Latest news with #Ajayan
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Plea seeking CBI probe into Exalogic issue: Kerala HC directs CM Pinarayi Vijayan, daughter to file affidavits
Kochi: High court on Tuesday directed the respondents, including chief minister , his daughter T Veena and others, in a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a CBI investigation into alleged financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions, to file their counter affidavits by June 10. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji issued the directive while adjourning the petition filed by M R Ajayan, a senior journalist from North Paravur, to June 17. Earlier, while the matter was being heard by a vacation bench, HC had directed the assistant solicitor general (ASG), appearing for the Union govt, to submit in a sealed cover the list of persons mentioned in the order of the Interim Board of Settlement (IBS), New Delhi, dated June 12, 2023, regarding the alleged transactions between CMRL and Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct company formerly owned by T Veena. On Tuesday, ASG A R L Sundaresan submitted that the income tax department, which is represented by separate counsel, is the competent authority to furnish such details. The department's counsel informed HC that they would comply if such a direction were issued. However, the counsels for the respondents opposed the plea, contending that granting such a request without hearing them would violate the principles of natural justice. The bench concurred with this view and directed the respondents to file their counter-affidavits. Meanwhile, the petitioner, Ajayan, filed a review petition challenging the earlier interim order requiring submission of details in a sealed cover. He sought a modification of the order and a direction to the director of income tax (investigation) to produce all statements and affidavits submitted by CMRL officials, along with entries and records allegedly evidencing payments made to the chief minister. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Ajayan's PIL seeks a CBI probe into the findings of the IBS, which purportedly revealed that CMRL had paid Rs 1.72 crore to Exalogic Solutions without any services being rendered. The petitioner alleges that the payment amounted to illegal gratification and has also sought an investigation into the alleged political nexus involving the companies and the CM.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Santhosh Kumar, Santhosh Echikkanam, Shafi Poovathinkal win O.V. Vijayan Awards
Writers E. Santhosh Kumar, Santhosh Echikkanam and Shafi Poovathinkal have won the O.V. Vijayan Memorial Literary Awards 2024. While Mr. Santhosh Kumar won the award for his novel Jnanabharam, Mr. Echikkanam won the award for his short story anthology Kavana. Mr. Poovathinkal won the award for the unpublished young writer's story for his work titled Raqeebinum Atheedinum Idayile Nunakal. O.V. Vijayan Smaraka Samiti secretary T.R. Ajayan said here on Saturday that the awardees were selected through a rigorous screening of more than 200 writers. 'We had more than 200 works of different writers sent by different publishers and as many suggestions and recommendations by established writers. We had a mega jury of 20 writers who screened and shortlisted the works through a rigorous process,' said Mr. Ajayan. Jury members Rajesh Menon, P.R. Jayaseelan and Manoj Veettikkad said that they had thoroughly evaluated the works with utmost care to select the most deserving ones for the award. The awards for the novel and the short story collection will comprise a plaque, a citation and a cash prize of ₹25,000. The award for the young writer's unpublished story will have a cash prize of ₹10,000 along with a plaque and a citation. Mr. Rajesh Menon said that despite the modest prize money, the young writer award holds great significance owing to its association with the renowned author O.V. Vijayan. The award distribution ceremony, scheduled for May 18, may be postponed due to rising tensions along the national borders, said Mr. Ajayan.
