The newly launched Aam Aadmi Party collected over Rs.1.10 crore in donations on the day of the launch, with former law minister Shanti Bhushan alone donating Rs.1 crore.

Supporters pitched in to keep the machinery running with a collection of over Rs.1.6 lakhs and many people across the country asked Team Kejriwal to open party offices in their states, including one NRI from Toronto who offered space owned by him.

The party has appointed an internal Lokpal that will investigate graft charges against party workers. 23 members have been named in its national executive including Manish Sisodia and Prashant Bhushan.

Kejriwal will be national convener, Pankaj Gupta will be national secretary and Krishna Kanth, the national treasurer.

[ Back to Top ]

Anil Kapoor who played the role of Omar Hassan in Season 8 of the hugely successful international TV show '24' is to launch his first TV production under the banner Anil Kapoor Film Co, with the Indian adaptation of the series.

In the Indian adaptation Kapoor plays the lead role. The film's sets, stunts, slick sequences and high-def recordings are set to create an excellent viewing experience for India viewers, and is set to go on air in the summer of 2013.

Anil Kapoor said he chose channel COLORS as the perfect partner as they have a solid connect with audiences and also enjoyed the reputation of providing futuristic entertainment.

It took Kapoor less than a year to buy the rights to produce an Indian version of '24'.

[ Back to Top ]

On the orders of the state government, Superintendent of Police for Thane district Ravindra Sengaonkar and Palghar sub-inspector Srikant Pingle have been suspended for arresting two women who posted comments on Facebook after the death of politician Bal Thackeray. The Maharashtra state's home minister said the two men had disobeyed orders. The Bombay high court also transferred Ramchandra Bagade, the judicial magistrate judge in the case.

Shaheen Dhada, 21, was arrested for criticising Mumbai's shutdown after the November 17 death of the veteran politician. Her friend Renu Srinivasan, 21, who 'liked' the comment on Facebook was also arrested. They were both later bailed.

Critics accused the government of abuse of authority. Commenting on the suspension one senior counsel said 'The suspension is certainly welcome but final action must also be decided and taken swiftly as that will send a message to other officers that they too must face consequences for their hasty and unjustifiable acts

Several other recent cases have raised concerns about freedom of expression in India.

[ Back to Top ]

Abdul Hakim, 26, who participated in an episode of 'Satyamev Jayate' has been shot dead in Bullandshehr. His wife Mahvish said he was shot by her members of her family after he went to the village with her and their two-year-old daughter to visit ailing relatives.

Mahvish eloped with Hakim in 2010. They married and lived in Delhi because her family opposed their marriage.

Police however say the murder was not a case of honour killing as none of the accused named in the FIR by the deceased's brother was from Mahvish's side of the family.

Aamir Khan who hosted the show expressed grief and called the killing disturbing. He will speak to the authorities in UP to help ensure the family is safe.

[ Back to Top ]

The recent closings of hundreds of ancient brothels in Mumbai has become a short lived victory for HIV prevention campaigns, as prostitutes with inexpensive mobile phones are luring their customers on their own, allowing them to shed the shackles of brothel madams. This has also made it harder for government and safe-sex counselors and the advice and free condoms they provide.

Studies show that independent sex workers who rely on cellphones are more susceptible to HIV. Some prostitutes admit they have surrendered some control in bed in exchange for more control over their incomes.

India's surprising AIDs success story rubbished the CIA's National Intelligence Council's predictions that India would have over 25 million AIDs cases by 2010. Instead India now has around 1.5 million. A number of other countries followed India's example and have achieved impressive results over the past decade as well.

Now the little cellphones have released prostitution from brothels and are expanding the sex marketplace, luring more women into part-time sex work and persuading more men to pay for sex. Cellphone-based massage and escort services are now mushrooming across India.

However, vicious madams still exist, human trafficking is still rampant, village girls are still duped into the trade and some brothels still thrive. Most sex workers are illiterate, are from lower castes and are poor and cellphones have now given them a measure of power they did not otherwise have.

[ Back to Top ]