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Appu imprisoned under Goondas Act

     Kancheepuram: Appu, number 5 accused in the Sankararaman murder case, and co-accused Dil Pandian have been detained under the Goondas Act by the Police. Both are already under judicial custody in connection with the case. In the Sankararaman murder case, the investigators have stated that Appu was assigned the "job" of carrying out the murder and he in turn hired the contract killers. Appu surrendered before the Tamilnadu Police in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh on December 19 last and turned approver in the case after interrogation. Pandian, who surrendered before a Chennai court on October 27, has been charged with making a fake surrender in the case. R Raghu, brother of Junior Kanchi Sankaracharya Vijyendra Saraswati, Kanchi Mutt manager Sundresa Iyer are already detained under the Goondas Act in the case. With Appu and Pandian arrested, the total number of accused detained under the Act in the murder case has gone up to 12. The Goondas Act is normally evoked against habitual offenders and those detained are not entitled for bail for one year. According to the police investigating the case, both the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi and Vijyendra Saraswati, along with Ravi Subramaniam, a building contractor, and Appu, a gang leader, had conspired to murder Sankararaman, who was the manager of the Kancheepuram Varadarajaperumal temple.

Pappu threatens to quit RJD, support LJP (Go To Top)

     Patna: Controversial RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav today threatened to resign from his Lok Sabha seat and the party accusing Lalu Yadav of patronizing criminals. He has further warned that he may support Ramvilas Paswan's LJP in the assembly polls. In a move that is being largely seen as a major setback to Lalu ahead of the second round of polling in Bihar, Pappu challenged the RJD chief to expel him from the party, offering to resign himself if Laloo failed to oust him. Pappu Yadav is angry over his supporters being denied tickets by the RJD. While spelling out his angst Pappu said: "Laloo and his caucus are patronizing criminals. MPs like Taslimuddin are having their way in the party. I believe money and criminals should have no role in politics." It must be mentioned that Pappu had resigned from the membership of party's Parliamentary Board on Feb 01, protesting against the "denial" of tickets to his supporters. His people, he alleges, were ignored in his stronghold of Madhepura, Saharsa and Purnea. According to sources, Lalu Prasad gave Pappu Yadav's loyalists only two-three tickets. His supporters have revolted and are contesting as independents against party's official candidates in several constituencies. Party sources believe Pappu Yadav is capable of damaging the RJD's chances on over a dozen seats. The party is said to be keen to pacify him and involve his supporters in campaigning for the elections.

Four more Deuba cabinet ministers arrested (Go To Top)

     Kathmandu: Nepalese troops on Saturday arrested four ministers of the ousted Deuba cabinet. The government headed by King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev has also decided to appoint a commission to probe corruption cases against various politicians and others. The Royal Commission of Inquiry is expected to be formed by the middle of this month, Radio Nepal reported today. Former Works and Physical Planning Ministers Prakash Man Singh, Agriculture Minister Homnath Dahal, Education Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Prakash Mahat and spokesman of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Minendra Rijal were among those arrested today. Central members of Deuba's Nepali Congress (Democratic) party were arrested yesterday during a meeting at the party's headquarters in the Maharajgunj area of the Nepalese capital.

Iraq coalition wins 76 seats in polls (Go To Top)

     Baghdad: Iraq's main Shiite coalition maintained a hefty but reduced lead in the latest count of votes in the country's historic election, as deadly violence continued. The United Iraqi Alliance, which is backed by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the country's Shiite spiritual leader, secured 76 out of 275-member national assembly getting edge over other parties, reports The News. United Iraqi Alliance got 67 percent votes whereas Iraqi National Accord 29.6, National Independent Cadres and Elites 1.3 percent Peoples union 1.2 percent, Iraqi party 1 percent votes. Vote count for overseas Iraqis underway and according to initial results Alliance got 36.15 percent votes whereas Kurdish Democratic Party stands on number two with 29.6 percent votes.