GECs
‘Afsar Bitiya’ premiering on 25 June at 7:30 PM
MUMBAI: Nelson Mandela said ‘Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world,’ and educating girls not only improves gender equality, but also promotes the healthy development of families, communities and nations. Taking this thought forward, Zee Anmol launches ‘Afsar Bitiya’ premiering Saturday 25 June at 7:30 PM that will inspire audiences across the country. Set in Bhagalpur (Bihar), Afsar Bitiya highlights the importance of girl child education. It is the story of Krishna Raj, a young village girl and her dream to work hard and make a difference in society.
Mitaali Nag plays the lead role of Krishna, an ambitious woman who is strong willed and self-sufficient. Coming from a lower middle class family, where no one had ever got a better job than a clerk, Krishna, through her hard work and dedication becomes a B.D.O. (Block Development Officer). The show traces the journey of this honest and determined girl from an extremely moderate background who deals with ever changing family situations after she becomes successful in her career.
‘Afsar Bitiya’ is produced by the popular television content writer Mr. Rakesh Paswan under the banner ‘Village Boy Productions’. Commenting on ‘Afsar Bitiya, Mr. Paswan said, “This subject is very close to my heart. The inspiration of the story is my own little sister who is a BDO in one of the districts in Jharkhand. Through the lead protagonist Krishna, I hope millions of girls living in small towns and villages of India will be inspired to pursue their dreams and not succumb to societal pressures. I also want to send a message to all the parents to give equal importance to their daughters to help them build a bright and glorious career for themselves.”
Along with Mitali Nag, veteran actors Virendra Saxena and Shahbaz Khan and young heartthrobs Kinshuk Mahajan, Yash Sinha and Shivshakti Sachdev play pivotal roles in this show. Commenting on the launch of the show Mitaali Nag said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be playing the lead role of Krishna in ‘Afsar Bitiya’ simply because of its strong social message! A Block Development Officer is a person who works towards community development and helps in uplifting the lives of the weaker sections of the society. I read a lot about the responsibilities of a B.D.O before taking up this project and it really inspired me. I will feel good if I’m able to inspire even one young Indian girl among teeming millions to become a B. D. O.”
Krishna’s unexpected achievement bring a lot of happiness for her family, but is her happiness meant to stay forever? Will Krishna be able to keep her values after she becomes ‘Afsar Bitiya’?
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.
