This petition seeks urgent legal and ethical accountability from Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan for his role in endorsing Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd. (DHFL), a company whose collapse in 2019 devastated lakhs of small investors. As brand ambassador during DHFL’s fraudulent operations, Khan’s public image bolstered investor trust in a failing institution. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, celebrity endorsers are legally obligated to conduct due diligence—an obligation Khan appears to have ignored. OBMA thereby demands a formal CCPA inquiry, public apology, disgorgement of endorsement fees, and penalties to set a precedent for responsible celebrity conduct in financial advertising.
In the Shadow of Mr. Paramavaisnava: Defamation, Dissent, and Democratic Rights
The article argues that the piece’s objective is not to malign or defame Mr. Paramavaisnava, but rather to subject his public role to democratic scrutiny. It positions critique as a civic duty aligned with Gandhian principles of non‑violence and civil disobedience, drawing a line between legitimate democratic dissent and defamatory intent
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. The author contends that vigilant public discourse is essential in holding influential individuals accountable—especially when their philanthropic gestures or public image are intertwined with questions of power, privilege, and socio-economic inequities.
In situating dissent within the framework of constitutional democratic rights, the piece foregrounds the importance of freedom of expression while cautioning against opportunistic defamation laws that may stifle critical voices. Overall, the article frames its critique as part of a broader tradition of civil restraint and moral resistance, underscoring the need for transparency and debate in robust democracies.
The “Charitable” Sovereign: PM CARES, Philanthrocapitalism, and the Erosion of Democratic Accountability
The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund, established in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, was designed as a citizen-driven mechanism for emergency relief. However, its formation and functioning reveal profound contradictions between its stated ideals and actual governance. This article critically examines PM CARES as an emblem of philanthrocapitalism, executive populism, and corporate-state entanglement. Drawing on theoretical frameworks such as Foucault’s governmentality, Agamben’s state of exception, Fraser’s critique of progressive neoliberalism, and Chatterjee’s political society, the analysis illustrates how PM CARES reconfigures welfare into a spectacle of personalized legitimacy, evading democratic accountability. The case of Mr. Ajay Piramal’s reported donations—alongside alleged regulatory favors and the questionable DHFL acquisition—demonstrates how philanthropy can become a strategic substitute for justice and a vehicle for crony capitalism. Ultimately, PM CARES signifies a broader ideological reconfiguration in India’s political economy: the transformation of crisis governance into a post-democratic regime characterized by moralized coercion, symbolic aid, and technocratic opacity.
Digital Satyagraha: DHFL Victims Vs. The Farce of Injustice
Operation YouTube by the DHFL Victims is a peaceful, constitutionally grounded digital protest initiated by the victims of the DHFL financial crisis. The campaign aims to raise awareness and demand accountability from Mr. Ajay Piramal and the Piramal Group, following the allegedly controversial takeover of DHFL, which left lakhs of small depositors—many of them senior citizens—financially devastated. The campaign encourages participants to engage critically with publicly available YouTube content featuring Ajay Piramal by using platform-native tools such as the dislike button and comment sections. Protesters are urged to express their dissent respectfully, truthfully, and within the boundaries of YouTube’s community guidelines and legal frameworks. Rejecting hate or trolling, Operation YouTube asserts the victims’ right to digital dissent and narrative correction. It seeks to challenge one-sided media portrayals and amplify the lived experiences of those impacted by the DHFL crisis. Through hashtags like #DislikeAndDemand and #Justice4DHFL_Victims, the campaign fosters a collective call for transparency, justice, and corporate accountability in a climate of growing crony capitalism. This multilingual initiative is inclusive, lawful, and grounded in democratic ethics—inviting depositors across the country to reclaim their voice in the digital public sphere.
DSK Legal and the Theatre of Law: A Gandhian Response to Corporate Legalism
This letter, penned by Dr. Debaprasad Bandyopadhyay on behalf of Once in a Blue Moon Academia (OBMA) on July 31, 2025, serves as a principled response to a legal notice from DSK Legal, received mere hours before a mandated court appearance in Mumbai, framing it as an act of civic resistance rather than a mere defense. It critiques the systemic issues of democratic erosion, ecological injustice, and digital rights violations in a corporatized India, highlighting the legal machinery’s tendency to favor wealth and power over truth and people, exemplified by the environmental degradation caused by corporate real-estate and pharmaceutical entities in vulnerable regions like Mumbai and rural Digwal. The letter challenges the timing and logistics of the notice, questions the ethical conduct of DSK Legal—including pagination errors, unsolicited promotions, and potential data misuse under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023—and calls for transparency and accountability, while inviting support for Anti-SLAPP legislation to protect public-interest research and whistleblowing. Rooted in Gandhian non-violent resistance, it critiques the alleged crony capitalism and philanthro-capitalism of figures like Mr. Paramavaisnava, urging a reflection on the broader corporate-state nexus and the need for a legal culture that upholds democratic values.
Slapping off the SLAPP, No Time To Take a Nap! (An Online Mass Petition)
In light of growing threats to democratic dissent in India, this petition urgently calls for the enactment of Anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) legislation and a robust data protection framework to safeguard whistleblowers, journalists, and public-interest advocates from legal intimidation and digital surveillance. With SLAPPs weaponized by state-corporate entities to suppress dissent through defamation suits and privacy breaches, and in a context of declining press freedom, weak accountability, and widespread misuse of laws like UAPA and Section 69A, the petition highlights the need for judicial oversight, tort remedies, procedural safeguards, and an independent Data Protection Authority. Drawing on international precedents and constitutional protections under Article 19, it calls on India’s highest authorities to defend free speech, uphold privacy rights, and end the culture of legal harassment.
DHFL Fraud Uncovered: It’s Time to Make the Gatekeepers Pay!
This mass appeal highlights the collective plight of lakhs of small depositors adversely impacted by the Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd. (DHFL) financial scandal, exposing significant lapses in auditing, credit rating, and regulatory oversight. Despite glaring irregularities and large-scale fraud involving over ₹31,000 crore, statutory auditors and leading credit rating agencies repeatedly (and reportedly) failed in their fiduciary duties, issuing allegedly misleading assurances that betrayed public trust. The present appeal calls for urgent institutional accountability through independent disciplinary action by regulatory bodies including NFRA, ICAI, SEBI, and RBI, alongside demands for restitution mechanisms for affected depositors. It also underscores the need for enhanced transparency in insolvency resolution processes and structural reforms to prevent recurrence of such financial malfeasance. This appeal represents a broader call for systemic justice, ethical governance, and protection of vulnerable retail investors in India’s financial ecosystem.
From AAA-Ratings to Haircut-Ashes: Rating and Auditing Gaps in the DHFL “Scam”
The article discusses The DHFL scam, one of India’s largest corporate frauds (~₹34,000 crore), involved massive fund diversion through shell companies and fictitious borrowers, as exposed by a Cobrapost sting and later confirmed by KPMG’s forensic audit. Despite clear red flags, credit-rating agencies maintained high ratings, auditors overlooked accounting irregularities, and regulators like SEBI and RBI failed to act swiftly. DHFL defaulted in 2019, became the first NBFC under IBC insolvency proceedings, and was later acquired by Piramal Capital. The scam highlighted systemic failures in governance, auditing, and regulatory oversight, prompting tighter NBFC regulations, strengthened auditing standards, and enhanced corporate governance norms.
Mission SRK: Hold Brand Ambassador Accountable in the DHFL Fiasco!
The article highlights an initiative by financially abused DHFL victims who have sent letters to consumer rights authorities in India and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). They are specifically emphasizing on the role of Shah Rukh Khan, the company’s former brand ambassador, to recognize their plight and support their quest for justice. The victims, many of whom are senior citizens and small investors, contend that SRK’s endorsement fostered their trust in DHFL, which subsequently collapsed, erasing their life savings. This campaign seeks to hold him morally accountable while advocating for increased scrutiny and legal responsibility for celebrities endorsing financial institutions, positioning it as a battle for justice and consumer rights.
Gandhi-Washed “Vaisnava” Capitalism: The Piramal Paradox Or Hypocrisy?
The article critiques Ajay Piramal’s business practices, particularly his acquisition of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL), alleging the possible dramaturgy of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Dharma to mask crony capitalism. It highlights allegations of financial misconduct, insider trading, environmental violations, and political shielding by the BJP, drawing parallels with broader systemic issues like the Adani-Hindenburg dispute. The piece contrasts Piramal’s actions with Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of trusteeship (with critical reservations) and austerity, arguing that his corporate social responsibility (CSR) and philanthropy are superficial, serving as “Gandhi-washing” to obscure profit-driven motives. It frames Piramal’s practices as emblematic of India’s crony-capitalist regime, questioning the integrity of regulatory bodies like SEBI and advocating for vigilance against corporate-political collusion, while noting that these claims remain under judicial scrutiny and are far from being conclusive/definitive. However, the same doesn’t stop one from analyzing the neoliberal face of capitalism in the contemporary India.
Once in a Blue Moon Academia 