1. INX Media Case: ED Freezes Karti Chidambaram’s Assets Worth Rs 54 Cr
The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday froze over Rs 54 crore worth of assets of former Union Minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram. According to reports, the move comes as part of the ongoing investigation into the Chidambaram family’s involvement in the INX Media case.
Reacting to this development, Karti took to social media to say, “A bizarre and outlandish ‘Provisional Attachment Order’ which is not based on law or facts but on crazy conjectures. This is meant only to grab “headlines”. The “order” will not withstand judicial scrutiny, review or appeal. Will approach the appropriate legal forum.” Karti is facing a probe for his alleged role in facilitating the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance for INX Media when his father was the Union Finance Minister.
(Source: The News Minute)
2. Stalin Demands Recall of Governor
DMK president MK Stalin on Thursday called upon the Centre to recall Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit. Addressing an event organised by the Dravidar Kazhagam to ‘Save Freedom of Press’ and felicitate Tamil magazine Nakkheeran editor RR Gopal, Stalin vowed to protest till Purohit was removed.
"Those who are in the Secretariat are scared about corruption. Those living in Guindy (Raj Bhavan) are scared of (jailed assistant professor) Nirmala Devi. I hope cases are filed against me for saying this,” he said. “Gopal has faced (former Chief Minister) Jayalalithaa herself... He doesn't have to worry, we are there. Tamil Nadu Governor has misused his powers and the weak Tamil Nadu government has allowed him to do what he wants,” the DMK leader charged.
(Source: The Hindu)
3. 64-Year-Old TN Man Gets Double Life Term for Raping Minor Girl, Transmitting STD
A court in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu has awarded a double life term to a 64-year-old man for raping a girl, who contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD) following the incident in 2012. Mahila Court judge Balakrishnan sentenced Ramayan to double life imprisonment on Wednesday and also slapped a fine of Rs 2,500 on him.
According to the prosecution, Ramayan, a farmer from Orathanadu, had befriended the 11-year-old girl and raped her. The girl was admitted to a government hospital after she fell sick and a medical examination revealed that she was raped and had contracted an STD. A case was registered against the convict under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and he was arrested.
(Source: Deccan Chronicle)
4. Tamil Nadu Cop Shoots Self, Girlfriend on Her Birthday
In a shocking incident from Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district, a man shot his girlfriend and then himself on Wednesday. Kathirvel was an armed reserve constable of the Vellore battalion and his girlfriend Saraswathi was third-year MBBS student.
Reports say that the couple, who had the blessings of their parents to get married, was discovered lying in a pool of blood by Sekar, Saraswathi's father. The report adds that the incident took place following an argument between the couple. Saraswathi had come to her native village to celebrate her birthday on Tuesday when Kathirvel visited her in the evening with presents. Multiple accounts state that the argument was related to Saraswathi's friendship with some of her male classmates whom Kathirvel had an issue with.
(Source: The News Minute)
5. CM Inaugurates Madhavaram Bus Terminus
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami inaugurated the Madhavaram bus terminus. With its opening, the State Transport department hopes to decongest the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus in Koyambedu. Executed by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), the terminus has been constructed at a cost of Rs 95 crore and occupies more than eight acres.
The sprawling bus terminus located on the GNT Road-Inner Ring Road junction has three floors of basement, ground and first floor. The basement meant for two-wheeler parking has capacity to accommodate more than 1,700 two-wheelers. The chief minister flagged off 471 new buses at a cost of Rs 126.80 crore. Of them, 38 buses are Deluxe and 10 buses have air-conditioning.
(Source: The Hindu)
6. Govt to Operate Over 11,300 Buses for Deepavali
The State Transport Department will be operating more than 11,300 buses from Chennai to various parts of the State for Deepavali this year. After a meeting with senior officials of various departments at the Secretariat on Thursday, Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar said this year 2,275 regular buses and 4,542 special buses would be operated daily from the city for three days from 3 to 5 November.
The buses would be operated from six bus terminals — Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Bus Terminus (CMBT) in Koyambedu, Tambaram Sanatorium, Tambaram railway station bus stop, the newly inaugurated Madhavaram bus terminus, Poonamallee and KK Nagar.
(Source: The Hindu)
7. CMDA Seals Shops in Flower Bazaar
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority on Thursday sealed the shops of flower traders in George Town. CMDA Member Secretary Rajesh Lakhoni said the “locking and sealing of the wholesale flower shops in Badrian Street was carried out as per court directions.”
Traders argued with the CMDA officials during the drive. But police personnel were deployed in large numbers on Badrian Street on Thursday morning, to prevent the traders from resisting any official action. Traders said the Flower Bazaar has been operating since many decades and they cannot be classified as wholesale traders similar to those in Koyambedu.
(Source: The Hindu)
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