News Broadcasting
ESPN files winding up petition against InCableNet
MUMBAI: First was the shut-off. Now the courts have been drawn into the dispute.
A week after ESPN Star Sports (ESS) cut off signals to Hinduja Group MSO INCableNet over outstanding subscription dues it says have crossed Rs 71 million, it today instituted winding up proceedings in the Bombay High Court.
The petition filed before the court states that despite several service agreements in place, INCableNet had consistently failed to pay up on monthly dues and was in admitted default to the tune of Rs 40 million.
A statement issued by ESS says the Bombay High Court has admitted the petition and listed it for hearing on 29 January, 2004.
In the petition, ESS states that it has entered into various service contract(s) with InCableNet to distribute ESPN and Star Sports channels in Mumbai and other cities, which it services. InCableNet was to pay monthly subscription fees.
However, ESS alleges, InCableNet has failed to make payments towards the subscription fees in accordance with the contract(s). Despite InCableNet’s failure to pay the fees, ESS claims to have kept the services on and made bonafide attempts to persuade InCable to discharge their payment obligations.
The petition ends stating, despite several repeated promises and written commitments, InCableNet has backed out of its promise to pay the admitted sum of over Rs 40 million.
On 10 November, ESS had discontinued the signals of its channels ESPN and Star Sports to IIMCL stating that “IIMCL had failed to pay routine monthly dues, despite repeated collection efforts”.
ESS Software VP, affiliate sales, Sricharan Iyengar had pointed out earlier this month that they had received a letter from IncableNet CFO Srinivas Palakodeti, who had assured to pay them Rs 30.65 million, the outstanding amount then. This letter was dated 27 August 2003, but ESPN has not yet realised the money.
A response on the issue is awaited from InCableNet.
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.
