GECs
Kool comedy debuts on Zee today
After Hum Paanch, comes another comedy from the Balaji stable on Zee.
Kitne Kool Hain Hum, if the hoardings all over Mumbai are to be believed, is a comedy in the glorious tradition of Hum Paanch. Positioned in the 8 pm slot, the storyline of KKHH revolves around a family that inherits a lot of money and moves from the interiors of Gujarat to the manic madness that’s Mumbai. The episodes trace the family’s gaffes as they try to cope with life in the big city. Based loosely on Beverly Hillbillies, KKHH will supposedly play on the simplicity of life.
Even as Balaji attempts to bring in a sense of humour into a Gujarati family’s escapades, (current rage Kyunkii… is all about a Gujarati family’s more serious doings), Star Plus has beaten it to the game by introducing a Gujarati family in Hum Saath Aath Hain, its own daily evening comedy show. Of the Hum Paanch cast, Shoma Anand is repeated. Newcomers including Jaity Bhatia, Darshan Jhaveriwala and Anurag Prappana make their debut in this show.
GECs
Sebi sends show-cause notice to Zee over fund diversion, company responds
Regulator questions 2018 letter of comfort and governance lapses; company vows robust legal response
MUMBAI: India’s markets watchdog has reignited its long-running scrutiny of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, issuing a sweeping show-cause notice that drags the broadcaster and 84 others into a widening governance storm.
The notice, dated February 12, has been served by the Securities and Exchange Board of India to Zee, chairman emeritus Subhash Chandra and managing director and chief executive Punit Goenka, among others. At its heart: allegations that company funds were indirectly routed to settle liabilities of entities linked to the Essel Group.
The regulator’s probe traces its roots to November 2019, when two independent directors resigned from Zee’s board, flagging concerns over the alleged appropriation of fixed deposits by Yes Bank. The deposits were reportedly adjusted against loans extended to Essel Group entities, triggering questions about related-party dealings and board oversight.
A key flashpoint is a letter of comfort dated September 4, 2018, issued by Subhash Chandra in his dual capacity as chairman of Zee and the Essel Group. The document, linked to credit facilities availed by certain group companies from Yes Bank, was allegedly known only to select members of management and not disclosed to the full board—an omission SEBI believes raises red flags over transparency and governance controls.
Zee has pushed back hard. In a statement, the company said it “strongly refutes” the allegations against it and its board members and will file a detailed response. It expressed confidence that SEBI would conduct a fair review and signalled readiness to pursue all legal remedies to protect shareholder interests.
The notice marks the latest twist in a saga that has shadowed the broadcaster since 2019. What began as boardroom unease has morphed into a full-blown regulatory confrontation. The final reckoning now rests with SEBI—but the reputational stakes for Zee, and the message for India Inc on governance discipline, could scarcely be higher.
