Kochi: The CBI will probe the controversies related to the Life Mission contract. The CBI has registered a case in connection with the Red Crescent scam. The CBI has filed a case in a special CBI court in Kochi. The CBI had earlier started collecting preliminary information related to the project.

The state government reached an agreement with the Red Crescent on July 11, 2019 to build 140 flats on 2.17 acres. As agreements with foreign countries are included in the Central List, the MoU requires the approval of the Center. Neither the Consulate nor the construction company Unitak has the authority to enter into contracts without central approval.

Under the subsection of the MoU, the construction contractor is to be selected by the State Government and the Red Crescent. However, the MoU and the rules were subverted and the construction contract was awarded to Unitak. The agreement was signed by the Consulate General and the unit. Anil Akkara MLA lodged a complaint with the CBI SP at the Kochi unit alleging corruption in the Life Mission project. The complaint alleges that the agreement with the Red Crescent was illegal.

The great poet Akkitham was presented with the Jnanpith award. Akkitham is the sixth Malayalee to win the award. The Jnanpith award was presented by Minister AK Balan at his residence in Kumaranellur. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the award ceremony via video conference.

The award recognizes Akkitham’s outstanding contribution to the language, which has left its mark on various literary genres. The Jnanpith will cost Rs 11 lakh and a Saraswati sculpture. The poet received the award at the age of 93. Akkitham, a native of Kumaranalloor, Palakkad, is a poet who has contributed more than 40 works to Malayalam.

Thiruvananthapuram: The CBI probe into allegations of corruption in the Life project will be announced soon. The investigation is being launched based on the enforcement report. Enforcement documents indicate that a group of IAS officers carried out the illegal activity.

The Enforcement Department concluded that what had happened was a serious omission. The official paved the way for foreign aid to be received unknowingly by foreign ministries. The Ministry of Finance has forwarded the preliminary report of the Enforcement to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The CBI will issue an order for investigation as soon as the technical steps in the Home Ministry are completed.

The new move comes after the government yesterday ordered a vigilance probe into the Life project. Vigilance will investigate all transactions with the Red Crescent. The scope of the inquiry will also include the receipt of the commission.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has rejected the bail plea of Mohammad Nisham. The Supreme Court has rejected bail in the murder case of Chandrabose, a security guard in Thrissur. Mohammad Nisham is serving a life sentence. The court also rejected his request to seek treatment at a private hospital. The bail application was based on health issues.

A bench headed by Justice U U Lalith heard the case. The High Court had on August 11 granted interim bail. Bail was extended twice. However, the High Court rejected Mohammad Nisham’s demand for a third bail. He was produced before Poojappura Central Jail on September 15. Nisham had approached the Supreme Court against the High Court order denying him bail.

Kochi: In the gold smuggling case, the former principal secretary of the chief minister M. Shivasankar is being questioned again by the NIA team. This is the third time the NIA has interrogated him. Swapna Suresh, one of the main accused in the gold smuggling case through diplomatic luggage, has been in NIA custody for the past two days. Based on this, the investigation team is questioning Sivasankar.

The two may be put together and questioned by the NIA team. The probe team had found digital evidence from Swapna Suresh and Sandeep. Based on this, the investigation team is questioning Swapna and the other accused again. Shivshankar had arrived at the NIA office in Kochi this morning for questioning. It is learned that the NIA team has received evidence of Shivasankar’s role in the case. The investigation team has collected more evidence from Swapna’s mobile phone and laptop.

Thiruvananthapuram: NIA arrests two terrorists from Thiruvananthapuram airport. The two men were arrested after being issued a look-out notice from Riyadh. One is a Malayalee. Shuhaib, a native of Pappinisseri, Kannur, has been arrested in connection with the Bengaluru blast case. The second person arrested was Mohammad Gulnavas, a native of Uttar Pradesh. Gulnavas is the accused in the Delhi hawala case.

Gulnavas is a Lashkar-e-Taiba activist and Shuhaib is an Indian Mujahideen activist.

They were on a Riyadh flight that arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram airport at 6.30 pm. They were interrogated at the airport for about two hours after the arrest was registered. It is learned that RAW’s officials also took part in the interrogation. After bringing them to Kochi, one will be taken to Bengaluru and the other to Delhi. There are two main culprits that the NIA has been investigating for a long time.

The NIA’s move was top secret. No indication was given to the state police in this regard.