News Headline
Attorney General okays Sun TV security clearance; stock up 8%
MUMBAI: Kalanithi Maran can breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now. This after the Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi has asked the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry to give security clearance to the 33 channels of Sun TV Network.
After the I&B Ministry sought his opinion on the matter, Rohatgi said that denial of security clearance to Sun TV by MHA was wrong.
It can be noted that the Home Ministry had denied the proposal to grant security clearance to the network on grounds that its promoter – Kalanithi Maran – was being investigated for criminal cases by the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
As is known, the CBI had alleged Dayanidhi Maran of misusing his office as Union Telecom Minister to engineer the sale of Aircel to Malaysia’s Maxis Group in 2006. Maran was accused of corruption and illegal gratification worth more than Rs 700 crore, which allegedly was invested in a media company that is part of the Sun Group, owned by Dayanidhi Maran’s brother Kalanithi Maran.
It can be noted that in April, the ED had issued an order to both the Maran brothers to attach properties and assets worth Rs 742.58 crore belonging to them.
Kalanithi Maran in his argument had said that while most TV companies have criminal cases pending against them or against their directors or promoters, only his company was singled out and security clearance refused.
Earlier this week the MHA had said that it had no plans to reply to the letter written by Maran where he had said that his company was never involved in any anti-national or criminal activity and that there was no justification for refusal of the clearance to his television channels.
Buoyed by the reports of this development, the Sun TV stock on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) shot up by 7.86 per cent at the end of the day’s trade on Friday. The stock, which opened at Rs 309.25 touched an intra-day high of Rs 342.30 and closed at Rs 333.55 at the end of the day’s trade.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
