Tabla maestro Kishen Maharaj dies

With the death of Tabla maestro Kishen Maharaj following a heart attack at a hospital in Varanasi late on Sunday night, Indian classical music lost another jewel from its already dimming crown, reports DHNS from Lucknow. 85-year-old Kishen Maharaj, who was admitted to a hospital following a paralytic attack a week ago, breathed his last on Sunday midnight, according to official sources here.

Recipient of several awards, including the Padma Vibhushan in 2002 and Sangeet Natak Academy award in 1984, Pandit Kishen Maharaj started playing Tabla at a tender age of 11 years.

Aamir Khan injured during shooting

Shooting of Ghajini is temporarily halted after its lead Aamir Khan injured his hamstring muscle yet again while shooting in Hyderabad, reports IANS from Mumbai

“It happened when we were shooting some crucial sequences with Aamir. Although his leg had been supported, he got into an awkward position while shooting and he seriously injured himself again,” said director A R Murgadoss. Khan has been advised complete bed rest for three weeks.

CBI orders release of Lalu’s passport

The special CBI court of Sanjay Prasad on Monday ordered the release of Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s passport to facilitate his one-week official jaunt abroad scheduled to begin from May 11, reports DHNS from Ranchi.

The court passed the direction hearing a petition given on Aril 29 wherein the minister had sought permission to visit Malaysia and Singapore for official reasons from May 11 to May 18.

Golden status to IRCTC

The Union Ministry of Railways has accorded Mini Ratna Category 1 status to the Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. This status is granted under the guidelines of the Department of Public Enterprises to make the public sector more efficient and competitive. It allows greater financial autonomy and delegation of powers to the company in recognition of its performance history.

Rahul Mahajan case: Doctors’ petition dismissed

The SC on Monday refused to quash the criminal proceedings against 11 staffers of the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, for their alleged role in the Rahul Mahajan drug abuse case. Justices A K Mathur and Aftab Alam, while dismissing a petition filed by the doctors, directed them to approach the trial court for relief, reports PTI from New Delhi.