MAM
Madras high court orders unblocking of Tamil magazine website
MUMBAI: Some are labeling it a victory of sorts for Anand Vikatan managing director B. Srinivasan – albeit a conditional one at that. The Madras high court has ordered the Indian central government to restore access to the website of Tamil weekly magazine Ananda Vikatan, provided a controversial cartoon is removed from the site.
Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy of the Madras high court issued the interim order on Thursday in response to a petition filed by the magazine, whose website (www.vikatan.com) was blocked by authorities in mid-February.
The cartoon at the centre of the dispute depicted Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, which the government claimed was “detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India and its friendly relations with foreign states.”
In his ruling, Justice Chakravarthy reasoned that since the caricature appeared to be the only objectionable content, the remainder of the magazine’s website should remain accessible to subscribers.
“The block of the website shall be lifted without waiting for a certified copy of the Court’s order,” the judge directed, after ordering Ananda Vikatan to email confirmation to the government that it had removed the contentious material.
The magazine argued in court that the cartoon constituted legitimate political satire related to the mistreatment of Indian deportees from the US. Its legal team, led by senior advocate Vijay Narayan, contended that blocking the entire website was “unjustified, disproportionate and excessive” and resulted in the “suppression of critical journalism.”
Government counsel defended the blocking action under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, arguing it represented a reasonable restriction on fundamental rights. The court granted the government’s request for two weeks to file a formal reply.
The judge noted that the court must ultimately determine whether the caricature falls under protected artistic and journalistic freedom or whether it is appropriately restricted under the IT Act.
The case will be heard next on 21 March.
MAM
Continental Tires appoints Nevin Aslan-Özkan as Managing Director for India
Finance leader to drive growth in passenger vehicle segment from 6 April 2026.
MUMBAI: Continental Tires has put a fresh pair of tyres on its Indian leadership and this time, they’re rolling with strong financial horsepower. The premium tyre manufacturer has announced the appointment of Nevin Aslan-Özkan as managing director of Continental Tires India, effective 6 April 2026. She succeeds Samir Gupta, who stepped down on 5 April 2026 for personal reasons.
Nevin joined Continental in 2017 and has held key leadership roles in Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategy & Business Development across EMEA and APAC. Since May 2025, she has served as Chief Financial Officer for Continental Tires India, shaping the company’s financial strategy and performance.
In her new role, she will lead the company’s growth agenda in India, with a sharp focus on accelerating its presence in the passenger vehicle segment. This appointment comes at a pivotal time, following the recent launch of the CrossContact A/T² tyre, the first market globally to receive this product and a €10.5 million (approximately Rs 100 crore) investment to strengthen Continental’s position, particularly in the ultra-high-performance (UUHP) segment.
Nevin Aslan-Özkan said, “India continues to be a strong focus market for Continental Tires. Guided by our ‘In the Market, For the Market’ approach, we will continue to deliver products and technologies designed for Indian roads.”
Samir Gupta, who joined Continental in 2012 and served as managing director since January 2022, was recognised for his significant contribution to expanding the brand’s footprint in India.
Continental is a leading global tyre manufacturer founded in 1871. The company generated sales of €19.7 billion in 2025 and employs around 78,000 people across 54 countries. Its Tires group sector, which includes premium car, truck, bus, two-wheel and specialty tyres, recorded sales of €13.8 billion in fiscal 2025 and employs more than 56,000 people worldwide.
With Nevin Aslan-Özkan at the wheel, Continental Tires India is clearly gearing up for a smoother and more aggressive drive in one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive markets. The road ahead looks promising.
