1. Viral Audio of Man Forcing Woman to Abort: TN Minister Jayakumar Denies It’s His Voice
Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar has found himself in a controversy, after two audio clips, purportedly with his voice, and an image of a birth certificate went viral. In the first audio clip, a woman claims to be the mother of a girl who was impregnated by the minister. The man is heard telling the woman to take her to a hospital and abort the foetus, and asking her to come and meet him at his house for monetary help to go to the hospital.
In the second audio clip, the man is heard talking to the same woman, who is heard saying that the foetus couldn’t be aborted. Along with the audio clips, the image of an alleged birth certificate is also being circulated, naming “D Jayakumar” as the father of a child born in August this year. Jayakumar denied such an incident to have ever happened, that the voice in the clips was not his.
(Source: The News Minute)
2. Monsoon Likely to Start on Oct. 26: IMD
The northeast monsoon is likely to set in around October 26 and the State may witness rains in one or two places till Thursday, the Meteorological Department said on Monday.
The NE monsoon is important as it accounts for 48% of the annual rainfall that the State receives. Coastal districts depend on the NE monsoon for 60% of their yearly rainfall. Met department officials said a cyclonic circulation over Sri Lanka and the neighbourhood that extends up to 3.1 km above the mean sea level would bring in isolated heavy rainfall over the State till Thursday. There may be an increase in rainfall activity, particularly over coastal parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from Friday.
(Source: The Hindu)
3. Actor Thiagarajan Denies Pretika Sexual Allegations
Mumbai based photographer Pretika Menon who has accused veteran actor, filmmaker and producer Thiagarajan of sexual misbehaviour, while shooting for Ponnar Shankar which featured his son Prashanth in dual roles. In her Facebook post, Pretika revealed that Thiagarajan tried to visit her hotel room thrice on the same night, spoiling her sleep and leaving her 'scared for her life and body'.
However, Thiagarajan refutes this as a baseless allegation and said he would be filing a defamation case against her soon. "I have been in the industry for more than 40 years and this girl (Pretika) has put my reputation at stake just like that with false accusations. She has put me to lot of shame!," he said.
(Source: Deccan Chronicle)
4. Resort Politics Round 2? TTV MLAs Head to Courtallam Ahead of 18 MLA Case Verdict
It was an all-too-familiar afternoon for Tamil Nadu politics: a lull, some anticipation and just enough news to spark excitement for the days ahead. Even as reports are rife that the crucial judgement in the 18 MLAs’ disqualification case is due to be delivered soon, RK Nagar MLA and chief of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, TTV Dhinakaran has shifted his loyal coterie to Courtallam, the waterfall town in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.
However, it is pertinent to note that this time around there is more support for the TTV camp with three more MLAs – Kallakurichi MLA Prabhu, Vriddhachalam MLA VT Kalaiselvan and Aranthangi MLA Rathinasabapathy – also joining him. 18 members of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu were disqualified by the Speaker under the Anti-Defection Act in September 2017.
(Source: The News Minute)
5. Woman Dies of Swine Flu in Tamil Nadu, Two More Suspected Deaths Reported
Three more deaths have been reported allegedly due to swine flu in Tamil Nadu. 41-year-old Meenakshi Kasimayan, was admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital on Friday morning with a high fever. She succumbed to a swine flu infection and her comorbid ailments may have aggravated the onset of the infection. The woman was known for combating diabetes as well as multiple other health issues.
"We are seeing many suspected cases on a regular basis. We see at least five to 10 suspected cases every day, but that doesn't mean that there should be unnecessary panic. “We have all the necessary measures in place and are equipped to diagnose and treat anyone as needed,” a Health Department official told.
(Source: The News Minute)
6. Sasikala Supportive and Caring, Doctor Tells Inquiry Panel
The respiratory medicine specialist who treated Jayalalithaa at Apollo Hospitals on Monday told the Commission of Inquiry looking into the former Chief Minister's death that VK Sasikala was a “supportive and caring” aide during the former's hospitalisation.
Sources said that Dr Babu K Abraham told the Justice (Retd.) A. Arumughaswamy Commission that Jayalalithaa would ask for Sasikala when she woke up during her September 22 - December 5, 2016 stay at the Apollo Hospital, off Greams Road. Abraham also said that once, when Jayalalithaa refused to be subjected to a blood pressure test, the doctor approached Ms. Sasikala, who convinced the then-CM to comply.
(Source: The Hindu)
7. ‘Want to See a Cleaner Industry’
Music composer AR Rahman said that he had been observing the #MeToo movement and that some of the names involved, both the victims and perpetrators, had shocked him. In a tweet, Rahman said that he and his team were committed to creating an environment where everyone finds a safe creative space to bring out their best, evolve and succeed.
“I would love to see our industry become cleaner and respectful of women. More power to all the victims coming forward,” he had said, in his tweet. Rahman also added in his tweet that while social media gives great freedom for victims to speak up, people should be careful in creating a new internet justice system in case it is misused.
(Source: The Hindu)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)