiga Subramanian was leading Mu Sigma as its CEO. She is the first woman to head this startup. The company is of $1.5 billion and has remained in profit since it was established. She was born in Chennai and completed her bachelor's degree in Electrical engineering from Anna University, Chennai. After graduation, she went to USA and did MS in Computer Engineering from Wayne State University, Michigan. She joined Motorola in 1998 as Research Lead in 1998. The she joined Mu Sigma, a data analytics firm which was started by her ex-husband, Dhiraj Rajaram in 2004. There were several ups and downs in her personal life. She separated from her husband and left Mu Sigma in 2016 after working for several years as its CEO, COO. After this she started working on a social networking application, in 2018, according to Business world. After exiting from Mu Sigma she sold 24 percent of her stakes to Dhiraj after their divorce. She then started investing in a number of companies in the world like Box8, Piper Biosciences, Innov8, CarterX, ICE Creative Excellence and others. Subramanian was ranked fourth after Kiran Mazumdar-Shawwhen her net worth was around Rs2,500 crore ($381 million). Subramanian and Rajaram first met in the early 1990s at the Engineering college. Rajaram worked with consultancies like Booz Allen Hamilton and PwC before starting his own business with Mu Sigma. However, 2016 was not good as the company faced an internal crisis when Subramanian and Rajaram got divorced, and many employees left the company in the crisis. This led to a chaos to a business. In 2016, Mu Sigma's revenues fell to $165 million, from $184 million and the fall reduced when Rajaram bought out Subramanian's stake. Ambiga Subramanian is now working for her startup and not given much public appearance.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who's in Diddy's sex trafficking trial: The witnesses, lawyers and more
Testimony is underway in Sean 'Diddy' Combs's federal sex trafficking trial, as the government presents its case against the embattled music mogul that threatens to topple his legacy. Combs, 55, who has been detained in a Brooklyn jail since September, has pleaded not guilty to five criminal charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, he faces 15 years to life in prison. Combs has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, including allegations at the center of a growing number of civil sexual assault lawsuits. The trial, estimated to last eight weeks at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in New York, is not being publicly broadcast. The government is currently arguing its case against Combs and bringing forward an array of witnesses, including celebrities, hotel workers, male escorts and Combs's former assistants. Combs, meanwhile, has been bolstered by a sprawling defense team and a small but constant corps of supporters. These include his family members, as well as former employees, neighbors and members of the public. With proceedings underway, here are the major players at court — including attorneys, witnesses and family members. This story will be updated throughout the trial. Judge Arun Subramanian Presiding over the Combs trial is Subramanian, 45, who has served as a U.S. District Court judge for the Southern District of New York since March 2023. Nominated by President Joe Biden, Subramanian was the first South Asian judge appointed to the New York district court. He's been an affable and evenhanded presence on the bench for the Combs trial, occasionally bantering with attorneys and prospective jurors during jury selection. This included a moment when a former colleague of Subramanian's entered the court as a prospective juror, which elicited laughter from the judge. 'What is your opinion about the judge in this case?' Subramanian said jokingly. The prospective juror responded, 'He is fair, he is gregarious, he is decent and he's brilliant. But we have not always agreed on everything.' Subramanian has repeatedly emphasized the importance of having a fair and orderly trial, remarking to attorneys during jury selection that 'efficiency is going to be paramount.' Subramanian graduated Columbia Law School in 2004 and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He also hosted the Southern District's first-ever karaoke happy hour. Casandra Ventura Ventura, an R&B singer who goes by the stage name Cassie, dated Combs for a little more than 10 years after signing to his Bad Boy record label in 2006. At the time, Ventura's debut single, 'Me & U,' was already a global hit, and Combs, a prominent producer and label head who was almost 20 years her senior, promised to further develop the singer's talent. The pair broke up in 2018. Then, in 2023, Ventura filed an explosive lawsuit against her former lover and boss, accusing him of abusing her throughout their relationship and trafficking her for sex. She was one of the first witnesses called at trial, delivering grueling testimony in which she alleged Combs forced her into weekly sex sessions with male prostitutes. Kid Cudi Rapper Kid Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, testified in Combs's trial that he believes the music mogul broke into his Hollywood home while he was briefly dating Ventura and later blew up his Porsche — confirming a sensational allegation first described in Ventura's 2023 lawsuit. In January 2012, Mescudi said he found his car mangled and burned due to damage caused by a molotov cocktail. The next day, Mescudi said, Combs had a weirdly calm, 'off-putting' demeanor when the two met at Soho House to resolve their romantic dispute over Ventura. 'Sean Combs was standing there with his hands behind his back like a Marvel supervillain,' Mescudi testified. But he said Combs spoke calmly, told him they were 'homies' and said he couldn't understand why Mescudi would have a fling with Ventura. Dawn Richard Dawn Richard of Danity Kane testified that she saw Combs physically abuse his former romantic partners Ventura and Kim Porter. After witnessing Combs allegedly attack Ventura with a frying pan in 2009, Richard also claimed he threatened that 'where he comes from, people who say something can end up missing.' Richard filed a lawsuit against Combs in September, claiming that her former employer physically and sexually abused her throughout the eight years they worked together, which spanned her time in Danity Kane and later as a member of his music trio Diddy-Dirty Money. The lawsuit accuses him of groping her and subjecting her to 'inhumane working conditions.' Attorneys for Combs previously called Richard's claims 'facially ridiculous or demonstrably false' and plan to seek dismissal. Kerry Morgan Ventura's former friend Kerry Morgan testified in Combs's trial that Ventura protected the music producer after she was assaulted by him at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016. After an enraged Combs went to Ventura's house and banged on the front door with a hammer, LAPD officers arrived to find Ventura with a black eye, Morgan said. 'They asked what happened, [she said] nothing — she didn't respond,' Morgan testified. 'They asked for her license. She said she didn't have it.' Both Morgan and Ventura have also testified that their friendship ended shortly after Combs allegedly attacked Morgan with a wooden hanger while at Ventura's home in 2018. In recounting her last meeting with Ventura, Morgan said Ventura offered her $30,000 in exchange for signing a nondisclosure agreement. The two haven't spoken since that deal was made. Regina Ventura Ventura's mother, Regina Ventura, testified about photos she took of her daughter in 2011, which showed dark bruising on parts of her body, including her backside and thighs. But the most striking story she told on the stand was about Combs's alleged demand for $20,000 from Regina, as compensation for money the record producer spent on her daughter. His defense team did not deny that Combs asked for the money, but they noted that Combs returned it shortly after Regina wired the payment to him. Despite their strong protests to exclude the testimony before she took the stand, Combs's defense lawyers chose not to cross-examine Regina — the first government witness they declined to question. Capricorn Clark Capricorn Clark, an assistant who worked for Combs, has come up repeatedly throughout witness testimonies, including in Mescudi's account of a break-in at his home. She's expected to take the stand on May 27. Mylah Morales Mylah Morales, a makeup artist who once worked for Combs and had a sisterly bond with Ventura, testified that she feared for her life when she saw Ventura's injuries after Combs struck her while the women were sharing a hotel room in 2010. She explained that her fear prevented her from talking to Combs or calling police about the incident, and that neither Combs nor his employees ever approached her about it. Janice Combs Janice Combs, matriarch of the Combs family, has been one of her son's most vocal defenders, calling his mounting legal troubles a 'public lynching' in a statement released through her attorney in October. 'My son is not the monster they have painted him to be, and he deserves the chance to tell his side. I can only pray that I am alive to see him speak his truth and be vindicated.' Since Combs's arrest, Janice Combs, 84, has faced media scrutiny and legal challenges that claim she helped conceal his alleged misconduct. According to one lawsuit, in which she is named as a co-defendant with Combs, Janice Combs allegedly pressured the accuser to accept hush money from the rapper. In a separate civil suit, Kirk Burrowes, a co-founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, accuses Janice Combs of unlawfully taking control of his 25 percent stake in the label after Combs allegedly coerced him into signing over ownership under threat of violence. Janice Combs also figures prominently in 'Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy,' a documentary on Peacock that alleges she threw raucous parties, exposing Combs to sex and drugs during his childhood in Harlem. (Sean Combs filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against NBC, calling the program an 'outrageous set of fresh lies.') A lawyer for Janice Combs did not respond to a request for comment. Quincy Brown Quincy Brown, 33, is Combs's eldest son and a singer/actor best known for his roles in the musical television series 'Star' and the coming-of-age film 'Dope.' On Oct. 22, Brown joined his siblings — Chance, Justin, Christian, Jessie and D'Lila — in releasing a public statement of support for Combs. 'We stand united, supporting you every step of the way. We hold onto the truth, knowing it will prevail, and nothing will break the strength of our family,' the statement read. That same day, Brown announced a YouTube vlog series offering viewers a look at the Combs family 'through their own lens,' documenting vacations, everyday life and 'the highs and lows.' The project drew criticism online, with some accusing the family of trying to sway public opinion in Combs's favor. The following month, prosecutors alleged in a court filing that the rapper had instructed his family to promote narratives on social media to influence a potential jury pool. Brown, whose biological father is singer Albert 'Al B. Sure!' Brown, was raised by Combs during his on-and-off relationship with Brown's mother, model and actress Kim Porter, who died in 2018 of lobar pneumonia. Justin Dior Combs Justin Combs, 31, is Combs's son with stylist Misa Hylton and a former defensive back at UCLA. During an altercation in 2015, Combs allegedly swung a kettlebell at Justin's assistant football coach and was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. The charges were later dropped. Music producer Rodney 'Lil Rod' Jones named Justin Combs as a co-defendant in a lawsuit that accused Combs of running a sex trafficking operation. Justin Combs was later dismissed from the case after lawyers failed to serve him. Combs's legal team has slammed the claims in Jones's suit as 'pure fiction.' Christian 'King' Combs Combs's son Christian Combs, known by his stage name 'King Combs,' is a 27-year-old music artist and actor often regarded for his resemblance to his father. He and Combs are named as defendants in a lawsuit that alleges Christian Combs drugged and sexually assaulted a yacht stewardess while she was working on a boat chartered by Combs in December 2022. Last year, an attorney for Combs and his son told CNN that the lawsuit contained 'manufactured lies and irrelevant facts,' adding they would seek to 'dismiss this outrageous claim.' Representatives for Christian Combs did not respond to a request for comment. More recently, Christian Combs has made headlines for his and Justin's visits with controversial rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, who has publicly called for Combs's release from jail. In March, Ye shared a now-deleted song on X that featured his 11-year-old daughter, North; Christian Combs; and audio of a phone conversation between Ye and Combs. Chance Combs Chance Combs, 19, is Combs's eldest daughter with stylist Sarah Chapman. An aspiring actor, Chance was accepted into New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2023. Along with her siblings, she has appeared at pretrial hearings as the family maintains a united front amid growing public scrutiny. Jessie and D'Lila Combs Combs has 18-year-old twin daughters, Jessie and D'Lila, from his relationship with Porter. The sisters, both aspiring models who walked in Dolce & Gabbana's Alta Moda show in 2021, have also appeared in court with other family members — support that is expected to continue throughout the trial. Combs's seventh child is Love, his 2-year-old daughter with model Dana Tran. Marc Agnifilo, lead counsel Combs is represented by Agnifilo, who serves as his lead trial counsel. Agnifilo, a founding partner of the white-shoe law firm Agnifilo Intrater, has represented Martin Shkreli and NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere and is currently on the legal team for UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect Luigi Mangione. Previously, Agnifilo led the violent and organized crime unit at the U.S. attorney's office in New Jersey, where he tried cases against Italian, Russian and Asian organized crime bosses, as well as American gangs. He is expected to argue that Combs's sexual encounters with his former partners, including Ventura, were consensual as part of a 'swingers' lifestyle. Teny Geragos Geragos is part of the Agnifilo Intrater law firm, and also worked with Agnifilo at Brafman and Associates, which has represented Combs in other legal matters. She is the daughter of Mark Geragos, 67, a famed criminal defense attorney who has also represented Chris Brown, Michael Jackson and Winona Ryder. He is also working with the defense team, though in an advisory role. During jury selection, court filings indicate that Mark Geragos was scolded by Subramanian for calling the prosecution team 'a six-pack of White women' on a TMZ podcast. Brian Steel Steel was added to Combs's legal team in April. Steel, who is based in Georgia, represented Young Thug in the YSL racketeering trial that lasted nearly two years — the longest criminal trial in Georgia history. Young Thug, whose legal name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, ended up pleading guilty to several drug-, gun- and gang-related offenses and received a sentence of 15 years probation. Xavier R. Donaldson Donaldson joined Combs's defense team on May 2, just days before the trial began. According to his LinkedIn page, he is a former Bronx County prosecutor and a founding partner of Donaldson & Chilliest, LLP, where he practiced for 24 years, representing clients charged with 'complex federal and state cases' that involved murder, firearms possession, rape and domestic violence, among other criminal matters. Nicole Westmoreland Westmoreland is another late addition to Combs's defense team, filing a notice of attorney appearance as jury selection began in his trial. A Black female attorney, Westmoreland fills a demographic Combs was reportedly seeking to include on his legal team. In 2001, she survived a sexual assault at an Atlanta recording studio when she was 19. Like Steel, Westmoreland represented a defendant in the YSL trial. Anna Estevao Estevao led the defense team's cross-examination of Ventura. According to her biography on the website for her New York law firm — Harris Trzaskoma LLP — she is a former federal defender who now represents individuals and businesses in 'high-stakes white collar and criminal matters,' including bank fraud, money laundering, sexual assault, extortion and more. Jonathan Bach Jonathan Bach joined Combs's legal team amid a second week of witness testimony in the music producer's trial — seemingly to cross-examine forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes, who testified that a 'trauma bond' can form between a domestic abuser and their victims. Bach notably represented David Lemus, who after nearly 14 years behind bars was acquitted in 2007 for the death of a Manhattan bouncer. Maurene Comey, assistant U.S. attorney Comey is part of the all-women legal team of U.S. attorneys trying the case against Combs. She recently served as the lead prosecutor in the 2021 sex trafficking case against Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite who played a crucial role in facilitating the late financier Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of minors. (Maxwell, who maintains her innocence, was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison.) Comey is the daughter of James B. Comey, who led the FBI from 2013 to 2017. The prosecution team includes assistant U.S. attorneys Meredith Foster, Emily A. Johnson, Christy Slavik, Madison Reddick Smyser and Mitzi Steiner.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial updates: Witness testimony to resume on Tuesday
This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing. Witnesses will return to the stand on Tuesday in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs. The third week of the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs will resume in New York City on Tuesday, with witness testimony set to court resumes on Tuesday, federal prosecutors plan to call Combs' former assistant Capricorn Clark and representatives from Los Angeles fire and police departments. Across two weeks of testimony in Combs' sex-trafficking and racketeering trial, federal prosecutors called 16 witnesses, attempting to prove the rap mogul embraced violence and threats to coerce women into sex and protect his music empire. Among those who have already taken the stand are musician and Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, her mother Regina, Combs' former personal assistants David James and George Kaplan, plus rapper Kid Cudi whose legal name is Scott Mescudi. MORE: Everyone who has testified in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial so far: Recap Combs has pleaded not guilty and denies sexually assaulting or trafficking anyone. Combs' lawyers have argued that the rap mogul's domestic violence was driven by jealousy and drug addiction, and that his voyeuristic sexual activities, while not mainstream, are his private business and do not amount to sex trafficking.-ABC News' Peter Charalambous, Aaron Katersky, Josh Margolin, Tonya Simpson and Kaitlyn MorrisTestimony concluded for the week with an agent from Homeland Security Investigations who conducted data extraction from three laptop computers that belonged to Cassie of the laptops allegedly included a user profile for Frank Black, an alias used by Sean is now adjourned until Tuesday.'Do not talk to anyone about the case,' Judge Arun Subramanian instructed the juror before dismissing them, telling them instead to 'watch the Knicks avenge their Game One loss.'Subramanian also told the jury that the trial is 'right on schedule.'When court resumes on Tuesday, federal prosecutors said they plan to call Combs' former assistant, Capricorn Clark, as well as representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Fire Department.'I think we are right on time,' prosecutor Maureen Comey said of the pace of testimony, telling the jury the government's case would take about six weeks total to present. 'I would think that we should be able to wrap this up before the Fourth of July,' Comey defense asked Judge Subramanian to allow Combs to have additional access to videoconferencing from jail. Subramanian said he has had no luck with the Bureau of Prisons. Prosecutors said they would call and ask on the judge's videoconferencing time, the defense sought additional phone time, saying Combs is 'out of minutes.'
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Madras High Court judge lauds the services of DLSA, lists its welfare activities in Thoothukudi
Thoothukudi District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) and Thoothukudi District Administration organised a legal awareness campaign at the District Collectorate on Saturday. Madras High Court Judge Justice R. Subramnian, who led the event, addressed the gathering. Justice R. Subramanian highlighted the history of DLSA saying that it was established in 1987. He said the DLSA's origin traced back to Article 39 A in the Constitution, which was introduced in the 42nd amendment in 1976 and for the first time, the principle of free legal aid was brought into the Constitution. Though the initiative began in 1976, it gradually developed through the years 1984 and 1985, ultimately culminating in the complete establishment, he said. He said a law was passed in 1987 to regulate them. Based on that various services were being provided and in particular free legal services were being provided. Mr. Subramanian emphasised that the lawyers were arguing the cases free of charge, mentioning that many such cases were being taken up through the DLSA. At part of the event, various welfare measures were extended to the public, including assistance for persons with disabilities, self-employment loans for women, distribution of vehicles and other benefits. The DSLA provided medical equipment, including ventilators, electrocardiogram machines and others worth ₹50 lakh to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital. Mr. Subramanian also inaugurated free medical camp at district court complex in Thoothukudi. Thoothukudi District Collector K. Elambahavath, Administrator General and Official Trustee of Tamil Nadu D. Lingeswaran, Thoothukudi Principal District Judge R. Vasanthi, and District Health Officer M. Yazhini were present.
India.com
24-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Meet man who studied at IIT, IIM, owned business empire worth Rs 35000000000 now to remain in jail for 20 years due to…
Meet man who studied at IIT, IIM, owned business empire worth Rs 35000000000 now to remain in jail for 20 years due to… We've all grown up hearing stories of people rising from poverty to wealth and success. However, some stories leave you in awe. This story is full of turns and twists. This individual excelled across several domains, including banking, business, and engineering. Despite being an alumnus of IIT and a graduate of IIM, he is jailed for 20 years due to….Well, he is R. Subramanian, the visionary behind the retail chain Subhiksha. The distinguished IIT graduate and IIM alumnus was found guilty by a special court in Chennai of defrauding hundreds of investors, according to the court ruling on November 20, 2023. The court handed him a 20-year prison sentence. It all started in May 1991, when Subramanian took his first step into the world of business by founding Viswapriya, a financial services company. Soon the venture began to gain momentum, drawing in major investors with its promising schemes. With no backing and starting from zero, Subramanian relied on nothing but hard work and belief in his vision. Over the years, that relentless drive paid off leading him to open an impressive 1,600 outlets across India. Going by a Business Standard(2015) report, Subhiksha commenced its first outlet in Chennai in March 1997 with an initial investment of $1 million. By March 1999, the company had expanded to 14 stores in Chennai, and by mid-2000, the count had risen to 50. By 2006, the brand had made its mark in states like Gujarat, Delhi, Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, with 420 stores up and running. Just two years later, in October 2008, Subhiksha had become a household name, with 1,600 outlets offering everything from daily groceries and fresh produce to medicines and even mobile phones. If media reports are to believed, the company's worth had reached Rs 3500 crore by then. Moreover, he was once trusted by Azim Premji, ICICI Ventures and Kotak Mahindra Bank. However, in a dramatic twist, things changed. Subramanian became involved in a web of financial misconduct, using investor money in questionable ways and making promises of high returns that couldn't be sustained. In 2023, the truth came to light—he admitted to a Rs 137 crore fraud. The fallout was severe: he was sentenced to 20 years in prison and faced hefty fines. This marked the tragic downfall of Subhiksha, a once-thriving retail dream that came crashing down. His involvement in financial misconduct led to investor funds being diverted through shell companies, leaving 587 investors still awaiting their refunds. It is to be noted that the court has levied a Rs 8.92 crore fine on him and imposed a collective Rs 191.98 crore penalty on the involved entities. Of this, Rs 180 crore has been designated for compensating affected depositors. The court has ordered the funds to be transferred to an authorized body, responsible for verifying investor claims and ensuring proper distribution.
