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Marketing maestro plugs into EV future at Astro Motors
MUMBAI: Aniruddha Khandekar, a true grand fromage in the marketing consultancy world, has just revved up his career with a cracking new gig. He’s been tapped as the fresh-faced marketing director at Astro Motors IN, an emerging electric vehicle manufacturer looking to absolutely revolutionise the industry. He’s only been on the job since March 2025, but one expects he’s already hitting the ground running in Pune, Maharashtra.
Astro Motors isn’t just another tin box on wheels; it’s a disruption-focused outfit intent on combining sheer innovation with a dollop of education to cut through the noise in India’s bewildering EV marketplace. Its advanced vehicle design, superior performance, and integrated management systems are built to meet the demands of everyone from your individual punter to the largest fleet operators. It sounds like the folks there are not just selling cars, they’re selling a vision – and a very British one at that.
Khandekar brings a truly impressive pedigree to the role, having clocked up over 20 years in the cut-throat advertising and media trenches. The strategy consultant and fractional CMO, formerly of G-S-D Consulting, has been a marketing gun-for-hire, delivering impact for a stellar roster of clients. He’s previously steered the strategic ship for heavy hitters like Marico, Colgate Palmolive, Dell, and Lenovo during his VMLY&R days. Before that, his brainy insights bolstered giants such as Bajaj Auto, P&G, Oreo, Asian Paints, and Tata Sky during stints at Leo Burnett and Ogilvy. He’s consulted for everyone from EdTech startups like Accreda to Web3 MarTech platforms such as Cultos, even dabbling in market entry strategy for an electric commuter motorcycle – quite the pre-nup for his current role, one might say!
With a track record of shaping consumer insights and crafting go-to-market strategies, Khandekar’s arrival promises to inject a serious jolt of marketing wizardry into Astro Motors. The EV space just got a bit more exciting, and rather stylishly so.
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Worms in Vande Bharat curd spark Rs 60 lakh fines, IRCTC summons Amul
Viral Vande Bharat video triggers crackdown and sharp food safety debate
NEW DELHI: A food safety row on board a Vande Bharat Express has snowballed into a major controversy, with over Rs 60 lakh in penalties imposed and multiple stakeholders, including Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation and Amul, coming under scrutiny.
The incident dates back to March 15, when passenger Ritesh Singh discovered live worms or weevils in a sealed cup of curd served during a journey on the Patna to Tatanagar route. A video capturing the moment quickly went viral, showing the passenger confronting onboard staff. In the clip, a train attendant is heard initially dismissing the insects as kesar, before the seriousness of the situation became apparent.
Early reports suggested the curd may have been past its expiry date or improperly stored, raising concerns over handling practices rather than just sourcing.
The fallout was swift. On March 25, the Railway Board pulled up authorities for what it termed gross negligence, ordering strict action. The catering vendor, Krishna Enterprises, was fined Rs 50 lakh, had its contract terminated with immediate effect and was blacklisted. Meanwhile, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation itself was fined Rs 10 lakh for inadequate supervision and for initially imposing what was seen as a token penalty of Rs 25,000 on the vendor.
The railways have also summoned Amul to explain the apparent breach in product quality, even as the dairy giant has strongly denied responsibility.
In its clarification, Amul maintained that contamination at the manufacturing stage was highly unlikely. The company stated that weevils cannot survive or reproduce in sealed curd due to its acidic nature and lack of oxygen. It further indicated that an internal audit found the batch shown in the viral video did not appear to be sourced through its authorised distribution network, suggesting a possible supply chain lapse at the vendor’s end.
The company also pointed to what it described as an “infested tray” theory, noting that a frame-by-frame review of the video suggested the pests may have crawled into the curd from an external surface rather than being present inside the sealed product during production.
While responsibility continues to be debated, the incident has triggered wider concerns over food safety standards on premium trains. The Railway Board has since ordered surprise inspections across catering services to prevent a repeat.
For passengers, the episode has left a sour aftertaste. For the railways and its partners, it is a clear signal that hygiene lapses, however small, can quickly spiral into a full-blown credibility crisis.
