Shai Venkataraman

• Rohinton Mistry takes on Sena for targeting his book

  When a young student demanded that a book be withdrawn from the Mumbai University syllabus, it was an announcement that another Thackeray had arrived.The campaign was fronted by Aditya, the son of Shiv Sena president, Uddhav Thackeray. The book he found offensive Rohinton Mistry's Such a Long Journey - Aditya said the book's references to th...

• Hey, big spenders: 150 Mercs for Aurangabad

  Starting today, Rishi Darda is entitled to use a bumper sticker that says "My other car is a Nano." He's among 150 men who've just been handed over their spanking-new Mercedes cars in Aurangabad.Their home town may not exactly be the dream market for big brands, but that's exactly what Darda and friends are hoping to change. They want to prove that...

• Relief for Maharashtra minister's son accused of murder

  After he was charged with attempt to murder, there's some relief for Nitesh Rane, whose father, Narayan, is the Revenue Minister in Maharashtra. A medical report suggests that a man who claimed Nitesh fired at him lied about how he was injured.Chintu Shaikh, who works for an NGO run by Nitesh Rane, said that the minister's son shot at him on Thursd...

• These Ganpatis have boarding passes

  In a narrow bylane of Central Mumbai, Vasant Waikar gives the finishing touches to a Ganpati idol. A yellow dhoti, filigree necklaces, this is not a Ganesha who is splendour-shy.There is no boarding pass, but the idol will soon fly to America, one of many that are being ordered by homesick Maharashtrians who miss the Ganpati Bappa Morya ferv...

• Why aren't Sena threats prompting government action?

  Why isn't any action being taken against the Sena and its leaders by the Maharashtra government? Much of the criticism against Chief Minister Ashok Chavan is emerging from his own party.

• Mumbai outraged over child abuse case

  There is growing anger in Mumbai over the alleged abuse of a 10-year-old-girl employed as domestic help by a TV actor.