LuLu Yusuff Ali gets fancy car number for just Rs 2,000!

January 14, 2017

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 14: Like how fortune proverbially favours the reckless, it seems a billionaire has to only covet something and it comes to him dirt cheap. At the much-awaited auction of new 'CA' series of vehicle registration numbers, the fancy number KL-CA 01 was bid and won by M A Yusuff Ali for, hold your breath, just Rs 2,000.

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Only three bidders participated in the auction held at the Thiruvananthapuram regional transport office last week for registration number KL 01. While Yusuff Ali -- managing director of LuLu Group International who features in Forbes India Rich List 2016 -- quoted Rs 2,000, the other bids were for Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,000.

According to MVD officials, it was the cheapest amount quoted for the much sought-after registration number '01' in the recent past. The officials were expecting an impressive bidding for the series and thus more revenue for the department. Last year, KL 01 BX was auctioned at Rs 10.01 lakh and KL 01 BY at Rs 7.5 lakh. However, KL BZ 01 was auctioned for just Rs 6000.

In fact, those who bid after Yosuff Ali didn't share his luck -- CA 02 was auctioned for Rs 26,000 and CA 03 was auctioned for Rs 1.25 lakh. But, CA 05 could fetch only Rs 1,500 and CA 09 just Rs 1,000.

"As it was a fancy number and had good demand, we expected a minimum of Rs 10 lakh. But, we were surprised that the other contestants left the bid midway without offering higher quotes than Rs 2,000," said an MVD official.

Officials suspect the role of middlemen who, unknown to the bidders themselves, 'arrange' for under-pricing certain bids. While an original bidder like Yusuff Ali ends up paying a big amount, middlemen with help from low level-officials in MVD ensure that the fancy number concerned is auctioned for a very low amount, thus allowing them to pocket the rest of the money.

"The registered vehicle owners or their representatives may have made settlement before the bidding process begins. Similar suspicious cases have been reported elsewhere too, where a certain fancy number is auctioned at a far lower amount than expected. An enquiry will be conducted on suspicious cases in the auction process. With the launch of e-auction process the system will become transparent," said transport commissioner S Aanantha Krishnan.

When contacted, the office of Yusuff Ali said they are in the process of registering a few vehicles in Thiruvananthapuram RTO. The official said the company followed due process of law in all such deals and sought more time to provide exact details of the registration in question.

Also Read: This NRI business tycoon in Dubai buys number plate for Rs 60 crore!

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News Network
March 16,2024

Mangaluru: In the wake of complaints regarding middlemen menace, sleuths of Lokayukta on Friday, March 15, conducted a raid at the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority. 

The Lokayukta team found unaccounted money and several files, which were not disposed of for a long period.

Lokayukta SP CA Simon said that the Lokayukta has received complaints that middlemen have been interfering in the MUDA office, and files pertaining to the public are not being cleared on time.

A raid that commenced in the evening on March 13, lasted for 18 hours. During the raid, Lokayukta officials found cash in a bag in MUDA office, and also with officials and others. MUDA officials could not inform the source of money found in their office, the SP said.

Further, he said that many people gathered at the MUDA office during the Lokayukta raid, and have raised complaints about the harassment at the urban development authority. “We have gathered evidence for MUDA officials carrying out file disposal processes through brokers on phone calls. The investigation on the MUDA network will be continued,” he said.

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News Network
March 27,2024

Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday launched simultaneous raids in multiple places, including Bengaluru and Shivamogga.

Reports suggested that the ongoing raids are in connection with the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe on March 1. The blast had injured at least ten people as per the police report.

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) had launched an investigation alongside the NIA, and the trail of the suspect led them to Tumakuru first and subsequently to Ballari. Investigators believe that the bomb was planted by Mussavir Hussain Shazib, a handler of the Islamic State’s Shivamogga module who was aided by another IS handler called Ahmed Taahaa.

Sources in the know said that Shazib and Taahaa had stayed in Chennai for about a month between January and February using fake credentials. The names of the suspects were identified after they traced the cap worn by Shazib to a shop in a mall in Chennai. The cap, which was abandoned by the bomber in Bengaluru after the blast, was reportedly bought by Taahaa, around January-end.

As per the NIA, Shazib hails from Masjid Road in Thirthahalli, Shivamogga district, and Taahaa from Fish Market Road, Soppu Gude, Thirthahalli Rural. Both "wanted" suspects have been termed "absconders" by the NIA.

The NIA has questioned seven jailed terror suspects so far in connection with the blast. The investigation agency had also obtained seven-day custody of a jailed terror suspect named Maaz Muneer Ahmed.

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News Network
March 19,2024

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Bengaluru, Mar 19: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said that the Congress will split in three months after the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and its impact will be visible on the Siddaramaiah-led state government.

"Due to internal squabbles, the state government will not last long," the BJP leader said.

Talking to reporters on Monday, he said the sitting MP from the Gadag-Haveri constituency, Shivakumar Udasi, has done a lot of development work and implemented the Central government's schemes effectively.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will surely become the PM for the third time. The overall response has been good in the Gadag-Haveri Lok Sabha constituency," the former Karnataka chief minister said.

Asked if he was contesting the election in a half-hearted manner in the Gadag-Haveri seat, Bommai said "such a question does not arise when the party's high command gives instructions".

He said he would respect his opponent and not take anyone lightly. 

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