Live-it-up scion toasted trouble
Rahul Mahajan, the 26-year-old son of late Pramod Mahajan, would answer to the description of a well-connected cosmopolitan youth who liked to live it up.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Rahul Mahajan, the 26-year-old son of late Pramod Mahajan, would answer to the description of a well-connected cosmopolitan youth who liked to live it up. Rahul, who is fighting for his life after having swallowed alcohol and drugs, is a party-circuit regular in Mumbai’s social circles. His case seems to mirror that of the stereotypical rich kid who shuns academics. During the BJP’s tenure, rumours about his drinking would often do the rounds.
During the NDA term, the former information and broadcasting minister came in for flak for his son’s connections with a media entity that finally bagged a Doordarshan contract. Rahul, trained as a commercial pilot, is rumoured to have helped by his father to land a job with an airline company. But he soon quit.
Later, Rahul moved to London, where little is known about his life and times. Much like his namesake in the Gandhi family, those close to him say he was never keen on politics. However, he was active in the run-up to the ’04 Lok Sabha polls, drawing actors to campaign for the BJP.
During Mr Mahajan’s term as I&B minister, Rahul landed himself in trouble due to a TV show on Doordarshan. A production house in which the Mahajans allegedly held a stake ran up arrears in lakhs.
The controversy related to the approval given by Prasar Bharati for the telecast of the serial Truck Dhina Dhin by Integral Productions in June 1999. It was alleged that extension was given to the serial without proper norms. Rahul, however, came out unscathed from the controversy.
After Pramod Mahajan’s death, Rahul was seen as putting up a brave face and lending a shoulder to his sister. The facade of strength seems to have cracked with news that Rahul and Mr Mahajan’s secretary, Vivek Maitra, might have been using hard drugs.
Rahul was tipped to be the political heir to the charismatic Mr Mahajan. His unscheduled appearance at the BJP national executive meeting in the capital early this week prompted many to ask if this was his initiation into politics.
When it emerged that he had been invited by party president Rajnath Singh, the talk of his joining the BJP’s youth wing began doing the rounds.
During the NDA term, the former information and broadcasting minister came in for flak for his son’s connections with a media entity that finally bagged a Doordarshan contract. Rahul, trained as a commercial pilot, is rumoured to have helped by his father to land a job with an airline company. But he soon quit.
Later, Rahul moved to London, where little is known about his life and times. Much like his namesake in the Gandhi family, those close to him say he was never keen on politics. However, he was active in the run-up to the ’04 Lok Sabha polls, drawing actors to campaign for the BJP.
During Mr Mahajan’s term as I&B minister, Rahul landed himself in trouble due to a TV show on Doordarshan. A production house in which the Mahajans allegedly held a stake ran up arrears in lakhs.
The controversy related to the approval given by Prasar Bharati for the telecast of the serial Truck Dhina Dhin by Integral Productions in June 1999. It was alleged that extension was given to the serial without proper norms. Rahul, however, came out unscathed from the controversy.
After Pramod Mahajan’s death, Rahul was seen as putting up a brave face and lending a shoulder to his sister. The facade of strength seems to have cracked with news that Rahul and Mr Mahajan’s secretary, Vivek Maitra, might have been using hard drugs.
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Rahul was tipped to be the political heir to the charismatic Mr Mahajan. His unscheduled appearance at the BJP national executive meeting in the capital early this week prompted many to ask if this was his initiation into politics.
When it emerged that he had been invited by party president Rajnath Singh, the talk of his joining the BJP’s youth wing began doing the rounds.
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