GECs
Insat 4A placed in near-geosynchronous orbit
MUMBAI: Insat 4A telecommunications satellite has been successfully placed in near-geosynchronous orbit by Indian space scientists. The deployment of solar panels and two antennas have been completed.
The spacecraft has been placed in near-Geosynchronous orbit in the third and final orbit-raising operation conducted yesterday from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka.
The Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) on board the satellite was fired for a duration of five minutes 45 seconds to enable it to achieve an orbital period of 23 hours and 54 minutes.
The satellite is presently located at 78.1 deg E and is drifting towards its final orbital position of 83 deg E. The satellite would be arrested at 81.5 degree E to carry out in-orbit testing of the payloads.
The satellite had about 1,690 kg of propellant at the time of its launch on board an Ariane rocket from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana, and 1,154 kg of propellant was used for three orbit-raising manoeuvres.
The remaining 536 kg of propellant available in the satellite is sufficient for maintaining the satellite orbit and orientation for its designed life of 12 years.
GECs
Sebi sends show-cause notice to Zee over fund diversion, company responds
Regulator questions 2018 letter of comfort and governance lapses; company vows robust legal response
MUMBAI: India’s markets watchdog has reignited its long-running scrutiny of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, issuing a sweeping show-cause notice that drags the broadcaster and 84 others into a widening governance storm.
The notice, dated February 12, has been served by the Securities and Exchange Board of India to Zee, chairman emeritus Subhash Chandra and managing director and chief executive Punit Goenka, among others. At its heart: allegations that company funds were indirectly routed to settle liabilities of entities linked to the Essel Group.
The regulator’s probe traces its roots to November 2019, when two independent directors resigned from Zee’s board, flagging concerns over the alleged appropriation of fixed deposits by Yes Bank. The deposits were reportedly adjusted against loans extended to Essel Group entities, triggering questions about related-party dealings and board oversight.
A key flashpoint is a letter of comfort dated September 4, 2018, issued by Subhash Chandra in his dual capacity as chairman of Zee and the Essel Group. The document, linked to credit facilities availed by certain group companies from Yes Bank, was allegedly known only to select members of management and not disclosed to the full board—an omission SEBI believes raises red flags over transparency and governance controls.
Zee has pushed back hard. In a statement, the company said it “strongly refutes” the allegations against it and its board members and will file a detailed response. It expressed confidence that SEBI would conduct a fair review and signalled readiness to pursue all legal remedies to protect shareholder interests.
The notice marks the latest twist in a saga that has shadowed the broadcaster since 2019. What began as boardroom unease has morphed into a full-blown regulatory confrontation. The final reckoning now rests with SEBI—but the reputational stakes for Zee, and the message for India Inc on governance discipline, could scarcely be higher.
