Latest news with #GauravSrivastava
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
From a Swiss energy dispute to an Indian courtroom: The smear campaign against Gaurav Srivastava
What began as a high-level partnership between two businessmen quickly devolved into a legal and reputational battle that ultimately drew the attention of courts in India. At the center of the dispute is Gaurav Srivastava, a US-based commodities investor who was targeted by a coordinated smear campaign after uncovering sanction violations and financial misconduct inside a Swiss oil trading firm run by his now-sanctioned former business partner, Dutch oil trader Niels Troost. In 2024, an Indian court reviewed some of the media coverage surrounding Gaurav and found much of it to be misleading, paid-for, and lacked evidence, subsequently ordering the removal of several defamatory articles. The partnership began in mid-2022 with a plan to shift Troost's Swiss-based energy companies away from sanctioned Russian oil and toward more compliant markets. To that effect, Gaurav acquired a 50% stake in the Swiss companies, leveraged his global network, and began working with a team of lawyers, financial consultants, and auditors to restructure activities and eventually relocate the business to the US. By early 2023, delays in the restructuring process raised concerns. Gaurav and his team repeatedly pushed for audits to gain greater financial transparency. When they finally received access to internal records, they found a series of irregularities, including asset transfers into companies solely controlled by Troost, undisclosed 'shareholder loans', and large payments routed through personal contacts. They also uncovered evidence that Troost had attempted to purchase Turkey's Zeyhan Oil Terminal without informing Gaurav. Most importantly, despite their agreement to stop sanctioned activities, Troost appeared to have continued dealing in billions of dollars of Russian oil above the internationally agreed price cap. In May 2023, after being confronted with these findings, Troost revoked Gaurav's ownership stake. Gaurav then responded with civil and criminal complaints in relevant jurisdictions, claiming unlawful removal and financial misconduct. Soon after the dispute escalated, a series of negative stories about Gaurav appeared online by the hundreds. They began in low-tier publications, followed by mentions on blogs and eventually citations in mainstream media, notably the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times. A Wikipedia article was also created but was later flagged as an 'attack page' and removed by senior editors, with its original authors blocked for undisclosed paid edits. In 2024, a court in India reviewed the media coverage and found that many of the articles appeared to be paid for by third parties and included unverified information. As a result, several were ordered to be taken down. Troost was sanctioned by various regulatory bodies, notably the United Kingdom (February 2024), the European Union (December 2024), and Switzerland (January 2025) for continuing to trade Russian oil in violation of international sanctions. A company he is closely affiliated with was also sanctioned by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (January 2025). Notably, Troost, a seasoned oil trader with over 30 years of industry experience, has not denied the allegations of trading in sanctioned oil. Rather, he claims that he was acting under US authorisation, which was relayed verbally by Gaurav. To date, Troost has provided no documentation, official correspondence, or evidence of having engaged with any US authority to support this claim, demonstrating the absurdity of the allegations. Gaurav's case and its surrounding events were the subject of a two-part series on the Targeted Podcast, which examined how systems are weaponized by powerful individuals and how business disputes can escalate into full-blown reputational attacks. He continues to pursue legal claims and believes that the media coverage was part of a broader effort to deflect attention from what he uncovered. While legal proceedings continue in other jurisdictions, the Indian court's intervention stands out as one of the few institutional acknowledgments of the reputational damage caused by false or manipulated media coverage. For Gaurav, the ruling has offered a measure of vindication, but the broader questions remain: How can individuals protect their reputations when legal disputes cross borders and play out digitally? And what role should the judiciary systems play in countering coordinated disinformation campaigns in an increasingly globalized media landscape?
Fashion Network
20-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Fashion Network
Footwear brand Pair-ie Tales launches in India
Pair-ie Tales, a new-age women's footwear brand has entered the Indian lifestyle and fashion segment with its maiden footwear range. The brand claims that every pair is crafted using premium faux leather, breathable linings, and ethically sourced components, reinforcing its commitment to cruelty-free, sustainable fashion. Commenting on the launch, Gaurav Srivastava, founder of Pair-ie Tales in a statement said, 'We started Pair-ie Tales with a very simple but strong conviction that women should not have to choose between how they look and how they feel. Each design is rooted in the reality of women's lives- from busy commutes and long meetings to spontaneous plans and everything in between. Our shoes are meant to walk with you, not against you.' 'This isn't just about shoes- it's about how women walk through the world. Our goal is to create footwear that adapts to life, reflects personality, and never asks you to compromise,' added Gaurav. Pair-ie Tales offers an initial product range including flat sandals, slip-ons, heels, and bold statement pieces. It operates as a digital-first business via website.
The Wire
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Wire
Pair-ie Tales Launches in India: A Purpose-Led Women's Footwear Brand Redefining Comfort, Style, and Sustainability
Gurgaon, Haryana, India (NewsVoir) India welcomes the launch of Pair-ie Tales, a new-age women's footwear brand built on the principles of comfort, character, and conscious design. Officially launched earlier this month, the brand marks its entry into the Indian lifestyle and fashion segment with a bold offering: fashion-forward footwear that delivers uncompromised comfort through its proprietary Cloud Comfort™ sole system- a triple-layered innovation engineered for real-life wearability. Born from the belief that footwear can be both expressive and supportive, Pair-ie Tales merges contemporary design with meaningful functionality. Every pair is crafted using premium faux leather, breathable linings, and ethically sourced components, reinforcing the brand's commitment to cruelty-free, sustainable fashion. The brand's packaging too reflects this ethos- 100% plastic-free, with each box designed as a storytelling-inspired keepsake, making the unboxing experience as personal as the pair itself. 'We started Pair-ie Tales with a very simple but strong conviction that women should not have to choose between how they look and how they feel,' said Gaurav Srivastava, Founder of Pair-ie Tales. 'Each design is rooted in the reality of women's lives- from busy commutes and long meetings to spontaneous plans and everything in between. Our shoes are meant to walk with you, not against you.' The brand name itself, Pair-ie Tales, is a thoughtful twist on the word 'fairy tales,' representing a larger mission- shifting the narrative from stories traditionally told about women to ones led and authored by them. Through this lens, each collection is designed to reflect a chapter in modern womanhood, celebrating resilience, individuality, and everyday expression. Pair-ie Tales offers an initial product range including flat sandals, everyday slip-ons, versatile heels, and bold statement pieces- all unified by their design aesthetic and all-day wearability. The brand operates as a digital-first business via and is headquartered in Gurgaon, India. 'This isn't just about shoes- it's about how women walk through the world. Our goal is to create footwear that adapts to life, reflects personality, and never asks you to compromise,' added Gaurav. As it enters the Indian fashion landscape, Pair-ie Tales positions itself as a label of belonging, empowerment, and bold comfort- an invitation to women everywhere to walk freely, feel fully, and step confidently into every chapter of their story. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Newsvoir and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). This is an auto-published feed from PTI with no editorial input from The Wire.
Fashion Value Chain
19-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Pair-ie Tales Launches in India: A Purpose-Led Women's Footwear Brand Redefining Comfort, Style, and Sustainability
India welcomes the launch of Pair-ie Tales, a new-age women's footwear brand built on the principles of comfort, character, and conscious design. Officially launched earlier this month, the brand marks its entry into the Indian lifestyle and fashion segment with a bold offering: fashion-forward footwear that delivers uncompromised comfort through its proprietary Cloud Comfort™ sole system- a triple-layered innovation engineered for real-life wearability. Pair-ie Tales showcases modern silhouettes with Cloud Comfort™ soles, designed for all-day ease and conscious style Born from the belief that footwear can be both expressive and supportive, Pair-ie Tales merges contemporary design with meaningful functionality. Every pair is crafted using premium faux leather, breathable linings, and ethically sourced components, reinforcing the brand's commitment to cruelty-free, sustainable fashion. The brand's packaging too reflects this ethos- 100% plastic-free, with each box designed as a storytelling-inspired keepsake, making the unboxing experience as personal as the pair itself. 'We started Pair-ie Tales with a very simple but strong conviction that women should not have to choose between how they look and how they feel,' said Gaurav Srivastava, Founder of Pair-ie Tales. 'Each design is rooted in the reality of womens lives- from busy commutes and long meetings to spontaneous plans and everything in between. Our shoes are meant to walk with you, not against you.' The brand name itself, Pair-ie Tales, is a thoughtful twist on the word 'fairy tales,' representing a larger mission- shifting the narrative from stories traditionally told about women to ones led and authored by them. Through this lens, each collection is designed to reflect a chapter in modern womanhood, celebrating resilience, individuality, and everyday expression. Pair-ie Tales offers an initial product range including flat sandals, everyday slip-ons, versatile heels, and bold statement pieces- all unified by their design aesthetic and all-day wearability. The brand operates as a digital-first business via and is headquartered in Gurgaon, India. 'This isn't just about shoes- it's about how women walk through the world. Our goal is to create footwear that adapts to life, reflects personality, and never asks you to compromise,' added Gaurav. As it enters the Indian fashion landscape, Pair-ie Tales positions itself as a label of belonging, empowerment, and bold comfort- an invitation to women everywhere to walk freely, feel fully, and step confidently into every chapter of their story.
