News Trending

Vigilance Investigation against Cochin International Airport (CIAL) Former MD VJ Kurian

By 564 0

A complaint alleging that a benami of V.J. Kurian, the former managing director of the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), had improperly acquired a significant number of shares of the company through the Employees Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) has been quickly verified by the Special Judge (Vigilance), Muvattupuzha.

The first airport in the world entirely powered by solar energy is Cochin International Airport Ltd. The Cochin International Airport has led the way on many fronts since its establishment, including the solar power project that inspired numerous other airports to become solar. It has received world-wide recognition among airports serving the Asia-Pacific area with 5 to 15 million passengers annually.

Vigilance investigation against former Cochin International Airport (CIAL) MD V J Kurian. The issue is related to share embezzlement during Kurian’s tenure as MD. A vigilance investigation was ordered by the Muvattupuzha vigilance court. The order was passed on a petition filed by Girish Babu, a native of Kalamassery and a shareholder of CIAL. Vigilance DYSP of Ernakulam has been ordered to conduct a quick investigation and submit a report on the allegation of corruption through share embezzlement. Vigilance Special Judge Saidalavi P P ordered that the report be submitted within three months.

The petition alleges that VJ Kurian, retired IAS officer and the former MD of CIAL is the mastermind of many scams in CIAL. It is alleged that Kurian has cheated in giving shares to permanent workers under the company’s employee stock ownership scheme. Under the scheme, CIAL had given shares to everyone from sweepers to airport directors. Each CIAL employee, from sweeper to airport director, received 500 shares at their face value of Rs. 10 under the Employees Stock Ownership Plan when the market price was Rs. 250 a share. During this time, it is said that V J Kurian, the MD of CIAL, used his power to give 1,20,000 shares to a non-resident businessman named Sebastian who was said to be Kurian’s benami.

Girish Babu

Petitioner Girish Babu alleges that there was a corruption of 5.5 crore rupees in the incident, where shares were not allotted to Kurian, who is in the civil service. But the main question is how Sebastian, a resident of Thrissur Shobha City, and a non-resident businessman who has no job in CIAL, got such a share. The petition alleges that Sebastian is VJ Kurian’s benami. Sebastian later sold these shares. The vigilance investigation is on how Sebastian, who had no role in CIAL, got 120,000 shares. Although the petitioner has leveled other allegations against Kurian, the court has directed to investigate stock fraud.

The Grand Marriage of V J Kurian’s Son

Another allegation against VJ Kurian. It is alleged that on 2nd January 2016, Kurian used the CIAL convention center for his son’s marriage completely free of cost. In this way, using the convention center which is rented for lakhs for free caused a huge loss to CIAL. Despite having event managers for the wedding, CIAL employees are assigned everything from cleaning the restrooms to supervising the car parking.

In December 2015, CIAL bought a Skoda Superb FL Elegance car for the bride and groom at a cost of Rs 28 lakh. This car was never seen anywhere in the vicinity of CIAL after the wedding. It is also said that Kurian’s son, who was studying at Pariyaram Medical College at that time, used this luxury car. Apart from this, it is also alleged in the petition that Kurian used Toyota Innova and Toyota Camry for his family on that day.

The petition also points out some other corruption committed during the era of VJ Kurian. The petition was filed by Advt. G. Suresh. Company Secretary R Venkateswaran, MD’s Executive Assistant Jose Thomas, Deputy General Manager Joseph Peter and Chief Finance Officer Sunil Chacko are also opposite parties in the CIAL scam case. The main allegation in the petition is that CIAL MD VJ Kurian, four others and Kurian’s benami Sebastian conspired to make unfair profits.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

Entertainment News Trending

Actor Jeremy Renner broke over 30 bones in snow plough accident

By 515 0

Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner claims he was inadvertently driven over by a snow plough on New Year’s Day, breaking more than 30 bones in his body. The Avengers star uploaded a selfie of himself resting in a hospital bed while providing an update on his health and stating that his “morning workouts, resolutions all changed this specific new years.”

While removing snow from in front of his Nevada home, Renner was struck in the upper chest and sustained orthopaedic injuries. He was listed as critical for days. The actor, who turned 52 a week after the incident, is most recognised for his role as the Marvel franchise’s bow-and-arrow-wielding Clint Barton/Hawkeye.

He wrote about the occurrence as a “tragedy for my entire family” on Instagram, but later described it as “uniting actionable love.”

He added in response to everyone’s “messages and thoughtfulness,” “These 30 plus fractured bones will repair, get stronger, just like the love and bond with family and friends grows.”

Several famous people, including Renner’s Marvel co-stars Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans, have written letters of encouragement for him.

“You’re the best, buddy! Hemsworth wrote: “We love you. Evans praised Renner’s fortitude and enquired, “Has anyone even checked on the snowcat?”

Due to the sensitivity surrounding his recovery, his facial injuries were removed from promotional photos for his TV programme, Mayor of Kingstown. After the New Year’s blizzard that killed hundreds of people and dumped copious amounts of snow across numerous states, the accident took place.

Renner used his own snow plough to free a family member whose car had become trapped in the snow close to his home while he was driving it. When Renner exited the car after successfully freeing it, the empty plough started to move, according to Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam at the time.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending

Turkey condemns ‘vile’ Sweden Quran-burning protest

By 504 0

Turkey has denounced as a “vile act” the burning of a copy of the Quran during a protest in Sweden. The statement referred to the Swedish government’s decision to permit the protest as “absolutely reprehensible.”

It happens while diplomatic tension between the two nations is rising. A visit by Sweden’s Defence Minister, Pal Jonson, was cancelled earlier after Turkey, which had pleaded with Sweden to put an end to the demonstration, claimed the trip had “lost its purpose and meaning.”

The trip was intended to allay Ankara’s concerns over the Scandinavian nation joining the Nato military alliance. Both Sweden’s and Finland’s applications to the NATO have so far been delayed by Turkey.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s detractors and the Kurds it accuses of being terrorists are among the political concessions Turkey seeks. Turkey is already a member of NATO, thus it has the power to prevent another nation from entering. After Russia invaded Ukraine, both Sweden and Finland submitted applications to join NATO.

A copy of the Quran was set on fire by Rasmus Paludan, a member of the extreme right-wing Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party, during the demonstration on Saturday afternnon in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. Muslims believe the Quran as a sacred text from God and find it highly insulting when it is intentionally harmed or treated disrespectfully.

Turkey is a predominantly Muslim nation. The crime, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, occurred “despite numerous warnings.” It stated that it was totally unacceptable to allow this anti-Islam conduct, which attacks Muslims and denigrates our fundamental principles, under the cover of “freedom of expression.”

It continued by saying that the burning of the Quran was just another illustration of the “alarming” degree to which racism, bigotry, and Islamophobia had spread throughout Europe, and it urged the Swedish government to take “required actions.” Tobias Billstrom, Sweden’s foreign minister, referred to the behaviour as “appalling.”

Stockholm also saw separate demonstrations both in favour of and against Turkey. Our relationships with Turkey are very important to Sweden, and we look forward to continuing the dialogue on mutual security and defence matters at a later time, Mr. Jonson tweeted after Turkey cancelled the Swedish defence minister’s trip.

In an effort to undermine Sweden’s NATO application, protesters hung an effigy of President Erdogan from a lamppost in Stockholm last week, according to Sweden’s prime minister. At rallies last year, Mr. Paludan made threats to burn the Quran, setting up clashes.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

Entertainment News Technology

Ed Sheeran releases tribute to friend Jamal Edwards on SBTV

By 578 0

Nearly a year after Jamal Edwards’ passing, Ed Sheeran released a song called F64 in his honour. It was made available on Edwards’ music service SBTV, where Sheeran first found success more than a decade ago.

The video for the song was shot at Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge stadium because Edwards had been a lifetime supporter of the team. Brenda Edwards, the mother of the DJ and businesswoman, has also been advocating for greater CPR training in order to bring attention to her son’s passing.

In February 2022, Jamal Edwards, age 31, passed away from a heart arrhythmia after using recreational drugs.

Brenda Edwards said she was proud to continue on her son’s legacy and that he always helped people when speaking on BBC Radio 5Live on Thursday.

“It’s spurred me on to continue to do the same that he used to do – he had such a big heart and he was so giving to so many.

“I was honoured to have the time with Jamal, he inspired me on a daily basis and his legacy continues to inspire me and so many people,” she said.

On his YouTube music station SBTV, Jamal Edwards is credited for helping to start the careers of Dave, Jessie J, and Sheeran.

He offered guidance and funding for the creation of music and videos for up-and-coming musicians.

Early in Sheeran’s career, Edwards supported his music, and in 2010, he uploaded a performance video to YouTube.

Stuart Camp, who is now his manager, noticed it and gave him a record deal with Atlantic.

Sheeran raps about spending more than a week with Brenda Edwards after Jamal died in his freestyle song, which has a language advisory.

With Jamal’s name written out on stadium seats visible in the background, the 31-year-old Grammy Award winner is illuminated in the stadium by a circle of candles.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending

Bird Statue Gets $100,000 As Elon Musk Auctions Twitter Headquarter Items

By 480 0

On Wednesday, Elon Musk auctioned off furniture, decorations, kitchenware, and other items from the tech company’s downtown San Francisco headquarters. A figurine of a Twitter bird brought in $100,000.

A 10-foot neon light in the form of Twitter’s bird logo was included in an online auction of “surplus corporate office assets of Twitter” that lasted just over 24 hours and received a winning price of $40,000, the Heritage Global Partners auction service reported.

Espresso machines, ergonomically sound desks, televisions, bicycle-powered charging stations, pizza ovens, and a colourful planter in the form of a “@” sign were some of the 631 lots.

As he set out to find a new CEO for his struggling social media network, Mr. Musk claimed in December that drastic cost cutbacks at Twitter had fixed the company’s poor financial situation.

At the time, the erratic billionaire claimed in a live chat room that Twitter would have lost $3 billion annually without the reforms, which included sacking more than half of its staff.

Mr. Musk claimed that at the platform he paid $44 billion for, he had been “reducing expenses like crazy.”

Elon Musk sacked over half of Twitter’s 7,500-person workforce just a few weeks after acquiring the firm, alarming governments and advertisers and raising questions about whether the company had enough employees to handle content moderation.

He claimed that his strategy was to drastically cut expenses while increasing revenue, and that a new subscription service called Twitter Blue, which charges users for the coveted blue tick, would aid in achieving that objective.

Following Elon Musk’s takeover, there was an increase in tweets that were racist or bigoted, which attracted regulatory attention and drove away Twitter’s major advertiser base.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending

Ukraine’s interior ministry leadership killed in helicopter crash

By 457 0

The three key members of Ukraine’s interior ministry perished in a helicopter accident next to a nursery in an eastern Kyiv suburb. Along with his first deputy minister and state secretary, 42-year-old interior minister Denys Monastyrsky also passed away.

Around 08:30 local time (06:30 GMT), the helicopter crashed in Brovary, killing 14 people, including one kid, according to officials. No evidence exists that the collision was anything other than an accident.

However, the SBU state security service claimed that it was investigating a number of crash-related scenarios, including sabotage, a technical issue, or a violation of the flight regulations.

The State Emergency Service first reported that up to 18 persons may have died in the disaster, but later changed its estimate to 14 fatalities. The most prominent Ukrainian victim since the war began is Mr. Monastyrsky, who served as one of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s political aides for the longest period of time.

The minister was en route to a “hot spot” for conflict when his chopper crashed, according to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office. The ministerial delegation was its route to meet him in Kharkiv, according to Volodymyr Tymoshko, the city’s police chief, who said he had only spoken to them yesterday.

The minister’s death cuts to the heart of the government in Kyiv as the interior ministry has the vital task of maintaining security and running the police during the war.

The interior minister, 42, was a well-known official in President Volodymy Zelensky’s government.

Throughout the conflict, he served as a recognisable face for Ukrainians, keeping them informed of the deaths brought on by Russian missile strikes when the country was invaded in February 2022.

Six ministry employees and three crew members, according to Ukrainian officials, were on board the chopper.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending

Kerala’s Own Beauty Merin John Bagged the Unique Times DQUE Mrs South India 2023 Title

By 509 0

Unique Times and DQUE presents Mrs South India 2023 title is now owned by Merin John along with Vaishali S from Tamilnadu as first runner-up and Shalu Raj from Tamil Nadu as second runner-up. Apart from this Priyadarsini Deepak from Kerala crowned as Mrs South India Classic 2023. The pageant was conducted on 16th January at Le Meridien, Kochi.

Pegasus Global Pvt Ltd MD, Jebitha Ajit, Pegasus Chairman, Ajit Ravi and Principal commissioner ministry of Finance New Delhi, Sreeram Bharath crowned the winners of Mrs South India pageant. 14 contestants were selected from around the South Indian states for the Mrs. South India competition. The contestants also had 1 week of grooming classes led by experts.

Regional Title Winners

Mrs Kerala Global – Sruthy K Nair
Mrs Karnataka – Minvy Ramesh
Mrs Tamilnadu – Shalu Raj
Mrs Telangana – Sravanthi Perakam
Mrs Andhra – Vaishnavi Reddy

Subtitle Winners

Mrs Solidarity – Dr Sravanthi Perakam
Mrs Fashionista – Arpitha Kariappa
Mrs Sensational – Keerthi Pai 
Mrs Diligent – Shalu Raj
Mrs Inspiring – Vaishali S
Mrs Vivacious – Minvy Ramesh
Mrs Shining Star – Soumya Saleedher
Mrs Ramp Walk – Merin John
Mrs Tenacious – Vaishnavi Reddy
Mrs Promising Model – Shalu Raj
Mrs Congeniality – Priyadarsini Deepak
Mrs Talent – Dr Sravanthi Perakam

The competition progressed in two rounds, Ethnic Round and Red Gown Round. The Mrs South India 2023 title winner earned a DQUE gift award of Rs. 1,00,000, and the first and second runners-up each received gift prizes of Rs. 60,000 and Rs. 40,000. Mrs. South India has taken a step toward joining the ranks of notable international pageants like Mrs Glam World, Mrs Asia Global and Mrs India Global.

Srini (International Director, Naturals), Jaya Mahesh (Fitness Therapist), Kripa Dharmaraj (Model and Founder of KDVSKG.COM) and Regi Bhaskar (Fashion Photographer) were on the judging panel. The winners of the subtitles were selected by a panel of eminent persons. The winners of Mrs South India were presented with a gold crown designed by Parakkat Jewelers.

Unique Times and DQUE are the main partners of Mrs South India 2023 organized by Pegasus. Naturals School of Makeup, Manappuram Finance Ltd, SAJ Earth Resorts and Convention Center, Alcazar, and Hecate Group of Companies are the powered by Partners.

Co-partners are Kalpana International, Aiswaria Advertisements, Vee Kay Vees Caterers, Photogenic Fashion and Weddings, Europe Times, UT TV, UT World, FICF, Green Media, Neenu Pro, Juzt Shine Family Fitness, Parakkat Resorts, Akshay Inco, Good Day Hotels and Resorts and JD Institute of Fashion Technology.

Archana A V from Kerala, Arpitha Kariappa from Karnataka, Keerthi Pai from Karnataka, Meenakshi Manohar from Tamil Nadu, Dr Meghana Reddy from Karnataka, Merin John from Kerala, Minvy Ramesh from Karnataka, Priyadarsini Deepak from Kerala, Shalu Raj from Tamil Nadu, Soumya Saleedher from Kerala, Dr Sravanthi Perakam from Telangana, Sruthy K Nair from Kerala, Vaishali S from Tamil Nadu and Vaishnavi Reddy from Andhra were the contestants.

Picture Courtesy: Pegasus Photography/ Images are subject to copyright

News Trending War

Ukraine War: Zelensky adviser resigns over Dnipro remarks

By 459 0

Oleksiy Arestovych, a presidential adviser for Ukraine, has submitted his resignation after alleging that Kiev shot down a Russian missile that struck a building in Dnipro and killed 44 people.

Mr. Arestovych expressed regret and admitted to having made a “basic error.” The original comment incited intense resentment throughout the nation, and Russian officials used it as an excuse to accuse Ukraine.

The adviser is well-known due to his regular YouTube updates, which are viewed by millions of people. Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has yet to respond to Mr. Arestovych’s resignation.

Mr. Arestovych initially stated that it looked that the Russian missile had fallen on the structure after being shot down by Ukrainian air defences hours after Saturday’s missile strike on an apartment building in Dnipro. The structure was allegedly struck by a Russian Kh-22 missile, which Ukraine claimed was exceedingly inaccurate and beyond its ability to shoot down.

When Mr. Arestovych made his original remarks, the Ukrainian public responded strongly, with some claiming he had strengthened the position of Russian propagandists. A petition advocating for Mr. Arestovych’s dismissal as a government official was signed by certain Ukrainian lawmakers. Later, he published a statement announcing his retirement and admitting that he had committed a “fundamental error.”

“I offer my sincere apologies to the victims and their relatives, the residents of Dnipro and everyone who was deeply hurt by my prematurely erroneous version of the reason for the Russian missile striking a residential building,” he wrote in a longer post on Telegram.

One of the war’s most well-known Ukrainian faces is Mr. Arestovych, who regularly holds debates on the conflict on his YouTube channel. His videos frequently receive more than 200,000 views, and the channel has more than 1.6 million subscribers. He speaks in Russian instead of Ukrainian, which is unusual for Ukrainian officials.

Before he offered to leave, Russian authorities had used his words to attribute the strike to Kiev.

Russian attacks “do not damage residential buildings,” according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who also claimed that “certain officials of the Ukrainian side” had come to the same conclusion.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

Dr. Varghese Kurian VKL Holding Company, MBA Awards
Indian news Trending

Dr. Varghese Kurian – The Idealistic Entrepreneur Who Strives for Success

By 523 0

Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision and change – Richard Branson

Success is much more than wealth, influence, or notoriety. Success is just the satisfaction and happiness one feels after adopting a certain lifestyle or engaging in a certain activity. Only with intense effort and a tiny bit of luck can success in any endeavour or area of life be attained. Determination is one of the most essential success ingredients and may even be the most essential success secret. Never giving up until the goal of happiness and contentment in life is fully attained is vital for success. Diverse people find enjoyment and contentment in quite different things.

Dr. Varghese Kurian VKL Holding Company, MBA Awards
Dr. Varghese Kurian

Dr. Varghese Kurian the chairman of the VKL Holdings and Al Namal Group of Companies, which employs more than 7000 people. The group’s businesses include real estate, property development and management, construction, health, and hospitality. Since 1990, Dr. Varghese Kurian has been actively involved in real estate development. He has successfully created, managed, marketed, and sold more than 200 commercial and residential structures worth more than BHD 500 million throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The classic Benjamin Franklin quote, “Energy and tenacity conquer all things,” is often used. Dr. Varghese Kurian performed just this when he 2011 saw the expansion of his empire even as Bahrain was in danger of disintegrating.

The Group finished the Best Western Olive, Al Murooj, Lulu Hypermarket in Hidd, and Middle East Hospital projects despite the upheaval brought on by the heightened civil unrest.

The Group was able to complete projects for a significant discount thanks to decreased costs for raw materials, lower subcontractor rates, and a drop in the demand for building supplies. They had more confidence in Bahrain, which allowed them to extend their holdings.

The real estate, property development and management, construction, health, and hospitality sectors of VKL Holdings and the Al Namal Group of Companies are quite well known. VKL Holdings has carved itself a distinct niche in and around the Kingdom of Bahrain by utilising the most cutting-edge methods across all of its multiple divisions.

His journey to greatness began in Bahrain in the 1980s when he arrived as a civil engineer. He worked for a construction firm up until 1992 when he founded the VKL Al-Namal Group, a construction and real estate business. The company initially started out as just another construction firm, but it gradually grew into one of the largest firms, with facilities on-site for electromechanical, HVAC, interiors, aluminium, and wrought iron work, which helped to complete some of the significant projects that proved to be turning points for the business. In Bahrain today, this group has proven to be the greatest in its industry. More than 7000 people are employed by VKL Al-Namal Group, which has expanded beyond just real estate and construction. These activities include trading, oil and gas, trading, marine dredging, and education.

Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian

Dr. Varghese Kurian credits it to a top-notch group of trustworthy, detail-oriented experts who share the organization’s commitment to sustainable growth and who persevere with the highest humility. Dr. Varghese is still amused and appreciative when he considers how he came to diversify his business portfolio.

In addition to being a prosperous businessman, Dr. Varghese Kurian embodies humanity by staying true to his roots even when things are difficult. He is a man of humility who, although having amassed a sizable empire, makes sure to constantly uphold his obligation in striving to benefit society in addition to his economic objectives. As part of the business’s CSR drive, he gave Rs. 8 crores to flood relief programmes in Kerala, of which Rs. 2 crore went to the Chief Ministers’ Relief Fund. In addition, VKL Group did not hesitate to offer assistance to flood victims in Kuttanadu by supplying necessities like food and clothing. In his hometown of Seethathodu, which is close to Pathanamthitta, he rebuilt more than 500 destroyed homes and provided home appliances to more than 6000 homes. His social contribution goes beyond CSR initiatives; it also includes providing medical and financial aid to those in need, funding impoverished people’s weddings, and other charitable tasks that he completes all year long. Additionally, he has donated money to cover Indian expat children’s wedding costs. He also started a philanthropic organisation in his parents’ names to support poor people’s welfare initiatives.

Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian Juffair Rise

Dr. Varghese Kurian is passionate about testing out cutting-edge concepts in the tourism sector. He makes excellent investments without hesitation, and industrialists like him are uncommon. VKL had already invested in the ambitious seaplane project, which unhappily ran into administrative roadblocks and dashed Kurian’s hopes. But still he remains optimistic, nevertheless, about the vast potential that seaplanes can have for the travel and tourism sector. He thinks Kerala’s varied landscape has the opportunity for such a project.

Through his involvement with numerous notable organisations, Kurian has gained recognition throughout the world. He was honoured by the Indian government by receiving the highly coveted Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for 2014. In addition, he has received numerous awards, including the Global Visionary Award. Without a doubt, one might conclude that this individual leaves his trail open for others to follow. On January 16, 2023, he received the coveted MBA Award in recognition of both his contributions to the business world and his CSR activities.

Dr. Varghese Kurian and his wife, Lizhy Varghese, a multifaceted homemaker and the backbone of the family, ensure that their three children – Sija, Jeeban and Vishakh have a knowledge of humanity and its truths.

Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian & Family

Dr. Varghese Kurian states, “From a small beginning as a single construction company, we have achieved our current strong position in the market by travelling a road less taken, providing to you the best the industry has to offer without compromising on quality.”

Dr. Varghese Kurian MBA Awards
Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian MBA Awards
Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian MBA Awards
Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian
Dr. Varghese Kurian
News Trending

Dr Varghese Kurian Bagged the Prestigious 13th MBA Award

By 467 0

13th Multibillionaire Business Achiever (MBA) Award was presented to Dr Varghese Kurian, Chairman of VKL Holdings and Al Namal Group.

In a grand ceremony held at the Le Meridian Hotel in Kochi on January 16th the award was presented by Industries Minister Shri P Rajeev. Mr V P Nandakumar, Managing Director and CEO of Manappuram Finance Limited and Dr Ajit Ravi, graced the occasion. The event was attended by past award winners and industry leaders. The winner will have the opportunity to enter the world’s richest club, the Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF). On the occasion, Minister P Rajeev also launched the logo of the Federal International Chamber Forum. The FICF club will be comprised of Malayali businessmen with assets over 1000 crore and a commitment to social responsibility.

Dr Varghese Kurian is the group chairman and managing director of VKL Holdings and Al Namal Group of companies. The group’s businesses include real estate, property development and management, construction, health, and hospitality. Since 1990, he has been actively involved in real estate development. Being a prosperous businessman, he embodies humanity who, although having amassed a sizable empire, he makes sure to constantly uphold his obligation in striving to benefit society in addition to his economic objectives. He has received Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2014 by the Government of India.

Shri V P Nandakumar, Shri Joy Alukas, M A Yusuf Ali, Shri T S Kalyanaraman, Shri P. N. C. Menon, Mr Gokulam Gopalan, Dr Ravi Pillai, Mr M P Ramachandran, Kochouseph Chittilappilly, Sabu M Jacob, Dr Viju Jacob and Dr A V Anoop are previous award winners.

Picture Courtesy: Pegasus Photography/images are subject to copyright