AJ:  The government has received a draft report on the new police act to be implemented, said Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. The law will be passed within a year after discussions. Telephone booths would be set up in prisons in Kerala from which prisoners could talk to their relatives, he said. The first such public call booth would be put up in the Thrissur Central Prison, Balakrishnan said at a press meet held in connection with the second anniversary of LDF government.On reforms planned in the police set up, Balakrishnan said the basic qualification for post of policemen would be made higher secondary pass against the present qualification of secondary school leaving certificate.

AJ: The state cabinet approved the tender of Hyderabad based Consortium led by Lanco Kondappally Power Ltd as joint venture partner for development of Vizhinjam Harbour here into an international deep sea shipment container terminal. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters after cabinet meeting the project, to be implemented on BOT basis with an anticipated investment of Rs 5348 crore, when completed would generate 5000 direct and 1.50 lakh indirect employment opportunities.

The project would be placed before centre for security clearance and the state expected early approval as it would provide an impetus for the economic growth in the state. The project, conceived a few years ago, was earlier denied security clearance by the centre because of the presence of a China-based company in the consortium. Later, the state government floated global tenders again for the project. Out of the five bidders, government shortlisted the bid of Lanco Kodapally Power Ltd. The cabinet also entrusted the cabinet sub-committee to sort out the problem of land acquisition for the Vallarpadam container terminal at Kochi by May 31.

AJ: DGP Raman Srivastava issued an order suspending the circle and sub-inspectors of Aluva police station where the self-claimed godman Himaval Bhadrananda opened fire on Saturday. They were suspended for misbehaving with the media persons. The DGP took action against the police officers on the report submitted by IG Winson M Paul.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said, the vigilance director has been instructed to probe the action of ADM issuing gun license for Swami Himaval Bhadrananda. The license was issued without considering the report of the police, said the minister.

Meanwhile The Judicial Magistrate Court rejected the bail plea of Swami Himaval Bhadrananda in connection with the firing episode in Aluva police station on Saturday.

AJ: The Supreme Court has stayed the Kerala High Court's verdict of announcing the Piravom Assembly constituency elections as void. CPI (M) candidate M.J. Jacob who was elected from this constituency an now participate in the assembly proceedings. Last week Kerala high Court made the declaration after the court found Mr. M.J. Jacob and his election agents guilty of corrupt practices under section 123(4) of the Representation of the People Act.

The judgement came on an election petition filed by A. Narayanan, a voter of the constituency. Mr. M.J. Jacob had defeated T.M. Jacob in the election held on April 29, 2006, by a margin of 5,150 votes. In his petition, the voter had alleged that Mr. M.J. Jacob and his election agents had committed corrupt practices by publishing and distributing pamphlets containing false personal allegations against Mr. T.M. Jacob. Mr. T.M. Jacob had contested the poll on a Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) ticket.

M J Jacob, MLA, welcomed the Supreme Court verdict imposing a stay on the verdict pronounced by the Kerala High Court declaring his election as null and void. He said that he will complete the projects which he stated in his constituency.

AJ: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said, Himaval Maheswara Bhadrananda's action of threatening to shoot himself at the Aluva police station, is a challenge to the home department and the police. He said a detailed investigation will be conducted on the incident. The government has appointed a special team to probe the cases in connection with the fake swami. The special team will be led by Aluva DySP P S Abraham.

The authorities sent the gunpowder for examination following the incident in which the self-claimed godman Himaval Maheswara Bhadrananda created a flutter by attempting suicide with his licensed pistol at Aluva police station. The gunpowder was sent for analysis to know that whether the bullet was fired from Bhadrananda's gun or not.

AJ: Sri Heimavel Mahewhwara Bhadrananda a self styled Godman in Alwaye near Kochi, created a dramatic situation at the Alwaye police station, threatening suicide with a pistol pointed on his head and later fired at media men injuring 'Madhyamam' reported Baby who was taken to hospital  Police later seized the gun and shifted Bhadrananda to hospital. Bhadrananda who threatened suicide at his home, was taken to Alwaye police station, where he continued his suicide threats and became agitated at the sight of media who gathered at the police station to report the incident. Himavel alias 'Ernakulam Swami' was arrested by police two days back on a complaint from the local office of 'Managalam' daily, alleging that he barged into the newspaper office on May 13 and threatened the news editor and chief reporter. A case has also been charged against him for using a car with a beacon lamp.

AJ: The Alappuzha District Principal Session Judge has convicted nine accused in the controversial Kanichikulangara fake accident case. Three people have been let off. The quantum of the sentence will be announced on 17th of this month. The persons convicted includes Himalaya Chit Fund owners Sajith and Binish, sixth and seventh accused in the sensational Kanichukulangara triple murder case, in which Everest Microfinance company promoter T G Ramesh, his sister Latha and driver Shamsuddin were killed.

The verdict was pronounced by Alappuzha district sessions judge D Sreevallabhan. The other convicted are driver Unni, Ajith Kumar, Mrigam Saju, Shibin, Gokulan and Unnikrishnan. The total 179 witnesses, 118 deposed before the court. As many as 18 witnesses turned hostile during the trial. The deposition of witnesses itself took more than two months. The prosecution case was that the two Himalaya Group proprietors and 11 other accused were involved in planning and executing the murder of Everest Group owner Ramesh, his sister Latha and driver Shamsudeen in the guise of a road accident. The prosecution alleged that Ramesh and the other two were killed by ramming a hired lorry onto their car on July 20, 2005 at Kanichukulangara near Mararikulam.

AJ: Meteorological Department predicted that Monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala on May 29.  Monsoon arrives in Kerala normally on June 1. The Andaman archipelago has been receiving monsoon rains for the past few days and the IMD had announced the annual seasonal rains had set in over the Andaman Seas on May 10. It may be mentioned that since 2005, IMD has been issuing operational forecasts for monsoon onset over Kerala using statistical techniques. Over the past 11 years, monsoon has set in over Kerala in advance on four occasions, the earliest being in 1999 when the State received rains on May 22 against the forecast for May 26.

AJ: After week-long dramatic scenes, Santhosh Madhavan alias Amrutha Chaithanya, has been taken into custody. The godman was picked up late last night along with his driver, Thomas from a house in Nayarambalam in Ernakulam. The case of  Amrita Chaitanya took a new turn that he had raped a 15-year old girl besides several other minor girls even as he was arrested and a senior police official suspended for alleged links with the godman.

IGP Vinson M Paul and Kochi Police Commissioner Manoj Abhraham told media that a case of rape had been registered against the godman following a complaint by the 10th standard student of a city school, whose education was sponsored by him. They said the "victim" approached the police this morning and gave a statement following which the case was registered.According to the girl, at least seven to eight other minor girls had also been raped by Madhavan, Abraham said.
The accused did not deny the charges, he said adding the godman had also made pornographic CDs of his 'victims'.

The High Court which heard his anticipatory bail petition earlier in the day was informed of his arrest by the police. Subsequently the court rejected the bail petition. DSP Sam Christie Daniel was suspended for alleged links with the godman, following instructions from Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

AJ: Setting an all-time record, 92.09 per cent of total 4,15,747 candidates have qualified for higher studies in Kerala's Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination. Announcing the results at a press meet, Education Minister M A Baby said this year's qualifying level surpassed the best previous pass percentage of 82.29. Out of the 4, 51,466 candidates who appeared for the exam in 2723 centres, 4,15,747 have been qualified for higher studies. Kannur district registers the highest pass percentage of 96% and Palakkad 85%. 6480 candidates scored A-plus grade, and 799 schools have attained hundred percentage.

AJ: Union Minister for Food and Agriculture Sharad Pawar said the centre will allot 10, 000 metric tonnes rice to Kerala. The decision on restoring state's share of ration which was cut short by the centre will be taken in August. After holding talks with Civil Supplies Minister C Divakaran, Pawar said that a meet will be convened in Hyderabad on May 25th to discuss on importing rice from Andhra Pradesh. Food Ministers from both states will take part in the meet chaired by Andhra chief minister, he added.

AJ: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that his son Bineesh Kodiyeri has no links with Santhosh Madhavan. The minister also stated that the Yuva Morcha activists are purposefully making false allegations against him and his son. Somebody is trying to deviate the investigation related to Santhosh Madhavan. The minister also added that nobody linked in the case will be spared. Earlier, Yuva Morcha state President K Surendran talking to reporters that, Bineesh Kodiyeri has some links with Santhosh Madhavan. He also said that `Santosh Madhavan had attended the wedding of Bijesh, the Minister's son, and is said to have very close links with the Minister's family'.

AJ: The police registered a case of cheating against Santhosh Madhavan alias Amrutha Chaitanya following a complaint lodged by Dubai based Keralite woman Serafin Edwin. In an e-mail sent to the city police commissioner yesterday night, she had stated that Santhosh Madhavan had cheated her of Rs 40 lakhs. Police searched the residence of Santhosh Madhvan at the Royal Stadium Mansion Complex at Kadavanthra, the police took into custody a tiger skin estimated to be nearly Rs 150,000, hundreds of film CDs, registration documents of land, a police officer's uniform, ganja etc.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said, legal action will be taken against Swami Amrutha Chaithanya in connection with the fraud case lodged against him by Serafin Edwin.He added, the Interpol should confirm that Amrutha Chaithanya and Santhosh Madhavan are the same person. DGP Raman Sreevasthava said, the state police received a complaint against Santhosh Madhavan alias Amrutha Chaithanya lodged by Serafin Edwin. Further proceedings on the complaint have been started and Santhosh will be arrested after getting the warrant from the Dubai police.

Forest Minister Benoy Viswom said, the Chief Conservator of Forests will probe on the seizure of tiger skin from the flat of Santhosh Madhavan in Kadavanthra. The minister also said that keeping tiger skin is a crime for which a person may get 10 years imprisonment as per the Wildlife Act, which offers special protection to tiger.

AJ: Transport Minister Mathew T Thomas ruled out increasing bus fares of both private services and KSRTC. The bus fares were already higher in Kerala compared to most other states and the demand of the private operators for increasing the charges could not be accepted.The concessional fares for students would continue at the existing rates.

The minister said as part of bailing KSRTC out of financial crisis, bus stations-cum-shopping complexes would be built at the properties owned by the PSU in prime locations in towns across the state. In all, 30 such complexes would be built. The first phase of the project would cover six places including Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Angamali. The stone for the Angamali complex would be laid by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.

AJ: The Kerala High Court imposed a temporary stay on implementing the 'Single Window System' in Plus One admissions. The court stopped the implementation of the system till May 13. The High Court also directed the state government to give an explanation on the same before the date. Education Minister M A Baby said
The Single Window System will be implemented in the higher secondary schools in the state.The High Court imposed a temporary stay on implementing the system till May 13 and the state government will proceed with the same after that, Baby said. Both parents and students will be benefitted by implementing the system, the minister added.

AJ: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said, Goonda Act will be strictly implemented for maintaining law and order in the state. Superintendents of police have been entrusted for the effective implementation of the act. The vehicles used for crimes will be seized. The government has decided to strengthen night patrolling to prevent thefts. Rewards will be distributed to those police officials who performed well in proving crimes. State government will take proper action against Santhosh Madhavan, if he has any link with the arms smuggling case. But the Interpol has so far not asked the state government to arrest Santhosh. Proper action will be taken against the police men, if their involvement in the case is proved, Kodiyeri said.

AJ: The Kerala High Court nullified the candidature of CPM MLA M J Jacob from Piravom assembly constituency holding that three of his agents had violated the code of conduct during election. The judgment was delivered by Justice Thotthathil B Radhakrishnan after considering an election petition filed by A Narayanan, a voter of Piravom in Ernakulam district. The court declared the election of Jacob, who defeated former minister T M Jacob by a margin of 5,150 votes, as void. Narayanan alleged that M J Jacob had distributed pamphlets in the constituency during the last Assembly election tarnishing the character of T M Jacob.

The allegation against M J Jacob was that pamphlets circulated by the Left Democratic Youth Front (LDYF) during the election amounted to personal character assassination of the rival candidate. The statements in the pamphlets were reasonably calculated to 'prejudice' the prospects of T M Jacob in the election, the judge said. While T M Jacob welcomed the verdict, saying it was lesson for all and that elections should be fought politically not by character assassination, M J Jacob said he would immediately file an appeal in the Supreme Court.

AJ: The UDF will observe May 18, the second anniversary of the LDF government, as 'betrayal' day. UDF convener P P Thankachan told the press meet, decision in this regard was taken at the executive committee meeting of the UDF. The LDF had failed to honour its promises made during the elections.

The UDF MLAs will stage a dharna before the secretariat on May 20 demanding better compensation package to Kuttanad farmers. Only a token compensation had been paid to them for the paddy crop losses they suffered due to the unseasonal rains.

The government's Educational reforms had been a 'total failure', he said.The UDF has appointed a panel led by former education minister, E T Muhammed Basheer to study the various drawbacks in the reforms and give its report.

Opposition leader, Oommen Chandy, KPCC President, Ramesh Chennithala, G Karthikeyan, Kerala congress (M) leader, K M Mani, CMP leader, M V Raghavan, and IUML leaders P K Kunhalikutty and Basheer were among those who participated.

AJ: LDF's liaison committee meet chaired by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan failed to meet consensus on the implementation of Food Security Scheme in the state. The implementation of Food Security Scheme will be discussed in the LDF meet to be held on May 20 and 21.Chief Minister stated that the scheme should be implemented with the coordination of various departments in the state. The meeting failed as both CPI (M) and CPI stood firm on their differences over the procedures to be adopted for implementing the schemes.

AJ: The government decided to implement semester and grading system for degrees courses from the next academic year. Education Minister M A Baby said the decision was taken at the higher education council meet held in the capital city. The minister opined that by implementing semester system, they aim to raise the standard of graduate courses. Before implementing the semester system, all teachers of the state will be given training on it.

AJ: Kerala decided to bring more supplies from West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. The decision was taken at the state cabinet which reviewed the situation arising out of the foodgrain crunch caused by sharp fall in domestic production and shortfall in arrivals from major rice-producing states. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said the sale of rice at the subsidised price of Rs 14 a kg would continue. A special meeting of the cabinet would be held soon to discuss and formulate the food security scheme.The state has been in the grip of an unprecedented foodgrain shortage as the Centre drastically cut its PDS quota coupled by fall in supplies from the producing states. The state has been pressing the Centre to restore the reduced rice quota.