iWorld
Marans discharged, SC ‘no’ to stay, hearing on Wed
MUMBAI: The apex court, as of now, refused to grant a stay on the CBI court order discharging the accused in the 2G spectrum scam. The case will be heard again in the Supreme Court next Wednesday.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had moved the court against the discharge of former union minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others in the Aircel-Maxis case. The ED also urged the court not to release the properties of the accused attached in the case.
The designated court earlier discharged the former telecom minister, and Kalanithi, and others in the Maxis-Aircel deal case filed by enforcement directorate (ED) and the CBI, PTI reported. Special judge OP Saini, who is especially dealing with the 2G spectrum scam cases and related investigation, passed this order.
All the accused had denied the charges levelled against them by the law-enforcement agencies.
The order may not have any bearing on T Ananda Krishnan and Ralph Marshall as the court already separated the trial against them.
The CBI had registered a case Krishnan and Marshall, Astro All-Asia Networks, UK, Sun Direct TV, Maxis Communications, Malaysia, South Asia Entertainment Holdings, Malaysia and late JS Sarma (then additional secretary – telecom). They were charge sheeted for alleged offences to be punishable under section 120-B of IPC and under concerned provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
ED had chargesheeted the Maran brothers, Kalanithi’s wife Kavery, South Asia FM managing director K Shanmugam and Sun Direct TV under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The court discharged South Asia Entertainment Holdings and Sun Direct TV apart from the Maran brothers.
Also Read:
Aircel-Maxis case: 2G court seeks to speed trial against Marans
iWorld
JioHotstar enters micro-drama space with 100 shows under Tadka banner
Short-form push targets 300M users as content meets commerce in new format
MUMBAI: JioStar has made a bold play in India’s fast-growing micro-drama space, rolling out over 100 short-form shows under its new Tadka banner on JioHotstar, timed with the massive viewership surge of the Indian Premier League 2026.
The scale of the launch signals clear intent. Rather than testing the waters, the company has dived in headfirst, releasing a wide slate of content on day one. Each show is designed for quick consumption, with episodes running 60 to 90 seconds in a vertical format tailored for mobile-first audiences.
The move comes as India’s micro-drama market, currently valued at around $300 million, is projected to grow tenfold to over $3 billion by 2030. Globally, the format has already proven its mettle, with China’s micro-drama sector recording explosive growth in recent years.
What sets this rollout apart is its built-in monetisation strategy. The shows are free to watch and ad-supported, with brand integrations woven directly into storylines from the outset. It reflects a broader shift where content and commerce are increasingly intertwined, rather than operating in silos.
The timing is equally strategic. With more than 300 million users already tuning in for IPL action, JioHotstar is effectively turning cricket’s biggest stage into a discovery engine for its new format.
The company is not entering an empty arena. Early movers like Kuku TV, MX Player and platforms backed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises have already laid the groundwork, building audiences and validating demand for snackable storytelling.
Now, with scale, distribution and advertiser interest aligning, the big players are stepping in. For JioStar, Tadka may well serve as a proving ground for the next evolution of digital entertainment, where every minute counts and every second sells.
If the bet pays off, India’s next big content wave might just arrive in under 90 seconds.
