Latest news with #Kerala-based
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Kerala: Beta Group to pick up 10% stake in Anta Builders
Kerala-based Beta Group has announced picking up a 10% stake in the state-based property developer Anta Builders at a valuation of Rs 550 crore, extending its business interests into real estate and infrastructure space. The Group is engaged in commodity trading and food products, among others and its investment in Anta Builders is a strategic one, the company said in a statement. The move marks a significant milestone for both firms, laying the groundwork for a broader collaboration aimed at scaling operations and driving innovation in India's urban development sector, the statement added. Beta Group director Rajnarayan Pillai and Anta Builders managing director Midhun Kuruvila Kurien signed an MoU in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday in the presence of Kirloskar Industries managing director George Varghese and Beta Group chairman Rajmohan Pillai. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Shooter Action MMO Crossout Play Now Undo Beta Group will also join the Board of Directors of Anta Builders. 'This partnership reflects our strategic intent to participate meaningfully in India's urban transformation journey,' a Beta Group spokesperson said. The collaboration is expected to enable both entities to jointly raise Rs 500 crore for real estate and infrastructure development projects across the country. The focus will be on expanding into high-growth urban centres such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, and Gurugram, the statement said. Live Events With several ongoing projects across Kerala, Anta Builders is well-positioned to leverage this partnership to emerge as a national player in the real estate and infrastructure sector, it said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Karnataka cops resume booking drug usersto cut demand & trace peddlers
Bengaluru: In a policy shift, police have resumed the practice of booking drug users too, in addition to taking action on peddlers and their networks. Officials say the move under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act is intended to curb demand and extract critical leads to track peddlers. Monday, police arrested a Kerala-based man in Avalahalli, on the city's outskirts, with 32 LSD pills in his possession. Alongside him, a suspected buyer—a young professional—was also taken into custody. Both are now facing charges under the NDPS Act and are being interrogated. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru For the past few years, Bengaluru police had largely refrained from booking drug consumers, citing concerns over alleged corruption in investigations. During the period, consumers were usually produced before magistrates, fined, and let off without criminal prosecution. However, this method had a side effect — investigations often stopped at the consumer level, making it hard to track the peddling networks operating in the city. City police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said the revised approach is part of a broader strategy to crack down on the drug trade more effectively. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "Consumers are vital links in the drug network. By booking them, we can trace the source. A case is a case, and every participant should be brought to justice," he told TOI. DG&IGP MA Saleem confirmed that the policy shift is being implemented statewide. Police superintendents and commissioners across districts have been asked to work closely with public prosecutors, both at the chargesheet stage and during trials, to secure more convictions in drug cases. Records show that from Jan 2021 to Feb this year, Karnataka registered 23,869 NDPS cases. Of these, 9,534 led to convictions, while around 300 suspects were acquitted. Bengaluru and its surrounding areas accounted for 13,115 of these cases, with 5,587 convictions, underscoring the city's role as a prime target for drug networks. ADGP (law and order) R Hitendra said conviction rates in cities like Mangaluru, Belagavi, and Mysuru remain lower compared to Bengaluru. "We are focusing on minimising errors in booking cases and filing chargesheets. Often, suspects secure acquittal because of procedural lapses. That needs to change. We are training the staff," he said. Advocate Srinivasa Rao also backed the move to prosecute consumers and said the NDPS Act provides for punishment for possession, even in small quantities meant for personal use. "However, in practice, consumers are often left out of criminal cases. By bringing everyone under the legal framework, investigations can become more thorough and may lead to unmasking the supply chain," he added. Police officials acknowledged that with the addition of consumers to NDPS cases, the total number of reported cases is expected to rise. But they argue that this will provide a more accurate picture of the drug problem, allowing law enforcement agencies to mount stronger and more targeted crackdowns.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Nimisha Priya isn't off the hook, but politics of credit has peaked
Seven years after Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya was sentenced to death in Yemen in 2018 for the murder of a Yemeni national, she was scheduled to be executed on July 16. But hours before the death sentence was to be carried out, reports said that the execution had been postponed due to the intervention of Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, also known as Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker deferment, credited to the Kerala-based Musliyar, the 'Grand Mufti of India', may have provided temporary relief for Priya and her family through his intervention. But as her fate remains uncertain and further negotiations continue in Yemen, a battle, political in nature, over Musliyar's credit for the reprieve has erupted on Kerala's social media. Political parties, religious groups, and organisations, including the Nimisha Priya Action Council, are clashing online over who deserves the credit and also who does ruling CPM, which is considered close to the influential AP group led by Musliyar, swiftly praised his humanitarian intervention in securing the postponement, and showing "the real Kerala story". Meanwhile, Samuel Jerome, who heads the Nimisha Priya Action Council, and had been advocating for her release for years, claimed that no religious leader played a role in delaying her death sentence, and all talks happened at the government PRIYA CASE AND MUSLIYAR INTERVENTIONNimisha Priya, a 38-year-old nurse from a Christian family in Kerala's Palakkad district, moved to Yemen in 2008 to pursue better job prospects. She later partnered with Talal Abdo Mahdi to establish a clinic in Sanaa. The relationship soured when Mahdi allegedly harassed her, claimed her as his wife publicly, and withheld her 2017, attempting to retrieve her passport, Priya sedated Mahdi, leading to his death from an overdose, according to Yemeni authorities. She was convicted of murder in 2018, and Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council upheld the death sentence in November 2023. With India lacking diplomatic relations with Yemen's Houthi-controlled government, efforts to save Priya relied on unconventional channels, including negotiations for "diyya" (blood money) to secure a pardon from Mahdi's AP Aboobacker Musliyar, a prominent Sunni scholar and leader of the All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama, emerged as a key figure in delaying Priya's execution."I intervened as a human being. In our dealings with society, we do not consider religion or caste," Musliyar told the media, adding about his outreach to Yemeni Islamic scholars to explore legal possibilities under Sharia law. He noted that the scholars assured cooperation, and an official court notification, which Musliyar's office watermarked and circulated, confirmed the network included ties with former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and other top Middle Eastern PRAISED MUSLIYAR, HIGHLIGHTED 'TRUE KERALA STORY'Back in Kerala, the postponement sparked a debate over who should claim credit, and who should CPM, which is aligned with the Musliyar-led AP group, one of the half-dozen Muslim community-based groups in Kerala, was quick to crown him the "favourite Musliyar" for delaying the State Secretary MV Govindan praised him, saying, "No amount of appreciation is enough for what Kanthapuram Musliyar has done. He has truly become everyone's favourite Musliyar".Govindan highlighted Musliyar's humanitarian efforts and Kerala's secular values. He, for obvious reasons, also noted the CPM state government's proactive role, including memoranda sent to the Prime Minister and Union Foreign posts on X reveal a polarised narrative. One user criticised the Kerala media for overemphasising Musliyar's role, arguing it overshadowed India's diplomatic efforts."Kerala media is bending over backwards to praise religious leader Kanthapuram as if a religious figure holds more sway than an entire nation's diplomacy. What nonsense," wrote a the MEA said it had no information to share about "Musliyar's role".advertisementOn being asked about the Musliyar's role in negotiations, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday said, "As for the role of the entity you have mentioned, I have no information to share on this account"."This is a sensitive matter, and the Government of India has been offering all possible help," Jaiswal said, adding that legal aid was provided, a lawyer appointed, and regular consular visits arranged for Priya. We're in touch with local authorities and the family to resolve the issue. Efforts were made recently to get more time for Nimisha Priya's family to reach a settlement. Her execution, scheduled for July 16, has been postponed. We're following the matter closely and also speaking with friendly governments," he RELIGIOUS LEADER INVOLVED: NIMISHA PRIYA ACTION COUNCILSamuel Jerome, who led the Nimisha Priya Action Council advocating for years for the nurse's release and respite, said that no religious leader was involved in the postponement of Nimisha Priya's death sentence. He clarified that all discussions were held at the government level. Jerome had been working closely with Priya's family back in India for years also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, the Ministry of External Affairs, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Indian Embassy officials, MLA Chandy Oommen, and Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar for their efforts in postponing Nimisha Priya's Nimisha Priya Action Council further clarified that the central government acted through the Saudi Embassy. Samuel also said that Sheikh Abdul Malik Mehaya from Saudi Arabia played a key role in engaging with the Yemeni government.'CRORES FOR RAHIM, NOT A RUPEE FOR PRIYA,' SAID CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION IN 2024The Christian Association and Alliance for Social Action (Casa), which shares a cordial relationship with the BJP, previously supportive of Priya's plea, faced backlash for reversing its stance after reports of Musliyar's intervention came Casa's Malappuram unit had criticised the lack of support for Priya compared to another case. "There are people ready to spend crores on Rahim, but no one seems willing to raise even a rupee for Nimisha Priya," it said in Casa President Kevin Peters has questioned government intervention with convicted citizens abroad, asking, "What message does a country like Bharat send when it intervenes to help people convicted of crimes overseas?"The change of stance of the Casa was spotted by people, from strong support for Nimisha Priya, a fellow Christian, to sudden silence after reports of Musliyar's intervention, with some raising questions about CASA's alignment and selective the politics over credit and the postponement of the hanging, Priya's fate still hangs in the balance, with no final decision yet on her execution. But the politics of credit-taking has peaked in Kerala.- Ends(with inputs from Ajmal Abbas)Tune InMust Watch
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Coimbatore District Police revamp highway patrol on NH 544 against highway robbers
With recurring instances of highway robberies of similar pattern being reported along Salem – Kochi highway (NH544), the Coimbatore District (Rural) Police are revamping the patrol system. The district police are setting up a checkpoint at Ettimadai as an additional security measure. A patrol vehicle will be operated exclusively between Ettimadai and Walayar inter-State border, besides covering the road from K.G. Chavadi to Velanthavalam, which is another inter-State check-post. Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police K. Karthikeyan said works of a cargo container check-post at Ettimadai is under way. A sub-inspector will be in-charge of the patrols between Ettimadai - Walayar – Velanthavalam section. The measure is expected to increase police presence between Ettimadai and Walayar on NH 544, where robbers struck at their targets in most cases. After committing the crime on this stretch, they take Velanthavalam road as an escape route. The new arrangement is aimed at curbing highway robberies in the future. At present, two highway patrol vehicles are covering the 40-odd km stretch of NH 544 between Neelambur and Walayar. After the launch of the new check-post at Ettimadai, these vehicles will cover areas between Neelambur and Ettimadai. Police officers said that most of the robberies reported on the highway targetted Kerala-based people, who carried cash or jewellery. The robbers, who had prior knowledge of the movement of the cash or gold, struck at them before the Kerala border by waylaying their vehicles. In several cases, the burglars had specific information about the cash or gold, through persons associated with the victims or from persons with whom they have business transactions, they said. In the last incident, a goldsmith from Thrissur was robbed of ₹30 lakh by a Kerala-based gang near Ettimadai on July 12, when he was heading to his native in a motorcycle. The police arrested three persons involved in the robbery. In another case, a jeweller and his aide from Thrissur were carjacked and robbed of 1.25 kg of gold at K.G. Chavadi on the highway on June 14.
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
Kerala Vlogger Turns Bald Head into Billboard
In a quirky twist of creativity, Kerala-based travel vlogger Shafeek Hashim has turned his bald head into a walking advertisement — and it's already earning him money. The 36-year-old from Alappuzha, who is known for his YouTube travel videos, recently signed his first advertising deal worth Rs50,000 for a three-month campaign. The brand? A hair and skin clinic based in Kochi — whose logo is now tattooed on the back of his shiny scalp. From Hair Worries to Headlining Ads Speaking to The New Indian Express, Shafeek shared how the idea came about when he was considering a hair transplant. But instead of going under the needle, he decided to embrace his baldness and flip the narrative. 'Baldness is natural — why be ashamed of it?' he said. 'I thought, what if I turned it into a creative opportunity instead?' So, he posted an offer online, inviting companies to use his head as advertising space during his video shoots. The idea took off, attracting media attention and interest from brands. 'Bald is Beautiful — and Profitable' As part of his deal, Shafeek will feature the temporary tattoo in at least three YouTube videos, with close-up shots making sure the logo is clearly visible. The tattoo itself is safe and removable with chemicals, but Shafeek believes the concept is here to stay. 'I might be the first in India — or even the world — to rent out my bald head for brand ads,' he laughed. 'It's not just about going viral. It's about changing how people see baldness and promoting body confidence.' Owning His Story On Instagram, Shafeek opened up about being teased during his college years for his baldness. Now, he's using that same experience to spark conversation, turn heads (literally), and earn from what once made him self-conscious. 'Confidence can turn anything into a strength,' he says — and in his case, it's making a statement one video at a time.
