2016, മാർച്ച് 9, ബുധനാഴ്‌ച

P. Jayarajan taken back to Kannur jail

>Kozhikode>CPI-M politician P. Jayarajan who is an accused in the murder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker Kathiroor Manoj was discharged from Kozhikode Medical College Wednesday morning Jayarajan was taken to Kannur by road around 10 am,accompanied by a special police team from the A R Camp . Earlier a medical team from Kannur had examined the CPI-M leader before recommending his discharge from the hospital. Jayarajan, who suffers from a heart ailment, had been convalescing at Kozhikode Medical College. Meanwhile, the CBI team that secured a three-day custody of the Marxist leader will interrogate him in Kannur jail. The Thalassery principal sessions court had on Tuesday allowed the CBI three days of custodial interrogation of Jayarajan. The court had also asked the Kannur jail superintendent to make all arrangements for the CBI to interrogate Jayarajan for three days starting on Wednesday. The Thalassery court had on February 12 sent Jayarajan to a month's judicial custody after he surrendered before the district sessions court. Soon after his surrender he was taken to the Kannur jail. From there, owing to his ill-health, Jayarajan was first moved to a hospital near Kannur and from there to the Kozhikode Medical College hospital The CBI had been seeking since February 17 the court's direction to allow Jayarajan's custodial interrogation. Jayarajan is former Kannur district secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). He was booked by the CBI for conspiracy under Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), in the murder of RSS worker Manoj. The CBI had earlier claimed that Jayarajan, the 25th accused in the murder of Manoj, is the brain behind the killing. Manoj, 42, a district functionary of RSS, was hacked to death at Kathiroor in Kannur district of Kerala on September 1, 2014, allegedly by a group of CPI-M workers.

Govt cancels approval for paddy land reclamation

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>Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress-led UDF government on Wednesday decided to cancel the in principle approval for land reclamation for the projects of Methran Kayal Ecotourism and Kadamakkudi Medicityin Kottayam and Ernakulam districts respectively. The decision is apparently following widespread protests against the approval. The Cabinet has ordered the Revenue department to revoke the sanctions. On Tuesday, the High Court had ordered maintenance of status quo by all parties concerned in the matter. The order was issued by Justice A Mohammed Mustaq considering a plea filed by paddy cultivater N K Alexander against the sanction given by the government to a private developer to use 378 acres of paddy land at Methran Kayal Padasekharam in Kumarakom for the ecotourism project The petitioner submitted that he owns 7.8 hectares of paddy land in the village and that such a project coming up would have an adverse impact on his agriculture activities This area falls in Ramsar site as protected wetland. The project, presently protrayed as an eco-tourism project, is an ultra-luxury five star hotel and resorts. Any activity other than paddy cultivation would affect his rights, he said. Along with the ecotourism project, the state government had also given in principle clearance for reclamation of 47 acres of paddy fields for medicity project at Kadamakkudi in Ernakulam. The 2000 cr-Kumarakom project was planned by Rak Indo Developers Private Ltd.

Noida girl, raped and burnt alive, dies after suffering burn injuries -

New Delhi:The 15-year-old girl, who was raped and then burnt alive on the terrace of her house, died here on Wednesday in a city hospital, authorities said. The girl, a resident of Gautam Buddh Nagar in Noida, had suffered 95 percent burnt injuries and was admitted to Intensive Care Unit of Safdarjung hospital. "The young girl died today (Wednesday) around 4.30 a.m. She was severely burnt with rare chances of arrival," a senior doctor told IANS According to the doctor, the girls entire body was burnt except her face.

2016, മാർച്ച് 8, ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച

Lingaa script case: Madurai court summons actor Rajinikanth -

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Madurai: A court in Madurai has issued summons to superstar Rajinikanth and others asking them to appear before it on March 8 in connection with a suit filed against his film “Lingaa” on the charge that its storyline had been stolen from another script writer.
The Additional District Munsiff Court Judge also summoned K R Ravirathinam (plaintiff), film producer Rockline Venkatesh, B Ponkumar, Director K S Ravikumar and the General Secretary of South Indian Film Writers Association directing them to appear.
The Judge said the Madras High Court had last month directed him to complete the trial in the case within April 30 next and hence asked them to appear before his court Wednesday.
Passing orders on a petition by the film producer seeking transfer of the case to another court on grounds on prolonged delay in the trial, Justice V M Velumani of the high court had directed the Munsiff court to conclude the case within April 30.
The matter pertains to an allegation by plaintiff Ravi Rathinam of Madurai that his script was stolen by the makers of ‘Lingaa’.
He had moved the High Court which in December, 2014 ordered the producer to deposit a sum of Rs 5 crore by demand draft and another Rs 5 crore by way of bank guarantee before releasing the movie.
The producer complied with the court order as he needed to release the movie immediately and appealed against it in the Supreme Court which on March 20, 2015, directed him to furnish only Rs one crore as bank guarantee and also ordered the trial court to dispose the suit within six months.
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P. Jayarajan sent to CBI custody

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Kochi: The District and Sessions Court at Thalassery Tuesday sent CPI (M) Kannur district secretary P. Jayarajan, who is an accused in the Kathiroor Manoj murder case, to CBI custody for three days.
Principal sessions Judge V.G Anil Kumar allowed the CBI to interrogate him either in jail or in hospital.
The CBI in its plea had argued that the accused be given in their custody for questioning as his health condition was found to be normal as per the latest medical report from the Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Science and Technology (SCTIMST) Thiruvananthapuram.
On January 21, CPI(M) district secretary P.Jayarajan was arraigned by the CBI as the 25th accused in the case and charged with offences including under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
42-year-old Manoj, a district functionary of RSS, was hacked to death in the politically-volatile Kathiroor in Kannur district on September 1, 2014 allegedly by a group of CPI-M workers.
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Jaitley withdraws provident fund tax proposal

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New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said the government was withdrawing one of the much-resisted budget proposals to partially tax withdrawals from the employees' provident fund accounts.
"A number of representations have been received from various sections of the society, including members of parliament, suggesting that this change will force people to invest in anuity products even if they are not willing to do so," Jaitley told the Lok Sabha.
"The main argument is that employees should have the choice of where to invest. Theoretically, such freedom is desirable, but it is important for the government to achieve policy objectives by instrumentality of taxation," he said.
"In the present reform, the policy objective is not to get more revenues but to encourage to join the pension scheme," Jaitley said, adding the proposal he listed in paragraph 138 and 139 of his budget speech was being "withdrawn" to enable a "comprehensive" review.
"The proposal for giving 40 percent exemption given to NPS (National Pension Scheme) subscribers at the time of withdrawal remains."
Para 138 of his speech said: "In case of superannuation funds and recognised provident funds, including EPF, the same norm of 40 percent of corpus to be tax free will apply in respect of corpus created out of contributions made after April 1, 2016."
Para 139 said: "Further, the annuity fund which goes to the legal heir after the death of pensioner will not be taxable in all three cases. Also, we are proposing a monetary limit for contribution of employer in recognized provident and superannuation Fund of Rs.1.5 lakh per annum for taking tax benefit."

Failed drugs test at Australian Open: Sharapova

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New York:Russian tennis ace Maria Sharapova on Monday admitted to failing a drug test at the Australian Open in January, an act that will get her suspended from tennis, BBC reported .
Sharapova, in a press conference in Los Angeles on Monday, said she had been taking the drug, meldonium, ever since 2006 and didn't realise that it became a banned substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) at the start of 2016.
The International Tennis Federation, about an hour after her admission, said on its website that the 28-year-old would be provisionally banned from March 12. The usual ban for first-time offenders is two years.
The failed drug test came on January 26 -- after Sharapova lost to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals -- and she was charged with an anti-doping violation on March 2, the governing body additionally said.
"A few days ago I received a letter from the (International Tennis Federation) that I failed a drug test at the Australian Open," Sharapova, who has long been the world's richest female athlete, said in the press conference.
"I did fail the test and take full responsibility for it. For the past 10 years I have been given a medicine called mildronate by my doctor, my family doctor, and a few days ago after I received the ITF letter I found out that it also has another name, meldonium, which I did not know.
"It's very important for you to understand for 10 years this medicine was not on WADA's banned list and I had been legally taking the medicine for the past 10 years. But on January 1 the rules had changed and meldonium became a prohibited substance, which I had not known," the five-time grand slam winner said.
Sharapova said she began taking the medication, which can be used to treat heart issues, after irregular EKGs and being deficient in magnesium. Her family also has a history of diabetes, she added.
WADA stated in September that the anti-ischemic drug would be added to the prohibited list and Sharapova blamed herself for not taking note of the new list.
Steve Simon, CEO of the WTA women's tour, was "saddened" by the development but said it was down to Sharapova to make sure she knew the rules, the BBC report said.
"I am very saddened to hear this news about Maria," he said in a statement. "Maria is a leader and I have always known her to be a woman of great integrity. Nevertheless, as Maria acknowledged, it is every player's responsibility to know what they put in their body and to know if it is permissible.
"This matter is now in the hands of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program and its standard procedures. The WTA will support the decisions reached through this process."

2016, മാർച്ച് 7, തിങ്കളാഴ്‌ച

Former US first lady Nancy Reagan dies at 94

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Washington: Former US first lady Nancy Reagan passed away at the age of 94 in her Los Angeles home on Sunday, her office said.
A statement issued by her office said the former first lady died of congestive heart failure, and she would be buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California next to her husband, Ronald Wilson Reagan, who died in June, 2004.
"Prior to the funeral service, there will be an opportunity for members of the public to pay their respects at the library," Xinhua quoted the statement.
The White House, in a statement in the wake of Nancy's death, praised her on Sunday for her role in advancing Alzheimer's research.
After her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1994, Nancy Reagan became an advocate for Alzheimer's research.
Born in New York City, Nancy Reagan came to fame in the 1940s and 1950s during her acting career in Hollywood. 
During Reagan's presidency from 1981 to 1989, the former first lady was well-known for her clout with her husband and for bringing a lavish lifestyle to the White House in a time of recession, making her one of the most influential and controversial first ladies in the US history.
During her White House years, Reagan's most famous initiative was a major anti-drug campaign known as "Just say no"

Molestation case: Andhra minister's son grilled, sent to judicial custody

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Hyderabad: Ravela Susheel, son of Andhra Pradesh Social and Tribal Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu, was extensively grilled by police on Sunday after he surrendered in a molestation case. A court later sent him to 14 days judicial custody.
Susheel appeared at Banjara Hills police station and surrendered after his lawyer failed to get him bail.
Police also arrested Susheel's driver M. Ramesh alias Appa Rao. Deputy Commissioner of Police Venkateswar Rao told reporters that both Susheel and his driver were questioned with regard to the complaint lodged by a woman.
Venkateswar Rao said police were also examining the CCTV footage of the car in which Susheel was travelling. He also asserted that the government was taking all steps for protection of women. "There is no question of shielding anybody involved in a crime, no matter how powerful he may be."
The accused were later taken to the government-run Osmania Hospital for examination. They were later produced before a magistrate at his residence in the evening and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. The accused were shifted to Chanchalguda Central Jail here.
Police on Saturday issued notice to Susheel, asking him to appear before them within 48 hours.
Both Susheel and Ramesh were booked on Saturday under the Nirbhaya Act for stalking a woman and trying to pull her into their car.
The incident occurred in the posh Banjara Hills neighbourhood on Thursday when the woman, a teacher, was walking down the road. She alleged that the duo passed lewd comments and tried to drag her in by grabbing her hand.
Citing the victim's complaint, the two were booked for harassment and misbehaving but no arrests were made.
On Friday, some television channels reported how police tried to hush up the case.
Susheel clarified through a social media post on Sunday that he spotted a puppy on the road and got down from car to pick it up but the woman without any reason started shouting and abusing him.
"The crowd joined hands with the unknown people whose only intention was political vengeance," he said.
However, the CCTV footage beamed on some news channels showed the car slowing down near the burqa-clad woman. Perturbed by this, the woman started walking faster but the car continued following her.
Meanwhile, minister Ravela Kishore Babu said on Sunday that his son is innocent. Stating that Susheel has done nothing wrong, he claimed that the CCTV footage has been morphed.
The minister also targeted YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, alleging that the opposition leader is trying to implicate his son in a false case to defame him.
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Death for three Keralites in Kuwait

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Kuwait City: A court in Kuwait on Monday awarded the death sentence to three people from Kerala in a drug trafficking case.
Mustafa Shahul Hameed, Aboobacker Sidheeque and Faisal, all of them hailing from Malappuram in Kerala, were sentenced to death by Judge Mutaib Al Areebi.
A Sri Lankan native was also awarded the death sentence in the case.
The court allowed them one-month time to file an appeal against the verdict.
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