QChennai: Aerospace Park Kicks Off; Kamal Haasan Under the Scanner

Here are the top news stories from Chennai.

1. High Court Directive to Police on Case Against Kamal Haasan

The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the cyber crime cell under the Central Crime Branch of Chennai city police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against actor Kamal Haasan if any cognisable offence was made out in a complaint lodged by an advocate clerk. The petitioner has objected to one of the actor’s tweets doubting the efficacy of nilavembu kashayam, a herbal concoction promoted by the State Health Department for treating dengue.

Justice MS Ramesh passed the order on a petition filed by G Devarajan of Perambur here. Treating the petition filed against the actor like any other petition seeking a direction to register a FIR, the judge passed his usual order directing the police to follow the dictum laid down by the Supreme Court in the famous Lalita Kumari’s case (2013) and register a case forthwith only if any cognisable offence had been made out on the face of the complaint.

(Source: The Hindu)

Also Read: Tamil Politics Is (Not) Just About Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan

2. Tamil Nadu Looks to Leverage Talent Pool in Aerospace Sector

The Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami laid the foundation stone for the aerospace park on Wednesday. While the domestic aerospace sector is expected to attract an investment of ₹20,000 crore over the next decade, an investment of ₹6,000 crore is expected to be made in Tamil Nadu, which would result in the creation of job opportunities for one lakh people.

It has been proposed to set up the Aerospace Park in 245 acres at Vadagal, which could be expanded to 600 acres in future. SIPCOT and TIDCO would be spending ₹198 crore for developing the industrial plots and 50 aeronautical spare parts companies have shown interest in setting up their units at the park. Out of these 50 units, 20 have made the request for allotment of plots. On the occasion, the Chief Minister handed over land allotment orders to nine units.

(Source: The Hindu)

3. EC Seeks Report on Jaya's Thumb Mark

The Election Commission of India has directed the Chief Electoral Officer, Tamil Nadu, to provide a report on a complaint lodged by Changeindia, a centre for advocacy and research, regarding the thumb impression of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa that was affixed on nomination forms during the elections to the Thanjavur and Aravakurichi constituencies and the Thirupparankundram byelection.

Jayalalithaa’s thumb impression was affixed on Form B of the candidates’ nomination forms when she was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals. Claiming that there was strong suspicion about the integrity and genuineness of the thumb impression on the forms, Changeindia had sought a detailed independent inquiry from the EC. The complaint was forwarded by the EC to the State CEO for “a report and remarks”.

(Source: The Hindu)

Also Read: Jayalalithaa’s Health Report from Apollo Hospital Leaked

4. Srinivasan Admits Shielding MS Dhoni

Former national selector Mohinder Amarnath wanted to drop MS Dhoni as captain in 2012, but the then BCCI president N Srinivasan saved the player from the axe. The Tamil Nadu administrator has admitted that he did veto the selectors’ attempt to remove Dhoni as captain. “Yes, it is true that I vetoed the decision to drop Dhoni as captain. How can you drop someone as captain within a year of his lifting the World Cup?” Srinivasan was quoted as saying in TV anchor Rajdeep Sardesai’s latest book — Democracy’s XI.

Dhoni has also defended his equation with Srinivasan, claiming that the former board chief was a true supporter of Indian cricket. “I really don’t care what people say; I found Srinivasan as someone who was always there to help cricketers,” Dhoni was also quoted as saying in the book.

(Source: Deccan Chronicle)

Also Read: Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah: Prodigies of the Dhoni-Kohli Era

5. Eviction Drive on Cooum Bank Resumes

After a brief gap, the Water Resources Department has resumed its drive to remove encroachments along the Cooum river in the city limits. However, opposition from residents in some areas delayed the process on Wednesday. The department had identified nearly 172 structures to have encroached the riverbank at East Namasivayapuram near Choolaimedu. However, only 110 residents were allotted tokens to resettle in tenements constructed by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board at Perumbakkam.

Residents complained that some of their names were missing in the enumeration list and the issues related to allotment of tokens delayed the process to remove the encroachments. The drive is being carried out in the 17-km stretch between Padikuppam and the river mouth since Tuesday with the support of police. A total of 119 residents of Avvaipuram, Shenoy Nagar were given tokens to relocate to Perumbakkam on Tuesday.

(Source: The Hindu)

6. Chain Snatchers Strike Near US Consulate

Chain-snatching incidents in the city seem to continue unabated. Until recently, motorcycle-borne chain-snatchers were targeting women walking alone in the suburbs and deserted streets in residential colonies.

Now, such incidents are being reported from busy and populated areas in the heart of the city as well. A day after chain-snatchers struck on College Road, a motorcycle-borne duo robbed a woman of her jewellery when she was riding pillion on her husband’s two-wheeler near the US Consulate, where police personnel are posted round the clock. Police said that Gopalakrishnan, 56, of T Nagar, was taking his wife Indirani, 55, a tailor, on his two-wheeler to deliver cloth to a customer in Royappettah.

(Source: The Hindu)

7. Bank Fraud Case: ED Attaches Property Worth Rs 2.16 Crore

The Enforcement Directorate, Chennai, has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 2.16 crore of people involved in a bank fraud case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Based on a complaint received from UCO Bank, the CBI registered a criminal case against bank officials and an exporter. The officials alleged sanctioned various credit facilities to the exporter through fraudulent means and thereby causing a loss of around Rs 14 crore to the bank. On the basis of the FIR, the officers of the Enforcement Directorate registered a case of money laundering and conducted investigations.

(Source: Times of India)