News Broadcasting
Star News exposes MPs on fund allocation scam
MUMBAI: Sting time on TV as politicians fall prey once again. It has barely being a week since Aaj Tak’s cash-for-query scam, that Star News ‘Operation Chakravyuh’ has hit the tube. Only, this reveals misuse of public money.
The Aap Ko Rakhe Agaye channel, Star News in collaboration with Detective Intelligence Guild (DIG) aired the sting operation on six MPs over the controversial MP’s – Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).
Star News latest sting operation – ‘Operation Chakravyuh’ captured the MPs on camera seeking commissions while allotting funds under the scheme for developmental works in their respective constituencies.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com Star News CEO Udya Shankar noted, ” It is not an extension of Operation Duryodhana, which was a case of misusing MP’s privilege. Operation Chakravyuh clearly shows mismanagement and misappropriation of funds meant for the public. The scheme mainly allows MPs to utilise the funds for developmental activity.”
Shankar points out, “What’s noticable in the operation is the infiltration of middle-men who have access to the political network and also that certain network of MPs would stop at nothing to earn a quick buck.”
The reporters of Star News and the DIG posed as lobbying managers for a fictitious NGO called ‘Ashray Abhiyaan’ to net the MP’s. The two organisations have for the past six months been on the trail of MPs from various constituencies to unearth and uncover a league of corrupt and unscrupulous MPs.
The expose captured six MPs; three from BJP, one from Samajwadi Party and one each from Congress (I), BSP and Rashrtiya Kranti Dal asking for commissions for releasing funds from their MP- LAD scheme. The MPs caught by hidden cameras were shown asking for commissions ranging from five per cent to 45 per cent for sanctioning funds under the scheme.
The channel captured six MPs pocketing commissions while allotting projects that are executed from MP-LADs money. MPs are allotted Rs 20 billion per annum for undertaking designated developmental activities in their respective constituencies. The MP-LADs -a kitty of Rs 80 billion -is to be spent at the discretion of members of both Houses
The six MPs on ‘Operation Chakravyuh’ are: former Union minister and BJP LS member from Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla constituency Faggan Singh Kulaste, former Goa chief minister and south-Goa Congress LS MP Churchill Alemao, former UP Minister and Samajwadi Party LS MP Paras Nath Yadav from Jaunpur constituency, BJP Lok Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi constituency C P Singh, BJP Lok Sabha member Ramswaroop Koli and Samajwadi Party member in the Rajya Sabha Sakshi Maharaj.
Its to be noted that although seven MPs were under scrutiny for the sting operation, only the Uttar Pradesh, Saidpur Lok Sabha MP Toofani Saroj refused to accept any commission or bribe.
Congress MP Churchil Alemao from Goa who was one the six MPs caught for area fund scam has alleged that efforts were made to tarnish his image and said that he would move the court against the channel. Shankar asserts that the channel is ready to be challenged on the same.
The sting operation footages aired on Star News reaffirms the belief that corruption is widely prevalent amongst the Indian politicians. Star News has in the past carried out a sting operation on its investigative show Red Alert. The expose came post-Tehelka and delved into the involvement of glamorous Bollywood actresses and models in a high profile prostitution racket.
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.
