How to Win a Padma Bhushan While Disqualified by the High Court
Vellapally Natesan received the Padma Bhushan national
award from the President of India yesterday. You can see the pic before we
proceed to know Natesan’s contributions to the nation, apart from being a hater
of Muslims.
Since most of my readers are from outside India, let me clarify that the award above is meant for people who have rendered “distinguished
service of high order” to the nation. As far as I know, this man’s only “distinguished
service” is hate speech. And the present dispensation in Delhi loves that.
Let us take a look at what Natesan really is.
He is a criminal by all indications so far. Only political
clout stands between him and the prison.
A few of the charges against him.
S N College Golden Jubilee Fund
Mismanagement
In July 2020, the Kerala Police Crime Branch filed a
charge sheet against this Padma Bhushan concerning the misappropriation of
funds collected in 1997-98 for the golden jubilee celebrations of Sree Narayana
College, Kollam. He was charged under
various sections of the penal code like cheating, stealing, and breach of
trust. The charge was that this Padma Bhushan diverted and transferred INR
55.17 lakh from public donations into his personal bank account. The complex
that was to be built with that fund was never constructed. But Natesan received
a national honour instead of the prison. Such miracles are possible in Modi’s
India. Modi hai toh mumkin hai – [With Modi anything is possible] – they
say in the Hindi Belt of India. [That belt is stretching fast to the South
too!]
Microfinance Scam
Between 2003 and 2014, Natesan swindled crores of rupees
(no one seems to know the precise amount) from ordinary people, rather poor
people, in the guise of microfinance assistance. He set up fake self-help
groups and cheated people using them. Just a few weeks ago, his own organisation
SNDP publicly demanded his resignation. Then the Padma Bhushan came to his
rescue. Thank you, Modi saab – you do save India’s honour just in time.
Death of K K Mahesan
In 2020, a close aide of Natesan named Mahesan killed
himself. Before his death, Mahesan left notes alleging that Natesan was behind
his decision to bid the final farewell to life. Natesan can feel proud that he
saved someone from the travails of life. And maybe he deserves the Padma award
just for that.
And the High Court
Beyond statutory criminal charges, Natesan’s
leadership has faced heavy administrative challenges in the courts of justice.
In March 2026, the Kerala High Court ordered the
removal and disqualification of Natesan and his son from their leadership positions
because of their corrupt practices in the public institution they managed.
True, Natesan got that order stayed legally using political clout.
And now, using the same political clout, he has won a
national award from the President of India.
Jai Sri Ram. Jai Hind.
We have discussed him and his stink earlier. A perfect. example for the Contradictions and Conundrums of Indian Democravy.
ReplyDeleteImagine an 88-year-old carrying so much venom in his heart!
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteArre bapp re! So it is claimed he "Championed social empowerment by developing more than 130 educational institutions and widening access to quality education for disadvantaged communities." Maybe so, but it seems by nefarious and self-serving means. Fitting right in with the current regime's agenda, heh na? YAM xx
His organisation, SNDP, did found many schools which benefitted children of his community. He benefitted more by way of "capitation fees" (euphemism for bribe) received from teachers appoinnted to those schools. It's all a big scam through and through. Everybody in Kerala, including people of his own community of Ezhavas, knows about him. People of Kerala were rather shocked when he was awarded such a high national honour.
DeleteThe facts stated by you are startling.The president as well as the committee deciding such awards ought to check such things before honoring someone.
ReplyDeleteAs I said, what won him the award is his hatred of a particular community.
DeleteOh my god! This is shocking!!! I did not know about all this! Your post is indeed revealing.
ReplyDeleteThis man Natesan has no standing in Kerala. Once he said that "any dog with enough money could buy a Padma Bhushan." 😅
DeleteThis sounds kinda familiar. Well, the details are different, but the sidling up to power to avoid consequences is the same.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is quite normal in history. Undeserving ones can rise too high with the right connections.
DeleteSad to see such an honour given to someone with so many stains on his record. Feels like the award has lost its meaning.
ReplyDeleteAwards and honours are highly politicised in India today. Probably in many countries.
DeleteUsually, the state government was to scrutinize the names before sending them to the central committee. I think his Ezhava caste card could also have benefited him ( former CM Vijayan also belonged to the same caste). In AP too, two film artists belonging to the same caste won Padmasri, even though there are many competent artists around. The two guys belonged to the CM's caste of AP. In India, caste does give an extra mile.
ReplyDeletePolitical considerations got him the award. Nothing else. People will lose their respect for such awards because of these activities of the governments. In the case of Natesan, it is more than caste. Both the central and the state governments had a role in his getting the award.
DeleteApparently "the Centre informed the court that the criteria for the award look into the lifetime achievement of a nominee. The court observed that there was no allegation in the petition that challenged the achievements of Mr. Natesan, and that even though criminal proceedings are pending against him, the Supreme Court had stayed one of the cases, and the other cases had not reached the trial stage." Quoted from The Hindu
ReplyDeleteJust another example of how corrupt our courts of justice have become!
Delete