Latest news with #Thiruvananthapuram-based
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Kowdiar land grab case: Accused person's kin moves Kerala HC seeking pre-arrest bail
Kochi: Anil Thampi, a Thiruvananthapuram-based businessman, has approached high court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the alleged Kowdiar land grab case, involving property valued at approximately Rs 4.5 crore. The bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath sought instructions from the state on the plea and adjourned the matter to Aug 19. According to prosecution, first accused Ananthapuri Manikantan, a DCC member and land broker, allegedly grabbed 14 cents of land along with a 10-room, three-storeyed house located at Jawahar Nagar at Kowdiar, Thiruvananthapuram. The property belongs to Dora Asariya Crips, an Indian-origin doctor currently residing in the USA. It is alleged that forged documents were used and that a woman named Vasantha impersonated Crips to facilitate the fraudulent transaction. Subsequently, Manikantan is said to have sold the property to one Chandrasenan of Kanjirampara in Thiruvananthapuram, the fourth accused. Thampi allegedly transferred Rs 1.45 crore to Manikantan's account on behalf of Chandrasenan, who is his father-in-law, to facilitate the purchase. Manikantan was later arrested by the police from Bengaluru on July 29. In his petition, Thampi apprehended his arrest in connection with the case. While the police claim that Thampi conspired with the other accused to illegally acquire the property, he denies any involvement. He alleged that his business rivals and enemies are using the case as an opportunity to harass him. The petition also notes that Chandrasenan, the fourth accused, has already been granted pre-arrest bail by sessions court, Thiruvananthapuram.
New Indian Express
02-08-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
When shawarma turns vegan
At first glance, it looks like any other shawarma — soft wrap, juicy filling, and that irresistible, heady aroma. But bite into it, and you taste not meat, but something plant-based. Surprisingly, your taste buds don't mind being mocked this way; the flavour is so meaty that you may not even spot the difference. This tweaked version of the much-loved meal of Malayalis is on the menu at Grasshopper Gastronomics, a Thiruvananthapuram-based food tech startup, which takes a bold leap into the food arena with the world's first ready-to-eat vegan shawarma. Now, what turns heads is not about how shawarma could be made without meat; it is about what makes up for its absence. The cheat ingredient here is the quintessential jackfruit, Kerala's own comfort food, which is cleverly done up in spices to replicate the texture and taste of traditional shawarma. Yet there is no oil, no preservatives, and no animal products. Behind this culinary revolution is Kannan Parakunnel, who did not start out as a food entrepreneur. His journey began with a deeply personal crisis during the Covid pandemic when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. It was then that Kannan started rethinking everything, especially food. 'Eating healthy makes a person healthy,' he found himself believing. And from that thought, Grasshopper Gastronomics was born.
The Hindu
24-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Phone assembly domestic value addition is 23%, new report claims
A new study by the Thiruvananthapuram-based Centre for Development Studies (CDS) asserts that the gains from India's mobile phone manufacturing are greater than skeptical analyses have previously assessed. Domestic value addition has already reached 23%, the report claims, compared to single digit estimates elsewhere. Specifically, the report does not agree with the notion that phone assembly is an area of 'trade surplus,' a point contended notably by RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, who said in a brief paper with a colleague, Rohit Lamba, that since India was still importing nearly all components that were being assembled in mobile phone manufacturing, the result was India remaining a net importer in effect. Mobile phone manufacturing — encouraged through Union government schemes like the Production Linked Incentive scheme — has been a much touted success story for Indian domestic electronics manufacturing, fueling hopes of similarly promising results elsewhere. ₹4.1 lakh crore of finished mobile phones were manufactured in India in 2024 according to an industry estimate. The number isn't necessarily indicative of phone assembly as a part of the economy as assembly is usually estimated to only account for 4% of a phone's selling price. The case against India running a phone trade surplus rests on a 'misleading assumption' that imports of the components that go into such assemblies are exclusively going into phones, and then getting shipped back out of the country, C. Veeramani, CDS's director said. 'We used data from the Annual Survey of Industries, and that shows that the actual use of imported components in the mobile phone sector is less than 25%.' Dr. Veeramani reported his findings to the press at an event by the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), a trade body representing electronics manufacturers; the CDS director's estimates of domestic value addition were even higher, he said, than the ICEA's: 'The Total DVA (direct + indirect) increased to 23%, amounting to more than $10 billion in 2022-23,' the report says. China factor A key recommendation in the report is to focus on scaling assembly operations in the medium term, rather than pressing firms immediately to procure components from local sources. 'We cannot have a robust [electronics manufacturing] strategy keeping China out, that will not work,' Dr. Veeramani said. 'China has to be part of the game and a mindset change is needed there.' If Chinese firms were invested in India, Dr. Veeramani said, they would have no incentive to block movement of capital goods and Chinese nationals to India, something that some phone and semiconductor makers are facing in recent months.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
SC orders action against building constructed illegally in Thiruvananthapuram
T'puram: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the city corporation to take stern action against a four-storey commercial building constructed by flouting the civic body rules. The apex court also dismissed an appeal filed by Thiruvananthapuram-based building owner G Mohandas, who sought to quash criminal proceedings against him for its alleged illegal construction. The bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, upheld the Kerala high court's decision dated Jan 16, 2024, which refused to interfere in the case. According to the prosecution, Mohandas allegedly obtained a renovation permit from the corporation under pretences and used it to demolish an old building and construct a new commercial complex in a prohibited zone. The permit, intended for internal alterations and renovations, did not authorise demolition or new construction. A complaint by businessman and hotelier Biju Ramesh prompted a vigilance inquiry, which led to the registration of an FIR in 2009. The investigation found that Mohandas, in collusion with the corporation officials and an architect, bypassed legal requirements, ignored a stop memo issued in Nov 2006, and continued illegal construction. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How To Reduce Debt Over R100,000 (Without Another Loan) ExpertMoney Learn More Undo Mohandas argued that the original building collapsed due to heavy rainfall and that he was compelled to rebuild it. He also claimed that the municipal corporation agreed to regularise the new structure upon payment of a compounding fee and that similar charges against the architect were already quashed by the high court. However, the Supreme Court rejected the claims, stating that the appellant acted in conspiracy with municipal officials to create a façade of legality and that the attempt to regularise the building did not absolve him of criminal liability. The court emphasised that the architect's role was limited to preparing designs and did not involve active participation in the conspiracy, making Mohandas's claim for equal treatment untenable. The bench further directed the authorities proceed with appropriate action against the illegal construction and confirmed that the charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC were well-founded. Stating that the appeal lacked merit, the court concluded that there was no reason to interfere with the Kerala high court's decision.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Govt-Governor tussle over Bharat Mata portrait escalates, Kerala University registrar suspended for cancelling event
The registrar of Thiruvananthapuram-based University of Kerala was suspended on Wednesday in connection with cancelling an event last week, which was attended by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, amid tensions over the placement of a Bharat Mata portrait with saffron flag at the university hall. K S Anil Kumar, who has the backing of CPI(M)-led state government, was suspended by Vice Chancellor Mohan Kunnummal, who was given charge of the university last October by former state Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. The suspension has drawn sharp criticism from Kerala's Higher Education Minister R Bindu. 'The V-C overstepped the boundary of his power. He is a person who has proved his loyalty towards the RSS. He is only an in-charge V-C. Certain chancellors (Governor) want to saffronise the state's higher education sector… It is unfortunate that the Chancellor wanted to deliberately make issues in the university,' Bindu told the media. After his suspension, the registrar said, 'I was appointed by the (university) syndicate, so the suspension was illegal.' The Education Minister said that the Vice Chancellor can only place the matter before the syndicate. 'Other than that, there is no provision in the existing law for the Vice Chancellor to take direct action against the registrar,' she said. On June 25, the Sree Padmanabha Seva Samithi had held a function with Arlekar in the university. The registrar had ordered the cancellation of the programme, objecting to the displaying of the Bharat Mata portrait at the university hall. However, Arlekar turned up for the event and lit a lamp in front of the portrait despite protests from Left and Congress workers. Following this, Kunnummal had given a report to Raj Bhavan that the cancellation of the event amounted to insulting the Governor and that the registrar acted under pressure from external forces. This comes amid an ongoing tussle between the state government and the Governor over the presence of Bharat Mata portraits at official events. Minister and CPI(M) leaders have said the portrait is associated with the RSS and should not be used during official events. Last month, Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty had walked out of a function at Raj Bhavan over the presence of the portrait.– PTI inputs
