THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

CPI (M) hints that action against Padmakumar will hinge on Sabarimala ... The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State committee on Friday signalled that it was deferring, at least for now, any disciplinary action against former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A. Padmakumar, who was arrested and remanded in judicial custody in the Sabarimala gold-plated copper panel “misappropriation” case on Thursday. CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan told a press conference that it was inherently erroneous to presume that Mr. Padmakumar’s indictment in the case amounted to a judicial validation of guilt. Mr. Govindan added that the “trajectory of the investigation” and the outcome of the case would determine the CPI(M)’s course of action. When asked why the yardstick did not apply to CPI(M) leader and former Kannur district panchayat president P.P. Divya, whom the police had arrested and remanded in judicial custody in October on the charge of abetting the suicide of Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu, Mr. Govindan said: “It is wrong to draw an analogy between two cases of starkly different nature. The party had taken the correct stance at the time.” (The CPI(M) h…

TDB says gold-plated panel from Sabarimala cannot be returned ... News Desk Last Updated: 11 September 2025, 12:11 PM IST Share Travancore Devaswom Board President says gold-plated Sabarimala panels under repair cannot be returned now, despite High Court directive. Travancore Devaswom Board President PS Prasanth | Photo: Screengrab, Mathrubhumi News Thiruvananthapuram: Travancore Devaswom Board President PS Prasanth said the gold-plated panels of the Dwarapalaka shirens in Sabarimala, which were sent for repair, cannot be returned at this time. Speaking to the media, he said he will inform the High Court and file a review petition on the matter. The court had recently ordered the return of the gold-plated panels, prompting Prasanth’s response. He said the panels had been damaged by coins, and both Thantris had requested in writing that they be replaced. “A team led by the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner oversaw the repair, with all steps taken in the presence of the Administrative Officer, Executive Officer and Vigilance Wing. The repair is a chemical process, and it is impossible to bring the panels back now. The matter will be brought to the attention of the court, and a review pet…

Amid Sabarimala Case Heat, Ex-Devaswom Minister Meets ... Thiruvananthapuram: A surprise visit by former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran to the official residence of Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday has triggered political speculation, with the purpose of the meeting remaining unclear. Surendran, one of the tallest CPI(M) leaders in the state capital city, who arrived riding a scooter accompanied by another person, told waiting reporters that he had come to meet the minister with a recommendation on behalf of his companion. However, he did not disclose the nature of the recommendation. The absence of any official clarification has fuelled discussion in political circles, particularly in the backdrop of developments in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged Sabarimala gold scam. The timing of the meeting has attracted attention as the SIT is understood to be in the final stages of submitting its chargesheet in the cases registered in connection with the alleged scam. Surendran had served as Devaswom Minister during the period covered by one of the two cases under investigation. While there is no suggestion that Wednesday’s mee…

Sabarimala row reignites: Kerala HC finds discrepancies in Sangamam ... Published Feb 15, 2026 | 9:10 PM⚊Updated Feb 15, 2026 | 9:10 PM Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Global Ayyappa Sangamam. Synopsis:The Sabarimala row has resurfaced after the Kerala High Court flagged serious lapses in the audited accounts of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam held in September 2025 and sought detailed explanations from the Travancore Devaswom Board and the State Audit Department. The court found discrepancies in bills, measurements, sponsorship disclosures and fund use, despite earlier directing that the event should not use temple funds and that audited accounts be submitted within a fixed deadline. Just when the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front in Kerala may have hoped it had blunted the Congress offensive in the Sabarimala gold misappropriation row, the controversy flared again after the Kerala High Court, on 11 February, raised doubts about alleged irregularities in the audit report submitted by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in connection with the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, a conclave of devotees held on the banks of the Pampa on 20 September 2025. The row began with allegat…

Annamalai Urges Due Cognisance Of Disproportionate Assets ... - Swarajya News Brief S Rajesh Aug 11, 2023 | Updated 04:14 PM GMT+5:30 Save & read from anywhere! Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or theSwarajya app. Welcoming thesuo motorevision of the acquittal of senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) minister K Ponmudy taken up by Justice N Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalaisaidthat the party wishes for due cognisance to be taken on the recent discharge and acquittals of ministers Thangam Thennarasu, Geetha Jeevan and KKSSR Ramachandran in similar disproportionate assets cases. In scathing remarks on the then Principal District Judge, Vellore, Justice Venkatesh in hisorderwrote that the judge had gathered the evidence from 172 prosecution witnesses and 381 documents in a span of four days to deliver the judgement just a couple of days before retirement. "This unique feat of industry on the part of the Principal District Judge, Vellore, can find few parallels, and it may well be said is a feat that even judicial mortals in constitutional courts can only dream of ", he added. Thangam Thennarasu T…

Devaswom special pleader K B Pradeep resigns after appointment sparked ... THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Advocate K B Pradeep, appointed as the special government pleader for the devaswom boards in the high court, has resigned. The chief minister had directed him to resign immediately. The action was taken after his appointment sparked a controversy. It was Pradeep who appeared for Smart Creations, accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, in the high court.The SIT had expressed concern over the appointment of Pradeep as the government pleader. The officials raised concerns that details of the investigation would be leaked. The SIT had also approached the Sabarimala Special Commissioner in this regard. The chief minister's intervention came when the special commissioner was all set to inform the high court about this. Pradeep mainly appeared in cases related to devaswoms in the high court. Pleaders are assigned responsibilities based on their previous experience. In the initial phase of the gold theft case, it was K B Pradeep who spoke to the media on behalf of Pankaj Bhandari and Smart Creations. Pankaj Bhandari, the owner and CEO of Smart Creations, who plated the Dwarapalaka idols with…

Sabarimala gold case: Kerala Devaswom Minister seeks withdrawal of TDB circular appointing officials facing probe K. Muraleedharan says the Devaswom department can decide on further action in the gold loss case only after SIT files its chargesheets in the two cases

Joseph Vijay's TVK Govt Yields To Communist Pressure, Cancels Tender ... Home News Joseph Vijay’s TVK Govt Yields To Communist Pressure, Cancels Tender Calling For... News State Tamil Nadu Less than a week after inviting bids for consultancy firms to prepare Detailed Feasibility Reports (DFRs) for implementing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models in municipal solid waste management across 12 municipal corporations, the Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has withdrawn the tender following criticism and pressure from Communist parties, as reported in Times of India. The cancellation has also brought renewed attention to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) position while it was in the opposition, when the party had strongly opposed the privatisation of sanitation services under the previous DMK government. Tender Invited For PPP-Based Solid Waste Management On 20 June 2026, the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL), under the Project Development Grant Fund (PDGF), floated tenders to appoint consultancy firms to prepare Detailed Feasibility Reports (DFRs) and provide transaction advisory services for the collection and transp…

Former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran meets Kerala Home ... Former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran sparked political speculation after a surprise 15-minute meeting with Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. The meeting comes as the SIT finalizes its chargesheet in the alleged Sabarimala gold scam Thiruvananthapuram: A surprise visit by former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran to the official residence of Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday has triggered political speculation, with the purpose of the meeting remaining unclear. Surendran, one of the tallest CPI(M) leaders in the state capital city, who arrived riding a scooter accompanied by another person, told waiting reporters that he had come to meet the minister with a recommendation on behalf of his companion. However, he did not disclose the nature of the recommendation. The absence of any official clarification has fuelled discussion in political circles, particularly in the backdrop of developments in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged Sabarimala gold scam. The timing of the meeting has attracted attention as the SIT is understood to be in the final…

Solar scam: fresh evidence and statements put Chandy on the back ... Kochi: A judicial commission probing the solar panel scam Thursday decided to 'recall' and examine former chief minister Oommen Chandy and 20 other witnesses again 'considering the evidences available with the commission.' A commission source said that Justice G. Sivarajan Commission probing the scam also decided to examine 28 new witnesses, including UDF convener P.P. Thankachan. Twenty-one witnesses, including Chandy, his former gunman Salim Raj and his former personal staff member Jikkumon have already been examined and they will be recalled "as certain aspects has to be clarified again" following revelations of prime accused Saritha S. Nair during her disposition before the panel, as well as "documentary and oral evidences available with the commission". The Commission has also decided to examine Saritha again, the source said. Chandy, during his stint as chief minister, had deposed before the commission in January this year. During the deposition, he had maintained that the charges against him and his office were 'politically motivated' and denied any wrong-doing. The commission, which was based in Koc…

DMK FUNCTIONARY CASH SEIZURE - The Economic Times West Bengal is set to become the fourth state to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) next month, following cabinet approval for a committee to scrutinise the draft bill. This bill aims to standardise marriage, divorce and inheritance laws. The DMK has approached the Supreme Court, seeking to prevent TVK leaders, including Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, from making public statements regarding the Karur stampede. The party alleges "false accusations" and claims ministers involved in the incident are now in the Tamil Nadu cabinet. The plea also seeks CBI action against minister Aadhav Arjuna for alleged interference in the ongoing investigation. Radhakrishnan was taken into police custody today shortly after the Madras High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition. Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan rejected the plea, which was filed in connection with a case registered over the former minister's allegedly defamatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay during a DMK public meeting held at Athoor in Thoothukudi district on June 20. Prominent AIADMK figures, including former ministers C Vijayabaskar and MR Vijayabhaskar, ha…

Keralas Kafir Screenshot Controversy Heats Up Amid New SIT Investigation by Himanshu Tiwari Kozhikode, June 8:The political landscape in Kerala is once again buzzing as the newly formed Special Investigation Team (SIT) delves into the much-discussed ‘Kafir Screenshot’ case. Ribes Ramakrishnan, the DYFI Block President of Vadakara, has resigned from his position just before being summoned for questioning by the SIT, reigniting political debates surrounding the issue. This controversy first emerged during the 2024 LokSabha electionsin the Vadakara parliamentary constituency, where a fierce contest took place between Congress candidate Shafi Parambil and senior CPI(M) leader and former Health Minister K.K. Shailaja. Ultimately, Shafi Parambil’s victory dealt a significant blow to the CPM. The initial investigation occurred during the tenure of the Pinarayi Vijayan government but was halted due to insufficient evidence and the inability to trace the original source of the controversial screenshot. However, shortly after the UDF, led by V.D. Satheesan, came to power, the case was reopened, and the new SIT was assigned to conduct a fresh investigation. Ribes Ramakrishnan submitted…

Sabarimala women entry issue resurfaces following ex-TDB chief's ... ANI Sabarimala Temple Thiruvananthapuram : The politically sensitive Sabarimala women's entry issue resurfaced in Kerala on Sunday following media reports of alleged disclosures by former TDB president A Padmakumar regarding the events surrounding the entry of women of menstruating age into the hill shrine in 2019. The CPI(M), however, appeared reluctant to respond to the reported claims, with state secretary M V Govindan saying any clarification should come from Padmakumar himself. Media reports claimed that Padmakumar, then president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), had told close associates that he and senior police officer S Sreejith were deliberately kept away from Sannidhanam on the day two women entered the Sabarimala temple following the Supreme Court verdict . Also Read: Kerala HC orders independent re-evaluation of Sabarimala ghee sale The reports further claimed that Padmakumar had alleged that the move was orchestrated by a "highly influential person" with considerable sway in both the party and the then Left government. Live Events He is also reported to have claimed that he had been asked to …

Minister seeks withdrawal of TDB circular appointing officials facing ... Guruvayur , Kerala Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan on Monday said he had asked the TDB to withdraw a recent circular appointing officials facing probe in the Sabarimala gold loss case to key positions in the board. Speaking to reporters here, Muraleedharan said he had written to Travancore Devaswom Board president K Jayakumar on Saturday seeking withdrawal of the circular. "The board has independent powers and the government cannot directly interfere in its decisions. Even then, I have demanded that the circular appointing people facing investigation in the Sabarimala gold loss case to key posts be withdrawn," he said. Muraleedharan said he believed Jayakumar, though appointed by the previous LDF government, was functioning impartially. "If the circular is not corrected, the state government will assume that the current board also has involvement in the gold loss incident," he said. The minister said the Devaswom Department could decide on further action in the gold loss case only after the Special Investigation Team files its charge sheets in the two cases. The SIT is yet to file charge sheets in tw…

Ex-TDB chief's alleged claims and CPI(M) silence rekindle Sabarimala row The politically sensitive issue of women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple resurfaced in Kerala on Sunday (June 14) following media reports of alleged disclosures by former TDB president A Padmakumar regarding the events surrounding the entry of two women of menstruating age into the hill shrine in 2019. Padmakumar, a former CPI(M) MLA who has distanced himself from the party after being named an accused in the Sabarimala gold loss case and subsequently jailed, is yet to publicly address the media following his release on bail. The CPI(M), however, appeared reluctant to respond to the reported claims, with state secretary MV Govindan saying any clarification should come from Padmakumar himself. Media reports claimed that Padmakumar, then president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), told close associates that he and senior police officer S Sreejith were deliberately kept away from Sannidhanam on the day two women entered the Sabarimala temple following the Supreme Court verdict. Also read:Sabarimala to go cashless, use AI for crowd management this season The reports further claimed tha…

bench of justices N Sathish Kumar and R Jothiraman issued notice to the ... bench of justices N Sathish Kumar and R Jothiraman issued notice to the authorities concerned and the private company and adjourned the case to March 30. by Sekar Reporter · March 8, 2026 [08/03, 07:42] sekarreporter1: Add TNIE As A Trusted Source  MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Friday issued notice to the state geology department and Kanniyakumari collector on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed alleging illegal quarrying, transportation and sale of stones by a private company in Kanniyakumari to Kerala and other parts of Tamil Nadu. According to the litigant A Suresh of Kanniyakumari, the private company was operating quarries and crusher units in Tirunelveli district and has been getting at least 60 transit passes to move the mined stones from Tirunelveli to its unit in Kanniyakumari. However, instead of Kanniyakumari, the stones are illegally transported to Kerala, he alleged. Thereafter, the above transit passes are once again re used by the company to get permission from the Kanniyakumari authorities to sell or distribute nearly five lakh tonnes of stones, which were illegal…

Kerala cashew import scam: Govt set to strip INTUC leader of legal ... News Desk Last Updated: 22 Jun 2026, 08:40 am IST Share Facing intense pressure and contempt proceedings from the High Court, the Kerala government is set to sanction the prosecution of INTUC state president R Chandrasekharan in a multi-crore cashew import scam. R Chandrasekharan | Photo: S Sreekesh/ Mathrubhumi Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is set to grant permission to prosecute the state president of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), R Chandrasekharan, alongside other accused individuals, in connection with a multi-crore cashew import scam. The previous Pinarayi Vijayan-led administration had rejected the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) request for prosecution sanction on three separate occasions after the federal agency filed its chargesheet. This persistent refusal has landed the Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries Department, AP Mohammed Hanish, in legal trouble, with the High Court initiating contempt of court proceedings against him. The senior bureaucrat has been ordered to appear before the High Court on Monday to provide a formal explanation. Although the …

Devaswom pleader posting triggers row in Kerala - The New Indian Express THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has courted controversy by appointing K B Pradeep, former counsel of Smart Creations in Sabarimala gold theft case, as special government pleader of the devaswom department. Opposition parties alleged that it showed the Congress’s links with the theft. The government created the special post following the board’s demand for a better mechanism to handle litigations. Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan said the appointment would do good for the government as the advocate knows the ‘weaknesses of the accused’ in an important case. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Download the TNIE app to stay with us and follow the latest

SIR in India: Supreme Court orders states to ease workload of BLOs ... The Supreme Court on Thursday stepped in to address the mounting strain on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) deployed for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, issuing a series of directions to States to reduce work hours, deploy additional staff and consider exemption requests on humanitarian grounds, Bar and Bench reported. The intervention follows alarming reports highlighted before the Court, including cases of BLOs dying by suicide, allegedly due to intense work pressure. A Supreme Court Bench comprisingChief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchiwas hearing an application filed by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was imposing coercive measures on overburdened BLOs responsible for carrying out the SIR. Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for TVK, told the apex court, as reported byBar & Bench:"We have details from 35 to 40 BLOs who have committed suicide. These are all Anganwadi workers and teachers. Section 32 ROPA notices are being sent to them saying that they will be imprisoned for 2 years if the…

KB Pradeep quits as Devaswom Pleader; govt acted on devotees ... Onmanorama Staff Published: June 13, 2026 10:28 AM IST 2 minuteRead K B Pradeep resigned as Special Government Pleader for the Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards amidst controversy. The controversy stemmed from Pradeep's previous representation of Smart Creations, a prime accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The government sought his resignation due to concerns raised by devotees about his association with an accused party. Link Copied Thiruvananthapuram: K B Pradeep, who was recently appointed Special Government Pleader for the Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards before the Kerala High Court, on Saturday resigned from the post amid mounting controversy over his selection. The appointment had drawn criticism from the Opposition LDF, which questioned the government's decision to appoint a lawyer who had represented Smart Creations, one of the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case. Soon after the resignation, Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan defended the government's initial decision, saying Pradeep was chosen for his legal expertise, particularly in criminal law. However, he said the gov…

Petition to guv over ombudsman posting - The New Indian Express THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP state leadership has petitioned Governor Rajendra Arlekar against the cabinet decision to appoint Justice (retd) Babu Mathew P Joseph as ombudsman for local self-government institutions. BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar and general secretary S Suresh called on Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan with the petition. They cited the Section 5(3) of Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999, which prevents a former Lok Ayukta or Upa Lok Ayukta from holding any subsequent office of profit under the government or any authority, corporation, company, society or university. The BJP leaders urged the Governor, who is the appointing authority, not to approve the cabinet decision. Meanwhile, whistleblowers’ collective Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) had also filed a petition before the Governor against the posting. SUCC pointed out that the former Justice was part of the full bench of the Lok Ayukta which dismissed the complaint relating to the alleged misappropriation of the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Download the TNIE app to stay with us and f…

Madras High Court Admits PIL Over Vijay's Appeal To ... - Dailyhunt T he Madras High Court on Friday (29 May 2026) took up for consideration a public interest litigation petition concerning Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's appeal to children to persuade adults in their households to vote for his party during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, as reported in The Hindu. Advertisement Hearing the matter as part of a summer vacation Bench along with Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, Justice GR Swaminathan referred to a personal experience to explain why the issue merited examination. Addressing senior counsel S. Muralidhar, a former Chief Justice appearing for TVK, Justice Swaminathan recalled that he had visited his family doctor in Madurai about three weeks earlier after falling ill. "He (the doctor) said that when he was about to go for voting, his grandchild said, Thatha you must vote only for…" Mr. Muralidhar responded in a lighter vein, stating: "We have in our tradition, children advising the father. Your Lordship's name also symbolises that." The remark was a reference to the name Swaminathan, another name associated with Lord Murugan, …

TN Waqf Board takes charge of Nagore dargah NAGAPATTINAM: Tamil Nadu Waqf Board took over the administration of Nagore Dargah on Friday, after the Madras High Court relieved its administrators who abused their positions. The court took suo motu cognisance of the abuse of position by K Allaudin and SF Akbar, whom it had appointed to manage the affairs of dargah five years ago. The court relieved the two of their duties and directed the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board to take over the administration of the dargah. On being relieved of the responsibilities, one of the administrators sent a mail to Tamil Nadu Waqf Board on Thursday that he and Akbar would not continue the administration but did not express willingness to handover the charge, sources said. The Board, however, decided that it should take up the administration. On Friday, the Board sealed the office of the two administrators in the dargah. The Board’s Chief Executive Officer, D Faritha Banu, assumed charge to manage the affairs of the dargah. The court’s direction came after a writ petition by the accused backfired. The court learned from their petition regarding a trustee’s participation in the recently-concluded Urs festival a…

Tamil Nadu Cabinet Shake-up: Two Ministers Resign Amid Controversies ... Tamil Nadu Cabinet Shake-up: Two Ministers Resign Amid Controversies In a significant political development in Tamil Nadu, two senior ministers, V. Senthil Balaji and Dr. K. Ponmudy, have resigned from Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s cabinet amid mounting legal and political pressures. Their resignations, accepted by Governor R.N. Ravi on April 27, 2025, have prompted a cabinet reshuffle aimed at restoring public confidence and ensuring administrative stability ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Senthil Balaji: Legal Troubles and Supreme Court Ultimatum Senthil Balaji, who held the portfolios of Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise, stepped down following a stern warning from the Supreme Court. The court had directed him to choose between retaining his ministerial position and maintaining his bail status in connection with a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as Transport Minister in the previous AIADMK government. Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in June 2023 and granted bail in September 2024. However, his reinstatement to the cabinet post-bail drew…

Another Satheesan appointment, another controversy in Kerala ... - ThePrint Home India Another Satheesan appointment, another controversy in Kerala. This time from within Congress India Another Satheesan appointment, another controversy in Kerala. This time from within Congress KPCC General Secretary P.M. Niyas questioned Cong govt's appointment of retired district judge N. Sheshadrinathan as State Election Commissioner, saying he is affiliated to Sangh Parivar. Aneesa PA 01 July, 2026 06:30 am IST Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Linkedin Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. | ANI Follow Us : Text Size: A- A+ Thiruvananthapuram: Less than two months after coming to power, another key appointment cleared by the V.D. Satheesan-led Congress government in Kerala has landed in controversy, with a KPCC functionary questioning the appointment of retired district judge N. Sheshadrinathan as State Election Commissioner. A retired Principal District and Sessions Judge in Kavaratti (Lakshadweep), Sheshadrinathan is currently serving as judge of the Family Court, Irinjalakuda. Before this, he had also worked as the Special Judge for the CBI and National Investigation Agency in Kochi, and in variou…

Amid Sabarimala case heat, ex-Devaswom Minister meets ... Home » National » Amid Sabarimala case heat, ex-Devaswom Minister meets Ramesh Chennithala Posted By: Gopi July 1, 2026 Thiruvananthapuram, July 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) A surprise visit by former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran to the official residence of Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday has triggered political speculation, with the purpose of the meeting remaining unclear. Surendran, one of the tallest CPI(M) leaders in the state capital city, who arrived riding a scooter accompanied by another person, told waiting reporters that he had come to meet the minister with a recommendation on behalf of his companion. However, he did not disclose the nature of the recommendation. The absence of any official clarification has fuelled discussion in political circles, particularly in the backdrop of developments in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged Sabarimala gold scam. The timing of the meeting has attracted attention as the SIT is understood to be in the final stages of submitting its chargesheet in the cases registered in connection with the alleged scam. Surendran had served as …

SC dismisses plea seeking probe into May 13 trust vote in Tamil Nadu ... ANI On May 13, the C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government in Tamil Nadu crossed a major hurdle by comfortably winning the trust vote with the support of 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs amid a walkout by the DMK. The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking probe into the alleged irregularities and corruption in the May 13 trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly . A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana refused to entertain the plea, observing it was based upon "vague, wild and casual allegations" without any reliable material on record to substantiate the claim. On May 13, the C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government in Tamil Nadu crossed a major hurdle by comfortably winning the trust vote with the support of 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs amid a walkout by the DMK . Read More: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay moves resolution in Assembly against Mekedatu dam; Congress, VCK extend support Although the TVK on its own did not secure the majority in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly , Vijay managed to get support from the Congress, VCK, CPI, CPI (M) and IUML to gather 120 MLAs and cross the 118 mark to form the governmen…