KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday dismissed the petition of Leader of Opposition VS Achuthanandan seeking a CBI probe in ice-cream parlour sex case allegedly involving Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty.
Achuthanandan had approached the high court stating that the investigation in the case following fresh disclosures made by KA Rauf, a close relative of Kunhalikutty, in 2011, was not done in the right manner and hence only a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe could bring out the truth.
Chief Justice Manjula Chellur, while dismissing Achuthanandan's plea, however, noted that even though the court was not going into the details of the investigation, from what had been pointed out on the lapses in the probe, it appeared to be grave and the petitioner could approach the magistrate's court if he had any grievance.
This is the second time in nearly two years that Achuthanandan's petition seeking a CBI probe has been dismissed, the first being on Sep 27, 2011.
The new disclosures by Rauf had come a few months ahead of the April 2011 assembly polls and Achuthanandan, as the then chief minister, had ordered a fresh probe by a senior police officer.
The alleged sex racket in early 1990s involved an ice-cream parlour in Kozhikode as its base and was flagged the "ice cream parlour sex case" by the media.
Since then, the case has been vigorously taken up by Achuthanandan and it was dismissed by the Supreme Court, which gave a clean chit to Kunhalikutty, an Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader.
Eight killed in bus-autorikshaw collision
MALAPPURAM: Eight people, including four children and two women, were killed in a bus-autorikshaw collision at Mukkola near Tanur in Malappuram district on Friday.
They have been identified as Kabir (25), Arshak (22), Saheera (45), Arifa (42), her daughter Nasla (7), and Sahira’s three children--Thabshira (3), Thabshir (7) and Ansar (1) were also killed in the accident.
The bus was set ablaze by angry mob. The driver and conductor of the bus fled the place,
Solar scam: Kerala HC refuses to spare sitting judge
KOCHI: The Kerala High court has informed the state government that it cannot spare a sitting judge to conduct probe into the solar scam that brought Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's office under a cloud and rocked the UDF government for the past two months.
The decision in this regard taken by a five-member administrative committee of the court, chaired by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur, was today conveyed to the State Chief Secretary E K Bharath Bhushan, CM's office sources said.
Under persistent demand from LDF opposition, the cabinet had earlier this month decided to hold a judicial probe into the scam and sought the services of a sitting judge.
The decision to hold a judicial probe was ordered by the Government at the height of the opposition campaign which saw thousands of LDF workers laying siege to the secretariat here demanding Chandy's resignation. The opposition called of the 'siege' after the probe was announced.
However, even after that both sides have been engaged in a heated debate over the issue of inclusion of CM's office in the ambit of the probe.
"If the government made a renewed plea to the High Court it is still possible to get the services of a sitting judge. But the government's sincerity in the matter is suspect," CPI(M) politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said.
State Home Minister Thiruvanchur Radkhakrishnan said the Government was firm on conducting a judicial probe but the next step would be decided by the cabinet.
The scam related to cheating people of huge sums by the arrested accused Biju Radhakrishnan and Saritha Nair by offering solar energy solutions. A special investigation team probing the case has completed its probe.
The case assumed a serious political dimension with the arrest of Tenny Joppan, a Personal Assistant in the Chief Minister's office, for his alleged links with the accused.
As a spin-off, former Director of Public Relations Department A Firoz and tele-actress and danseuse Shalu Menon were also arrested in a related case. Shalu and Joppan were released on bail earlier this week.
LDF has been alleging that such a huge scam would not have taken place without the collusion of the Chief Minister.
The decision in this regard taken by a five-member administrative committee of the court, chaired by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur, was today conveyed to the State Chief Secretary E K Bharath Bhushan, CM's office sources said.
Under persistent demand from LDF opposition, the cabinet had earlier this month decided to hold a judicial probe into the scam and sought the services of a sitting judge.
The decision to hold a judicial probe was ordered by the Government at the height of the opposition campaign which saw thousands of LDF workers laying siege to the secretariat here demanding Chandy's resignation. The opposition called of the 'siege' after the probe was announced.
However, even after that both sides have been engaged in a heated debate over the issue of inclusion of CM's office in the ambit of the probe.
"If the government made a renewed plea to the High Court it is still possible to get the services of a sitting judge. But the government's sincerity in the matter is suspect," CPI(M) politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said.
State Home Minister Thiruvanchur Radkhakrishnan said the Government was firm on conducting a judicial probe but the next step would be decided by the cabinet.
The scam related to cheating people of huge sums by the arrested accused Biju Radhakrishnan and Saritha Nair by offering solar energy solutions. A special investigation team probing the case has completed its probe.
The case assumed a serious political dimension with the arrest of Tenny Joppan, a Personal Assistant in the Chief Minister's office, for his alleged links with the accused.
As a spin-off, former Director of Public Relations Department A Firoz and tele-actress and danseuse Shalu Menon were also arrested in a related case. Shalu and Joppan were released on bail earlier this week.
LDF has been alleging that such a huge scam would not have taken place without the collusion of the Chief Minister.
Railways ordered to pay Rs 4 lakh compensation
KOCHI: The Railway Claims Tribunal has awarded a Rs four lakh compensation to the parents of a seven-year-old girl who died after she fell from the emergency window of a Kerala-bound train from Delhi at Palakkad last year.
The girl, Jiya Ann George, was playing with her brother in the S11 compartment when she accidentally fell off the Kerala Express through the open emergency window on the morning of December 26 last. Her father, who was also travelling with them, rushed her to a hospital in an autorickshaw about 18 km away but could not save her life.
The girl was visiting her mother, a nurse doing her post-graduation at Kottayam, for the New Year.
The Tribunal dismissed the railway's plea that the mishap had occurred due to the negligence of the child's father who was asleep when the incident took place, Tribunal sources said today.
The Tribunal's judicial member said the emergency window has to be opened only in emergency situations to save someone's life. Railways had failed to ensure the safety and security of the passenger, the Tribunal held.
The amount has to be paid within 60 days with 8 per cent interest from April 10 when the application for compensation was filed, sources said.
The girl, Jiya Ann George, was playing with her brother in the S11 compartment when she accidentally fell off the Kerala Express through the open emergency window on the morning of December 26 last. Her father, who was also travelling with them, rushed her to a hospital in an autorickshaw about 18 km away but could not save her life.
The girl was visiting her mother, a nurse doing her post-graduation at Kottayam, for the New Year.
The Tribunal dismissed the railway's plea that the mishap had occurred due to the negligence of the child's father who was asleep when the incident took place, Tribunal sources said today.
The Tribunal's judicial member said the emergency window has to be opened only in emergency situations to save someone's life. Railways had failed to ensure the safety and security of the passenger, the Tribunal held.
The amount has to be paid within 60 days with 8 per cent interest from April 10 when the application for compensation was filed, sources said.
Malappuram passport officer shifted
MALAPPURAM: The Malappuram Passport Officer, Abdul Rasheed K, who was named as an accused in a corruption case by CBI for alleged irregularities in issuing passports, was on Friday removed from the post.
Rasheed, an officer in the rank of DYSP with Kerala police, was on two-year deputation as passport officer and his deputation period ended on August 4. He took charge as passport officer on August 4, 2011.
Rasheed was Friday sent back to his parent department of Kerala Police.
According to official sources, he had asked for one more year extension, which was rejected by the Union Ministry of External Affairs.
There were allegations against Rasheed in connection with the fake passports issued through Malappuram passport office and alleged human trafficking through Kozhikode airport. CBI had conducted raids in the office and at his house in connection with the case.
State Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan had also demanded action against Rasheed, who is related to a senior leader of Indian Union Muslim League, the second largest partner in the Congress-led ruling UDF in Kerala.
Rasheed, an officer in the rank of DYSP with Kerala police, was on two-year deputation as passport officer and his deputation period ended on August 4. He took charge as passport officer on August 4, 2011.
Rasheed was Friday sent back to his parent department of Kerala Police.
According to official sources, he had asked for one more year extension, which was rejected by the Union Ministry of External Affairs.
There were allegations against Rasheed in connection with the fake passports issued through Malappuram passport office and alleged human trafficking through Kozhikode airport. CBI had conducted raids in the office and at his house in connection with the case.
State Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan had also demanded action against Rasheed, who is related to a senior leader of Indian Union Muslim League, the second largest partner in the Congress-led ruling UDF in Kerala.
Child marriage: Three including mother in custody
KOZHIKODE: Three persons including the mother of the Arab was taken into custody following a complaint by a 17-year-old girl who was married off to the Arab. They were taken into custody for questioning in connection with the incident.
The police are questioning the Arab’s mother Sulaika, girl’s stepfather and her cousin brother. Meantime, the police will record the statement of the girl today.
The police also took the statement of the orphanage office bearers who organised the wedding.
The police are questioning the Arab’s mother Sulaika, girl’s stepfather and her cousin brother. Meantime, the police will record the statement of the girl today.
The police also took the statement of the orphanage office bearers who organised the wedding.
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