Latest news with #Balu
New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Arjun, Ishaan share honours in MRF F2000 racing
CHENNAI: Teenagers put on a memorable show as they took the honours in both the premier categories, the MRF F2000 and F1600, as the first round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship 2025 concluded at the Kari Motor Speedway on Sunday. Two 16-year-old drivers, Bengaluru's Ishaan Madesh and Arjun Chheda from Pune won a race apiece in the MRF Formula 2000 class with the latter completing a double, having won Race-1 on Saturday. In the MRF Formula 1600 category, two Bengalureans, Arjun Nair, 20, and Nigel Abraham Thomas, 19, won one race each. All the races were highly competitive with more than their share of wheel-to-wheel racing. Another Bengalurean 15-year-old Bhuvan Bonu (MSPORT) was equally impressive winning the Formula LGB 1300 race in the morning as he topped both Open and Junior classes. He was leading the next race in the afternoon when rains forced cancellation. Meanwhile, defending champion, Mumbai's Biren Pithawalla (Team N1 Racing), denied former National champion Arjun Balu (Coimbatore) a triple crown by pulling off a dramatic win in Race-3 of the Indian Touring Cars category. Balu, having won the two previous races with ease, suffered a misfortune with his Race Concepts-prepared Honda City IVTEC misfiring, forcing him to slow down when in the lead. Biren, driving a VW Polo, though nursing a turbo issue, zipped past Balu for a deserved win. Further down the grid, Bengaluru's Rithwik Thomas (Race Concepts) achieved a grand treble by winning all the three races this weekend in the Indian Junior Touring Cars category while Sri Lankan Kesara Godage completed a double in the Super Stock class winning two of the three races with Guwahati's Krishanu Dutta Bhuyan (Zion Racing) topping the other. Buzzing Hornet team-mates Aditya Patnaik (Mumbai) and Aman Nagdev (Noida) won a race apiece in the Volkswagen Polo Cup with the latter scoring a double, having won Race-1 on Saturday. Joining the pair on the podium in both races today was their team-mate Pratik Sonawane from Mumbai.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Biju Sopanam hints at a comeback to 'Uppum Mulakum'? Actor shares a picture from 'location' with Alsabith and Shivani
Popular Malayalam sitcom Uppum Mulakum might be witnessing a major twist soon, as actor , who played the beloved character Balu, has sparked speculation about his return to the show. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The actor, who has been away from the series following a major controversy, recently posted a picture on social media that has left fans curious and hopeful. In the now-viral photo, Biju is seen posing with his on-screen family Alsabith, , Kaladevi, and child artist Nandootty. What grabbed even more attention was the caption: '#location'—a cryptic but strong hint that the picture might have been taken on the sets of the sitcom. Though no official confirmation has been made by the makers, the post has ignited widespread speculation that Biju might be gearing up for a comeback to the show. Biju Sopanam had earlier landed in a major controversy after a sexual assault complaint was filed against him and co-actor Sreekumar. The complaint, lodged by an actress from the show, alleged that one actor committed the assault while the other allegedly threatened her. Following the allegations, both Biju and Sreekumar stepped away from the series. Though Biju Sopanam remained silent initially, he later gave interviews denying the allegations and labeling them as false. The controversy also led to the absence of , who portrayed the beloved character Neelu, from the show. Now in its third season and having crossed over 2000 episodes, Uppum Mulakum continues to be a fan-favorite family sitcom despite facing several casting challenges. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The original narrative revolved around Balu and Neelu and their five children, capturing the humor and chaos of middle-class family life. With the original lead actors absent, the show shifted focus to the next generation of the Paramada family, including characters like Keshu, Shiva, Parukutty, and Lechu. However, fans have consistently expressed that the heart of the show felt incomplete without the presence of Biju and Nisha. Biju's recent post has revived hopes among loyal viewers that the core family might reunite on-screen, restoring the original charm of the show. While speculation continues, fans are eagerly waiting for an official update from the show's team.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
Moneylender, 3 Others Held For Kidnapping, Assaulting Property Dealer Over Loan Dispute
1 2 3 Nagpur: Hudkeshwar police arrested four persons, including a moneylender, for kidnapping and brutally assaulting a property dealer over a financial dispute. The police rescued the victim from a farmhouse. The arrested have been identified as Pravin alias Balu Burkewad, Nilesh Nagarkar, Nilesh Telkhande, and Rakesh Avachat. The action followed a complaint by Vishal Urkude (40), a resident of Rachna Colony, Pipla Road. According to police, Vishal had borrowed Rs30 lakh from Balu in 2022 to fund his wife's job application process and his nephew's medical treatment. In return, he mortgaged a plot of four shops in Narsala. Vishal claims to have repaid Rs13.4 lakh in instalments, but financial distress prevented him from continuing payments. Balu allegedly began pressuring him to transfer ownership of the mortgaged properties and had already taken possession of the shops. On Tuesday morning, Balu and his aides allegedly abducted Vishal, thrashed him en route, and confined him at a farmhouse in Umbargaon, where the assault continued. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Vishal's family, unable to reach him, approached Hudkeshwar police. Tracing the victim's mobile number senior PI Gyaneshwar Bhedodkar and his team traced the accused to Dighori Bridge and mounted a rescue operation. All four accused were arrested and produced in court on Wednesday. They were remanded to police custody till July 18. Inspector Bhedodkar confirmed that Balu is a history-sheeter with previous cases related to illegal public drinking and gambling, while the other three have no prior criminal records.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala job aspirants continue to fall victim to Myanmar scam centres
An increasing number of youths from Kerala seeking overseas employment are falling victim to cyber scam at Myawaddy in Myanmar. The latest case involves Vishnu Preetha Sreenarayanan from Kundara in Kollam, who became a victim of labour fraud and human trafficking. He re-entered Thailand on July 8 after spending over two months in the 'custody of a cyber fraud gang' in Myanmar. N.K. Premachandran, MP, said that efforts were under way to bring Vishnu back to India. According to Vishnu's relative, Balu T.S., the gang released him only after a payment of ₹5 lakh was made to three bank accounts. 'Vishnu initially tried to go to Jordan for a data entry job and paid a private agency ₹2.3 lakh. However, that opportunity fell through. Later, he received an offer for a receptionist-cum-data entry position in Thailand, which he accepted without hesitation. But after reaching Thailand, he was taken to Myanmar, only to discover that the job was at a scam centre,' Mr. Balu said. Vishnu's relatives said he was subjected to degrading treatment. 'When he realised that he was working at a scam centre, he requested to return to India. They refused, confiscated his mobile phone, and even deprived him of food. They demanded ₹5 lakh for various so-called expenses. We had no choice but to pay. He was released eight days after the payment,' Mr. Balu added. The family last contacted Vishnu on July 9 when he was at an immigration detention centre in Mae Sot, Thailand, after crossing the border from Myanmar. Meanwhile, K.C. Venugopal, MP, has written to Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar seeking immediate intervention to 'bring 44 Indian nationals, including five from Kerala, who are currently held by a human trafficking gang in Dongmei Park, Myanmar.' According to the Indian Embassy in Myanmar, since July 2024 a total of 840 Indian nationals have been rescued from scam centres at Myawaddy. In March this year, 283 people, including Keralites, were rescued and brought back. Sources at NoRKA Roots said that they have been engaged in rescuing Keralites duped in Myanmar for over one-and-a-half years. However, the number of people rescued so far was not immediately known and would have to check records, said a senior official. NoRKA Roots has been running awareness campaigns, including videos on social media, warning against falling for lucrative IT jobs offered on travel visas or visit visas, especially in Southeast Asian destinations such as Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia long before the scam was widely reported.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Employees' strike disrupts MCC services
Mangaluru: All services at the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) were affected on Thursday, after employees commenced an indefinite strike. Demanding the fulfilment of various requests, employees of the MCC, under the banner of the SK Municipal Employees Union, went on an indefinite strike, boycotting office work. In front of the MCC office, a protest meeting was held, symbolically closing the main gate of the corporation and staging a sit-in. Sanitation workers also supported the employees' strike, leading to a halt in garbage disposal within the corporation's jurisdiction. Addressing the protest meeting, Union district president Balu said that although the state organisation called for the strike, it was delayed by two days in Mangaluru, considering public interest. Employees from all departments, including revenue, town planning, health, and engineering, are participating in the protest. Over 400 people joined the protest, completely halting the corporation's office work. The sit-in protest will continue until the demands are met. Supporting the struggle, sanitation workers also joined the protest, suspending garbage disposal, he said. There was no amendment to the C&R Rule for 14 years since 2011. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Employees who worked for 35-36 years are retiring without promotions. There is no job security for employees working here. The health benefits are available only to senior officials, not to the employees, he added. Even when promotions are given to positions like that of the commissioner, they are not offered to employees who have risen from lower levels. The corporation's revenue is insufficient to pay employees' salaries. In places like Shivamogga and Kalaburagi, salaries have not been paid to employees for three months, he said, and demanded that salaries for employees should also be paid from the SFC fund. Union district vice-president Devendrappa Parari, general secretary Bhaskar and secretary Shrinivas Gatti were present.
