Provide security for online taxi services: Kerala HC -

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Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the state police to ensure necessary security to all drivers working for operators of online taxi services.

Justice V. Chitambaresh directed Kerala Police chief T.P. Senkumar to ensure the safety and security of all such drivers operating online taxi services at railway and bus stations and airports in the state.

An online taxi driver had moved the high court with a plea that he was unable to work unhindered as he was prevented by members of the traditional taxi drivers' unions.

Ever since online taxi providers like Uber and Ola Cabs launched operations in Kerala, their drivers have come under attack by other taxi drivers. 

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Mystery shrouds Mani’s death; forensic report reveals pesticide residue -

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Kochi: A forensic examination has revealed the presence of toxic pesticide Chlorpyrifos in the body of actor and singer Kalabhavan Mani who died on March 6.

Mani, 45, who acted in 200 films in Malayalam and other languages, suffered from a liver ailment and was admitted on March 4 to a hospital here in a serious condition. He died in the hospital on March 6.

Soon after his death, speculation surfaced that it was not a natural death as the hospital authorities reported presence of a chemical in his body.

On Thursday, Mani's brother Ramakrishnan said he suspected foul play behind the death of the actor.

"I suspect all those who had kept Mani company the day before he died," Ramakrishnan is reported in the media to have said.

Mani allegedly consumed liquor in the company of some friends in his outhouse near Chalakkudy in Thrissur district before taking ill and being taken to hospital.

Ramakrishnan suspects that those keeping the actor company tried to destroy evidence by cleaning the place where they consumed liquor before anyone from the family arrived at the spot.

He also dispelled the suggestion that things had been going wrong in Mani's family life.

The police have sealed the actor's outhouse and started a probe into his death.

"I was informed of Mani being admitted to a hospital by his brother only the next day. We want the truth to come out. He was one person who came up in life through hard work and enjoyed everything... he will never ever commit suicide," said the deceased actor's wife Nimmi.

She also denied reports that there was discord in their family life.

A few days ago the police probe team had taken into custody three of Mani's close aides who were with him when he fell ill at the outhouse.

Popular TV artiste Sabu was questioned and then let off. He was reportedly present at the outhouse, but left the place before Mani fell ill.

"I was in Chalakkudy for a shoot that day and after, along with Jaffer Idukki. Another actor and myself visited the outhouse of Mani. There were quite a few people at that time and I left after some time," Sabu told media persons on Friday.

The police also suspect that all is not well because when they first reached the outhouse, the place had been cleaned up.

"He always lived for his friends even at the expense of his family... Why did they do this? We want the truth to come out and how this happened," said Ramakrishnan.

യമുനാതീരത്തെ മലിനീകരണം: ശ്രീ ശ്രീ രവിശങ്കര്‍ 100 കോടി പിഴയടക്കണം

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ന്യൂഡല്‍ഹി: യമുനാ തീരത്തെ മലിനീകരണവുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട് ശ്രീ ശ്രീ രവിശങ്കറിന്റെ നേതൃത്വത്തിലുള്ള ആര്‍ട്ട് ഓഫ് ലിവിങ് ഫൗണ്ടേഷന്‍ 100 കോടി രൂപ പിഴയടക്കണമെന്ന് ദേശീയ ഹരിത ട്രൈബ്യൂണല്‍. മൂന്ന് ദിവസത്തെ ലോക സാംസ്‌കാരികോത്സവുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട് ഡല്‍ഹിയിലെ യമുനാതീരത്ത് ഒരുക്കിയ മേക്ക്ഷിഫ്റ്റ് വില്ലേജിന്റെ നിര്‍മ്മാണവുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടാണ് മലിനീകരണം. അതേസമയം, പരിപാടിക്ക് അനുമതി നല്‍കുന്നത് സംബന്ധിച്ച് ഹരിത ട്രൈബ്യൂണല്‍ തീരുമാനിക്കും.

പ്രൊഫ സി.ആര്‍ ബാബു സ്ഥലം പരിശോധിച്ചു. നദീതീരത്ത് വ്യാപകമായ നാശനഷ്ടമാണ് പുതിയ നിര്‍മ്മാണങ്ങളുണ്ടാക്കിയിട്ടുള്ളത്. 100 മുതല്‍ 120 കോടി വരെ ഇതിന് പിഴ ഈടാക്കാമെന്നും നാശന്ഷ്ടങ്ങള്‍ പഠിക്കാന്‍ വേണ്ടി ട്രൈബ്യൂണല്‍ നിയോഗിച്ച പ്രൊഫ സി.ആര്‍ ബാബു വ്യക്തമാക്കി.

യോഗാ, ധ്യാന പരിപാടികള്‍, സമാധാന പരിപാടികള്‍, സാംസ്‌കാരിക പരിപാടികളെന്നിവയാണ് സംഘടിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്. ഇതിനായി നദീതീരത്തെ 50 മുതല്‍ 60 ഹെക്ടര്‍ വരെ സ്ഥലമാണ് ആര്‍ട്ട് ഓഫ് ലിവിങ് ഫൗണ്ടേഷന്‍ കയ്യേറിയിരിക്കുന്നത്. പരിപാടിയുടെ ഭാഗമായി വലിയ രീതിയിലുള്ള മലിനീകരണമാണ് ഉണ്ടായിട്ടുള്ളത്. ഇത് നദീതീരത്ത് മാത്രം കണ്ടുവരുന്ന 320ഓളം വിഭാഗങ്ങളില്‍പ്പെട്ട പക്ഷികളുടെയും 200ഓളം വിഭാഗങ്ങളിലുള്ള സസ്യങ്ങളുടെയും ആവാസ വ്യവസ്ഥയെ തകര്‍ക്കുമെന്നും ബാബു പറഞ്ഞു.

150 രാജ്യങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്നുള്‌ല 35,000ത്തോളം കലാകാരന്‍മാര്‍ക്ക് ഏഴ് ഏക്കര്‍ സ്ഥലത്താണ് സ്‌റ്റേജുകള്‍ ഒരുക്കിയിരിക്കുന്നത്. താത്കാലികമായ പാലങ്ങള്‍, മൊബൈല്‍ ടവറുകള്‍, പാര്‍ക്കിങ് ഏരിയ എന്നിവ നിര്‍മ്മിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. അതേസമയം, വലിയ നിര്‍മ്മാണ പ്രവര്‍ത്തനങ്ങളൊന്നും നടത്തിയിട്ടില്ലെന്നാണ് ആര്‍ട്ട് ഓഫ് ലിവിങിന്റെ വാദം.

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.

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."

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