News Broadcasting
Online association fully backs Baazee.com CEO
MUMBAI: Following the arrest of Baazee.com CEO Avnish Bajaj in the wake of the MMS sex scandal case recently, the Internet and Online Association (IOA) has come out strongly in support of him.
Even as support for Bajaj has been coming in from various industry associations, the Delhi High Court today granted him conditional bail on two sureties of Rs 100,000 each.
IOA president Preeti Desai said, “The arrest of Avnish Bajaj despite the full cooperation extended to the police by him and Baazee officials is a drastic step.”
Desai further said that IOA shared the concern of the authorities and would like to see the enactment of legislation that will make the Internet a safe and rewarding medium for Indians. She added, “It is necessary to revisit the IT Act 2000, as some of its loopholes and ambiguities provide ample scope for misrepresentation. It’s also crucial for law-enforcers to understand in entirety how the online market place works so that they may be able to better distinguish between originators and intermediaries and evaluate the culpability of each link in the chain.”
Desai urged the government to reinforce the crucial distinction between illegal infringement and authorised fair use, as well as ensure that the fundamental rights of the facilitators of online market places are protected through due process and judicial review.
IOA chairman V Ramani said, “I think too much has been said on the subject. Everybody has expressed their views stating that it is not right to arrest an online marketplace executive. There should be no more discussion. The CEO should be released immediately.”
HT Media Ltd chief Internet officer Sanjay Trehan said, “The arrest of Avnish Bajaj is a retrogressive step, unbecoming of India’s emerging stature as an IT superpower. The IT Act has to keep pace with the growing demands of the new media and must evolve to provide a legal framework that doesn’t allow its skewed interpretation to make a travesty of justice. Obscurantism is not going to get us anywhere in a fast changing world. It’s a wake up call for the Indian Internet industry, and for God’s sake, free the man!”
On the other hand mOne business director Tushar Vyas voiced his concern saying, “Baazee provides a platform for buyers and sellers to transact; if I have to draw parallel Baazee would be like mall owner in the real world. Normally the shopkeeper would get convicted for the transaction not the mall owner. I think the government system needs to be sensitive toward understanding the dynamics of the online industry.”
Wisden Cricinfo India MD Badri Seshadri said, “I strongly condemn the arrest of Avnish Bajaj of Baazee.com despite Baazee.com’s prompt action and the full cooperation offered by him to the investigating authorities. After the arrest, the Delhi police have shown utter insensitivity in opposing bail, which has resulted in his judicial custody, and unwanted humiliation of an entrepreneur. This kind of situation should not happen in a democratic country like India. I demand that the parliamentarians take an urgent look into the act and correct the anomalies, while at the same time safeguarding the public interest.”
People Group CEO Anupam Mittal had this to say, “I am very disturbed with this entire incident. I am still trying to understand all the nuances but it seems to defy common sense. At a time when the entire world is looking to India as the next big growth story, this is the last thing we need. Avnish Bajaj is a stand-up CEO who has built a very successful Internet company which is now part of the largest e-commerce company in the world. We need to applaud and praise such efforts not punish them. From a legal stand-point, I personally fail to understand how Avnish can be held liable. Does this mean that the phone manufacturer of the phone that was used to take the video is liable too? Does this mean that the telecom network on which the video was transmitted is liable too? We need to protect our entrepreneurs and managers from unnecessary harassment. We need our systems to work for the people who will shape the India of tomorrow, not against them.”
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
