Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is once again questioning Swapna Suresh, accused in a gold smuggling case. She is being questioned three times to clarify the secret statement given by Swapna in the gold smuggling case. Swapna Suresh said that it was not possible to say whether the ED had given evidence in the allegations against the celebrities and that it was part of the investigation. The Crime Branch Special Investigation Team was also asked to appear today. In the case registered on the complaint of KT Jaleel, bailable provisions were imposed.

Swapna also said that there was no reply to the allegations made by Saritha.The ED summoned her again for questioning after examining her statement two days earlier. The interrogation is progressing under the leadership of ED Kochi Zone Additional Director Radhakrishnan.

Kochi:  Producer and actor Vijay Babu has been arrested in connection with the rape of a young actress. The actor was arrested by the Ernakulam South police. Vijay Babu continues to be questioned in custody.

The court had allowed the probe team to question the actor from today till July 3 when he was granted anticipatory bail. The arrest was recorded when he arrived for questioning accordingly. Vijay Babu can return after evening interrogation as he has anticipatory bail. The interrogation of Vijay Babu will continue for 28,29,30 days and 1,2,3 days next month. The interrogation was allowed from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Thrissur: Writer Chowalloor Krishnankutty passed away at the age of 86. He died at a private hospital in Thrissur. He has published eighteen books in the categories of Poetry, Short Stories, Novels, Translations, and Humorous Essays.

He was also the Vice-Chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, and twice the Chairman of the Kerala Kalamandalam.He also served as the Assistant Editor of Malayala Manorama.

Palakkad: The electricity tariff will be increased from tomorrow. Power Minister K Krishnankutty said that the new rates will be announced by the Regulatory Commission tomorrow afternoon.

‘The rate of increase is unknown. An increase in revenue and expenditure was demanded. The power to decide rates is vested in the Electricity Regulatory Commission. There will be no big increase. We want the maximum-minimum rate increase, ”said K Krishnankutty.

The Electricity Board has submitted a tariff plan to the Regulatory Commission seeking an 18 percent hike in household electricity rates. KSEB wants an average increase of 92 paise per unit. KSEB has submitted to the Regulatory Commission a tariff plan for a rate hike for the financial year 2022-23. The revenue deficit is estimated at Rs 2,852 crore this fiscal. KSEB expects to earn Rs 2,284 crore per unit through a 92 paise hike. For domestic consumers, the rate should increase by an average of 18.14 percent. KSEB has recommended an increase of 11.88 percent for small business customers and 11.47 percent for large industrial customers. For small agricultural consumers, the current rate of Rs 2.75 per unit should be Rs 3.64. For large agricultural consumers, the rate should be raised from Rs 5.67 to Rs 6.86. KSEB has also demanded that the fare for Kochi Metro be increased from Rs 6.46 per unit to Rs 7.18. The electricity tariff in the state is as of July 19, 2019.