My-Kerala News

Santhosh Madhavan taken into custody

2008-05-14T02:11:00.001+05:30

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.

92.09 % pass in SSLC exams

2008-05-14T01:21:00.001+05:30

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.

10,000 metric tonnes of rice to be allotted to Kerala

2008-05-13T01:33:00.001+05:30

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.

Kodiyeri denies links with Santhosh Madhavan

2008-05-13T01:19:00.001+05:30

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'.

Police registers case against Santhosh Madhavan

2008-05-12T02:25:00.001+05:30

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.

No Hike In Bus Fares: Says Minister

2008-05-12T01:00:00.001+05:30

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.

High Court Stays Single Window System

2008-05-10T15:24:00.001+05:30

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.

Goonda Act will be strictly implemented, says Kodiyeri

2008-05-10T15:20:00.001+05:30

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.

Candidature of M.J. Jacob nullified

2008-05-07T01:16:00.001+05:30

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.

UDF to observe May 18 as 'betrayal' day

2008-05-07T01:11:00.000+05:30

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.

Food Security Scheme: Talks fail

2008-05-05T02:00:00.001+05:30

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.

Govt to implement semester system in degrees courses

2008-05-02T03:11:00.001+05:30

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.

Kerala to bring rice from WB, AP

2008-05-02T02:58:00.001+05:30

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.

President Pratibha Patil arrived for two day visit

2008-04-30T17:24:00.001+05:30

AJ: President Pratibha Patil arrived the captial on a two day visit to Kerala. Patil arrived at the Air Force base by Special Aircraft. Governor R L Bhatia, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, Speaker K Radhakrishnan, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and opposition leader in the State Assembly Oommen Chandy were among those who received her. She later left for the Raj Bhavan. In the evening, she will inaugurate the valedictory function of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The President will participate in the birth centenary celebration of former state Chief Minister R Sankar at the Tagore Centenary Hall tomorrow.

Cabinet okays 'Paloli committee' report

2008-04-30T17:00:00.001+05:30

AJ: The Government today decided to implement the Sachar Committee report on backwardness of Muslim community, including the proposal to form a Minority Welfare Department. The decision was taken by the state cabinet which gave its approval to the proposals of the high power committee headed by Minister Paloli Muhammad Kutty, set up to study the state-level implementation of the Sachar Committee report. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said other proposals included institution of special educational scholarships for the Muslim students.

State to set up training centres for job seekers: say Gurudasan

2008-04-29T17:06:00.000+05:30

AJ: Labour Minister P K Gurudasan said Orientation Training Centres will be set up in all the districts in the state this year to impart training to those aspiring to find jobs abroad. The programme would be implemented with assistance from the Centre. The minister inaugurated the `Malabar Job Fest-2008', organised jointly by the district administration and the Industrial Training department. The state was also keen to start more ITIs to cater to the needs of the students.

Case against PJ Joseph defered

2008-04-29T17:00:00.001+05:30

AJ: The case against Kerala Congress (J) Chairman PJ Joseph has been defered the case will come for hearing on next month 20th. Judicial Magistrate Ramanathan had directed Joseph to appear on April 29, after the Airport Police, filed a 93-page chargesheet regarding an allegation of sexual assault. The case against Joseph was that he misbehaved with a woman co-passenger while flying from Chennai to Kochi on August 3, 2006. Cases under different sections of the IPC were filed against Joseph who later quit the ministry. The Kerala government had also ordered a preliminary inquiry into the incident by IG B Sandhya who questioned the woman and some co-passengers and flight staff.

Left's campaign on price rise hypocritical: Advani

2008-04-29T01:13:00.001+05:30

AJ: BJP leader L K Advani said the Left parties' campaign against price rise as "hypocritical," Left is equally responsible for the UPA government's anti-people policies as the Congress. "The Left's opposition to the UPA government was only for the public consumption as, in reality, it was solidly behind the government," Advani told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. He said the Congress was also not particular to push the civil nuclear deal since it was aware that the UPA government could not survive even for a day without the critical support from the Left. Dubbing the 'third alternative' mooted by the Left as "meaningless", he said the "utterly opportunistic" alliance of the Congress and the Left with their diametrically opposed economic policies was responsible for "the kind of mess the country is in. Advani said the Left parties knew that they would be fighting the Congress in three states they were in power even if they continued to support the party after the elections.

NCP resolution criticizing both fronts

2008-04-28T01:11:00.001+05:30

AJ: The NCP political resolution has severely criticized the opposition as well as the ruling front. NCP leader A K Sasheendran, presented the resolution at the representatives meet, stated that the ruling front are distancing from the public and is a total failure. The people have lost faith in the government after the devaswom issue, self-financing education bill and the dispute between the parties. The opposition is also a failure in the state. Blaming Sharad Pawar for not restoring the quota of rice is to cover government's failure, the resolution opined.

Kuttanad registers record paddy procurement

2008-04-28T01:07:00.001+05:30

AJ: Kuttanad has registered a record in paddy procurement. Kuttanad procured 58945 tonnes of paddy, the minister said. The minister said 3000 hectares of paddy still remain to be reaped. Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran said steps will be taken to see that climate change will not affect harvesting in Kuttanad. He said this distributing the compensation to the kin of farmers who committed suicide in Kuttanad.

Three killed by elephant at temple festival

2008-04-24T03:28:00.001+05:30

AJ: An elephant gored to death three people, including a woman, during a temple festival in Irinjalakkuda. The incident took place at Koodalmanikyam Temple at Irinjalakkuda. The elephant, named Thiruvalla Unnikrishnan, also caused extensive damage to the temple. The police identified the deceased as Kausalya, 75, Nitheesh, 25, and Naushad. Four persons were injured in the stampede when terrified devotees rushed out of the temple premises to escape the rampaging elephant. The elephant reportedly turned violent after someone caught its tusk.

Plastic with below 50 micron thickness banned

2008-04-24T03:18:00.001+05:30

AJ: The government banned use of carry bags, cups and bottles made of below 50 micron thickness plastic in the state. The production, sale, use, stocking and distribution of materials with below 50 micron thickness plastic was illegal and persons who violate the law was liable to be punishable with a fine of Rs one lakh and five years imprisonment. It was the duty of local self-governments to ensure that the banned plastic items were not used in thier respective places. Government had earlier banned use of plastic items made of below 30 micron thickness. It was found that the objective of the ban was not ahieved and so, government decided to ban the use of below 50 micron thickness plastic.

Govt a failure, says Oommen Chandy

2008-04-21T16:54:00.001+05:30

AJ: Opposition leader Oommen Chandy said The government and the police failed to prevent the violent attacks in Kasargod.Inaugurating the Congress mandalam meet, he said they would support the government to restore peace in the district. The KPCC will organise an all religious meet and a satyagraha on April 22 in protest against the attack and murders, Chandy said and urged the people to support them. KPCC chief Ramesh Chennithala, V M Sudheeran and many others will partake in the satyagraha.

Meanwhile Revenue Minister K P Rajendran visited the houses of four victims in Kasargod. The minister said strict action will be taken against the accused and more financial aid will be given to the kin of the dead.

Ready to hand over SNDP temples to govt, says Vellappally

2008-04-20T16:50:00.001+05:30

AJ: SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan said that he is accepting the challenge of Thiruvambadi and Paramekavu devaswoms, who jointly conduct the Thrissur Pooram. Natesan had yesterday demanded the state government to take over the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu temples. SNDP is ready to hand over the temples coming under the control of the trust to the state government. Similarly, both the temple devaswoms should be ready to hand over the administrations to the state government.

Shoot at sight orders in Kasaragod

2008-04-20T16:42:00.001+05:30

AJ: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan visited the trouble hit areas, issued a shoot at sight order to prevent any further violence. Those behind the violent incidents will be arrested soon. Severe action will be taken to curb violence and police can take any step for the same, Kodiyeri said. Talking to reporters after the peace meet, the minister urged all the religious, social and political organisations to come together to avoid such violent incidents. He also said that all political parties should work together to isolate assailants. More police have been deployed in the area to meet the situation.