The Kerala Lokayukta is expected to deliver its verdict in a case against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday.
The case involves mishandling of the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).
It's been a year since this case has been waiting for the verdict and it was only after the petitioner approached the Kerala High Court last week seeking its intervention that things have now speeded up.
The High Court asked the petitioner to approach the Lokayukta with his petition and it was after this ruling came, that the Lokayukta decided to take up the case on Friday.
Public activist R.S. Sasikumar had filed the case in 2018, which pertains to misusing the funds in the CMDRF.
Sasikumar had alleged that the money was given to those who were not supposed to get the relief. These included the family of a deceased CPI(M) legislator, the family of a top leader from a Left ally who passed away, and also to a Kerala Police officer who died when his vehicle met with an accident while accompanying then top leader of the CPI(M), Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.
Incidentally, during the fag end of the first Vijayan government the then State Higher Education Minister K.T. Jaleel had to quit following the Lokayukta verdict indicting him for misuse of official powers.
But the saving grace for Jaleel was the verdict came after the voting to the April 2021 Assembly elections had taken place.
So all eyes are on Friday when the two judge bench of the Lokayukta meets.
The plea to the anti-corruption ombudsman was filed in September 2018 and the hearing ended on March 18, 2022. Since then the verdict has been kept pending.
This verdict is expected at a time when Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan continues to sit on the Bill that tweaked the powers of the Kerala Lokayukta.
Assam veterinarians lauds execution of sex-sorted artificial insemination of cattle in Tripura
A 12-member delegation of veterinarians of Assam Sribhumi district has made their footfall in the state of Tripura for their 3-day visit and learns the execution of sex-sorted artificial insemination of cattle in the state.
Pradesh BJP to Launch 14 days campaign on Constitution Awareness
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura is set to launch 14 day long campaign to celebrate the Constitution of India and raise awareness about its core values, as well as the pivotal role of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in its formation.
Ex Minister alleges negligence at ILS hospital, THRC seeks serves notice seeking response
Tripura Human Right Commission (THRC) has served a notice to a private hospital in Agartala seeking their stand on an allegation made by former Minister Gopal Chandra Das.
TSF to observe January 8 as Black Day in memory of CAA firing tragedy
The Twipra Students' Federation (TSF), an indigenous student body and member of the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), has announced plans to observe January 8 as Black Day in remembrance of the 2019 firing that claimed three lives during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Govt allocates additional Rs 3 Crore for post-flood recovery: CM
In a significant step to bolster post-flood recovery efforts, the Tripura government has sanctioned an additional Rs 13 crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
US Congress to certify Trump winner of 2024 election
The US Congress on Monday will certify President-elect Donald Trump's victory in the November 2024 election, peacefully wrapping up a ritual his supporters had tried to prevent in 2021 in the misleading belief that he had been cheated of a win.
Enrolment of new women voters in Tripura higher than of men: Officials
Enrolment of new women voters in Tripura, at 2,166, has been more than that of new male voters, leading to an increase of the gender ratio to 993 in the final electoral rolls from 991 of the draft electoral rolls, officials said here on Monday.
CM Dr Manik Saha pitches for development of nursing system in hospitals and health institutions for better service
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Monday attended the lamp lighting and oath taking ceremonial programme of the 2nd batch of the B.Sc Nursing students here at Agartala Government Nursing College and said that nurses play key role in rendering health services to the patients.