Latest news with #HarshGoenka
Mint
5 days ago
- Mint
Did a pastor 'predict' the Air India plane crash? ‘Avoid red aircraft body because…'
A video shared by billionaire Harsh Goenka about the recent Air India plane crash is going viral on social media. The 1.33-minute clip features Sri Lankan evangelical pastor Jerome Fernando, who is seen making what many are calling a 'prediction' about the tragic incident. In the video, Fernando can be heard warning of a 'mid-air issue" involving 'India's national carrier' on two separate occasions. The first instance dates back to 26 November 2024, when Fernando addressed a group of Indians at his event. In the video, he says: 'I begin to see something… your national carrier was flying within your country… and this was a threat mid-air… you will hear it… this is mid-air issue." Months later, on April 24 2025 — just 49 days before the crash — he issues another warning: 'Avoid red air craft body because this is mid in the air…" Sharing the clip on X, Harsh Goenka wrote: 'Unbelievable, isn't it?" The video has since received over three lakh views and sparked mixed reactions online. An X user, Dr Nilima Srivastava, criticised the claims, pointing out that Fernando was 'factually incorrect" as he mentioned a 'mid-air crash.' She wrote: 'The crash happened at takeoff. Red Body was easy to predict given the number of technical glitches Air India has faced ever since this Wilson fellow became CEO.' She also noted past regulatory actions against the airline, stating: 'Air India fined ₹ 10 lakh for 'not complying with rules' in August 2024. In February 2025, Aviation safety regulator DGCA fined Tata Group-owned Air India ₹ 30 lakh for allowing a pilot to operate a flight without meeting necessary regulatory requirements."* Another user, @hemant\_architec, responded with sarcasm: 'Airline companies should hire him to predict so they change colour or route and so on." Pastor Jerome Fernando leads the Glorious Church in Sri Lanka and describes himself as a prophet of God. He is known to have a large following, including several Sri Lankan celebrities and cricketers. In December 2023, Fernando was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after claiming that the Buddha had been 'looking for Jesus,' a comment that drew widespread criticism in the majority-Buddhist nation.
News18
6 days ago
- General
- News18
Pastor 'Predicted' Air India Crash, Gave Repeated Alerts: 'Avoid Red Plane...You Will Hear It'
Last Updated: Air India Crash Prophecy: The pastor on two occasions can be heard warning people of a "mid-air issue" involving "India's national carrier". A video shared by billionaire Harsh Goenka on the Air India plane crash has been going viral on social media. The 1.33-minute clip is of a Sri Lankan evangelical pastor who had 'predicted' the deadly accident. The pastor on two occasions can be heard warning people of a 'mid-air issue" involving 'India's national carrier". According to the video, pastor Jerome Fernando on November 26, 2024 first called upon Indians who were present at his event, and gave them a warning. 'I begin to see something…your national carrier was flying within your country…and this was a threat mid-air… you will hear it…this is mid-air issue," he can be heard saying. Sharing Fernando's prophecy from his X handle, Harsh Goenka wrote: 'Unbelievable, isn't it?" The video so far has received over three lakh views. (details to follow) About the Author News Desk First Published:
Mint
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Mint
Mumbai police shut down 'locker service' of auto driver who went viral for earning ‘ ₹5–8 lakh': ‘Licence only to...'
An auto driver from Mumbai recently made headlines after a LinkedIn user heaped praises on his "brilliant business" model -- where the social media user claimed that he earns ' ₹ 5 to ₹ 8 lakh' a month not by driving the auto, but by just standing outside the US consulate in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and safeguarding the belongings of the visitors. The driver has now landed in hot waters as Mumbai Police have summoned him along with 12 others involved. Last week, VenueMonk co-founder Rahul Rupani had shared the auto driver's story on LinkedIn, which went viral on social media, leaving several users in "disbelief." The man in the post claimed that he was not allowed to carry his bag inside the US consulate during his visa appointment and was unsure of where to keep his belongings. That's when a nearby auto driver extended a helping hand — but with a 'fee of ₹ 1,000'. 'Sir, bag de do. Safe rakhunga, mera roz ka hai,' the driver reportedly said. In his viral post, he claimed the driver was making ₹ 5–8 lakh a month through this side hustle. The post drew attention, even earning praise from billionaire Harsh Goenka, who called it 'pure Indian jugaad.' However, the driver's claimed earnings have now been debunked. As the post went viral, Mumbai Police summoned the auto driver along with 12 others who were offering similar locker services to US consulate visitors. A senior officer from the BKC police station told Hindustan Times that 'parking is strictly prohibited' in the area due to heightened security, and auto drivers are only allowed to 'drop passengers off and leave.' The police also noted that the drivers had no legal permission to run locker services or store items in nearby shops. Authorities flagged that 'any misplaced items could lead to serious security risks.' 'The auto driver has a licence to transport passengers, not to run a locker service. Therefore, we inquired into the matter and he has now stopped providing lockers,' police told Free Press Journal.
Mint
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Harsh Goenka asks Indians travelling abroad to ‘civilise' themselves, netizens say ‘Beg to differ'
RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka has pointed out the growing popularity of Indians across the world, while sounding an alarm on maintaining etiquette in public. In a post on X, Harsh Goenka said that from shopkeepers to professors, everyone had a good word for Indians in Europe. 'Three random comments I heard in Europe: Shopkeeper: 'We used to like Arabs, now Indians.' Businessman: 'Tech to VC- Indians are everywhere. Professor: 'My brightest students? Indians.' ' he wrote in the post. However, he had an advice for Indians when they are travelling. 'And yet when we travel, we talk loudly, cut queues, litter freely, and ignore public decorum,' Goenka said. Harsh Goenka noted that as Indians, we need to 'civilise' ourselves. 'If we want to conquer the world, we have to conquer the hearts. It's time to civilize ourselves!' Harsh Goenka's advice started a chain of reactions on the internet, with people taking his comment with humour. 'You can the [get] anything Out of Indian But can't Get Out Indianism from Indians [sic],' a user commented. 'We don't get visa for most of the countries,' another quipped. A third user however said that when Europeans ruled India, Indians accepted them and their etiquettes. Now when it is India's turn to rule, Europeans must accept us the way we are. 'Beg to differ when they ruled and dominated we accepted them with all their kaanta chhuri natak nautanki [fork and knife tantrums] now when it's our turn they will have to accept us they way we are basic decorum has to be there but this become like Europeans and follow their etiquettes - nahi hoga [won't happen] [sic],' the user said. 'If you heard only appreciation for Indians, the world likes us for who we are. I'm sure no one will bother to improve. Ironically, we behave better abroad,' a user commented.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'No MBA, just Indian jugaad': Harsh Goenka is amazed by a Mumbai rickshawallah who earns Rs 8 lakh a month without driving
A LinkedIn post by Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Rahul Rupani has gone viral for claiming that a Mumbai autorickshaw driver earns between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 8 lakh per month by providing an unofficial bag-holding service outside the US Consulate in Mumbai. The post gained further attention after industrialist Harsh Goenka shared it on X (formerly Twitter), calling it an example of 'pure Indian jugaad'. A makeshift solution for visa applicants According to Rupani's LinkedIn post, the driver, identified as Ashok, started charging visa applicants ₹1,000 to keep their bags safe while they entered the US Consulate, where carrying bags or mobile phones is not allowed. 'I was outside the US Consulate this week for my visa appointment, when security told me I couldn't carry my bag inside. No lockers. No suggestions. Just: 'Figure it out.' While I stood clueless on the footpath, an auto driver waved at me: 'Sir, bag de do. Safe rakhunga, mera roz ka hai. Rs 1,000 charge hai (Sir, give me your bag, I will keep it safe, this is my job. I will charge Rs 1,000),'' Rupani wrote. He estimated that Ashok now earns between ₹5 lakh and ₹8 lakh a month through this informal storage service. Harsh Goenka praises driver's business sense The post drew praise from RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka. Sharing the story on X, Goenka wrote, 'A Mumbai rickshaw driver saw long visa queues at US consulate—the no-phone, no-bag rule—and had a genius idea. He started charging Rs 1,000 to hold people's bags outside the US Consulate. Today, Ashok earns Rs 8 lakh a month just by offering 'bag-holding' service. No app. No MBA. Just pure Indian jugaad.' Live Events — hvgoenka (@hvgoenka) Reactions on social media vary The story was also picked up by social media platforms such as Humans of Bombay. While some users appreciated the driver's approach, others raised concerns. 'What an innovative idea... With such ideas, there is nothing that you can't achieve,' one user commented. Another user posted, 'How come no competition for him yet? A vanity van offering lounge kind of services along with baggage holding service will be the next level.' However, not all responses were positive. 'I can't believe the people gave their bag containing valuables to a Rikshawalla. Unlike a shopkeeper, a Rikshawalla could elope with the valuables,' one person wrote. Another claimed, 'There is a locker facility inside the consulate. You can put your mobiles and bags in it. I have done this when I was there for a visitor's visa.' Legal and safety concerns surface Many users questioned whether Ashok's business was legal or safe. Some referred to it as 'unethical,' while others asked if any authorities had taken note of it. As of now, ET has not independently verified the claims made by either Rahul Rupani or Harsh Goenka regarding the driver's identity, earnings, or the nature of the service.
