Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian
03 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CBI probe into the custodial death of Sampath seems to be derailing from the popular objective of bringing the real culprits before the law and instead snowballing into an internal clash within the nation’s premier investigation agency.
The ‘timely’ leaking out of the information regarding the arraigning of two IPS officers in the case as well as the differences between the CBI top brass and investigating officers over arraigning the two IPS officers, has led to a fresh stand-off within the CBI, which may prove detrimental to a fair probe into the sensational custodial death which occurred in March 2010 at Palakkad.
CBI DySP P G Haridath had filed a report before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Kochi on February 2 naming the former Thrissur range IG Mohammed Yasin, Palakkad former SP Vijay Sakhare and 16 others as accused in the case.
However the information got leaked out only after two months, on April 1, that too a couple of hours after the Supreme Court directed that the investigation should be carried out under the strict supervision of a CBI joint director.
This has raised many an eyebrow as it is widely believed that the information was deliberately leaked out due to the stand- off between the investigation team and the CBI higher-ups.
The investigating officers in the case had earlier stated before the High Court that they were facing threat and undue pressure from the top.
Subsequently, the court had ordered that no senior official should interfere with the investigation.
After the CBI headquarters got complaints that the probe was not progressing in the right direction, a senior SP, R R Sahayi, was deputed to review the investigation.
But the investigation officer had refused to hand over the case diary.
Subsequently, the CBI headquarters approached the Supreme Court and the court on Friday directed that the probe should be closely monitored by a joint director. The move of the investigating officer to arraign two IPS officers as accused in the case, even without taking their statements, as well as to seek arrest warrants has come as a surprise.
“In case an official is arraigned as accused in a case, the normal practice is to inform the head of the department in which the accused officer is working and proceed with the arrest. A warrant is sought only if the official is evading arrest,” police sources pointed out.
A section in the state police strongly suspects the influence of a Bangalorebased spirit mafia don on the CBI to implicate Vijay Sakhare, who is now serving as DIG in Border Security Force. Two Bangalore-based spirit smugglers were booked by Sakhare while serving as the Palakkad SP. It is pointed out that though Sampath belonged to a poor family, his family has been engaging leading lawyers both in the Supreme Court and the High Court. “How the family meets the heavy fees of these leading lawyers remain mysterious,” a police officer said.
It is also pointed out that the mobile phone records of Yasin had clearly vindicated that he had not gone to Malampuzha during the time when Sampath was subjected to custodial torture. Yasin is now serving as managing director of Kerala Police Housing Construction Corporation.
Investigating officer summoned
CBI DySP Haridath was summoned to CBI headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday.
CBI sources said that it was following the Supreme Court directive on Friday that the investigating officer was directed to report to the CBI headquarters with the case diary.
There are also unconfirmed reports that IPS officers Yasin and Sakhare are planning to approach the court against the CBI’s decision to arraign them as accused in the case.
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Prison ‘vacancies’ filling up
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
03 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The prisons in the state are witnessing a steep increase in the number of inmates these days, thanks to the election season hotting up.
More persons are being arrested and remanded in prisons in petty cases.
The total number of prisoners has gone up from 6,100 about two weeks ago to around 6,400 now.
“We had witnessed a similar increase in the number of prisoners during the recent local bodies elections also,” says Additional DGP (Prisons) Alexander Jacob. The prison population had gone up to around 6,800 during the local bodies elections. However, these figures will come down soon as those held in these cases will normally get bail after a 14-day judicial remand period, he says.
Police sources say that during election time, there will be a number of complaints pertaining to election campaign and the police will be forced to take immediate action owing to political pressure. Moreover, no political leader will interfere with the arrest to avoid any controversy.
The arrested will also lose a chance to cast their votes.
The New Indian Express
03 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The prisons in the state are witnessing a steep increase in the number of inmates these days, thanks to the election season hotting up.
More persons are being arrested and remanded in prisons in petty cases.
The total number of prisoners has gone up from 6,100 about two weeks ago to around 6,400 now.
“We had witnessed a similar increase in the number of prisoners during the recent local bodies elections also,” says Additional DGP (Prisons) Alexander Jacob. The prison population had gone up to around 6,800 during the local bodies elections. However, these figures will come down soon as those held in these cases will normally get bail after a 14-day judicial remand period, he says.
Police sources say that during election time, there will be a number of complaints pertaining to election campaign and the police will be forced to take immediate action owing to political pressure. Moreover, no political leader will interfere with the arrest to avoid any controversy.
The arrested will also lose a chance to cast their votes.
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Confidence vs Development @ Kazhakoottam
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
02 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The once remote Kazhakkoottam, which now finds a prominent place in the world’s IT map with the setting up of Asia’s first IT park, is witnessing a fierce battle between the two candidates who pin their hope on two different aspects; changes in political demography and development initiatives.
Two-time MLA M A Vaheed, who is the UDF candidate, is cashing in on the development programmes that he has initiated in the Kazhakkoottam constituency over the last one decade, whereas LDF candidate, C Ajayakumar of the CPM, is pinning his hopes mainly on the changes in the political demography of the constituency.
Following delimitation, certain parts of the constituency such as Andoorkonam, Kadinamkulam and Pothencode where Vaheed as well as the UDF had a strong influence, got detached from the Kazhakkoottam constituency. Similarly, certain other areas such as Ulloor and Kadakampally, where the LDF got an upper hand, have been attached to the constituency.
"The changes brought about by the delimitation process is indeed an advantage to the LDF, besides various other factors," Ajayakumar told ‘Express’ amidst his busy election campaigning near Ulloor on Friday.
However, the two-time MLA Vaheed is trying to overcome this adverse factor by highlighting the developments he had initiated in the constituency and nearby areas during the past one decade.
"I do not need an introduction in Kazhakkoottam as the people here know me very well. I made this possible with the massive developments I have brought in to the constituency over the past one decade. Kazhakkoottam now has all the facilities as that of a city,” says Vaheed.
For the people of Kazhakkoottam it was quite a different experience to watch Vaheed travelling in an open jeep, as he often travels through the constituency on his Yezdi motorcycle. “Indeed, Vaheed is more familiar to us than Ajayakumar,” says a shopkeeper at Sreekaryam.
Countering the claims of Vaheed with regard to the development initiatives, Ajayakumar, who was a former chairman of the Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority, lists out the development initiatives he had initiated which includes new shopping complexes and road widening.
While Vaheed lists out the infrastructure development he had brought in, Ajayakumar counters it.
"Many panchayats in Kazhakkoottam are still waiting for electricity and other basic infrastructure. Is it the type of development that we require?” Ajayakumar asks.
Among the list of development initiatives of Vaheed are the film and video park and the apparel park of KINFRA. “Both the projects would not have attained the present heights without my initiative,” says Vaheed.
Both the UDF and the LDF candidates are claiming credit for the development of the Technopark over these years. However, both the Fronts have decided to keep off Technopark campus from campaigning. “We do not want to disturb the atmosphere on Technopark campus and hence, are not campaigning on the campus though a good number of IT professionals are now voters of the constituency, "says Vaheed. Amidst the positive and negative factors that both the Fronts share, the UDF and the LDF are quite neck and neck in the campaign front and both the candidates are confident of making it with a clear majority.
In the meantime, the BJP candidate is also pinning hopes on the changes brought in by delimitation.
“With the delimitation, various areas such as Karikkakom, Cheruvaikkal and Edavakode where the BJP has a considerable support, are attached to the constituency. Hence, it will be advantage BJP this time,” says party candidate Padmakumar.
Padmakumar, who is confident of giving a tough fight to both the UDF and the LDF, is mainly highlighting the ‘failure’ of both the Fronts in bringing development to Kazhakkoottam, especially with regard to the development of roads.
The New Indian Express
02 Apr 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The once remote Kazhakkoottam, which now finds a prominent place in the world’s IT map with the setting up of Asia’s first IT park, is witnessing a fierce battle between the two candidates who pin their hope on two different aspects; changes in political demography and development initiatives.
Two-time MLA M A Vaheed, who is the UDF candidate, is cashing in on the development programmes that he has initiated in the Kazhakkoottam constituency over the last one decade, whereas LDF candidate, C Ajayakumar of the CPM, is pinning his hopes mainly on the changes in the political demography of the constituency.
Following delimitation, certain parts of the constituency such as Andoorkonam, Kadinamkulam and Pothencode where Vaheed as well as the UDF had a strong influence, got detached from the Kazhakkoottam constituency. Similarly, certain other areas such as Ulloor and Kadakampally, where the LDF got an upper hand, have been attached to the constituency.
"The changes brought about by the delimitation process is indeed an advantage to the LDF, besides various other factors," Ajayakumar told ‘Express’ amidst his busy election campaigning near Ulloor on Friday.
However, the two-time MLA Vaheed is trying to overcome this adverse factor by highlighting the developments he had initiated in the constituency and nearby areas during the past one decade.
"I do not need an introduction in Kazhakkoottam as the people here know me very well. I made this possible with the massive developments I have brought in to the constituency over the past one decade. Kazhakkoottam now has all the facilities as that of a city,” says Vaheed.
For the people of Kazhakkoottam it was quite a different experience to watch Vaheed travelling in an open jeep, as he often travels through the constituency on his Yezdi motorcycle. “Indeed, Vaheed is more familiar to us than Ajayakumar,” says a shopkeeper at Sreekaryam.
Countering the claims of Vaheed with regard to the development initiatives, Ajayakumar, who was a former chairman of the Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority, lists out the development initiatives he had initiated which includes new shopping complexes and road widening.
While Vaheed lists out the infrastructure development he had brought in, Ajayakumar counters it.
"Many panchayats in Kazhakkoottam are still waiting for electricity and other basic infrastructure. Is it the type of development that we require?” Ajayakumar asks.
Among the list of development initiatives of Vaheed are the film and video park and the apparel park of KINFRA. “Both the projects would not have attained the present heights without my initiative,” says Vaheed.
Both the UDF and the LDF candidates are claiming credit for the development of the Technopark over these years. However, both the Fronts have decided to keep off Technopark campus from campaigning. “We do not want to disturb the atmosphere on Technopark campus and hence, are not campaigning on the campus though a good number of IT professionals are now voters of the constituency, "says Vaheed. Amidst the positive and negative factors that both the Fronts share, the UDF and the LDF are quite neck and neck in the campaign front and both the candidates are confident of making it with a clear majority.
In the meantime, the BJP candidate is also pinning hopes on the changes brought in by delimitation.
“With the delimitation, various areas such as Karikkakom, Cheruvaikkal and Edavakode where the BJP has a considerable support, are attached to the constituency. Hence, it will be advantage BJP this time,” says party candidate Padmakumar.
Padmakumar, who is confident of giving a tough fight to both the UDF and the LDF, is mainly highlighting the ‘failure’ of both the Fronts in bringing development to Kazhakkoottam, especially with regard to the development of roads.
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
No freedom to vote
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
30 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 6,000-odd prisoners in the state have to remain mute witnesses to the electoral process. However, this time they could heave a sigh of relief that a famous legislator is one among them.
The one-year rigorous imprisonment in the Idamalayar corruption case has played spoilsport for Kerala Congress(B) leader and former Minister R Balakrishna Pillai’s desire to contest the polls. He may also be deprived of a chance to cast his vote. The only ray of hope before Pillai is the outcome of a curative petition that he had filed before the Supreme Court against the judgment in the Idamalayar case.
“At present, we do not have any rules that allow a prisoner to cast his vote,” says Additional DGP (prisons) Alexander Jacob. However, it is a sigh of relief for the prisoners that the new prison rules that have been mooted by the Prisons Department provide for voting rights for the prisoners. But the draft of the new rules is only under the consideration of the government.
At present, there are 6,384 prisoners in the state, of whom 2,700 are convicts. The remaining include remand prisoners, undertrials and those kept in preventive detention under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (Goonda Act).
Though there is no provision for prisoners to exercise their franchise, in case if a prisoner is on parole on any other grounds during the polling day, he may be able to cast his vote, provided his name is there in the electoral roll.
However, the Election Commission will be strictly scrutinising all parole applications. Hence the chance of getting parole on flimsy grounds is rare, say sources.
Over these years, discussions had taken place at various platforms across the nation regarding the denial of voting rights to prisoners. However, it still remains a distant dream in a country like India which boasts of being the largest democracy.
The New Indian Express
30 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 6,000-odd prisoners in the state have to remain mute witnesses to the electoral process. However, this time they could heave a sigh of relief that a famous legislator is one among them.
The one-year rigorous imprisonment in the Idamalayar corruption case has played spoilsport for Kerala Congress(B) leader and former Minister R Balakrishna Pillai’s desire to contest the polls. He may also be deprived of a chance to cast his vote. The only ray of hope before Pillai is the outcome of a curative petition that he had filed before the Supreme Court against the judgment in the Idamalayar case.
“At present, we do not have any rules that allow a prisoner to cast his vote,” says Additional DGP (prisons) Alexander Jacob. However, it is a sigh of relief for the prisoners that the new prison rules that have been mooted by the Prisons Department provide for voting rights for the prisoners. But the draft of the new rules is only under the consideration of the government.
At present, there are 6,384 prisoners in the state, of whom 2,700 are convicts. The remaining include remand prisoners, undertrials and those kept in preventive detention under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (Goonda Act).
Though there is no provision for prisoners to exercise their franchise, in case if a prisoner is on parole on any other grounds during the polling day, he may be able to cast his vote, provided his name is there in the electoral roll.
However, the Election Commission will be strictly scrutinising all parole applications. Hence the chance of getting parole on flimsy grounds is rare, say sources.
Over these years, discussions had taken place at various platforms across the nation regarding the denial of voting rights to prisoners. However, it still remains a distant dream in a country like India which boasts of being the largest democracy.
DGP rank denied to Pulikeshi
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
30 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Additional Director General of Police (Training) C S Pulikeshi has been denied promotion to the rank of Director General of Police.
A selection committee headed by Chief Secretary P Prabhakaran which met here on Monday decided to supercede the seniority of Pulikeshi, who is an IPS officer of the 1977 batch, as he had been chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a corruption case pertaining to the Civil Supplies Corporation.
The committee also cleared the names of IPS officers of the 1978 batch ADGP (Vigilance) Netto Desmond, ADGP K S Balasubramanian (who is on Central deputation) and ADGP (Headquarters) K S Jangpangi for promotion to the rank of DGP. However, fresh postings are likely to be given to these officers only after the new government assumes office.
The selection committee, which also comprised of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K Jayakumar and DGP Jacob Punnoose, came to the conclusion that Pulikeshi is not fit for promotion as he had been chargesheeted by the CBI in a case pertaining to corruption in Civil Supplies Corporation while he was the chairman and managing director of the corporation. The name of Pulikeshi could be considered for promotion to the rank of DGP only once he is cleared of the case, the committee observed.
It was following the voluntary retirement of Siby Mathews and retirement of K P Somarajan that the promotions are being made. Both of them were IPS officers of the 1977 batch and were in the rank of DGP.
The New Indian Express
30 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Additional Director General of Police (Training) C S Pulikeshi has been denied promotion to the rank of Director General of Police.
A selection committee headed by Chief Secretary P Prabhakaran which met here on Monday decided to supercede the seniority of Pulikeshi, who is an IPS officer of the 1977 batch, as he had been chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a corruption case pertaining to the Civil Supplies Corporation.
The committee also cleared the names of IPS officers of the 1978 batch ADGP (Vigilance) Netto Desmond, ADGP K S Balasubramanian (who is on Central deputation) and ADGP (Headquarters) K S Jangpangi for promotion to the rank of DGP. However, fresh postings are likely to be given to these officers only after the new government assumes office.
The selection committee, which also comprised of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K Jayakumar and DGP Jacob Punnoose, came to the conclusion that Pulikeshi is not fit for promotion as he had been chargesheeted by the CBI in a case pertaining to corruption in Civil Supplies Corporation while he was the chairman and managing director of the corporation. The name of Pulikeshi could be considered for promotion to the rank of DGP only once he is cleared of the case, the committee observed.
It was following the voluntary retirement of Siby Mathews and retirement of K P Somarajan that the promotions are being made. Both of them were IPS officers of the 1977 batch and were in the rank of DGP.
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Pillai’s Somersault owing to complulsions
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
24 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The somersault made by Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai from his decision to contest the Assembly elections from behind the bars, seems to be ignited not only by the political pressure from the UDF camp, but also by the realisation that there remained legal hurdles which are hard to overcome.
Interpreting various provisions in the relevant Acts, senior lawyers point out that it would not be a cakewalk for Pillai who is undergoing oneyear imprisonment in the Idamalayar corruption case.
The legal opinion obtained by Pillai in his favour had pointed out that Pillai was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act) of 1947, whereas the Representation of the People Act only disqualified a person convicted under the PC Act of 1988 from contesting the elections for a period of up to six years
after the end of the sentence.
However, countering this argument, another section of lawyers point out that Section 30 of the PC Act 1988 repeals and saves all provisions in the PC Act of 1947 and hence the legal opinion in favour of Pillai won't stand. Senior lawyers Thampan Thomas and Cheruniyoor Sasidharan Nair share the same view.
Moreover, it is also pointed out that Pillai was originally convicted by the Sessions court for five years. But the Supreme Court had relaxed the conviction considering a prayer of Pillai to consider his illhealth.
Hence, if Pillai tries to exploit this concession
it would amount to
misrepresentation in the court.
The New Indian Express
24 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The somersault made by Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai from his decision to contest the Assembly elections from behind the bars, seems to be ignited not only by the political pressure from the UDF camp, but also by the realisation that there remained legal hurdles which are hard to overcome.
Interpreting various provisions in the relevant Acts, senior lawyers point out that it would not be a cakewalk for Pillai who is undergoing oneyear imprisonment in the Idamalayar corruption case.
The legal opinion obtained by Pillai in his favour had pointed out that Pillai was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act) of 1947, whereas the Representation of the People Act only disqualified a person convicted under the PC Act of 1988 from contesting the elections for a period of up to six years
after the end of the sentence.
However, countering this argument, another section of lawyers point out that Section 30 of the PC Act 1988 repeals and saves all provisions in the PC Act of 1947 and hence the legal opinion in favour of Pillai won't stand. Senior lawyers Thampan Thomas and Cheruniyoor Sasidharan Nair share the same view.
Moreover, it is also pointed out that Pillai was originally convicted by the Sessions court for five years. But the Supreme Court had relaxed the conviction considering a prayer of Pillai to consider his illhealth.
Hence, if Pillai tries to exploit this concession
it would amount to
misrepresentation in the court.
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Akshaya to join Keltron in enrolment works
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
21 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Succumbing to stiff objection from various quarters, the State Government revoked its earlier decision which had denied Akshaya role in the enrolment works for the nation's flagship Unique Identification (UID) Project in Thiruvananthapuram district and assigned the same to Keltron.
The government has now decided that Keltron and Akshaya will jointly do the enrolment works both in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts where UID enrolment had been piloted last month.
While Keltron will cover the urban areas in both these districts, Akshaya will cover the rural areas.
A modified government order in this regard was issued by the State Information Technology department the other day.
The Askshya entrepreneurs were up in arms against the earlier decision of the government to hand over the enrolment of UID in entire Thiruvananthapuram district to Keltron. It was a jolt to the 200odd Akshaya entrepreneurs who were gearing up to take up the enrolment works following an earlier assurance from the government.
Enrolment to UID is quite an attractive affair as the UID Authority will pay around `38 for enrolling each person.
Akshaya entrepreneurs in Alappuzha district had already enrolled at least 1,000
persons.
"We are receiving a good response from the people towards UID enrolment. Even Akshaya entrepreneurs from other districts are coming down to Alappuzha district to get enrolled," said All Kerala Akshaya Entrepreneurs Association president T S Chandran.
The association had earlier submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister against the decision to hand over the enrolment works in Thiruvananthapuram to Keltron.
It was after much dillydallying that the State Government had launched UID enrolment here on February 24.
Use of propriety software for the enrolment and ideological objections raised by certain quarters over the collection of personal data of individuals had indeed delayed the launch of UID enrolment in Kerala.
The UID project, popularly known as Aadhaar, envisages maintaining a data base of the personal information including biometric identification marks of all citizens of India and issuing an Unique Identification number and identity card to each citizen.
Many other states are far ahead in the enrolment process.
The New Indian Express
21 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Succumbing to stiff objection from various quarters, the State Government revoked its earlier decision which had denied Akshaya role in the enrolment works for the nation's flagship Unique Identification (UID) Project in Thiruvananthapuram district and assigned the same to Keltron.
The government has now decided that Keltron and Akshaya will jointly do the enrolment works both in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts where UID enrolment had been piloted last month.
While Keltron will cover the urban areas in both these districts, Akshaya will cover the rural areas.
A modified government order in this regard was issued by the State Information Technology department the other day.
The Askshya entrepreneurs were up in arms against the earlier decision of the government to hand over the enrolment of UID in entire Thiruvananthapuram district to Keltron. It was a jolt to the 200odd Akshaya entrepreneurs who were gearing up to take up the enrolment works following an earlier assurance from the government.
Enrolment to UID is quite an attractive affair as the UID Authority will pay around `38 for enrolling each person.
Akshaya entrepreneurs in Alappuzha district had already enrolled at least 1,000
persons.
"We are receiving a good response from the people towards UID enrolment. Even Akshaya entrepreneurs from other districts are coming down to Alappuzha district to get enrolled," said All Kerala Akshaya Entrepreneurs Association president T S Chandran.
The association had earlier submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister against the decision to hand over the enrolment works in Thiruvananthapuram to Keltron.
It was after much dillydallying that the State Government had launched UID enrolment here on February 24.
Use of propriety software for the enrolment and ideological objections raised by certain quarters over the collection of personal data of individuals had indeed delayed the launch of UID enrolment in Kerala.
The UID project, popularly known as Aadhaar, envisages maintaining a data base of the personal information including biometric identification marks of all citizens of India and issuing an Unique Identification number and identity card to each citizen.
Many other states are far ahead in the enrolment process.
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