Luke Pomersbach's former coach Tom Moody in a telling indictment of the molestation and assault charges, says, "Luke hasn't learnt from his past."

Pomersbach was banned from his state squad for six months in 2009 after he smashed his four-wheel drive and evaded police in Perth's beachside western suburbs. State coach of the time and iconic WA cricketing figure Tom Moody declared at the time that the gifted batsman was "on his last chance' and faced the sack if he infringed against codes of conduct again.

Princess Anne took hold of the Olympic flame for Britain yesterday -- after the Athens rain looked set to douse it. David Beckham -- cheered when he was introduced as 'Sir' David -- held a brolly in the crowd at the handover.

Read

@TheRadioJoker Hey Mary Kom meet Sid Mallya. Sid Mallya meet Mary Kom, she is a boxer, tell her what u were saying about that woman n women in general.    

@venkatananth Well done, Mary Kom. Qualifies for the Olympics. Genuine medal prospect, this lady is.  

Rahul Bose: mary kom, you don't need to do anything to make us more proud as indians, but you have. congratulations and enjoy London!  

On rediff.com,read: Mary Kom qualifies for London Games

Lalit Kumar Modi @LalitKModi Sad decision by MCA on @iamsrk. If I were bcci / IPL I would move all matches to D Y Patil stadium or cci. We have had highhanded mca before.    

@LalitKModiMCA has always gone out of there way to make things difficult for ipl matches from day 1. That's why we used D Y PATIL. Stadium.  

The whole point about sport is, we don't know what is going to happen next. Whether we are in the stands at a stadium or sitting on the couch in our drawing rooms, we wait with bated breath for the final denouement, chewing our fingernails off or sitting on seat edge.

Read Nirmal Shekhar on The Hindu

Veteran Bollywood actor Om Puri, who drew flak for his controversial comments against Parliamentarians, landed himself in another row by calling naxals "fighters not terrorists". 

The 61-year-old actor who is in Madhya Pradesh to shoot for Prakash Jha's Chakravyuh, said Naxalites were fighters who did not trouble the common man. 

Puri said that Naxalites kidnapped Sukma district collector, Alex Paul Menon, because he supported the social system against which they are fighting. "They (Naxals) are not terrorists because they don't resort to irresponsible acts of terror by planting bombs on streets. Naxals are fighters who fight for their rights. They don't harass the common man and the poor," Puri told reporters here last evening. It is not for the first time that the actor has landed himself in trouble. 

He was slapped with a privilege motion after makingderogatory remarks against politicians at Ramlila maidan during Anna Hazare's campaign for Jan Lokpal in August last year only to apologise later. 

Sid Mallya certainly doesn't come off smelling like lavender.

Which takes us to this story -- A foul smell today led to loss of half an hour in Rajya Sabha as members complained that they felt uncomfortable. It all started as Alka Balram Kshatriya (Cong) first raised the alarm at around 3.45 pm when the House was having a heated discussion on the Telangana issue.

"There is some burning smell and I am not kidding," she said amidst much amusement of the members, particularly of the Opposition which was engaged on a verbal duel over Telangana issue with the treasury bench. However, P J Kurien, who was on the Chair, took up the matter in all seriousness as some of Kshatriya's colleagues from the party also echoed concern, and adjourned the House for 15 minutes. 

As soon as the House reassembled, Renuka Chowdhury (Cong) stood up and said the smell was still persisted. Kurien adjourned the House once again for 15 minutes saying the cause of the smell should be found out. 

The previous "smelly" incident occurred on May 11.

Sidhartha Mallya also lost his cool before TV cameras a while ago when asked to comment on his tweet : The girl who is accusing Luke is saying he hit her 'fiance'...what a load of f***ing shit. She was all over me asked for me bbm pin, so if he was her fiance she wasn't exactly behaving like a future wife.

Wagging his finger at a cameraman, he threatens don't touch me and refuses to answer the question that the victim's character was being questioned. 

Rediff.com's Sanchari Bhattacharya is a die-hard Shah Rukh Khan fan. She believes the star owes an apology for the fracas that took place at Mumbai's Wankhade stadium.

But he only owes that apology to his daughter, Suhana, and the other children who were present there (Read Sanchari's column here) As for his stand on the Mumbai Cricket Association officials, she believes he is absolutely right not to step back from his stand.

Join Sanchari for a chat on Zara Bol happening right now.

A day after Shah Rukh Khan tried to clear his stand after his fight with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) security at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium, the MCA officials have rubbished his version of the fracas and banned him for five years from entering the stadium. However, the film industry came out in full support of King Khan. Here's what they tweeted:

Karan Johar tweeted: 'Srk is one of the best fathers i know....and protective about every child...he was being just that....a protective parent!!! Why blame a man who was just reacting as a father....who wouldnt have done the same in his place???'

More on rediff.com

There was drama during the 30-minute proceedings, when Luke the 27-year-old batsman, playing for Royal Challengers, Bangalore, in the IPL, complained of uneasiness and fainted while the victim broke down when she narrated the incident.

Policemen took him outside the court room and gave him water after which he regained composure to come back to the court room made stuffy by the crowd of lawyers, journalists and onlookers.

The US national says she will sue Sidhartha Mallya for defamation. Mallya tells CNN IBN that the "lady was drunk, and behaving strangely. I'ms shocked that such an allegation (against Luke Pomersbach) has been made. IPL is a victim of an image crisis. IPL players are adult and professionals.

Mallya tweeted earlier saying: The girl who is accusing Luke is saying he hit her 'fiance'...what a load of f***ing shit. She was all over me asked for me bbm pin, so if he was her fiance she wasn't exactly behaving like a future wife.

This soap opera gets curiouser and curiouser.

In other news,  reteacting guardedly to India's assertion of over 500 transgressions by Chinese troops along LAC in the past two years, China today said it is committed implement agreements to ensure peace at borders, while the official media charged that Indian violations could be double
than that. 

"The Chinese position on China and India boundary question is clear and consistent. China is always committed to (implement) bilateral agreements aimed at ensuring peace and stability at the border areas", Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Hong Lei told a media briefing here today replying to a question. 

He was reacting to Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran's statement in Rajya Sabha on March 16 that Chinese Army has transgressed Sino-India border more than 500 times in the last two years.

Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy today demanded a ban on IPL, alleging that the "civilised game" of cricket has been degenerated into a "vulgar" display of money and immorality leading to national security threat.

"I demand that the government ban the IPL tournament forthwith since game's collateral consequences are a degeneration of a civilised game of cricket into a vulgar display of money, immorality, all converting into a serious national security threat," he said. "The recent incident of vulgar, unruly, rowdy behaviour
of some of the players, owners and politicians make it necessary to impose this ban for a brief period," he said.

Swamy said, "IPL has become a vehicle for generating black money, money laundering, anti-nationals like mafia are getting involved in it and these are bringing country's morality to below acceptable levels. It should be banned."
He also demanded that politicians and film stars should not be involved in the IPL. "There should not be any politicians or film stars involved in any positions in IPL," he said. 

A black and white photo of Hollywood diva Elizabeth Taylor and her fifth husband Richard Burton, taken by a photographer who hated them, has surfaced after 40 years.

The picture by legendary society photographer Cecil Beaton, which was kept in private collection of Beaton's friend, is expected to fetch 12,000 pounds at an auction here, the Daily Mail reported. 

Beaton photographed the then 39-year-old star with husband Burton at a black tie event in 1971 despite hating the couple for their "crassness". She was photographed wearing a couture Valentino dress with a Van Cleef and Arpels necklace entwined in her hair. 

Beaton later gave the photograph as a gift to friend Brian Hammond, who owned the Gerry's Club in London's Soho. The picture hung in his club up until he died earlier this year. His family is now auctioning the photo.

In his diaries Beaton wrote, "I have always loathed the Burtons for their vulgarity, commonness and crass bad taste, she combining the worst of US. and English taste, he as butch and coarse as only a Welshman can be. "She wanted compliments. She got none. I felt I must be professional and continued, but not without loathing at this monster."

Luke Pomersbach in his statement to the police says says he entered the room with consent.

Meanwhile, on Twitter, RCB owner Siddhartha Mallya has cast aspersions on the molestation victim's character, saying or rather, tweeting:  

The girl who is accusing Luke is saying he hit her 'fiance'...what a load of f***ing shit. She was all over me asked for me bbm pin, so if he was her fiance she wasn't exactly behaving like a future wife

@sidharthamallya: I woke up this morning with 100+ messages regarding luke...I still don't know what went on...

The girl who is accusing Luke is saying he hit her 'fiance'...what a load of f***ing shit. She was all over me asked for me bbm pin, so if he was her fiance she wasn't exactly behaving like a future wife

Everyone wants there 15 minuets

First SRK, now this...everyone loves a good scandal. Why can't ppl just enjoy the cricket...has everyone forgotten chris' 100 last night?

If luke is in the wrong, then trust me he will face the necessary sanctions. But what this girl is doing is idiotic.

TMC chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has backed Shah Rukh Khan. Asks the MCA to revoke the five-year ban.  

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah: SRK needs to control his temper. He should be a "little more calmer". "He carries a lot of weight on his shoulders. His behaviour matters to the industry tremendously, and to every young and old in India. Whatever happened, its unfortunate. " 

RJD's Lalu Prasad Yadav: Ban on Shah Rukh Khan is wrong  

As the shares of social networking giant Facebook begin trading on the NASDAQ exchange today, experts believe that the stock is overpriced at USD 38 apiece and one must wait for now to invest in the firm.     

NYU Stern School of Business Finance ex-Professor Kenneth Froewiss said that adding Facebook to a portfolio early on is risky for experienced pros and investment amateurs alike.

"Even for those individuals with above-average net worth, purchasing shares at an IPO, especially a 'hot' one that has been widely hyped, is rarely a good idea," Froewiss said. He said it is like playing a lottery. "Might someone on occasion reap a tremendous windfall by doing so? Yes, but then again, on occasion someone wins the lottery. That does not make the lottery a great investment in general," he added.

Derek O' Brien on the 60 years of Parliament, in The Telegraph. Read

O' Brien is a Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP, who has recently been in the news for telling a news channel that he will not sit next to Left MPs in Parliament (as mandated by Mamata Banerjee).

This is what US president Barack Obama said on Donna Summers death: "Michelle and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Donna Summer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Donna truly was the 'Queen of Disco.' Her voice was unforgettable, and the music industry has lost a legend far too soon. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Donna's family and her dedicated fans."

Also read: How Donna Summer helped me through college

This is what our reviewer Raja Sen writes: Ram Gopal Varma's Department takes his increasingly schizoid cinematographic tendencies into a whole other league, and gives us, besides watery eyes and potential nausea, the filmmaker at his most insipid.

Read

Write in and tell us what you feel at Zara Bol

The CBI will file a chargesheet in the RTI activist Shehla Masood murder case in a special CBI court on May 26, the investigating agency's public prosecutor said today. The chargesheet will be filed on or before May 26.

The accused - Bhopal based-interior designer Zahida Pervez, her colleague Saba Farooqui, Shakib 'Danger', Irfan and Tabish were produced before the magistrate. On their way to the court, the two women accused remainedtight-lipped and covered their faces with scarves as they faced a volley of questions from the media. Shehla was shot dead outside her residence at the posh Koh-e-fiza locality in Bhopal on August 16, 2011.

Anil Kumble, mentor for RCB says IPL is not responsible for Luke Pomersbach's behaviour and echoes RCB owner Vijay Mallya's statement saying Pomersbach will not play in IPL matches.

Pomersbach will be produced in court any time now.

An Indian woman is filing for divorce after her husband failed to change his relationship status to married on social network site Facebook. The 28-year-old has already approached the family court seeking divorce saying that she can not trust him after her failed to announce their marriage on the website.

Read more on the Daily Mail.

Tributes to the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer, who passed away on Wednesday, pour in.

Read

Facebook has priced its shares ahead of one of the most eagerly-anticipated share flotations in recent stock market history. The social network said on Thursday that it valued shares at $38 (24) each, and that its shares would begin trading in New York on Friday. At this price the eight-year-old firm would be worth $104bn (66bn).

More on the BBC.

Meanwhile, Kirti Azad (BJP) threatens in LS to go on fast-unto-death from Sunday if the government fails to act against wrong-doings in IPL.

India has the potential to grow at 8-9 per cent for the next two decades and a supportive global environment will help the country achieve this goal, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia has said.

Addressing a high level debate on 'State of the World Economy and Finance in 2012' at the United Nations General Assembly here yesterday, Ahluwalia said the Indian economy grew at an average rate of 9 per cent in the five years prior to the financial crisis of 2008. The growth slowed down to just over 7 per cent following the crisis.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced new austerity measures aimed at reducing government expenditure. 

Mukherjee, who is faced with the spectre of slowing economy and rising inflation, has put a blanket ban on buying of new vehicles by the government, except for defence purposes.

-- Foreign trips by government officials will be restricted.

-- No seminars or conferences to be held in five-star hotels

-- A 10 per cent cut in budget for seminars and workshops.

This is not the first time that austerity measures have been announced s uch steps were earlier announced in September 2009 and July 2011.

The US national who was allegedly molested by RCB player Luke Pomersbach says IPL officials are forcing her to withdraw her case.

Farooq Abdullah: SRK needs to control his temper

Lalu: Ban on Shah Rukh Khan is wrong  

@PritishNandy: Why does Rajiv Shukla always talk in platitudes? Take a position, Rajiv, take a position. Your job demands it.

Moving on to other news. Signalling the beginning of the government's austerity measures, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said foreign trips by government officials will be restricted apart from a ban on the purchase of vehicles by the government.  

The finance minister on Wednesday said he would impose new austerity measures, howsoever unpopular they may be, to address India's fiscal problems and spur growth. Replying to the debate on Finance Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Mukherjee said the government was keen to improve sentiment, but stressed there was no need to press the "panic button".    

@ShashiTharoor Intro b4 I spoke: "In football, you must bend it like Beckham. In cricket, smash it like Sehwag. In virtual world, tweet it li    

@shiekhspear >Banning @iamsrk from Wankhede is lke banning Sachin Tendulkar from entering one PVR cinemea hall...Who bloody cares!  

@TheUnRealTimesLuke Pomersbach: "How come you let off Chris Gayle but caught me?? He also misbehaved with Mahila yesterday!"

@_fakeiplplayerWonder if Delhi Police will question the woman's character for inviting Luke Pomersbach to her room.  

Vaibhav Gaikwad: Looks like Luke Pomersbach took the saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" so seriously that he ended up doing what Delhiwalas do all the time...

@panchyatLuke Pomersbach approached a USA woman and got a lukewarm response.

@lindsaypereiraLuke Pomersbach suffered from bouts of depression, apparently. Makes sense. I'd be depressed too if I were in Delhi.

Just in: Vijay Mallya says Luke Pomersbach has been taken off RCB. He will NOT play for the franchise any more.

john: srk should learn some manners from his kids. They should tell him, 'Dad, grow up!'

devendra mehta: right decision. serves him well. he is a swollen headed fellow.

madhu-sudan-dua: a mature person would behave sanely. He should have filed a police complaint if the kids were manhanled, as alleged.

Join the conversation

More of what the molestation vicitm said:  "I am not sure about his full name. But he tagged along  with us after the party and (insisted) that we have few drinks  with him.

"He told something to my fiancee and I did not like," the victim told reporters here this morning. 

She said the IPL player was talking to her fiancee, saying that he wants to have few drinks with us. "Then we left for our room and we thought he had gone to his room but he came upstairs tagging along with us.

He asked us to help him around and telling my fiancee that lets go and have drinks," she said. "He (fiancee) is a nice guy and he did not want to say No. He just said fine, but....," she said. 

The woman said, "I got molested by a cricket player and fiancee was beaten up. Obviously, he is in a very critical condition right now.  "I come here often to visit my friends and my fiancee.... I was here to see him. I was hanging out with him. He lives in  Mumbai," she said

The alleged molestation victim tells Times Now that Luke Pomersbach invited himself into their party and "gave her dirty looks". She felt uncomfortable and told her fiance that she was going to the bedroom and they should continue with the party in the other room. When she turned towards her room, Pomersbach caught her hand and tried to kiss her, she said. That's when her fiance intervened and was beaten up.

Meanwhile, the BCCI says it has received the letter on the Shah Rukh Khan ban from Wankhede, but the final decision rests with the BCCI. The MCA says there is no question of overturning the ban.

RCB owner Vijay Mallya speaking to reporters outside Parliament, came down strongly against Luke Pomersbach. He said Pomersbach should be booked and strict action taken. "RCB will offer full cooperation in the investigation so that a fair probe is conducted. Till that happens, Pomersbach will not take the field," said Mallya.

That's the first official statement from RCB since the incident happened. IPL distanced itself from the molestation case with its chief Rajiv Shukla saying that it was "an individual misbehaviour of an individual player".

Deshmukh says the MCA has written to the BCCI on the ban. The Mumbai Cricket Association had met today to decide on the action to be taken against superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan. Sources in the MCA had said that there would be no ban on SRK if he apologised for his behaviour.

The MCA said the incident is more serious since it happened on the pitch. However, yesterday, at Shah Rukh Khan's press conference, the actor said he did not enter the pitch.

Deshmukh says nobody can enter the grounds, not even the chairman. Over 50 per cent of MCA officials were present as well as BCCI officials when the incident occured. They were eyewitnesses, and the decision to ban Shah Rukh was based on their accounts. "There is no need to appoint a committee," says Deshmukh, to a reporter's query, "because there were enough eyewitnesses present during the incident."

Deshmukh says the MCA has received no complaints on SRK's kids being manhandled. He says the ban is a message for everyone, that if anybody behaves like this, whoever he is, action will be taken.

MCA chairman Vilasrao Deshmukh speaking at a press conference in Mumbai announces Shah Rukh Khan has been banned from entering the Wankhede stadium for a period of five years.

In 2009, after two hit-and-run incidents, Pomersbach was arrested and charged by police for driving with a blood alcohol level in excess of permissible limits, failing to stop and accompany police and escaping legal custody.

He pleaded guilty and was fined and had his driver's licence cancelled. The Western Australian Cricket Association suspended him indefinitely. He returned from his ban in January 2010.

Pomersbach also played for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL in 2008-09 season and made 152 in five innings, only once being dismissed.

Dr DK Baluja executive director of Primus Hospital, where the victim's fiance was admitted speaks of his condition.  

The doctor says the patient was brought in this morning. He was bleeding from the ear and seemed delusional. A CT scan was conducted because of the delusions, but the report is negative.

Dr Baluja says the patient is now stable, but complains of impairment in hearing in his left ear. Four medical experts are monitoring him.

There are no external injuries, but the patient is in the ICU since it is custormary in the case of patients with head injuries.

@_fakeiplplayer Shah Rukh Khan to send some roses and a bottle of wine to LukePomersbach when he comes out for taking media attn away from him.  

@coolfunnytshirt Its pretty hectic for Luke Pomersbach. Yesterday he was playing against Delhi Daredevils and today against Delhi Police.  

@rameshsrivats The cop who arrested Luke Pomersbach arrested can cleverly say, "Me lock up basher" - an anagram of his name.

The victim was a US citizen of Indian origin, reports PTI.  

A case has been registered against Pomersbach under various sections of IPC including section 354 of IPC (outraging modesty of woman), 323 (hurt), 454 (lurking house trespass) and 511 (Punishment for attempting to commit offences
punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment). 

The woman said the player invited himself for some drinks with the couple and some common friends from Mumbai in their room. She left the men alone and went to her bedroom for catching some sleep but Luke followed her and misbehaved with her, she alleged. 

When her fiancee intervened, Luke allegedly beat him up, she said. The woman's fiancee has been admitted to a hospital. The woman claimed that pressure is being mounted on her to withdraw the case but she will not do so.

Luke Pomersbach will appear in court shortly after his medical test is over. The victim and her fiance had also been taken for medicals earlier.  Pomersbach, had in fact joined up for this season of IPL after winning his battle with depression.

The middle-order batsman, who has returned to play again for 2011 runners-up the Royal Challengers Bangalore, announced last year he was taking a break from cricket for his own well being. Pomersbach in an April interview with the Dawn had said he was now "on top of things" after suffering a bout of depression and was determined to make the most of the Twenty20 tournament.

IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla washes his hand off the incident. He says the incident happened during the player's own time. IPL is not responsible for the player's behaviour.

The Delhi police has arrested Luke Pomersbach for, first, molesting a woman in a Delhi hotel and then beating up her fiance.

Pomersbach has been taken to a hospital for a medical check-up. The incident happened at the five-star Maurya Hotel in Delhi. The alleged molestation happened during an after-match party.

The victim was a US national who had come down to Delhi with her fiance, especially for the match.  

The controversies surrounding the fifth edition of the IPL continued on Thursday. After Shah Rukh Khan's alleged brawl at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, the Delhi police today arrested Royal Challengers Banglore's Luke Pomersbach for allegedly molesting a woman in a Delhi pub

A FIR has been filed against the Australian cricketer.

Pomersbach previously played for King XI Punjab.

The cricketer has a tainted past. On 9 August 2009, after two hit-and-run incidents, Pomersbach was arrested and charged by police with failing to stop, failing to accompany police, driving with a blood alcohol level in excess of .08, assaulting a public officer, obstructing police and escaping legal custody. He pleaded guilty and was fined and had his driver's licence cancelled.

The Mumbai Cricket Association will meet today to decide on the action to be taken against superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan. Sources in the MCA say that there will be no ban on SRK if he apologises for his behaviour.

Miffed MCA have slapped a ban on SRK from entering the Wankhede stadium after he got into a spat with officials from the cricked association and a few security personnel on Wednesday night following the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians.

The Marine Drive police have registered a non-cognisable offence against the actor.

Shah Rukh had said he was provoked after authorities manhandled his children who had gone to watch the match.