1. Stalin Files Defamation Suit Against Vikatan for Alleging Link to 'Lottery King' Martin
DMK President MK Stalin has filed a defamation suit against Tamil magazine Vikatan over an article published on 8 May, alleging that he had financial dealings with 'Lottery King' Martin Santiago, who is currently under the Income Tax department's scanner. In a plaint to the Madras High Court, Stalin termed the allegations as 'fictitious' and demanded Rs 1,10,00,000 (Rs 1.1 crore) as compensation for damaging his reputation.
The Vikatan article, which appeared in the print and online version, is titled - '500 crores election fund? Martin is caught …DMK in trouble'. It alleges that Martin was very close to the 'Karunanidhi family' including Stalin, with whom he is reportedly still in touch.
(Source: The News Minute)
2. Nipah Threat: After Coimbatore Govt Hospital, Madurai GH Sets up Isolation Wards
After a 23-year-old man tested positive for the Nipah virus in Kerala a few days ago, Tamil Nadu is actively putting precautionary measures in place to address the threat of the viral infection. Isolation wards are being set up in major district hospitals across the state. While the Coimbatore Government Hospital has already set up a special Nipah ward, the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai becomes the latest to join the list of government health facilities with a dedicated Nipah ward.
Kanyakumari, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Tirunelveli and Theni districts were placed on high alert by the state government after the 23-year-old man was confirmed to have contracted the virus in Kerala.
(Source: The News Minute)
3. Animal Welfare Board of India Violates Lease Rules in Chennai, Reveals RTI
It’s been over a year since the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) shifted out of its Chennai office, amidst much outcry from animal lovers and activists bemoaning the departure of the 56-year-old central government institution from the city. The administration said that the move was in keeping with the rules, which reportedly mandates that the AWBI function out of Delhi.
The land lease was granted by then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi solely for the purpose of operating the AWBI office. An RTI query by animal rights activist Antony Rubin reveals that the first floor of the Chennai office has been 'handed over' to the official of the National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai.
(Source: The News Minute)
4. 18-Yr-Old Jumps to Death at CMBT Metro Station
An 18-year-old boy committed suicide by allegedly jumping off a 60-foot sidewall at a CMBT Metro Rail station on Friday afternoon.“Shrivanth K Arun got off the train at 3:30 pm and waited for about five minutes at platform no 1 and after the train moved and passengers left, he allegedly climbed atop the sidewall and jumped,” said an investigation officer.
“He was in his school uniform and jumped with his bag into a vacant land,” the officer added. Preliminary investigations revealed that he was depressed.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. Metro Asked to Justify Phase II Cost, Cut Spending
The Centre has asked Chennai Metro, which has given an estimate of ₹69,180 crore for the phase II project, to explain the reason behind this huge spend, according to sources.
The Ministry of Urban Development asked them to itemise every aspect — from land acquisition to construction — recently to find out how much spending was required for each segment and to see if it could be cut down, sources said. A highly placed source said these were routine exchanges which happened when a project of this scale was taken up. “They are bound to ask such questions. There is nothing wrong,” he added. Of the total cost, the cost for construction (without escalation) alone will take about ₹43,000 crore and the cost for acquiring land and taxes will take nearly ₹13,700 crore.
(Source: The Hindu)
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