Chatwal won't attend Padma awards function

According to Rashtrapati Bhawan sources though controversial New York based businessman, Sant Singh Chatwal wanted to recieve the Padma award from President Pratibha Patil on March 31, mandarins in the home ministry did not agree to this.

"This part of the information is not correct," said an official of the media unit of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

In all 66 distinguished persons will receive Padma Vibhushan, Padma Shri and Padma awards from the President at a glittering ceremony which will be held on Wednesday evening at the Ashoka Hall. The second and final round of the distribution of Padma awards would be held on April 7th.

While dashing cricketer Virender Sehwag will get a Padma Shri, film actor Aamir Khan would receive a Padma award. Other proinent personalities whose names have been included in the first list include Pratap Reddy of Apollo Hospitals, badminton star Sania Nehwal, actor Saif Ali Khan, Nobel laureate Venkataraman Ramakrishnan, who has a history of not turning up awards functions. 

Music maestro Illaiyaraja and Oscar winning music composer A R Rahman, will also be felicitated.