GECs
ZEE partners with the Bhamla Foundation this World Environment Day
Mumbai, June 01, 2016: Reinforcing their commitment towards sustainability, India’s leading media and entertainment conglomerate, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), and prominent NGO, the Bhamla Foundation, have come together this World Environment Day to create and build awareness about the environment. ZEE and the Bhamla Foundation will be organizing a star-studded event at the open-air amphitheatre at Carter Road, Bandra in Mumbai on June 05, 2016. The event will be supported by the Ministry of Environment (Govt. of Maharashtra) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.
Speaking on the association, Mr. Sunil Buch, Chief Business Officer, ZEEL said, “Through our ‘ZEE Is Green’ initiative, ZEE has been actively working towards translating our environmental commitment into action. With the support of our producers, studio owners and artists, ZEE Is Green was launched in October 2015. Since then, we have already greened six of our sets at our Naigaon Studios, and are currently focused on greening other productions across India. Our ultimate aim is to go completely green as an organization, by the year 2020.”
Mr. Buch further added: “We have realized that by creating eco-wealth, we are not only building a stronger business but building a more sustainable world for the local communities around us. By partnering with the Bhamla Foundation this World Environment Day, we hope to create interest and awareness among our fellow citizens on various ways through which we can make a positive impact on the environment together.”
Sharing more details on the event, Mr. Asif Bhamla, Chairman, Bhamla Foundation said, “The Bhamla Foundation has constantly been eager to support initiatives that help raise awareness to preserve the planet. This year, we are excited to partner with ZEE for the World Environment Day event, which will have an interesting and varied line-up of day-long activities. We have been organizing the World Environment Day event since the last 8 years and we have always received tremendous support from our partners, residents’ groups and especially the enthusiastic locals. We are confident that people will come forward to help us spread the message this World Environment Day as well.”
The World Environment Day event will be held at the Carter Road Amphitheatre in Bandra from 10am – 10pm on June 5th with more than 12000 visitors expected. Prominent political leaders including Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Mr. Piyush Goyal, Ms. Priya Dutt as well as personalities from Bollywood and television like Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Dia Mirza, Shabbir Ahluwalia, Rohit Roy and Ronit Roy among others, will be attending the event along with locals and visitors from all across Mumbai.
The key highlights of the event include a massive cycle rally from Bandra Bandstand to Carter Road, a spinning – indoor cycling workout on Carter Road promenade, stalls on environment awareness and preservation, keynote sessions by noted environmentalists and a tree sapling distribution drive. The local Residents Association Groups will also be felicitated at the event for their role in preserving the environment. In the evening, the event will conclude with electrifying LIVE performances from Kunal Ganjawala, Salim-Suleiman, Sona Mahapatra, Armaan Malik and Aditya Narayan. The event will also be available for streaming on ZEE’s leading video-on-demand platform, OZEE.
Every year, June 5th is celebrated by millions internationally as World Environment Day. Established in 1972 by the United Nations, World Environment Day is one of the principal vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness for the environment and also encourages positive action.
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.
