EAT PUNE 05 – South Indian Food in PUNE

EAT PUNE 05 – South Indian Food in PUNE
It has been a long time since I wrote on food series on my blog. Here you go with popular south Indian food junctions in Pune. Most of the Indians love south Indian food for the simple reason that it is easy to digest and also cheaper compared to any other food. A specialty of south Indians – They travel across the globe, get settled at any temperature in the world and then serve south Indian food to everyone at cheap cost.
1. Hotel Rupali – My all time favorite restaurant for breakfast meetings. Authentic South Indian food. I bet this taste is far better than Wadeshwar-another south Indian restaurant. Try out any item of south Indian food. It has to be best. Do go for Upma, Sambar, Dosa, Idali, Medu Wada, Onion Uttappa, Coconut Kachori and in fact any food item. After a good and heavy breakfast, you should not miss out filter coffee. Specifically request them to serve filter coffee in ‘water glass’. Tradition of drinking Coffee in ‘water glass’ has been borrowed from Hotel Vaishali. Located at FC Road. Hotel Rupali is an old-time popular breakfast spot for professionals and working people.
2. Wadeshwar – Good Restaurant. Appears to be a theme based restaurant, but cannot see any theme. Idali is especially very tasty.
3. Hotel Vaishali – Everyone in Pune knows about this restaurant. Popular for tasty south Indian food and college girls ;). Do try out coconut kachori, coconut Chatani, Sambar and filter coffee. Interesting story behind drinking coffee in water glass at Vaishali. Vaishali Hotel is all time popular ‘adda’ (spot) for collegians since at least 4 colleges located near FC Road. Now the collage gang use to order one cup of coffee to be shared by at least 4 guys and enjoying coffee with girls (although those girls are not accompanying them). So, poor businessman and owner of Hotel Vaishali of course cannot afford it. Therefore, he instructed waiters to serve empty water glasses if coffee is to be shared. Smart boys then all shared coffee in water glass and it is believed that the tradition of drinking coffee in water glasses started thereafter. This tradition is popular since more than 3 decades!
4. Steamy Affair – This is a recently discovered spot by me. Located at J. M. Road, next to Electronic Parking Stand of PMC. The restaurant serve at least 13 types of Idalis. Only Idali and coffee is served here. Good place to try out authentic Idali and filter coffee (served in typical steel glass). I recommend – Kadhi-Idali.
5. Simply Idalicious – Interesting taste. Another recent discovery. Must try out for Idali. Located at Aundh.
6. Ganesh Krupa Idali-Dosa – Popular restaurant for middle-class Indians residing near Kothrud. Good taste and to eat, you may need to compromise on cleanliness around the restaurant. Do try out Dal Wada- exact taste of typical kannad dal wada. I ate at least 60 Dal Wadas during audit days in Bangalore. Sambar and chatani – I didn’t like it. Located at Paud Road, immediately before Anandanagar, diagonally opposite State Bank of India/Raj Motors.
7. Hotel Akshay: Better place to taste if you ignore the irritating rush of Tulshibaug. This restaurant is managed by a Konkanastha Brahmin – Mr. Vaze – who was Chairman of Chitpawan Mahasamelan held in 2008. Delicious taste for all South Indian stuff….made in marathi Brahmin style!
8. Hotel Agatya – Marathi style south Indian food is served here. Located in the heart of Tulashibaug. Good Punjabi food is also served here.
9. Hotel Samudra – Located at Nalstop. Another popular restaurant started in early nineties. Well crafted Dosas are served here. Try out Shaukin Pan (located next to this hotel) after the lunch/dinner.

Disclaimer: Writer is not Anna/South Indian. Writer is a Maharashtrian Konkanastha Brahmin. The purpose of this blog is to provide reader with interesting food spots in Pune. The spots referred in the blog have only been recommended by writer and unfortunately, he does not hold any control on reader’s tongue ;). It also does not mean that writer never eats at home or writer’s wife cannot cook the food. Please talk to writer before making any perception in this regard.

FRAUD – Telephone Number and Signature on the Purchase Quotations

Series FRD/02/2009

Well…this is another interesting fraud case discovered during internal audit of an engineering company.
The purchasing manager of this engineering company was well accustomed with all organizational purchasing processes as well as business processes followed in the market. Smart chap, always starts the day at 9.00am, his behavior in the office was always easy going, he always believed himself in his capabilities and a sweet talking person.
The purchasing process of the organization strongly recommends to invite at least 3 quotations for purchases above INR 100,000. Mr. Manager strictly followed this process for all purchases above INR 100,000.
During purchasing audit, we found that a Purchase Order valuing INR 980,000 for purchase of Stores cupboards was supported with 3 quotations. All three quotations were apparently invited from 3 vendors and they were read as below
1. M/s Trimurti Enterprizes quoted - INR 10,95,000
2. M/s Gururaj Bros. quoted – INR 9,80,000
3. M/s Gajaraj Enterprizes quoted – INR 9,75,000
Quotation of Gururaj Bros. was selected due to lower price and their reputation in the market.
The transaction prima-facie appeared to be straight. However, a careful analysis of the quotations revealed following 5 facts–
A. All three vendors located in the same locality.
B. All three letter heads (on which quotation were given), were made up on ‘Charminar’ brand bond paper.
C. One telephone number was common in all three quotations.
D. All other telephone numbers and fax numbers other than #C above were either fake or dead.
E. Signature on all three quotations were made in blue ink, although different, careful look suggests that it appeared to be signed by same person.

All 5 facts joining together suggest that this may be a case of fraud. When the case was reported to the management, the internal investigation was carried out. It was found that Mr. Purchasing Manager had collide with another few vendors in purchasing worth INR 76,00,000 over 8 months. He confessed that he used to dump openly invited original quotations and replace them with the fake quotations given by the winning vendor.
In above case, all three quotations were forwarded by the same vendor and a kickback arrangement was made with Mr. Purchasing Manager. Above 5 silly mistakes costed that vendor not only to loose the contract, but also future business.
The Purchasing Manager also lost his job. Someone told me that he joined Chota Shakil's Dubai based Forex Office. Another insider also told me that the Investigation Chief was found guilty of accepting bribe from his colleague, about a year after this case. If that is true, then it may be considered as an example in my study of organizational cultures.

Disclaimer – As per Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, information obtained during the course of audit is confidential and cannot be shared or published without specific approval from the management. Writer of the blog is a qualified Chartered Accountant and only intend to share the fraud cases. The fraud case referred above should in no case be construed or perceived as specific to any company/organization/legal entity/association of persons/any individual. The purpose of blog post series on fraud is only for the purpose of brainstorming. Any action/inspiration based on this blog post which lead to any fraud, will be the sole responsibility of the user. Writer of the blog is a person with highest standards of ethics and honesty.