Drug scandal and Bengaluru riots linked? Viren Khanna's father thinks so

 

Retired professor Sri Ram Khanna, father of Viren Khanna gave a long, weary sigh as he picked up the phone. He has been busy running from the lawyer’s office to Karnataka CM’s office. Other times, he is at the Bengaluru prison, trying to have a word with his son, all the while vowing to get him out. Viren was arrested in the drug scandal involving Sandalwood actors including Ragini Dwivedi. “Viren is innocent,” said Sri Ram Khanna, choking up with emotion.

 Viren Khanna was arrested in Delhi in the beginning of September and brought to Bengaluru soon after. He was accused of fleeing when the central crime branch began investigating this case. “He had earlier booked a train ticket to Delhi. Why would he book a ticket to flee?” questioned Sri Ram Khanna, as he got lost in thought, perhaps remembering Viren’s childhood in Delhi.

The retired professor stressed on the fact that his son was a law-abiding citizen, who even helped the police many times lending information about rave parties and more. The father wondered how a police informant of sorts could suddenly land in unanticipated clutches of the narcotic tale.

Viren Khanna stepped into Bengaluru as a student of RV College of Engineering, least realising he would end up in the dark shadows of the Parapanna Agrahara prison. After graduating in 2007, he worked at Accenture as a software engineer, only to quit and turn into a party planner in 2008. “I attended the first party he organised during New Year’s Eve at the Ice Bar in Taj Hotel. Every person I spoke to – from the waiter to the guests – appreciated Viren stating that he was tailor-made for this,” said the father, beaming with pride.

“He would organise two or three parties every week and there has not been even a single incident of drug use or abuse. How did he get entangled in this now? Stories seem to be surfacing with no checks in place. Truth is the only casualty,” he added.

Sri Ram Khanna flew to Bengaluru when Viren’s house was searched on September 8. The cops reportedly found a police uniform neatly stacked in one of the rooms. Reports suggested that he attempted impersonating a police officer. Dismissing the allegations, the father said the uniform was a “dummy costume” mainly used for Halloween parties and events with fancy dress themes.

The last party organised by Viren Khanna was the one he planned for Holi in March. The COVID pandemic brought a lull to his business, according to his father. Viren, however, hosted ‘drive-in theatre’ programmes before heading to Delhi, Sri Ram Khanna said.

Calling Viren Khanna a victim of police harassment, Sri Ram Khanna said that well-known people are unnecessarily targeted, while actual drug peddlers, who aren’t well-known, are still out. “Actors won’t run away, peddlers will,” he said, adding that cops unearthed this scandal post the recent Bengaluru riots in DJ Halli.

“Around 300 people were detained post the recent Bengaluru riots. Some of them were drug peddlers, who gave the name of one Ravi Shankar. When Ravi Shankar was questioned, Viren’s name cropped up. I asked my son later about this when he was in custody. Viren said he never knew who Ravi Shankar was until he met him while in custody. Viren told me that Ravi Shankar was tortured by the police to deliberately mention Viren Khanna’s name,” claimed the anguished father, acutely hoping this piece of information could help get his son back in his arms.

Recent media reports claimed that Viren Khanna’s associates allegedly bribed two police officers to source information about the investigation. The investigating officer later said that the two cops have been suspended following this revelation. “Viren is a regular taxpayer. His company follows GST protocol. He doesn’t have money stashed in his accounts. Let the cops examine every bank account and every transaction and provide proof,” Sri Ram Khanna said, challenging the men in khaki.

Sri Ram Khanna and his wife have decided to stay put in Bengaluru to fight this legally. “We are focussing on his bail application now. We also want to meet the CM and narrate our side of the story. We haven’t been successful yet. But our fight will go on,” he said, as his warm smile belied a steely resolve.

Saffron hues in poster paint political colour as Rajinikanth wishes PM Modi on birthday

 

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth once said in the film Baasha, “Na oru dharava sonna nooru dharava sonna maadhiri (If I said it once, it’s like having said it a hundred times).”

Despite Rajini Makkal Mandram’s warning to not put up posters until further orders, the clamour for Rajini’s political avatar gained momentum in Vellore and Madurai last week with posters saying, “Ippo illana epovume illa (If not now then never).”

Fans’ uproar seems to have intensified with speculation that their Thalaivar (or leader as he is fondly known) is set to float his party in November as Tamil Nadu gets into election mode next year. A new poster that Vellore woke up to, shows the superstar with PM Modi wishing him for his birthday on September 17. The message on the poster read, “Indhia vallarasukku anbu thalaivarin pirandhanaal nalvaazhthukal (Our kind leader conveys his birthday wishes to today’s emperor).”

Meanwhile, Rajinikanth took to Twitter to wish PM Modi saying, “Wishing the tough man in you more strength during these tough times. Happy birthday.”

There are many instances when PM Modi has been hailed in Rajini’s Darbar (court). In November 2018, the man spearheading spiritual politics in Tamil Nadu endorsed the Prime Minister terming him stronger than 10 persons. Rajinikanth even compared Modi-Amit Shah to Krishna, Arjun when Article 370 was abrogated in August last year.

Just when people thought Rajini, in a state drowned in Dravidian politics, is launching spiritual politics with a saffron touch, the actor-politician said in November, 2019, that attempts were being made to colour him as a BJP man, but they weren’t true.

Well, does this poster seem to revive the faded hue now?

“Why do you have to look at these posters with a heavily political tint?” questioned Jaya Sreenivasan, the man behind the poster. Calling himself an ardent fan of the star, he said, “This poster isn’t part of the Rajini Makkal Mandram. As an individual, I see my favourite idol wishing one of the important leaders PM Modi on his birthday. What is wrong in that?”

However, sources in the Rajini Makkal Mandram of Vellore said that authorities in the district aren’t taking any action against those behind these posters despite the fact that there has been a warning sent against installation of such artworks.

“This is a fan’s poster. It has said nothing that tarnishes the image of Rajinikanth or PM Modi. The poster also doesn’t have any political undertones that go against our leader. What action do we take?” asked joint secretary of the Vellore Unit R Needhi.

Let’s not forget that Rajinikanth will have to take on Dravidian parties to emerge as Tamil Nadu’s political superstar. And the superstar may have to be reminded that the BJP has been throwing its weight behind the actor.

All of us know Thalaivar’s famous dialogue from the movie Arunachalam: “Aandavan sollaraan, Arunachalam seyiyaraan (God commands, I obey).” The BJP that desires the lotus to bloom in Tamil Nadu, may want to add some punch to this dialogue: “BJP sollaraan, Rajini seyiyaraan (BJP commands, Rajini obeys).”

Superstar Rajinikanth sets the stage as Tamil Nadu goes into election mode?

 

Tamil Nadu has been fighting the coronavirus pandemic with all its might since the beginning of 2020. If people of the state thought there could be some calm as the year nears its end, well there’s more in store for 2021.

The Dravidian state will have to get into election mode and perhaps see spiritual politics make its foray. The intro scene of Tamil superstar Rajinikanth seems to have begun in Vellore with posters lining the streets calling for a change in governance and politics. His fans have already given him the title ‘Makkal Thalaivar’ following in the footsteps of former CM MG Ramachandran (MGR) being termed ‘Puratchi Thalaivar’.

It’s common knowledge that fandom is extremely intense in Tamil Nadu. Rajini apart, fans of actor Vijay too have laid the pitch for Thalapathy’s political entry, hailing him as the next MGR.

Rajini’s poster says, “Maatrathai sindhikkum makkalum, makkalai pattri sindhikkum thalaivarum ondrinainthaal, arasiyal mattram, aatchi maatram. Ippo illaina eppavume illai (If people who desire change and a leader who worries about people get together, change in governance and politics is possible. If not now, it’s never).”

“Isn’t this what people want?” said Akbar Pasha, joint secretary, Rajini Makkal Mandram, adding that this poster is more like a “wake-up call”. “It is our desire to see him as CM, but we will abide by whatever he chooses. This is not a party that chases posts,” he said.

 Is the superstar ready to deliver a blockbuster in the upcoming election? “Our thalaivar has said quite some time ago that we must be ready for the battle, and we are,” said Akbar Pasha, stressing on the fact that Rajinikanth’s ‘aanmeega arasiyal (spiritual politics)’ highlights sincerity.

However, another star delivering blockbusters in Tamil cinema is Vijay, whose fans have readied posters welcoming their hero into politics. This poster says, “Makkal Thilakathin maru uruvame, ungal varugaikaaga kaathirukkirom. Viraivil varuga. Nallaatchi tharuga (You are an incarnation of MGR. We are waiting for your political entry. Come soon and give us good governance).” 

“We are welcoming our Thalapathy into politics. Vijay is a person who has helped many anonymously. And people will surely trust him, for he is our next MGR,” said R Velmurugan, district president of Vijay’s fan association in Vellore.

MGR, however, can belong to AIADMK alone, said D Jayakumar, party leader and Tamil Nadu minister. “We can’t interfere with the interests of these fans. Let them praise our party leaders MG Ramachandran sir or Jayalalithaa madam, but let’s not forget that only AIADMK has an exclusive relationship with them,” said Jayakumar. AIADMK can comment only when these Tamil cinema stars start their respective political parties, he added.

DMK echoed the same sentiment. Sources in the party said they’d be willing to comment only when these heroes enter politics in a full-fledged manner. One of them even said that with the huge gap that has risen due to COVID-19, Rajini may think twice about stepping into politics and may do so only if BJP pressurises.

“Rajini has clarified several times that he wears the spiritual cloth and not the saffron one,” said Akbar Pasha. He further said, “Singham single ah dhaan varum (the lion will make its entry all alone).”

Fans of Thalaivar and Thalapathy seem to respect each other’s love for their leaders. However, authorities of Rajini Makkal Mandram have warned their members not to put up posters until further orders.

If only finding shortcuts were as easy as haircuts

 

All it took were a pair of scissors and a comb to hold the strands and cut them to size

Not all are cut out for these styles, but it takes guts to sport them

And if even one strand is out of place, you may cut up rough

Let’s just cut these antics, shall we?

 

Life has no shortcuts, and don’t ever think of getting a cut of this deal

Wish future would cut a demo to prepare you better

So you remain a cut above the rest

Otherwise you get lost in this cut-throat competition

 

When there’s no clear-cut option to choose from

Crew cut may seem like the best choice made

You do want to cut the ice and climb up the ladder

So you don’t end up cutting a sorry figure

 

To cut a long story short…

Dear all, just cut her some slack!