Not much to blog about these days as the Hotel is still not opened for business :(
It's set to open Mid Jan so my blog will be pretty quite until then :(
Monday, October 5, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
hmmm ?!?!
We received a letter from the Police yesterday requesting Name, D.O.B & photographs of all residents living in the apartment, I checked with a few other people in the community & they had received the same letter.
Before I filled in the questionnaire with Amelia Earheart & Jimmy Hoffa's details I thought I would investigate why the information was required & I came across this gem. (copy/pasted from http://www.planetpowai.com/news/2202200901.htm)
Yeah so If I disappear of the face of the earth in the next few days, You'll know why.
Tues, Feb 24, 2009
8:55:09 PM
NEWS Archive
Home
Police taking it seriously, no reason to panic
Serial Blasts Threat Warning on Builder’s Email, Hiranandani Gardens on Target
In an exclusive meeting with 'Planet Powai' the Zone 'X' Dy Commissioner of Police KMM Prasanna said, “There is no reason to panic, we have taken the threat seriously and swung into action to locate the IP address of the email sender. The police are taking all measures for security. I would appeal to each and every citizen to be cautious and alert. They should report any suspicious person to us immediately. Without public cooperation our task would become difficult.”
By: Staff Reporter
Powai - 22 February 09 : Are we on terror target? A serial blast threat email received on the 14th Feb night on info@hiranandani.net by an unknown person sent from karmavisva@yahoo.com has sent the authorities in a spin. The email went unnoticed until Monday on the 16th when it was discovered. The Hiranandani group's admin dept immediately reported the matter to Powai police and Zone X Deputy Commissioner of Police.
The said email states, “A person, who goes by the name “JJ” stays as a paying guest at one of the buildings in the complex (Hiranandani Gardens), is the local contact for terrorists. He has taken the terrorists around and shown them all the sites. He had helped terrorists get blueprints of several buildings in the complex. As soon as things are in place he (JJ) will move out and the blasts will take place.”
Speaking to Niranajan Hiranandani, he said, “Though the email seems to be a bogus one, we are not dismissing it. We have taken the matter with highest level in police and investigations have started to track the sender. The Cyber Crime Cell will definitely be able to uncover the same. However, I would like inform all residents and more than 40 societies in the complex to intensify their security and remain vigilant, it is the alertness at the micro-level that is going to work. I would appeal to residents not to panic and be cooperative with the police.”
While speaking to the DCP he revealed that the police have issued instructions to all CHS in Powai jurisdiction to list out residents by name in their respective housing societies, now it shall be enforced. People renting out flats will have to inform police, this is being made mandatory as it would entail police verification. He could not reveal any further progress in the investigation at this stage but maintained they would be able to nab the email sender with the help of Cyber Crime Cell of Mumbai Police. It would be too premature to rule out any thing.
Not only that, he emphasised the support of residents in reporting suspicious movement of persons, their identity and doubtful items or vehicles in any area. He maintains, no doubt intelligence is being beefed up in the area but it has to be complemented with public support.
Speaking to a veteran resident of Hiranandani Gardens (name withheld) said, “Living in such terror times, life can be risky. We would like our builder and the police to show some visible signs to beef up overall security measures in the complex. I recommend armed patrolling by police with mobile phones to be contacted through control. The builder should increase his mobile security force and make it 24x7. They should be provided with jeeps too for quick response. Private detectives should be put on under cover job to gather intelligence in the area.”
It may be recalled, a few years back in Kashmir some photographs of Hiranandani Gardens were recovered from an arrested terrorist. Apparently, he had done recce of this complex. That time too intelligence was beefed by police up for the security of the complex.
The Hiranandani Gardens today has some 43 residential buildings with approx 30,000 people staying in them and more than a dozen commercial buildings where approx 25,000 work. With its cosmopolitan flavour and profile of residents and offices, it has gained an international reputation to be Mumbai's iconic address. This could always give the terrorists a good target.
Before I filled in the questionnaire with Amelia Earheart & Jimmy Hoffa's details I thought I would investigate why the information was required & I came across this gem. (copy/pasted from http://www.planetpowai.com/news/2202200901.htm)
Yeah so If I disappear of the face of the earth in the next few days, You'll know why.
Tues, Feb 24, 2009
8:55:09 PM
NEWS Archive
Home
Police taking it seriously, no reason to panic
Serial Blasts Threat Warning on Builder’s Email, Hiranandani Gardens on Target
In an exclusive meeting with 'Planet Powai' the Zone 'X' Dy Commissioner of Police KMM Prasanna said, “There is no reason to panic, we have taken the threat seriously and swung into action to locate the IP address of the email sender. The police are taking all measures for security. I would appeal to each and every citizen to be cautious and alert. They should report any suspicious person to us immediately. Without public cooperation our task would become difficult.”
By: Staff Reporter
Powai - 22 February 09 : Are we on terror target? A serial blast threat email received on the 14th Feb night on info@hiranandani.net by an unknown person sent from karmavisva@yahoo.com has sent the authorities in a spin. The email went unnoticed until Monday on the 16th when it was discovered. The Hiranandani group's admin dept immediately reported the matter to Powai police and Zone X Deputy Commissioner of Police.
The said email states, “A person, who goes by the name “JJ” stays as a paying guest at one of the buildings in the complex (Hiranandani Gardens), is the local contact for terrorists. He has taken the terrorists around and shown them all the sites. He had helped terrorists get blueprints of several buildings in the complex. As soon as things are in place he (JJ) will move out and the blasts will take place.”
Speaking to Niranajan Hiranandani, he said, “Though the email seems to be a bogus one, we are not dismissing it. We have taken the matter with highest level in police and investigations have started to track the sender. The Cyber Crime Cell will definitely be able to uncover the same. However, I would like inform all residents and more than 40 societies in the complex to intensify their security and remain vigilant, it is the alertness at the micro-level that is going to work. I would appeal to residents not to panic and be cooperative with the police.”
While speaking to the DCP he revealed that the police have issued instructions to all CHS in Powai jurisdiction to list out residents by name in their respective housing societies, now it shall be enforced. People renting out flats will have to inform police, this is being made mandatory as it would entail police verification. He could not reveal any further progress in the investigation at this stage but maintained they would be able to nab the email sender with the help of Cyber Crime Cell of Mumbai Police. It would be too premature to rule out any thing.
Not only that, he emphasised the support of residents in reporting suspicious movement of persons, their identity and doubtful items or vehicles in any area. He maintains, no doubt intelligence is being beefed up in the area but it has to be complemented with public support.
Speaking to a veteran resident of Hiranandani Gardens (name withheld) said, “Living in such terror times, life can be risky. We would like our builder and the police to show some visible signs to beef up overall security measures in the complex. I recommend armed patrolling by police with mobile phones to be contacted through control. The builder should increase his mobile security force and make it 24x7. They should be provided with jeeps too for quick response. Private detectives should be put on under cover job to gather intelligence in the area.”
It may be recalled, a few years back in Kashmir some photographs of Hiranandani Gardens were recovered from an arrested terrorist. Apparently, he had done recce of this complex. That time too intelligence was beefed by police up for the security of the complex.
The Hiranandani Gardens today has some 43 residential buildings with approx 30,000 people staying in them and more than a dozen commercial buildings where approx 25,000 work. With its cosmopolitan flavour and profile of residents and offices, it has gained an international reputation to be Mumbai's iconic address. This could always give the terrorists a good target.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Hotel Caught fire, Oops No it Didn't
A hotel that was formerly a Holiday Inn now a Novotel & is currently closed for refurbishments caught fire on the weekend.
The press in all their wisdom reported it was "Mumbai's Holiday Inn Hotel" um, Actually it's not as H.T is here to open the NEW & ONLY HOLIDAY INN in MUMBAI H.T is now busy wasting time (oxymoron ?) fielding phone calls due to the error in reporting.
Check out the article here:
http://news.indiainfo.com/2009/01/31/0901311726_holiday-inn.html
The press in all their wisdom reported it was "Mumbai's Holiday Inn Hotel" um, Actually it's not as H.T is here to open the NEW & ONLY HOLIDAY INN in MUMBAI H.T is now busy wasting time (oxymoron ?) fielding phone calls due to the error in reporting.
Check out the article here:
http://news.indiainfo.com/2009/01/31/0901311726_holiday-inn.html
Slum Dog Millionaire
I finally saw the movie on the weekend, Seems every one in India already has a ripped copy of it although it was only released recently,
Russel Peters quote of "Bollywood movies are great for people with no expectations" seems to apply here, It has all the typical cliches (Evil Gangsters maiming kids & putting them to work as beggars, Can't forget the Taj Mahal & stupid American Tourists, overcrowded trains, add a few songs by M.I.A in the sound track)& a story line that doesn't make sense either that or the Brother in the movie has a split personality.
It's an alright movie but doesn't deserve all the accolades & does nothing to help stereotypes.
Russel Peters quote of "Bollywood movies are great for people with no expectations" seems to apply here, It has all the typical cliches (Evil Gangsters maiming kids & putting them to work as beggars, Can't forget the Taj Mahal & stupid American Tourists, overcrowded trains, add a few songs by M.I.A in the sound track)& a story line that doesn't make sense either that or the Brother in the movie has a split personality.
It's an alright movie but doesn't deserve all the accolades & does nothing to help stereotypes.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Happy New Year
New years was quietly spent at The Dome restaurant in Mumbai, India. Most celebrations were canceled due to the recent terrorist attacks. At midnight we didn't even get a count down or fireworks so it was all very anti climatic.
Here are a few happy snaps from the night.
Here are a few happy snaps from the night.
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