Kochi: The High Court has granted anticipatory bail to actor Babu Raj in the case filed by a junior artist.

Meanwhile, the court directed him to cooperate with the investigation and surrender before the investigating officer within 10 days. The complaint against Babu Raj was filed by a junior artist. The woman alleged that she was raped at Babu Raj’s house in Aluva and at a resort.

The complaint was filed by the junior artist alleging that Babu Raj had called her and raped her after promising her a chance in a movie. Subsequently, the Adimali police had registered a case on charges of rape. The complaint alleged that she was raped at Babu Raj’s resort in Irukkanam and at his house in Aluva. The complaint, which the woman had submitted to the state police chief via e-mail, was forwarded to the Adimali police. The Adimali police registered the case after obtaining information from the woman over the phone. The girl was a former employee of Babu Raj’s resort.

Thiruvananthapuram: Applications can be submitted to convert ration cards to priority category. Applications for conversion of general category (white, blue) ration cards of families not falling under the exemption criteria to priority (pink card) category can be submitted from 11 am tomorrow (November 25).

Applications will be accepted online till 5 pm on December 10. Applications can be submitted through authorized Akshaya Kendras or through the Citizen Login Portal along with relevant documents. Address: ecitizen.civilsupplieskerala.gov.in

Thiruvananthapuram: Delegate registration for the 29th International Film Festival will begin tomorrow (November 25) at 10 am. Delegate registration can be done through the link registration.iffk.in. The film festival, organized by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, will be held in Thiruvananthapuram from December 13 to 20.

The fee for the general category is Rs. 1180 including GST and for students it is Rs. 590 including GST. Registration can also be done directly through the delegate cell set up at the main venue, Tagore Theatre. The festival, which will be held over eight days, will screen about 180 films from different countries. The screenings will be held in 15 theatres.

The festival will feature packages such as an international competition section for films from Asian, African and Latin American countries, a world cinema section that includes films that have won awards at leading film festivals, films in the Indian Cinema Now, Malayalam Cinema Today and Country Focus sections, and a homage section that pays tribute to forgotten film talents. More than a hundred guests from foreign countries, including directors, technicians and jury members, will participate in the festival.

Kozhikode: Prominent film actor Meghnadan (60) passed away. The death occurred around two o’clock in the morning. He was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode due to respiratory disease. He has acted in about fifty films and many serials. Meghnadan is the son of actor Balan K Nair and Sharada Nair.

Meghnadan started his film career in 1980 by playing the role of a studio boy in the film ‘Astram’ directed by PN Menon.

Panchagni, Chamayam, Rajdhani, Bhumi Geetam, Chengol, Malappuram Haji Mahanaya Joji, Prayikkara Papan, Udyanapalakan, Ee puzhayum Kadannu, Ullasapoonkattu, Rashtra, Kudamatam, Vastavam are the main films.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Education Department has banned providing study material including notes through social media such as WhatsApp to higher secondary students. The action was taken following the intervention of the Child Rights Commission.

According to the order, the method of giving study material including notes through social media is not good for children to remember and understand their studies properly and it should be completely avoided to deprive the children of the learning experience that they should get directly in the class. In order to ensure these things, the concerned authorities should visit the schools periodically and strengthen the monitoring and ask the opinion of the students and parents.

The method of imparting learning material through social media is too burdensome for the children and it is financially difficult to study by taking print. Following this, the Education Department issued a circular to all RDDs and school principals following a notice issued by Child Rights Commission member N Sunanda.