News Broadcasting
Star News’ ‘Red Alert’ and ‘Sansani’ exposes hundreds of ‘tantriks’ across the country
MUMBAI: Star News recently made a bold exposé of ‘tantriks’ in the country, which blew the lid off a startling and rather widespread racket. The channel uncovered the fraud on a daily basis for 21 days through its popular crime bulletins – Sansani and Red Alert. Captured on camera, these tantriks have admitted to gross wrongdoing. Some of the crimes perpetrated by this widespread tribe of offenders include rape, extortion and even murder.
These tantriks often initiate their trickery with a Rs 100 fee and later extract anywhere between Rs 5000 – Rs 100,000 making false promises to the innocent victims. If the victims refuse to comply with their demands they threaten to get them possessed by an evil spirit and other dire circumstances.
Subsequent to the overwhelming response from the viewers on the initial revelations, Star News kicked off an aggressive campaign to expose this evil. The channel threw open a dedicated phone line for viewers to report about such fraudulent tantriks they have encountered or are aware of.
Close to 40,000 viewers called in since the night of 27 December, 2004, and complaints poured in from different parts of the country, which in itself was a proof of the rather wide spread social evil. This campaign lasted 21 days and resulted in exposing the conniving ways of close to 100 tantriks across the country and the arrests of many tantriks in Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur and in other parts of the country. Many others have even shut shop due to fear of being exposed.
In some cases, Star News reporters accompanied the complainants to help them recover what is their rightful and hard earned money. In most cases reporters have ingeniously disguised themselves as customers and captured these tantriks ‘in the act’ on camera and exposed their wrong ways.
This campaign reinforces Star News’ promise to its viewers and illustrates once gain its investigative prowess.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
