News Broadcasting
ABP group set to pick up 74% in MCCS – Star News holding company
NEW DELHI: The buzz is that Ananda Bazar Patrika (ABP), controlled by the Sarkar family of Kolkata, is set to pick up 74 per cent equity stake in a company that would oversee the functioning of Star News in India, including the uplinking of content from here.
While a Star India spokesperson told indiantelevision.com that the company “neither confirms or denies” the development, according to sources in ABP, Aveek Sarkar, the 60-something owner of the publishing group, informally conveyed the development to some of his trusted colleagues in the Delhi office of The Telegraph newspaper, which is published by ABP, today afternoon.
The deal, as reported by Business Standard today, was clinched by Sarkar after having promised to cough up Rs 750 million against another bid for a majority shareholding in the news venture by Nusli Wadia, who is said to have pitched in with Rs 400 million.
Sarkar could not be contacted for a comment. When contacted, the largest existing Indian shareholder ad man Suhel Seth refused to make any comments, while another five per cent shareholder in Media Content Communications Services India Pvt. Ltd., Hindustan Times editor Vir Sanghvi, said, “I am still to receive any offer from anybody for my shareholding.”
When specifically asked whether he is game to exit the Star News venture, Sanghvi added, “If the terms and conditions are good, I , like any other shareholder, should not have a problem.”
Sanghvi is slated to have dinner today with Sarkar, who was described by him as “an old friend.” If Star manages to bring on board ABP, it would lay to rest a controversial case relating to Star News of dummy companies and shareholders with no real powers.
It is, however, not known whether Star, directly or indirectly, would have some business interest in ABP or a subsidiary that may be interested in bringing out an edition of Telegraph from Mumbai, the stronghold of Times of India.
According to Business Standard, rival bidder Wadia of Bombay Dyeing was informed on Saturday of Star’s decision regarding ABP. A formal announcement is expected in a day or two. ABP will pick up 74 per cent of the equity, with Star holding the remaining 26 per cent – in line with the government’s new rules for TV news companies, the business paper reported.
Previous investors in a controversial dummy company with Rs 40 million equity, including Seth, TV personality Maya Alagh, former Bollywood actor Jeetendra and DSP Merrill Lynch’s Hemendra Kothari, will presumably be bought out, Business Standard said.
ABP is expected to pay over Rs 750 million for its stake in the partnership, which places the Star News valuation, pre-investment, at about Rs 250 million, and post-investment at Rs 1 billion, BS said.
Amongst the suitors whom Star Group Pvt. Ltd.’s CEO James Murdoch met last week over two days included the Jains of Times of India. Others who had also sent feelers included former Shiv Sena member of parliament Pritish Nandy, according to industry sources.
What could have gone in favour of ABP and Sarkar? Apart from being a non-controversial businessman with adequate political links unlike the Birlas and the Wadias, Sarkar does not have any other business interest other than media. Sarkar also brings to the table the tacit support of another Kolkata-bred Marwari businessman, RP Goenka, who controls the RPG group with large business interests in the entertainment sector (HMV, Sare Ga Ma, cable distribution company amongst others).
At the end of the day, it doesn’t suit Rupert Murdoch’s style to shut down ventures.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
