YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI.............

At best Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is a light hearted and frothy tale of four friends who take off on a life changing adventure and as a result end up discovering facets of their personality that make them sit up and take far more serious notice of themselves.......


At worst, it is yet Karan Johar production that does not scrimp on production values, locales, costumes, lavishly mounted sequences yet it lacks a soul and spirit that could have made another run of the mill production about the youth of this country and what makes them tick into a masterpiece that would have been heralded as a showpiece in the 100th year of Indian cinema........

One certainly expected a lot more from director Ayaan Mukherjee after his noteworthy maiden directorial effort "Wake Up Sid" with the very same leading male protagonist, this less than sterling effort does certainly raise a few questions about his story telling abilities and innate ability to work with a screenplay that is seemingly full of gaping holes.......

The movie/flick is certainly not without it's heady moments with the "Ghagra" ditty picturised on the leading man and the evergreen Diva Madhuri Dixit leaving you dancing in the aisles with gay abandon; the first half is racy and does not flag for a moment but the movie does flag considerably especially during the first thirty minutes or so of the second half and the climax scene also seems contrived and conforms to stereotype.......

Ranbir Kapoor (Kabir Thapa aka Bunny's) take on the way he wants to lead his life is original and also a bit eccentric, he wants to be free from all encumberances and just do his own thing without being bothered, while Deepika Padukone (Naina) is his exact antithesis, she is studying to be a doctor and places family values, togetherness and doing what is right by the family above all........

A special mention should also be made here of the ensemble support cast especially Aditya Roy Kapoor, who is in splendid form in his avatar as (Avi), his roles does have shades of Aashiqui 2 but his comic timing and effortless portrayal of happy go lucky person who is some kind of a gambler at heart surely make one doff his hat to him.......

Kalki Koechlin is better than adequate in her role as Aditi, she is at least seen smiling and grinning often in this one in stark contrast to the sombre, macabre and twisted characters that one normally identifies her with........

The foot tapping and ceetee maraoing music by Pritam da is certainly a cornerstone of this modern day love story (if one can call it that), the inimitable Pritam Da is certainly in fine form and conjures up memorable tracks like Badtameez Dil, Balam Pichkari, Dilliwaali Girlfriend and last but not the least, the best of the lot Ghagra.......

On a personal not however, I preferred the understated yet immensely soulful Sufiana numbers: Ilahi and Kabira that take you back in time to a period where soulful lyrics and divine melody were the king........

Like I said earlier, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani does not scrounge on production values and has all the hallmarks of every successful Karan Johar production Ranbir Kapoor's fan following and the Karan Johar banner might guarantee it a bumper response at the box office and a Rs. 100 crore plus return, but I for one was left ruing the opportunity and wondering what might have been had the director spent half the time on polishing his craft and story narrating skills........

Rating:3/5, Duration: 2 hours 41 minutes (could have been cut short by a good 30 minutes with some less self indulgent editing), recommended only for die hard Ranbir and Deepika fans as there is nothing new or novel about the movie.........

All the best - team India !!

Our men in blue have just set foot on old blighty (the cold forbidding and rainy shores of England) and captain Mahendar Singh Dhoni has stirred a virtual hornet's nest with his steadfast refusal to answer any and every question pertaining to the spot and match fixing imbroglio in the just concluded IPL season 6; I for one am not too perturbed by Dhoni's refusal to answer all such questions but am more concerned with team India's chances in the last edition of the Champion's Trophy........

The Indian team did not exactly cover itself in glory when it was in England the last time around, it lost the test series by a 4-0 margin and was also completely blanked out in the ODI series that followed, the Champion's Trophy offers them a chance to redeem themselves and set the record straight, but the million dollar question is whether or not team India has the wherewithal to do well in alien conditions.......

Let's take a closer look at the fifteen men chosen by the five supposedly wise men of Indian cricket (the selectors) and minutely examine whether or not they are capable of annexing a trophy that team India has not won till date; yes team India did share the trophy with the Lankan lions way back in 2002 but has never won the trophy all on it's own........

Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay are the two openers hand picked by the selectors and they have been saddled with the onerous responsibility of getting the team off to reasonable starts every time, yes the firm of Messrs Dhawan and Vijay did excel against the Aussies during the course of the test series, but they are going to be playing in alien conditions where the ball with both swing and seam prodigiously and to exacerbate matters, Vijay did not exactly cover himself in glory during the recently concluded IPL season 6.........

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma do certainly do be the best of the lot and the two of them did reasonably well in the recently concluded IPL season 6, they do have both the technique as well as the acumen to acquit themselves creditably and the Indian batting effort will mostly depend on the success or failure of these two gentlemen.......

Suresh Raina may well struggle against the moving ball as he has this irritating tendency to square himself up and open his right shoulder time and again or put simply does tend to struggle against the ball moving against him, but Rain will have to overcome his shortcomings and guide the Indian total to seemingly impregnable areas in conjunction with skipper Dhoni as batting has always been team India's forte.......

Dinesh Karthik will only get a look in if any of the afore/above mentioned batsmen suffer from an injury or then woefully fail to get off the blocks in three-four innings; the selectors certainly missed a trick by not picking Gautam Gambhir and Cheteshwar Pujara, Gambhir would have proved to be the ideal foil to a rampaging Dhawan and Pujara is simply the best technically equipped batsman on the Indian scene by far........

The all rounders slot will be a toss up between Messrs Ravindra Jadeja and Irfan Pathan, both of them are primarily batting all rounders and their bowling is only the proverbial icing on the cake, though in Jadeja's case one would be most inclined to say that his bowling rather than his batting and skipper Dhoni's deep rooted faith in his talents have guaranteed him a place in the Indian ODI team thus far.........

Irfan Pathan has proved to be somewhat of an enigma, he started his international career on a brilliant or then sublime note and was even touted as the next Kapil Dev for sometime, he mysteriously went off the boil and even contrived to lose the swing that made him the bowler he was, he has been successful in making some sort of a comeback but the prodigious swing that he possessed during his earlier stint is still conspicuous by it's absence........

Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin and Vinay Kumar should make up the quartet of bowlers who complete and give concrete form to the Indian playing XI, off these Umesh Kumar is the only bowler capable of clocking consistent speeds in excess of 140 kms per hour and even swinging the white cherry at these speeds, the only problem being that he is coming back from a long injury lay off and a less than sterling IPL season 6 where he was taken for plenty of runs at most times......

Ishant Sharma did certainly have his moments during the IPL but these were scattered randomly and did not make for a consistent pattern, Ishant has been around for a long time and again did start off his international career splendidly, but one really wonders whether he has the stuff to be the Indian pace bowling spearhead in Zaheer Khan's absence between the ears.......

Vinay Kumar was by far the best Indian medium pacer on view during the IPL and should certainly acquit himself well to these bowling friendly conditions, as for Ashwin one cannot see him getting too much turn out of the English pitches, but he should certainly succeed in keeping the runs down and chipping in with the odd wicket when most needed........

Team India should certainly cross the first hurdle and get into the second round or super sixes in my humble opinion and from thereon, their determination and will to win in inhospitable and seemingly alien conditions will surely be put to the ultimate test.......

Anyway, here's wishing the men in blue all the very best.........            

HYDERABAD SHAMED ONCE AGAIN........

Two more cases of rape/sexual assault have been reported within the city limits (Hyderabad city limits) since Tuesday night.......


In the first incident or instance, a seven (7) year old wee girl was allegedly raped by her neighbour on Wednesday; the culprit has since been identified as Ravi 21, a daily wage labourer (hamali) residing at Nandavanam Colony in Meerpet and this case of alleged rape also occurred in the Meerpet police station limits.......

The alleged rapist lured this gullible and unsuspecting girl to a relatively obscure construction site on the pretext of buying her toffees and then proceeded to brutally sexually assault her.......

This incident came to light later on the same day when the victim came home and informed her parents about the calamity that had befallen her, the parents in turn rushed to the nearest police station and lodged a complaint against the alleged assaulter........

The victim was immediately shifted to the state run Niloufer hospital where she is recovering from her ordeal, a medical test carried out on her has undoubtedly confirmed the incidence/ occurrence of a crime of a sexual nature........

A case has been booked under section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the alleged rapist who is absconding or still at large........

In the second equally grotesque and heart rending incident a 12 year old school girl was sexually assaulted by her 55 year old neighbour at Almasguda in Meerpet late Tuesday night.......

The area police have since registered a case against the absconding offender under section 354 (Assault or use of criminal force to outrage the modesty of a woman) of the IPC against the alleged rapist who is still at large........

The victim has since been admitted to a government medical facility in order to recover from the injuries caused by the brutal assault and also to confirm the incidence of an unnatural act of sex or sexual act........

NATIONAL CAPITAL'S SHAME..........

The rape capital of the world has added one more dubious and depraved feather to it's already burgeoning cap.........


A hapless, defenceless and homeless 16 year old young woman who was brought over to the national capital from her village in Jharkhand by her cousin was repeatedly raped by her so called benefactor and his friends on numerous occasions.......

The bruised, battered and semi conscious girl was recovered by a Delhi Police PCR van out on a routine patrol near the entrance of the Kashmiri Gate metro station in North Delhi..........

Her supposed protector and benefactor had managed to land her a job as a house maid in the residence of an affluent family residing in the capital's East Patel Nagar locality and both he and his legions of friends would take turns raping the defenceless young women after leading her to her cousin's humble abode.........

The traumatised and terrorised victim fled from her employer's place and fell unconscious just outside the main entrance of the above mentioned metro station where the Delhi police personnel found her......

She is currently undergoing treatment at a government hospital and the Delhi police has launched a massive manhunt to nab the elusive culprits who still remain at large.........

FALSE PRIDE OR THEN SHEER INDIFFERENCE..........

And so the carnage continues and the saga of rapes all over the country continues unabated, with the figures of familial rape or then instances of fathers raping daughters over a considerably long period of time getting a renewed shot in the arm.........


Yes, folks I am talking about our own holier than thou India, a land that takes immense pride in deifying it's mothers and daughters while sweeping all unpleasant occurrences or sexual crimes and misdemeanours committed against them under the carpet, baat uchchlegi to ghar ki izzat mitti main mil jayegi aur ghar ki baat ghar hi main rahe to achcha hain.........

Can anything be more hypocritical or stereotypical, most if not all of us seem to be more worried about protecting and safeguarding our families tattered prestige and last vestiges of so called honour rather than protecting the victim, making sure that she receives the necessary or requisite medical, rehabilitative or psychological care as well as bringing the alleged culprit or perpetrator to book........

Is it any wonder then that an Amnesty International Report highlights the fact that more than 85% of sexually exploited children within our motherland are exploited either by their fathers, uncles, brothers or then a blood relative or person who has been known to the family for years together..........

We end up causing untold damage to the psyches and self esteem of the hapless victim in a misplaced and misguided effort towards protecting or safeguarding our family's dubious prestige or honour and what about the young girl, lady or woman involved????does she really matter after all she is nothing more than a second class citizen.........

And pray what set off or caused this latest outburst a sad, heart wrenching and gut churning instance of a 16 year old girl who summoned up the courage to file a complaint at long last against the male who was supposed to protect and nurture her but ended up sexually abusing her for the last two years and more.........

Yes, folks yet another sexually deviant father has made Hyderabad proud, this devil reincarnate had been raping his younger daughter for the last two and a bit years and is now absconding with his tail between his legs as he has been exposed for the entire world to see......

Time for some deep rooted introspection and taking a good long hard look at ourselves in the mirror me thinks, we need to get our convoluted thinking right in this instance at least and bury this nonsensical concept of family prestige, honour and pride six feet under where it rightly belongs..........

Women are the future of the nation, women are the creators and nurturers of life and a nation and society that does not preserve, protect and cherish it's women is surely destined to meet a gory and grotesque end........chew over that one and examine your motives, act decisively right now or you might just end up ruing your fate.......

SIMMY MALHOTRA: A CANINE'S BEST FRIEND...............

Let us talk about noble, good intentioned and well meaning people for a change, meet Simmy Malhotra a passionate, committed and persevering young woman who gave up her flourishing career in Dell to care, nurture and look after the national capital's destitute, dying, handicapped and callously abandoned dogs all on her very own.......


Her modest two room house in a fairly well to do South Delhi locality currently serves as a haven of peace, love, hope, care and rest for more than two dozen strays and she was recently bestowed with the Godfrey Phillip's Bravery Award for the yeoman's service rendered by her to Delhi's teeming population of canines.......

Simmy has been successful in rescuing 39 dogs from the brink of death and self destruction and given them a fresh or new lease of life with her motherly care, oodles of love and unstinted devotion towards them.....

She has been slogging it out practically all by herself for the last two and a bit years, as mentioned earlier, she selflessly gave up a flourishing corporate career so that she could whole heartedly devote all her time and attention to her Non Governmental Organisation aptly titled "Animal Help and Heal".........

"Yes, times have indeed been tough and I have seriously thought about giving it all up in times of utter despondency and forlorness", Simmy candidly admits; but the wagging tails, selfless and undemanding love and the soulful friendship always brings me back from the brink........

A timely word of kindness, a noble gesture or a helping hand does provide aid, succour and hope for the future this doughty woman goes on to say, I have made a small beginning in my own humble way but a lot more needs to be done towards making this big bad world a safe haven for all it's dogs and canines she trails off........

If you want to contact Simmy or then lend a helping hand, please log on to the website off her NGO, pledge support and make a contribution that would both serve the cause of the canines and display your philanthropy, large heartedness and kind side........

YET ANOTHER CONTRIVED RESULT............

Kudos to the Mumbai Indians for adding that missing piece of silverware to their trophy cabinet and winning a final that seldom rose above the mediocre and mundane; the final never ever got off the ground and was a huge yawn feast from beginning to end.........


The sluggish pitch contributed to this yawn fest in no small measure as batsman after batsman failed to get the ball of the square with the notable exceptions of Messrs Pollard and Dhoni who gave one the impression that they were batting on a different surface altogether........

For a change the bowlers had a field day with Messrs Bravo, Malinga, Johnson and Harbhajan sending the spectators into raptures of delight with their deadly deliveries that brooked no answer from the batsmen who looked like cats on a high tin roof........

Somewhere, somehow, the abject capitulation of the much vaunted CSK batsmen and their abject failure to make a fist of what was a modest total at best do raise a few suspicions about the end result being contrived and decided upon even before the match got underway..........

Otherwise what explains the failure of any and every CSK batsman other than the skipper M.S. Dhoni showing the wherewithal, skill and determination to spend some time on the pitch, get used to it's demeanour and variations in both bounce as well as pace nad last but not the least simply show the pluck and determination to support Dhoni in his yeoman's effort aimed at overhauling the opposition's total.........

And all this when erstwhile BCCI president gave a clarion call for a thorough clean up of the augean BCCI stables and a thorough probe into the possibility of the entire gamut of matches played during the course of the sixth edition of the IPL by a central agency like the CBI......

I for one do not believe in such happy coincidences and have played and covered enough cricket to understand and believe that the capitulation by the CSK batsmen was just one more of those things and nothing more than a blip on the horizon.......

Yes, a few good balls were bowled by the bowlers and the two paced pitch did play it's role in defeating the futile attempts of the batsmen to hit their way out of trouble but the million dollar question is whether these reasons are enough to explain away the ultimate outcome of what was touted to be a titanic struggle otherwise........

A thorough, independent and impassioned probe into the entire gamut of IPL season 6 is certainly the crying need of the hour; but will a gentleman (?) who stands thoroughly discredited both in the eyes of the cricketing fraternity and the rest of the world order such a probe that has the underlying possibility of implicating him.........

Well your guess on that one is certainly as good as mine........

TWO MORE SENSELESS DEATHS.........

A young mother and her three old daughter were killed as they jumped off a speeding truck in a valiant attempt to resist and spurn the sexual overtures of the man who was driving the very same truck........


The gruesome incident took place at the toll plaza in Chitaura in the Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh (120 odd kms from Lucknow) when the victim Rajkumari, 30, boarded the said truck along with her husband, young son and 3 year old daughter.........

Taking advantage of the situation and acting upon his Machiavellian intentions, the driver asked the husband of the victim to fetch something to eat as soon as he stopped at a roadside dhaba or eatery........

Lo and behold, he sped away in the truck as soon as the husband of the victim alighted from the truck and began molesting the 30 year old victim as soon as the opportunity presented itself.........

In an effort to safe herself and her children from the villain (truck driver), the mother of the two children threw her son off the now speeding truck first, then her daughter and finally jumped off the truck in a valiant attempt at saving herself......

Locals and people passing by the spot made a sustained attempt to chase the truck and nab the monster masquerading as a driver, but somehow, the driver managed to make good his escape from the scene of the crime..........

The mother of the two children died on the spot as a result of the grievous injuries sustained by her in the attempt top save her chastity and honour, while the three year old girl soon succumbed to her injuries in the district government hospital........

Local police authorities however swung into action and showed rare alacrity by recording the statement of the seriously injured young boy whose condition is stated to be 'worrisome'........

The police officers are now minutely scrutinising the CCTV footage from the toll plaza area in order to establish the identity of the now absconding truck driver in an effort to apprehend him and bring him to book.......

THE CARNAGE CONTINUES.........

A middle aged man allegedly raped a class ten (X) student within the precincts of her own house in the national capital's Vivek Vihar are late last (Saturday) evening.......


This heinous and grotesque incident took place when the girl was all alone at home as the family member had gone to a neighbouring temple leaving her alone at home; taking advantage of the situation, the alleged assailant barged into the house and proceeded to brutally sexually assault the victim......

Seeing the victim in a dishevelled and highly hysterical state, the family member of the victim asked her what happened to/with her and on duly being informed rushed to the neighbouring police station and filed a complaint against the alleged perpetrator.......

The perpetrator has since been arrested and is presently cooling his heels in police custody, a detailed medical examination of the victim has confirmed the incidence/occurrence of rape and a case has been booked against the rapist under the applicable sections of the Indian penal code.........

What however raises an eyebrow or two is/are the explicit instructions issued to the family members of the victim about speaking to the media and disclosing any information whatsoever about this case............

THAT'S THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES..........

The proverbial cookie crumbles and how, high and mighty BCCI president Narayanswamy Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan finds himself in the custody of the Mumbai police crime branch sleuths and is apportioning the blame on all and sundry other than himself for his betting affliction.........


Yes, Gurunath Meiyappan is well and truly of the custody of the Mumbai Police Crime Branch sleuths and will be produced before a magistrate later today; he was taken into custody late last night after a sustained spell of interrogation and questioning and has admitted to knowing both middleman Vindoo Dara Singh as well as alleged kingpin Ramesh Vyas.......

He also has not refuted the claims made by Vindoo Dara Singh about knowing him for the last decade or so and also admitted to the fact that he had been placing bets through Vindoo Dara Singh for the last three years or so and also introduced Vindoo to the Chennai Super Kings players and also accommodated him in the VIP box during the course of many an IPL match........

But, what one finds difficult to understand is his claim about Vindoo being responsible for his betting affliction or then penchant for placing heavy bets on the IPL franchise that he was both the principal as well as CEO off until 5:18 pm last evening........

Yes, incredulous ladies and gentlemen of the cricketing world, Gurunath Meiyappan has ceased to be the principal and CEO of the beleaguered Chennai Super Kings IPL franchise as his incarceration could lead to the automatic termination off the franchise as per the rules and regulations laid down in the BCCI constitution......

One really wonder whether this foolhardy and belated attempt to portray Gurunath Meiyappan as an honorary director of the CSK's owning company will really cut anyy teeth with the legal fraternity as the instances of Gurunath Meiyappan portraying himself as the team's principal are legion and cannot be wished away like your worst nightmare.......

Yes, somebody else from the India Cements Management namely it's Secretary signed on the legal document or undertaking executed between the BCCI and the CSK team owners but the self styled team principal was the prominent face seen during every match, auction, team meeting, press conference and also disclosed the fact that he team manager Stephen Fleming and skipper Mahender Singh Dhoni compared and contrasted their respective playing XI's just a little over two hours before the start of any and every evening game, so how do you explain this or these uncanny coincidences........

And what about the unsavoury fact put out by every twenty four news channel about the said Gurunath Meiyappan omitting all references to his links with the CSK team when his twitter account prominently highlighted the fact that he was the principal of the CSK team until the proverbial shit hit the roof........

All said and done Messrs Srinivasan and dear son-in-law find themselves in shit creek without a paddle, Srinivasan will have to tender his resignation sooner than later owing all kinds of responsibility for the mess that the BCCI finds itself currently in......

As for Gurunath Meiyappan he will have to dole out more plausible excuses than the one about Vindoo Dara Singh forcing his hand if he wants to extricate himself from the sorry predicament that he currently finds himself in...........

DYING DECLARATION..........

The apex court of the country, namely the Supreme Court of India continues to surprise us pleasantly and how; in it's latest epochal or landmark judgement, the Supreme Court in it's infinite wisdom has said that anyone in close proximity to a dying person can record his/her dying declaration blaming or accusing those responsible for his/her present predicament...........


Yes, you heard and saw it right folks, ordinary and mundane sons/daughters of the soil like you and me will henceforth have the onerous responsibility and right of recording a dying person's last decree or declaration, which simply means that you need not be a police officer, doctor or judicial magistrate in order to record the dying declaration.......

The Supreme Court has found that the above dictum of anybody being able to record the dying declaration of a person is legal and valid as per the existing laws of the country especially in the case of a person or persons dying of burn or fire related injuries.......

"The law on the issue can be summarised or paraphrased to the effect that the law does not provide or specify who can record a dying declaration, nor is there any prescribed form, format or procedure for the same", said a two judge bench of the Supreme Court while reversing a High Court judgement acquitting the accused in a dowry death case......

The only caveat or condition prescribed by the Supreme Court in this regard is that the person duly recording or transcribing the dying declaration of a person should make sure or certify the fact that the person making the dying declaration was in a fit state of mind to do so or in other words was not delirious while making his/her dying declaration...........

"The person who records a dying declaration must firstly satisfy himself or herself and be doubly sure of the fact that the person making the statement is in a fit or able state of mind and alert or conscious enough to do so or in other words capable of making such a statement", the judge who authored the judgement on behalf of the Supreme Court said..........

STOIC AND MYSTIFYING SILENCES.........

Messrs N.Srinivasan as well as Neeraj Kumar's (Delhi Police Commissioner) silence on the latest developments in the IPL match/spot fixing scandal is both mystifying, bewildering and replete with hidden meanings and inferences........


One may do well to recall the fact both these gentlemen went into damage control mode within the IPL match/spot fixing scandal hitting the headlines and combined heaven and earth in a misplaced and self serving attempt to contain this Frankestein monster and not let it spread it's tentacles beyond the eleven arrested bookies and the three alleged match/spot fixers masquerading as cricketers.......

Subsequent events and development in this high profile case have certainly made these two afore mentioned gentlemen (?) eat humble pie if not crow, Neeraj Kumar has been forced to grudgingly concede the fact that more franchises, teams as well as cricketers may be involved in the imbroglio........

Whereas, the dictatorial and overbearing N.Srinivasan has been incommunicado and hard to find ever since news off the inextricable links between the disgraced actor Vindoo Dara Singh and his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan have come to hit the headlines.......

While N.Srinivasan is not prone to making grandiose statements and pronouncements his holier than thou attitude and propensity to brush any and every unsavoury incident or happening under the carpet or then resort to time worn cliches in an effort to mount a defence has certainly not stood him in good stead.......

As for Mr. Neeraj Kumar, the less said the better, he put his foot in his mouth repeatedly during the aftermath of the horrifying incident that took place in the national capital on the fateful night of December 16, 2012; his statements and pronouncements defied logic and were often the butt of derision and ridicule........

He however continued with these grandiose statements and pronouncements and only stopped when these came around and bit him on his ample behind.......

Haven't these gentlemen heard of the dictums; "once bitten twice shy", "what goes around does certainly come around" and "measure your words repeatedly before you speak or utter them", one only hopes that both these people have become wiser in hindsight........

Better still why don't they take a leaf out of Sardar Manmohan Singh's book assume a vow of silence and let people around them make what they will of their stoic and perturbing silence..........

FIRST FOR US TOO..........

In what must come as a first for us cynical, cantakerous, world weary and battle hardened folks, a 27 year old young man helplessly watched the ghastly visual of his lady love hanging herself and committing suicide while he could do little else apart from wringing his hands and crying out in sheer agony and utter frustration.........


The young woman was casually chatting with he long time amour and had just had a heated argument with him as his parents had coerced him into calling off their long pending nuptials just before resorting to or taking recourse to this fatal step or drastic measure........

Despite the sense of confusion, helplessness, agony and pain engulfing him, the 27 year old man had the presence of mind to call up his lady love's family members and brief them about the surreal goings on.......

The family members of the girl/young woman acted with alacrity and rushed home pulled her down and rushed her to a nearby hospital; alas it was a case off too little too late and the young lady was declared brought dead on arrival.........

An investigation into this grotesque incident has been launched by the Mumbai police and the area police officials have seized the laptops of both the victim as well as her long standing boyfriend and begun investigations into this case and also to ascertain whether or not a case of aiding or abetting the suicide of the victim can be made out against her long time partner........

"GURU" FIXES BCCI PRESIDENT??????

Has the sceptre of the IPL match/spot fixing scandal reached the door step of the BCCI head honcho (president) N.Srinivasan at long last?????


Sources in the Mumbai Police crime branch have revealed that disgraced Hindi film actor Vindoo Dara Singh was in close touch with one "Guru" during the course of the last three IPL seasons......

A cursory examination of Vindoo Dara Singh's telephone (cell) records have established the fact that the maximum number of calls made by him during the course of an IPL season were to this Chennai based number.......

Further investigations into Vindoo Dara Singh's call records have thrown up the startling fact that this "Guru" is none other than Gurunath Myappan son-in-law of BCCI president N.Srinivasan and frontman who safeguarded his stake in the very same IPL team........

During the course of an intense interrogation Vindoo revealed the disturbing fact that he was in regular touch with this Guru chap over the last three IPL seasons and also said that he gained access to the VIP box during Chennai Super Kings fixtures thanks to his close proximity with N.Srinivasan's son-in-law........

Not only this, Vindoo Dara Singh has also claimed that these moments spent in the VIP box courtesy Gurunath Myappan also helped him in gaining the confidence of the kith and kin of Indian cricketers representing the CSK franchise thereby building lasting friendships with them........

The Mumbai Police Crime Branch officers have firmed up their minds about exploring this nexus to it's natural end and are all set to issue summons to the said Gurunath Myappan asking him to subject himself to a question and answer session with the Crime Branch officers investigating this unholy nexus........

Will the BCCI president put in his papers pending investigation and only assume the august office once his son-in-law's name is comprehensively cleared or then will he go the Pawan Kumar Bansal (former union railway minister) and deny any connection whatsoever with his son-in-law's business affairs and dealings; well your guess on that one is as good as mine........

PERILS OF PRESENT DAY MARRIAGES........

A coin always has two sides and what goes around does certainly come around; in a bizarre and rare occurrence a 27 year old man committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling of his home/residence in the national capital........


Lokesh a make up artist in television serials and advertising shoots was married with/to Sheetal a low level executive in a travel and tours concern in early 2012, differences cropped up between the couple within a few days of their union and even having a baby did not really help matters.........

According to Lokesh's family members, Sheetal preferred spending most of her time at her parents house in the north Delhi locality of Mori Gate instead of her husband's house in Shahdhara; this primarily was the cause of the friction and prolonged acrimony between the two and Sheetal did not mend her ways despite the entreaties and implied threats of her husband........

Things however took a turn for the worse and reached a climax on May 14 when Lokesh's in laws visited his residence, soundly thrashed him and took Sheetal away with them leaving her eight month old son behind with the father and his parents......

Lokesh made a last ditch effort at resolving the situation by visiting his in law's house on the morning of Monday May 20, 2013 but his conciliatory overtures were spurned and he was humiliated and abused in return........

According to Lokesh's parents he went into some kind of depressed state ever since her returned from his wife's residence and was not his usual self, he was indifferent to the entreaties of his parents and was also paying scant attention towards his eight month old son......

Lokesh decided to end his life once and for all in this state of depression, rejection and humiliation; his parents found him hanging from the ceiling of the room when they woke up on Tuesday morning, he left behind a seven page long suicide note in which he has squarely blamed both his wife as well as her parents as the primary reason behind the decision to end his life in this sudden and abrupt manner........

The Delhi police has taken due cognisance of the suicide note or then dying declaration of Lokesh and begun it's investigations in this matter.........

CHANGE IS THE ONLY CONSTANT.........

Change is the only constant and the old order changeth giving place to the new, the Indian selectors have chosen fifteen men to represent the country in the last edition of this bi-ennial event in their infinite wisdom; most of us might not agree with their choices but we have little choice apart from accepting and supporting them no matter what.......


Yes, it's true, I for one do have a few issues with a few choices made by the five supposedly five men; dropping Gautam Gambhir might just prove to be a huge mistake and a mistake that might just come around and bite the selectors on their backsides, for the very simple reason that Gambhir was in much better form than Murali Vijay all through the IPL and cricketing logic has it that you always pick men in form instead of Dhoni yes men or BCCI president loyalists.......

The selection of Amit Mishra is another one that baffles the mind, Yes Amit Mishra is the finest leg spinner playing the game at the present moment within the country, but pray will someone tell me what Amit Mishra will do in England and Wales as Dhoni and company will only play one specialist spinner with Dhoni acolyte Ravindra Jadeja doubling up as an all rounder and with Ashwin ruling the roost, one wonders whether Mishra will even get a look in........

Irfan Pathan's inclusion is yet another selection that defies all laid down cricketing norms; Pathan did little or nothing of note in the IPL and has also not been a permanent fixture in the last two seasons or more; Pathan's inclusion only makes sense if you want to play him as an opener and batting all rounder, with Dinesh Karthik, Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan being around, one wonders whether Pathan will do any more than warm the benches........

I for one have no issues whatsoever with the exclusion of Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh; Sehwag has been woefully out of form for the longest time one can remember and both Yuvraj as well as Zaheer have been struggling with fitness as well as form related issues for sometime now, but yes I do have issues with Bhajji Pa's non inclusion and still hold the opinion that he is the finest off spinner in the country and hence should always be an integral part of the team.........

As for the rest, the selectors had few alternatives for/to them, the selectors have done their job and picked the fifteen men most likely to bring the Champion's trophy back in their infinite wisdom, whether or not team India succeeds in it's mission will be known within the next fortnight to three weeks, meanwhile here's wishing them all the best in their endeavours: Good Luck and God Speed...........

RAHUL DRAVID: TIMELESS STEEL..........

ESPNcricinfo's Rahul Dravid "Timeless Steel" is a must have for all Rahul Sharad Dravid fans as it not only reveals lesser known facets and traits of Rahul Sharad Dravid the man and the cricketer, but also demystifies the enigma who was always a man of a few words and an ardent practitioner of the dictum that long drawn out silences are far more eloquent than a few words........


Essentially a collection or anthology of articles or pieces on Dravid by such notables as Sambit Bal, Sanjay Bangar, Aakash Chopra, Sanjay Manjrekar, John Wright, Greg Chappell, Vijeeta Dravid, Gideon Haigh, Mukul Kesavan, Fazal Khaleel and such other authors of rare eminence; the book is sub divided into five sections each with a collection of articles of it's very own........

The sub divisions or separate sections are entitled: The Cricketer, In the Words of his Peers, The Great Innings, The Man and the Interviews and also contains the unabridged version of the epochal speech that Dravid made during the course of the Bradman memorial, one may well remember that the same fetched him a standing ovation that lasted for nearly ten minutes and was also lauded as one the most insightful blueprints for the future.........

My personal favourites amongst the thirty odd short dedications to an cricketing immortal are: The Man who Acquired Greatness by Sambit Bal, The Grit to be Great by Sanjay Manjrekar, A cricketer most evolved by Aakash Chopra, The rock around whom the rest moved by John Wright, The eternal student by Greg Chappell, The master will see you now (and always) by Suresh Raina, I didn't beat him more than a ball in a row by Jason Gillespie, and last but not the least, My husband the perfectionist by Vijeeta Dravid.........

A few lesser known facts about Dravid such as: of the 210 catches ensnared by Dravid during the course of his long and illustrious test career, more than half were off the bowling of Anil Kumble (55 catches) and Harbhajan Singh (51 catches), Dravid scored six test centuries in England; only one less than one Sunil Manohar Gavaskar who holds the Indian record for scoring seven centuries against the West Indians in West Indies.........

Or for that matter the fact that Dravid became the second oldest batsman to score 1000 or more test runs in a calendar year at the age of 39 plus when he scored 1145 runs during the calendar year 2011, only the one and only cricketing god Sir Donald Bradman surpassed this feat by having scored 1025 test runs during the calendar year 1948 when he was a few days short of his fortieth birthday........

Sink your teeth into this rare fact; In an One Day International (ODI) against South Africa in Kochi in the year 2000, Dravid outbowled Kumble, taking 2 for 43 against Kumble's 0/48. Three of the four wickets that Dravid took while bowling in ODI's were of South Africans- Shaun Pollock, Gary Kirsten and Lance Klusener; the only other wicket that he dismissed in ODI's was the Pakistani opener Saeed Anwar.........

A vivid collection of both sepia tinted black and white photographs as well as state of the art colour photographs that trace Dravid's journey from early childhood to his retirement not only add to the face value and overall standard of this epochal volume but also make this cricketing idol that much more human and approachable, the photos underline the fact that Dravid is just like you and me, it is only his determination to succeed against seemingly insurmountable odds and sheer grit that make him the greatest ever Indian test batsman of all time.......

I would be the first one to admit that the book is a tad expensive at it's cover price off Rs. 599?- but it's excellent production values, rare and insightful photographs as well as anthology of dedications that demystify and unmask the enigma that Dravid is more than offset the rather prohibitive cover price..........

If you are as big a Dravid fan as I am then no reason on earth could stop you from laying you hands on this collectors edition; if the price is still stopping you in your tracks, fear not Flipkart offers this very same edition at a heftily discounted price provided you order your copy of the same without any further ado........

SO what on earth are you waiting for?????pick up either your mobile phone or order the same online at once: Happy Reading.........

STORM IN A RAGING TEA CUP..........

Why am I cynical about the ultimate outcome of the match fixing probe and why do I keep questioning the actions of the Delhi police in this regard, simply because I know deep down that this is nothing more than a storm in a raging tea cup.......


A similar exercise was carried out or enacted way back in 1996 too when the match fixing scandal hit the headlines and shamed cricket as a whole; the then skipper of the Indian team Mohammad Azharuddin, the then team physio Dr. Ali Irani and Ajay Sharma were served with life bans, five year long bans were slapped on Ajay Jadeja and manoj Prabhakar but the same were lifted by the Delhi high court in all it's wisdom within any time at all........

While the indomitable Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj as well as then Indian stumper Nayan Mongia were exonerated of all charges as the case against them was never proved; so much for so called life bans, their deterrent effect and their efficacy.......

A massive cover up exercise is on even as we speak, informed sources in the know of things have let the cat out of the bag and confirmed that the very same BCCI which is holding out the threat of life bans and some such is also mounting a rousing defence for the three cricketers who find themselves involved in this imbroglio.......

Come on wake up and smell the coffee, do you really expect a society(?) whose very president has flouted it's constitution and who owns an IPL franchise despite any BCCI office bearer not being allowed to do the same to take punitive action against the three alleged culprits and make an example out of the three of them.......

We have all seen the ultimate outcome of a similar lifetime ban; Mohammad Azharuddin is now a respected member of parliament from the ruling party and more than welcome at official BCCI functions and gatherings as the Andhra Pradesh High court questioned the veracity and validity of the very same and issued express instructions to the BCCI about lifting the same........

The confessions and clinching evidence being touted by the Delhi police is best taken with a pinch of salt, the evidence being furnished is circumstantial at best and may willy nilly collapse under the intense scrutiny that it will be subjected to in a court of law.......

As for the so called confessions, the less said the better, these confessions have no legal standing or validity whatsoever as they were recorded in custody and without the presence of a judicial magistrate, the law only recognises those confessional statements which are recorded in the presence of an officer of the court and the same may only serve as some kind of pointer or basis for the ongoing investigations.......

Let me clarify that I am not an advocate for these three allegedly tainted players nor hold any kind of brief or candle for them, but I also firmly believe that any and every individual is innocent until proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt and also happen to know that a protracted and long drawn out legal battle stares us in the face and many moons will have passed before we see the ultimate outcome of the same.......

In the meanwhile both the media as well as the fans of the glorious game of cricket would have put this unfortunate occurrence behind them and moved on, and that is precisely why I called the same a storm in a raging tea cup which will blow over in due course..........

CRICKET: AN EXACT SCIENCE???????

Here are a few questions for the Delhi Police Commissioner Shri Neeraj Kumar who seems to have made his mind up about the arrested players and branded them as match fixers and common criminals who have brought the glorious game of cricket into utter disrepute.......


* Since when has cricket become such an exact science that the bookie and cricketer reach an understanding between themselves about conceding 13 or 14 runs in an over and somehow manage to concede the very same, was the police commissioner pulling the strings behind the scenes and making sure that the bowler conceded the exact number of runs promised so that he could build up a case based on this flimsy premise........

* The most skilful and seemingly adroit batsmen can make a mistake and miscue or mistime a rank long hop or then simply pop up a catch in the air of a seemingly innocuous delivery; while a bowler can ensnare a batsman and dismiss him off a full toss and half volley that any two bit batsman would have dispatched to the boundary with utter disdain nine times out of ten; did the commissioner take all these facts into consideration before castigating aspersions on the integrity of the three players in custody.........

* The Delhi police has been patting itself on it's own back and blatantly highlighting the fact that they have managed to extract self incriminating confessions from the supposedly tainted trio and the media has been shouting itself hoarse about the fact that these cricketers have confessed to their crimes; aren't these two notables aware of the fact that these confessions are not even worth the paper they are written on as they have been extracted under duress in the absence of a judicial magistrate, these so called confessions can at best give the police a few pointers about the direction in which their investigations into the case should proceed but mean little else besides.......

* Conflicting and contradictory versions have been emerging from time to time regarding the involvement of other cricketers and franchises; the names of Messrs Shaun Tait and Bradley Hogg were doing the rounds till last night and the names of Brad Hodge as well as Owais Shah have hit the headlines this morning, why don't the Delhi police sources come clean on the involvement of other players and franchises once and for all and end this meaningless game and charade of musical chairs......

* The only evidence that the Delhi police has to show thus far for it's efforts in this regard are snatches of recorded conversations and wire transcripts of intercepted conversations amongst the lead players in this unfolding saga, these transcripts and taped conversations prove precious little, have the Delhi police sources submitted the tapes and other discs on which these conversations were recorded to a certified and recognised forensic laboratory for further investigation and confirmation, have voice samples of all those arrested been forwarded to the very same laboratory for the process of identification, authentication and elimination.......

* Has the very same forensics laboratory also certified the fact and issued a certificate that the tapes, wire taps, transcripts and so on and so forth have not been tampered with and are snatches of a conversation in progress between the detainees as no court worth it's salt will admit these above mentioned transcripts etc by way of evidence unless the same have been duly certified by an accredited forensics laboratory.......

* And last but not the least why are all and sundry so very interested in branding these hapless cricketers as culprits, disgrace to the game, traitors and so on and so forth; let their guilt and complicity be proved in a court of law beyond all reasonable doubt and then you can have your fifteen minutes of fame and more by calling them every conceivable name that comes to your mind and tongue........

Pray, wait until then and show a little patience and forebearing as one is always rewarded for his sense of patience and equanimity and not for his impatience and impudence as in the present case........

AT THE RECEIVING END??????

Young men and boys seem to be at the receiving end off late and seem to be receiving the wrong end off the stick in the bargain.........


A Delhi University student was repeatedly sodomised and even suffered the ignominy of stray dogs being let loose on him all for the crime of falling in love with his classmate who belonged to a far more affluent family and supposedly upper caste (whatever that means)........

This gruesome incident came to light on Wednesday when the parents of the grievously injured young boy approached the Ghaziabad police along with the victim in order to file a complaint against the assailants........

Swinging into action without any further ado, the Gahaziabad police arrested the main accused or prime suspect Rajesh Mavi, an affluent and influential citizen of the semi rural area in which both the victim as well as his lady love reside........

Rajesh Mavi is the father of the victim's love interest and is vehemently opposed to any kind of friendship or relationship between the two and the budding relationship between the victim and his daughter was the only reason for the brutal and inhuman assault on the hapless and defenceless victim......

In the meanwhile, the Ghaziabad police has registered a case of abduction, unnatural sex and criminal intimidation against the main accused Rajesh Mavi and his four accomplices........

Rajesh Mavi has since been remanded to judicial custody while the Ghaziabad police has launched a massive manhunt in order to apprehend the four accomplices who not only sodomised the young man who is recovering in a government hospital but also let loose a pack of stray dogs in an effort to cause grievous harm to the victim..........

IPL's WORST KEPT SECRET????

Well, the lid off the Indian Premier League's (IPL's) worst kept secret has been blown off once and for all and how with the Delhi police commissioner's press conference about clandestine and prearranged signals, transferring payments through the infamous hawala route and unholy nexus between the bookies and trio of cricketers who have been apprehended.........


Yes, a lot was said and a lot more alluded to, but, pardon me for playing the role of the doubting thomas, but to a trained and cynical journalist like me a lot of what the commissioner said simply does not seem to ring true.......

Most if not all of the 24 hour English news channels were having a field day quoting highly placed sources in both the Delhi as well as Mumbai police forces, the names of two foreign cricketers representing Rajasthan Royals namely Shaun Tait and Brad Hogg were doing the rounds, then what transpired between 1:30 and 3:15 that the Delhi Police Commissioner chose to give these two cricketers a clean chit and also categorically state the fact that only the three arrested cricketers were the only one's associated with the oft discussed spot fixing........

For the uninitiated; spot fixing means deciding the outcome in advance of a particular over, ball, pace of innings of a batsman at various stages of his sojourn/stint at the crease, dropping catches at crucial stages of an opposing team's innings, bowling no balls and wides at various stages as an innings unfolds and last but not the least missing run outs that a seemingly blind person couldn't have missed.......

Payments are made well in advance in most if not all cases and the upfront payment of 50% of the amount decided upon is the norm rather than the exception, the actions of the player/s who have already been fixed may or may not alter or influence the ultimate outcome of the match in question and pre decided signals or signs signal the onset or beginning of such incidents of spot fixing..........

What the police commissioner also failed to shed light upon was the fact why a cricketer like Sreesanth who already earns a princely amount of Rs. 2.2 crore for playing 50-55 days of cricket during a calendar year in the Rajasthan Royals colours would jeopardise his future for a measly amount of Rs. 40 lakh that works to less than 1/5th of what he would make during an IPL season..........

One can buy the story of Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan falling prey to the vile charms of these bookies as they were paid the measly and insignificant amount of Rs. 20 lakh per IPL season and amounts of Rs. 50 and 60 lakh must have seemed like a windfall to them.........

To give the devil it's due, I would be the first one to admit that Sreesanth is brash, arrogant, haughty, downright stupid and arrogant, but the very same Sreesanth is also one of those cricketers who has never been afraid of calling a spade a spade and wears his patriotism and immense love for the nation on his sleeve for all to see, therefore visualising Sreesanth as a person who would betray the trust reposed in him by legions of Indian cricket fans for a measly Rs. 40 lakh is not only difficult but implausible........

And how is it that only three cricketers belonging to a particular IPL franchise which has not really been the apple of the eye of the IPL governing council are involved in spot fixing, the league has 9 teams and more than 220 odd cricketers represent these franchises and still only three of them are found to have fallen for the vile yet persuasive charms of these bookies, too much of a coincidence for a cynic like me.......

The Delhi police certainly deserve to be lauded for a job well done and blowing the lid off the unholy nexus that exists between gullible cricketers and unscrupulous bookies who are always looking to ensnare such gullible fools, but is the Delhi police commissioner telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the absolute truth; well the jury is still out on that one as far as cynics and sceptics like me are concerned........

TURNING POINTS: SHEER INSPIRATION..........

Just put down my very own copy of erstwhile president Avul Pakeer Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam's magnum opus "Turning Points" and one is surely inclined towards terming it an eye opener, blue print for the future and a journey both individual as well as collective that will take India to the much coveted developed nation status by 2020 and beyond........


Turning Points is essentially the sequel to or second instalment of "Wings of Fire" and takes off from where the earlier book had ended or culminated; it amalgamates little known details of Mr. Kalam's momentous career and eventful presidency and also includes minute details of controversies that were hidden from the public eye till now.........

The same not only offers a ringside view and rare and insightful vignettes of an extraordinary and delightful personality, but also puts forth a vision and blue print of how a country that finds itself at the crossroads can transform itself through accomplishments both individual as well as collective, skills and abilities and above all sheer dint of effort, perseverance and indomitable confidence........

My personal favourite section or then should I say take away from this inspiring and soul stirring treatise are the following lines on COURAGE:

Courage to think different,

Courage to invent,

Courage to travel on an unexplored path,

Courage to discover the impossible,

Courage to combat the problems and succeed,

are the unique qualities of youth,

As a youth of my nation,

I will work and work with courage to achieve success

in all the missions.......

Turning Points also thoughtfully includes a selection of vivid, colourful and self explanatory photographs of Mr. Kalam with various dignitaires, his favourites' children of all shapes, sizes and hues, Mr. kalam in various moods and at various stages of his life and last but not the least highlights the quirks and eccentricities of this effervescent personality........

A sheer delight and connoiseur's pick, this book is one that you certainly one that you can't afford to miss, a must read for every self respecting Indian and all those who fervently believe in the dictum, " ask not what your country can do for you, instead ask what you can do for your beloved country", this is one book that you will surely love lapping up.......

So what are you waiting for, go to your friendly neighbourhood book shop and lay your hands on this piece or then should I say 'tour de force" of sheer inspiration, get inspired, find your feet, realise your responsibilities towards your society and nation and keep inspiring others as you embark on this journey of self realisation.......

The book is a steal at it's cover price of Rs. 225/- and costs around 20 to 30% lesser than the cover price if you order your copy on line through either flipkart or homeshop18; so do yourself and your loved one's a favour and get your copy of this marvel without any further ado.......Good reading and glad tidings........

IT"S THE BOYS TURN NOW........

As if their unholy, unwarranted and unsought affections towards toddlers, girl children and women of all ages were not enough, sexual offenders, rapists and perverts seem to have turned their unwelcome attention towards young boys if this horrendous incident is any yardstick to go by.......


In the latest instance of sexual depravity a young, nubile, innocent, unsuspecting and hapless seven year old boy fell prey to the unnatural proclivities of a sexual offender in Hyderabad's Jeedimetla industrial area.......

The seven year old boy who is a resident of Maqdoom Colony in the Jeedimetla area was brutally assaulted by his 20 year old neighbour on Monday night.......

This horrendous incident came to light when the father of the seven year old boy who is an employee in a neighbouring factory went in search of his son who was not at home on Monday night, he (the father of the victim) happened to chance upon the gory sight of his neighbour Shivshankar Jha unnaturally assaulting his son within the four walls of his own house (neighbour's house)........

Jha made good his escape from the spot by unceremoniously pushing away the father of the victim who went to rescue him from the clutches of this sexual offender, the victim's parents lodged a police complaint at the neighbouring police station without any further ado and the police on their part rushed the grievously injured seven year old boy to the state run Gandhi Hospital as quickly as possible.......

The police arrested the accused (Shivshankar Jha) on Tuesday morning from his place of work and have booked cases against him under section 377 (unnatural offences) of the Indian Penal Code and also under the applicable sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012........

In what must come as a crumb of solace to the harrowed parents; the boy has been discharged from the above mentioned government hospital on Tuesday evening and is at home recuperating from the external injuries inflicted on his persona by a depraved mind who knew no better..........

CAUSE FOR ALARM????

Two instances of rape by juveniles have been reported from the national capital over the last 48 hours or so.......


In the first instance, the 15 year old son of the landlord raped his tenant's five year old daughter in the capital's Aman Vihar area (Outer Delhi) on Monday morning.......

The assailant made the optimum use of the opportunity that was served to him on a golden platter; finding the hapless and defenceless five year old girl alone at home, he led her into an interior and rather secluded room of her house and proceeded to sexually assault her......

He made good his escape from the spot as the victim started weeping copiously once the gruesome act had been culminated, the assailant was arrested later in the day from his own house by the local police based upon a complaint filed by the family members of the victim.......

A detailed medical examination in a nearby medical facility confirmed the occurrence/incidence of sexual assault/rape, the victim is undergoing further treatment for the injuries inflicted on her being by the assailant and her condition is stated to be stable.......

The assailant in the meanwhile, has been taken into custody and is awaiting a transfer to a juvenile justice home.......

In the second instance, a 16 year old boy/young man sexually assaulted a two and a half year old girl in East Delhi's Mayur Vihar locality late on Sunday evening.......

The assailant happened upon the girl who was blissfully playing outside the house in which she lived, he in turn led her to a secluded and isolated spot and proceeded to sexually assault her........

He made good his escape from the spot as he saw quite a few people approaching the very same spot and also because the victim had started letting out loud wails during the sexual crime being perpetrated on her........

The very same people who happened upon the spot rushed the bleeding girl to a nearby hospital where she is being treated for her injuries, medical tests carried out on her have conclusively established the fact that she was brutally sexually assaulted......

A massive manhunt has been launched by the local police to apprehend the alleged assailant at the earliest..........

Cause enough to revisit our existing juvenile justice laws and amend the same so that they are attuned to the needs of an emerging society where assailants and rapists are getting younger by the day.........to

THE SORDID SAGA CONTINUES UNABATED..........

And so the sordid saga of rapes all over the motherland continues unabated......


A hapless, innocent, naive, cherubic and defenceless 2 year old was sexually assaulted by her 23 year old neighbour in the national capital within the precincts of her own home......

This gruesome incident came to light late Saturday evening when a passerby happened upon the spot on hearing the cries of anguish of the toddler; the passerby raised a hue and cry art the horrendous sight hearing which the assailant made good his escape from the spot.......

The 2 year old grievously injured and copiously bleeding victim was rushed to a nearby hospital and is well on the road to physical recovery at least; medical tests carried out on her have established the occurrence of rape conclusively......

IN what must come as some kind as succour to the suffering parents of the hapless victim, the assailant/rapist Shiva a a 23 year old daily wage labourer was arrested from his lodgings by the Adarsh Nagar (North Delhi) police officials on Sunday morning and is currently cooling his heels in judicial custody.......

Cases have been booked against him under the relevant/applicable sections and sources close to the investigation have revealed that the prosecution will be asking for the maximum punishment possible under the applicable laws against the sexual offender...........

BREACH OF TRUST OR MURDER OF INNOCENCE??????

Will any daughter trust her father or more precisely step father after this???????.......


In an incident right out the realms of Ripley's "believe it or not", a step father forcibly married his step daughter in Punjab's Gurdaspur District.......

According to Gurdaspur police sources, the perpetrator or main accused Pardeep Malik forced his daughter to accompany him to Jammu on the pretext of procuring her Aadhar card and forcibly got married to the minor girl at a local temple........

This shocking, gruesome and inhuman crime only came to light when the main accused's wife lodged a complaint of abduction and attempt to rape against her very own husband at a Gurdaspur police station.....

To their credit, the police officials showed remarkable alacrity and immediately swung into action, they raided the residence as well as business premises of the main accused on Saturday and managed to rescue the girl from the unholy and sinister clutches of her step father on Saturday.......

As mentioned above, the main accused or perpetrator of this grotesque crime Pardeep Malik left Gurdaspur for Jammu along with his minor step daughter on the pretext of speeding up the process of acquiring her Aadhar card on May 5, 2013; he then proceeded to a local temple where he forcibly married the hapless girl with the aid and connivance of a willing priest.......

He then abducted the girl and kept her secluded at a remote location within Gurdaspur itself, the victim was only rescued on Saturday after having been in the custody of her demonic step father for almost a week......

The victim has since been subjected to an intense medical examination to establish the incidence of rape or sexual assault and cases of abduction, attempt to rape and criminal intimidation have been booked against the perpetrator Pardeep Malik who is on the run...........

UGLY SCEPTRE OF RAGGING........

The ugly sceptre of ragging has raised it's ugly and demonic head once again and ended up claiming an innocent and budding life in the bargain......


A 19 year second year engineering student from a Navi Mumbai based engineering college ended his fledgling life abruptly by throwing himself in front of a speeding local train........

The 19 year old young man has squarely laid the blame for his premature death at the doorstep of two of his classmates in a suicide note recovered on his mutilated persona by the Mumbai police officials.......

According to the suicide note these two individuals were repeatedly ragging the victim for the last few months and had thereby reduced his life to little better than a living hell according to the very same suicide note.........

Repeated complaints and entreaties to the college authorities too did not have the desired effect and the college authorities simply preferred to look the other way and left the victim without aid, succour or a much needed support system.......

The Mumbai police have taken due cognisance of the dying declaration/suicide note and will get their investigations underway on Monday by questioning both the students named in the suicide note as well as the college authorities.........

In the meanwhile, the grieving and inconsolable family members of the victim held a dharna in front of the said college demanding the immediate incarceration of the two fellow students named in the suicide note.......

NEVER TRUST A STRANGER...........

Three young men were taken into custody by the Gurgaon police on Friday evening on the charges of raping two young schoolgirls, filming them while the gruesome act was being perpetrated on the hapless victims and then blackmailing them with threats to widely circulate the clips that show them in their birthday suits........


The two young girls were gang raped by these very same three youths in a village that falls under the Pataudi police station limits (26 kms from Gurgaon).......

According to the sequence of events as narrated by the Gurgaon police, one of the girls had gone to meet her friend on the pretext of picking up a few books from her place where she was befriended by the main accused Ranu 22 who runs a photo studio within the village limits........

In the meanwhile, the main offender Ranu took the two trusting and unsuspecting young girls to Pataudi in a car on the pretext of getting them books at a heavily discounted rate where he was joined by his two friends and accomplices in the heinous crime Mintoo and Pintoo.......

The five people in the car subsequently proceeded to a shady and ramshackle hotel in nearby Rewari where the girls were offered sedative laced cool drinks; the three men proceeded to gang rape them and even film their gruesome act when the girls were under the influence of the sedatives........

They then dropped the girls off at a place in close proximity to their respective houses but threatened them them with disclosure of their sexual escapades on both the internet as well as various porn sites if the girls spoke about the gruesome fate that had befallen them......

The girls however summoned up the courage to inform their family members who informed the Gurgaon police on turn; the Gurgaon police officials immediately swung into action and apprehended the main accused Ranu who disclosed the whereabouts of his two partners in the crime of passion under sustained interrogation.....

Mintoo and Pintoo were apprehended from their respective houses and all three rapists are under judicial custody, cases have been booked against them under relevant sections of the Indian penal code and a detailed medical examination of the two hapless girls has conclusively established or confirmed the incidence of rape.......

One wonders why our young girls refuse to learn a lesson despite the wide spread reportage of numerous such cases in various sections of the media; young girls befriend complete strangers at your own peril and never ever accept cold drinks or for that matter any other liquid or solid food offered by a relative unknown.........

LOVE AFFAIR THAT SOURED??????

News just coming in on the Times Now as well as Headlines Today 24 hour English news channels speaks of a gruesome shoot out in a house in the South Delhi locality of Munirka........


According to the sketchy details emerging this far an 18 year old schoolgirl who was a resident of the Budh Nagar area of Munirka was shot dead at point blank range by an unidentified assailant who managed to make his way into the realms of the said house earlier this morning.....

The unidentified assailant not only managed to make his way into the room where the victim was firmly ensconed with her aunt at around 10 am or so this morning but also pepper her chest with bullets and make good his escape before the victim's flabbergasted and desperately screaming aunt could react........

Passers by helped the aunt to get the girl to the city's Safdarjung Hospital in a tearing hurry, but alas, it was a little too late for the 18 year old girl who was declared brought dead by the doctors who attended on her.......

The police have registered a case of murder and begun questioning the family members of the victim in an effort to ascertain and establish the motive behind this gruesome murder, the police is trying to find out whether or not the assailant was known to the victim and also whether or not he had some prior connection with her or then whether this was the ultimate outcome of a love affair that had soured........

A massive manhunt has also been launched simultaneously to apprehend the culprit who is said to be in his early 20's (twenties).........

CATCHING THEM YOUNG...........

Catching them young is a dictum or age old doctrine that one was always in complete concurrence with especially when it came to sporting activities, music , singing and other such activities; but catching them young and exposing them to porn clips is certainly stretching the definition a little too far.........


Both the driver and cleaner of a South Delhi based school bus were arrested on Thursday for allegedly molesting the children who frequented the bus and showing them porn clips and MMS's on their mobile phones.......

Mohammad Shamim and Asgar Ali who were employed as the driver and cleaner of the said school bus a little over three years back were taken into custody on the basis of numerous complaints received by concerned parents about their nocturnal activities........

"We were left with little or no choice apart from approaching the police as the school authorities preferred to turn a blind eye to our repeated complaints in this regard", a deeply concerned parent said.....

The police on their part showed remarkable alacrity and swung into action without wasting any time whatsoever, the mobile phones of the accused duo have been confiscated and a cursory examination of the same has more than confirmed the allegations made pertaining to the airing and sharing of pornographic content with unsuspecting children......

Cases have been booked against the offending duo under sections 10 and 12 of the Prevention of Sexual Offences Against Children Act and they have since been remanded to judicial custody.........

ADD ONE MORE TO THE LIST........

And so the sordid saga of sexual crimes being committed against both women of all ages as well as children ranging from 4 months to 12 years of age continues with a break in our very own backyard.........


In the latest gory, shocking and utterly reprehensible incident a hapless and defenceless seven year old girl was raped by her own uncle (a blood relative) in Chilkalguda recently........

The victim is originally a resident of the city's Parsigutta area and had frequented her uncle's house in the neighbourhood where this horrendous incident occurred.....

Chandrashekhar (her uncle and assailant) is gainfully employed as an employee in a stove manufacturing unit located within the industrial hub of Nacharam......

He led her to the terrace of the house on the pretext of showing her the moon and stars from close range and proceeded to execute his heinous and gruesome plan, the victim's mother rushed onto the roof after hearing her repeated screams of anguish and pain and the assailant made good his escape from the spot by unceremoniously bundling her away........

A complaint was duly filed in the Chilkalguda police station by the sorrowing parents of the victim and the police swung into action on the basis of the same and arrested the alleged rapist from his residence on Wednesday evening.........

Watertight cases have been booked against the alleged rapist under the relevant and applicable sections of the Indian penal code and he is presently cooling his heels in judicial custody.........

The victim in turn was subjected to an intensive medical examination in the city's Gandhi hospital and the medical tests carried out on her have confirmed the incidence of rape beyond all reasonable doubt.......

THE SORRY SAGA CONTINUES,,,,,,,,,,

And so the sage of rapes against women of all ages and girl children continues unabated.....


An 18 year old house keeping employee was the latest addition to the already burgeoning number of rapes recorded in Andhra Pradesh's capital city since the first day of 2013......

The hapless 18 year old damsel was out for a long drive with her male friend Saleem and was quietly sitting in the car and exchanging notes with her male friend at around 1 am on Tuesday night /early Wednesday morning when lo and behold, the three assailants from Sriram Nagar, Mohammad Younus, Omer and Irfan who were passing by in an auto stopped the same on noticing the car........

They then proceeded to assault the victim's male friend and made good their escape from the spot with the victim in the same auto, they then proceeded towards an isolated spot near HF Nagar and then took turns in raping the victim........

The now battered and bruised victim was once again bundled into the same auto and unceremoniously dumped near the Miraj Hotel in Yousufguda by her assailants where she was found in a dishevelled and semi naked state by her male friend and others who had by then begun fervently searching for her.........

Displaying rare courage and presence of mind, the victim and her male proceeded to the Jubilee Hills Police Station and registered a case against the three assailants, extensive medical tests carried out on the victim have confirmed the incidence of gang rape.......

Cases have been registered against the absconding assailants under sections 366 (Kidnapping), and 376 (Rape) of the Indian Penal Code and the Jubilee Hills Police have launched a massive manhunt to apprehend the three rapists at the earliest.......

Yet another manifestation of a warped male mentality that steadfastly believes that a women out on the road in the wee hours of the night is fair game and brings the sorry plight that befalls her more often than not unto/upon herself......

VIRTUOSO PERFORMANCE!!!!!!!

The glorious game of cricket has certainly found it's next superstar; he answers to the name of David Miller and marches to the beat of his own bagpiper.......


What a virtuoso performance this kid from the sunny climes of South Africa who is still wet behind his ears produced, he not only bettered the human battering ram Christopher Henry Gale at his own game, but also showed him how it should be done.......

If Gayle is all about savagery and brute force, Miller is all about silken grace and sheer timing, he hits his sixes predominantly in the "V" (arc between mid off and mid on) as the pundits of the game recommend and generates his force through tremendous bat speed and a flick of his steely wrists......

All those who had the honour and privilege of watching Miller's heroics against the hapless Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers must indeed consider themselves blessed, he not only put them in their rightful places but also took them to the cleaners........

The 26 runs he took off a single Rudra Pratap Singh over will surely remain etched in one's memory for ages to come, the bowler was a picture of dejection and sheer helplessness by the end of the same and captain Virat Kohli resembled a monkey on a high tension wire what with his gyrations, hand wrenching, irate mannerisms and all.......

He not only took the game away from the clutches of the RCB bowlers within the matter of a few balls but gave his opponents a batting master class; one only hopes that Messrs Kohli, Gayle, De VIlliers, Tiwary and others of their ilk would have learned a thing or two from watching him smote the ball over the boundary with nauseating regularity.......

One must not get carried away by the sheer beauty of the Miller juggernaut and fail to mention the unassuming Rajagopalan Satish, he not only happily played the role of second fiddle, turned over the strike to the marauding Miller at every given opportunity, but also gave him the reassurance and much needed fillip by ensuring Miller that he was a more then willing accomplice in this heroic effort to get his team over the line........

Most fittingly, David Miller ended his virtuoso performance on a high and resounding note he deposited one Chris Gayle over the sight screen with both impunity and sheer disdain thereby returning the favour with interest......

His 101 not out cam off a measly 38 balls and was the third fastest century recorded till date in the annals of the Indian Premier league, this scintillating knock was punctuated with seven towering and majestic sixes and just as many fours.......

Catches win matches, but dropped catches also cost matches as Virat Kohli must have discovered last night, he not only dropped Miller who was batting in second gear until then off Vinay Kumars bowling in the 14th over off the Kings XI Punjab innings; little did he know that he was not only signing away the match by doing so and one only hopes that he has not sealed his team's fate in the bargain as RCB have a few more tough matches on the road to negotiate.......

Well, it certainly was Miller's night and how, he not only made the best of the dropped catch but send the thousands of spectators watching the game at the PCA stadium Mohali as well as the millions watching the same on television into raptures of delight and exclamations of wonderment; way to go David Miller, here's wishing you many more such hundreds.........

WOMAN BURNT ALIVE FOR RESISTING RAPE ATTEMPT.......

In the most shocking, grievous and heart rending incident since the rape epidemic began, a 30 year old married woman was burnt alive in Rajasthan for having the gumption to stoutly refute her assailant's nefarious designs on her......


The horrendous incident took place in Rajasthan's Hanumgarh district, around 500 odd kilometres away from Jaipur early on Saturday morning in the district's Nohar area.....

According to local police sources the victim was sound asleep in her house along with her four year old daughter when the accused Jitender Kumar alias Jitu surreptitiously made his way into her house and tried to force himself upon her......

Though startled, shocked and taken aback at the abrupt development, the victim kept her wits about her, warded off the sexual overtures of her assailant and started screaming for help at the top of her voice........

In the meanwhile, the assailant happened upon a can of kerosene that was kept nearby, doused the victim with the same and set her on fire subsequently in an effort to save his own skin........

Alarmed by the cries of his spouse, the victim's husband came rushing back into the house from the nearby fields he was tilling and himself suffered second degree burns while making a valiant effort to douse the flames that had by now totally engulfed the hapless victim......

The flames were somehow doused with the help of the neighbours and both the victim and her husband were rushed to the nearby government hospital where the grievously burned victim succumbed to her injuries at around 11 am on Saturday morning......

She however was alert enough to take Jitu's name repeatedly in her dying declaration and the assailant has since been arrested by the local police authorities on the basis of the victim's dying declaration......

Cases having been booked against the murderer under the relevant/applicable sections of the Indian penal code and he is currently languishing in judicial custody trying to come to terms with the atrocities wreaked by him on a defenceless women who was blissfully asleep within the four walls of her house.........

BREATH OF FRESH AIR??????

The old order giveth way; making way for the new: out of the box thinking and horses for courses is certainly the way forward for the Indian selectors and they indeed need to be complimented for having done a fine job with their selections for the Champions Trophy slated to be held in old blighty in the month of June........


June is certainly a wet and somewhat gloomy month in good old England if my memories of the 1996 tour of the same country serve me right, the seamers will certainly rule the roost and genuine swing bowlers like Irfan Pathan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Vinay Kumar will surely make hay while the sun (????) shines, though the possibility of all three making the plying eleven is indeed remote......

Leaving out proven performers such as Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh certainly takes some guts and the selectors have certainly put their money where their mouth is in this regard; while Yuvraj Singh certainly did not warrant a place on current form, Gambhir certainly has not done too badly in the shorter forms of the game and certainly deserved his place in the team ahead of Murali Vijay.......

Well, I guess being in the captain's good books and representing an IPL franchise owned by the BCCI president is certainly bound to pay off in some form of the other. Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik and Suresh Raina certainly deserve their places in the team on the basis of current performances and form, but, I for one am surprised to see Ravindra Jadeja in the team, and would have plumped for Ambati Rayudu.......

Ambati Rayudu deserves a place on the sheer dint of his performances in domestic cricket as well as IPL over the last three seasons and simply because he is a fr better batsman than Ravindra Jadeja can ever hope to become, Jadeja's left arm spin will prove to be more of a liability rather than an asset and thereby render him a non starter......

Virat Kohli, Dhoni, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin and Umesh Yadav who is making his way back after a lengthy injury lay off were always bound to be in the team, but the selection of Amit Mishra certainly does make for a few raised eyebrows as he is only going to be warming the benches and will only get to play in case of an injury to Ashwin.....

Well begun is half done as they say and the selectors have certainly made a reasonable beginning, here's wishing the 15 men in blue good luck and great tidings; may you return to Indian shores with the Champions Trophy firmly in your clutches........

The team: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain and Wicket Keeper), Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Irfan Pathan, Dinesh Karthik, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra.........

NAGPUR'S ORANGE NAME SULLIED........

A 27 year old man has been arrested on the charges of allegedly raping a 6 year old girl in a marriage hall on the outskirts of the orange city of Nagpur on Friday morning.......


The 6 year old girl had come to the marriage hall to grace a wedding along with her parents on Friday morning and was lured away by the 27 year old man Rakesh alias Chakradhar Demble on the pretext of buying her an ice cream.......

He then led her to a relatively isolated spot within the same complex and proceeded to sexually assault her. The incident came to light when the parents of the little girl saw her weeping copiously and doubled up in agony while clutching her stomach.......

On being asked why she was weeping the girl informed her parents about the sexual assault on her and her parents in turn filed a police complaint in the Kanhan police station without any further ado.......

The local police to their credit swung into action at once and begun scrutinising the CCTV footage provided to them by the building authorities, the same revealed Demble moving around the building in a highly suspicious manner and rose the hackles of suspicion about his being the possible assailant in the local police officials minds......

On enquiring further, the police found out that Demble was employed in an office on the top floor of the same complex in which the marriage hall was located and had logged off from his assigned duties citing an illness......

The police than made their way to his residence but failed to find him there too, unable to trace him, the police launched a manhunt and also alerted all the other police stations in neighbouring areas to keep a look out for this particular 27 year old man......

Rakesh alias Chakradhar Demble was finally arrested at a nondescript shop on the Nagpur-Jabalpur highway, he was brought back to the Kanhan police station and subjected to an intensive interrogation.......

Demble broke down and confessed to this heinous crime during the course of the interrogation, cases have been booked against him under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code as well as the Prevention of Sexual Crimes/Offences Against Children Act, 2012.......

A detailed medical examination carried out on the hapless victim has since confirmed the occurrence of rape and the accused is presently cooling his heels as well as heightened libido in judicial custody..........

FORGOTTEN AND FORSAKEN IN LIFE.........

Forgotten, forsaken and left to fend for himself throughout his tortured and tormented life; but a hero, martyr and whatever else in death, Sarabjit Singh must surely be pondering over the vagaries, ironies and vicissitudes of life lying for eternity in a sealed coffin.......


The fact of the matter is that the very same Sarabjit Singh was largely forsaken by the very same politicians and leaders who are trying to outdo one another in eulogising him to the skies at the present moment.......

Sarabjit Singh was granted consular access for the first time after spending almost sixteen (16) years in a Pakistani jail and his case caught the media's eye only because of the tireless and ceaseless efforts of his brave and indomitable sister efforts to secure his release in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.......

Where were these very same netas and self serving politicians who are falling over themselves today in an effort to express their solidarity and concern towards the grieving family of an innocent son of the soil who fell victim to both the barbarity of a neighbouring nation as well as the apathy, indifference and sheer callousness displayed towards his plight by his very own nation......

This brave son of the soil's funeral is nothing more than a photo opportunity for these politicians who will conveniently forget Sarabjit and his grieving family members the very moment they step out of the limits of the Bhikiwind village in which Sarabjit and his family members reside till date.....

One would like to ask the likes of Laloo Prasad Yadav, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and other such notables whether they even made a mention of the hapless and defenceless Srabjit Singh when they made a trip across the border as honoured guests of a rogue terrorist nation or then were they busy in gathering encomiums and scratching each others backs as for Sarabjit Singh; who is that??????

Did the Punjab Chief and deputy chief minister Parkash Singh and Sunkhbir Singh Badal take up the issue of Sarabjit with their counterparts with Punjabi politicians on that side of the border or then were they too busy in other activities that had precious little to do with this noble son of the soil.......

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur, Punjab State Unit Congress chief Bajwa and the chief and deputy chief ministers of Punjab along with their entire cabinet has made a beeline for this village which was nothing more than a mere speck on India's political map till last night.......

Is the fact that the general elections are just round the corner the primary consideration behind their new found love and sympathy for the family of Sarabjit Singh or then are they really concerned about the plight of the five hundred (500) odd prisoners who still continue to languish in various Pakistani jails for the last two decades and more.......

I for one am thoroughly fed up with the calculated and well thought out strategies of these politicians who don't want to lose out on the massive Dalit vote on account of the widespread anger prevailing on the ground against both the Central as well as state governments amongst the proud Punjabis who have never even batted an eyelid before laying down their lives in the service of the nation.......

Let the message go out unequivocally once and for all; thus far and no farther, we have had it up to our necks with your platitudes, homilies and senseless rhetoric; show that you mean business or then languish in the dustbins of political history for a long time to come; we have lost Chamel and Sarabjit as a result of your disinterestedness, apathy and utter lack of spine......

Get your act together and show that you mean business at long last, the nation as a whole wants you too cut off all ties without wasting a single moment and utterly self serving politicians like Kapil Sibal and Rajiv Shukla should not deter you from exposing Pakistan's heinous and demonic face once and for all........

SHOOTOUT AT WADALA........

Adrenaline, testosterone and thrill seeking junkies rejoice, the answer to your prayers is here at long last in the form of the cops and gangsters flick "Shootout at Wadala"; this Ekta Kapoor and Sanjay Gupta co-production thrills, chills and sends you on a roller coaster ride that you will take a long time to recover from........


This Sanjay Gupta directed pot boiler is loosely based on S. Hussain Zaidi's bestselling gangster treatise "Dongri to Dubai-six decades of the Mumbai Mafia" and essentially traces the lives and times of the two male protagonists Manya Surve (John Abraham) and Aafaque Bagran (Anil Kapoor) who are on opposite sides of the fence and pitted against each other at various stages throughout this 2 hour and 30 minute long underworld saga........

Tracing the life and times of the two male protagonists, the film begins in the seventies when the bright and idealistic college student (John Abraham) finds himself inexorably and inextricably drawn towards a criminalistic whirlpool that soon ensnares him for good in it's octopus like tentacles........

Pitted against this wannabe ruler of Mumbai is Bagran, a trigger happy and expletive spewing one man army in khalhi who has no other aim and intention in life other than cleansing Mumbai of it's filth (read gangsters and the mafia) as he terms it.......

The screenplay is not only about blood, gore, expletives and mind blowing action sequences, but also fleshes out the characters and gives them concrete human form and nuances, therefore you have the highly under rated Kangana Ranaut essaying the role of Vidya (Manya Surve's love interest), three item girls in the forms of Sunny Leone, Priyanka Chopra and last but not the least oomphy Sophie Choudhary.......

A special mention must also be made of the ensemble star cast namely Sheikh Munir (Tusshar Kapoor) Manya Surve's bum chum and willing accomplice in every crime, Gyanchod (Siddhant Kapoor), son of long standing bad man Shakti Kapoor who makes and impressionable debut and the gangsters pitted against them-the Haksar brothers Zubair (Manoj Bajpayee), and Dilawar (Sonu Sood) who are also eager and thirsting for their slice of the Mumbai pie.......

Replete with dhansoo dialogues like "police ki goli main bahut iron hota hain aur ek goli agar tere seene main utar gayee toh zindagi main kabhi iron ki kami nahin hogi" and countless other references to broken haddis and such others, this film is a throwback to the heady days of the seventies and eighties where every dialogue uttered by either the hero or villain would let loose a shower of coins and soda bottle caps......

Just one item song picturised on the picture perfect Indo-Canadian object of desire Sunny Leone is alone worth the 150 odd rupees that one would dish out for a ticket in a Hyderabad multiples, this number- Laila Teri le Legi, not only leaves you clapping and madly gyrating in the aisles but also leaves you mesmerised, panting and thirsting for more........

With the maximum amount of on screen time, Manya Surve is certainly John Abraham's most significant on screen hurrah till date, Surve is over the top yet startingly naive, superman like yet as vulnerable and seemingly helpless like you and me, John does utmost justice to this well fleshed out and painstakingly written character and how........

Is there anything more left to be said about the incomparable Anil Kapoor, this powerhouse of talent has been ruling the roost for the last thirty years and more, his portrayal of Aafaque Bagran is not only one of the finest cop characters that one has seen in an inordinately long time but also an actin class in how the nuances and shades of a cop's character should be portrayed by any actor worth his salt.......

Above all, this cops versus gangsters flick signals the return of director Sanjay Gupta to top form, welcome back Sanjay you were sorely missed and one ardently hopes that you will not only hold on to to your ranking as one of the top flight directors in the Hindi film industry this time around with both hands and all else but also enhance and establish the same with your forthcoming ventures......

So go on, what are you waiting for make a beeline for your friendly neighbouring multiplex and feast both your eyes and senses on this gangster saga that is the best thing to have happened to the Hindi film industry in years.......

Rating: 3.75/5.....

Recommendation: A must watch for all those adrenaline junkies who like their thrills larger than life, yet delivered with a certain panache and suaveness........