News Broadcasting
On CNBC, corporate crime ‘Uncovered’
MUMBAI: Though crime shows across channels have shown sustained TRPs; one has not seen much footage on corporate crime and consumer fraud in the country. What happens when companies go bust after the initial ballistic high? What happens to investors’ money when companies do the vanishing act? Stocks that are not allocated, fake drugs manufactured and sold in the retail market, price fixing and manipulated stock market highs.
One is here talking of savings fraud, white-collar crimes, corporate frauds, economic offences and scams amounting to public corruption. These are not violent crimes, as a street crime; be it murder or rape but many would agree that corporate crime is a ‘silent killer’ inflicting violence on the lives of people, and leaving the economy bleeding of billions of rupees.
Business news channel CNBC TV18 is all set to roll out a new show Uncovered, which promises to cover all this and much more. The weekly, half-hour show, which premiers tonight (5 November) at 8:30 pm, will track a hard hitting story every week; investigate the crime perpetrated on investors and consumers and talk about the economic offences that are assuming serious proportions in the country. The show tries to go in search of criminals, reveal their modus operandi, question the authorities on their failure to curb crime and then suggest ways in which the consumer can fight back.
Elaborating on the format of the new show, head marketing, CNBC TV18, Ajay Chacko, says “the show will not have an element of gossip or drama around it and it’s not competing with other crime shows in the market. We look at two broad aspects – one is corporate crime, and the other aspect is fake drugs, to counterfeiting of trademarks, insider trading, stock manipulation, fraud billing, and excessive billing, unsettled insurance claims.”
Chaco adds, “The idea is to find out the nature of the problem, the scale at which it operates. The manufacturing of fake drugs itself would cost more than Rs 3000 crores (Rs 30 billion) to the drug manufacturers.”
The show promises to give an insider scoop to things which are regularly known by people but are perhaps too difficult to report. With systematically identified sectors, specific issues have been dealt with keeping the consumer angle in mind. Apart from the repercussions of using a bad shampoo or a fake drug on consumers, the losses incurred by companies, the show also gets the law enforcing machinery into the loop.
So, will the channel be taking names, exposing scams and investigating old ones like say the Harshad Mehta scam? “Well, there are too many new scams to explore, says editor, consumer affairs, Vivek Law. “Names will be taken if need be, because the idea here is not just to sensationalise, but to be pretty handy and practical which goes with the CNBC style of reportage.”
But viewers can definitely expect a lot of drama on-air, with criminals being tracked on board with cold raw footage brought in from the manufacturing dens. One issue will be tackled per episode to bring out the nature of the problem and an attempt made to find a solution.
Adds Law, “We’ve spoken to criminals who’ve duped millions of rupees off the economy. These are caught by the police machinery and let off on bail the next day.”
“Powerful and accountable names will definitely be in the studios. And if a guy has cheated you, we show you the guy who has cheated you.”
Refusing to divulge any of the companies `uncovered’, with four episodes all ready and packed in, the channel has the entire work force in terms of reporters available as and when required for the show. Promising to be the first of its kind, the channel had a few pilots before finalising the format.
With a law machinery that is extremely poor as far as consumer rights are concerned, the show will discuss the recourses available for consumers if they are cheated. But will it be in the business of tracking down corporate crooks?
Explains Vivek, “We’re not in a live mode and many of the criminals are absconding. Also, it’s not really a witch-hunt show. Not glamorous but a matter-of-fact kind of show. We talk about the problem, supported with a lot of research, instead of highlighting or targeting one particular company. Awareness builds pressure. We expect people to become more vigilant and the police machinery to gear up.”
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.
