Articles by Ramesh Babu
Given second life, says Kerala trekker rescued after nearly 50 hours
R Babu was admitted to a hospital after being provided food and water by rescuers, whom he embraced and thanked profusely after a precarious operation in which several evacuation attempts by helicopters failed

Published on Feb 10, 2022 12:33 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala gold smuggling case: ED summons Swapna over new allegations
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday summoned the main accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh, following interviews she gave recently raising allegations against IAS officer M Sivasankar -- another accused

Published on Feb 09, 2022 12:17 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala guv signs ordinance clipping Lokayukta powers
Now with the governor giving his assent “a competent body will have power either to accept or reject the verdict of Lokayukta after giving an opportunity to hear parties concerned,” according to the ordinance.

Published on Feb 08, 2022 12:16 AM IST
Kerala governor signs amendment curtailing powers of Lokayukta
The new amendment takes away Section 14 of the Kerala Lokayukta Act, under which a public servant was required to vacate the office immediately if indicted by Lokayukta. Now, it has only recommendatory authority, not mandatory jurisdiction.

Updated on Feb 07, 2022 06:03 PM IST
Kerala smuggling case returns to haunt govt
IAS officer Sivasankar may face action after main accused Suresh says the officer was aware of her activities

Published on Feb 07, 2022 12:39 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala govt may take action against M Sivasankar again in gold smuggling case
The Kerala government also feels that the IAS officer has given an opportunity to central agencies to corner the government again.

Published on Feb 07, 2022 12:14 AM IST
Kerala gold smuggling case: Main accused says CM’s secretary was aware of her activities
Talking to news channel Asianet, Swapna shot back saying he was aware of everything and he can’t wash off his hands like this

Updated on Feb 05, 2022 01:04 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala HC asks Centre to give all files in ‘MediaOne’ ban case
Counsel for the channel contended that the ministry’s order was illegal and violated freedom of speech guaranteed under the constitution

Published on Feb 03, 2022 01:07 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala’s famous snake rescuer battling for life after cobra bite
Vava Suresh is a household name across the state and has rescued over 50,000 snakes and other animals over the last two decades

Updated on Feb 01, 2022 09:54 AM IST
Two years on, Kerala battles high Covid caseload
In the midst of a third wave, it remains the highest contributor for almost a month and in death rate it is second to Maharashtra.

Published on Jan 31, 2022 12:28 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
R-Day gaffe: Kerala minister hoists national flag upside down, salutes it
The Kasaragod district administration announced a probe into the R-Day incident and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party sought action against the minister and erring officials

Updated on Jan 26, 2022 03:53 PM IST
Ordinance seeks to dilute Kerala Lokayukta’s powers, triggers row
The anti-corruption ombudsman is probing three complaints against chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for allegedly misusing funds meant for disaster relief

Published on Jan 25, 2022 04:13 PM IST
Kerala orders probe against hospital after transgender’s suicide
Six months after a 28-year-old transgender activist died by suicide allegedly due to medical complications from her sex re-assignment surgery, the Kerala government on Monday ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident

Published on Jan 25, 2022 12:54 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala to probe trans activist’s suicide after sex reassignment surgery
The state government has directed the additional director of health to make a detailed inquiry and submit a report in a month’s time

Updated on Jan 24, 2022 03:45 PM IST
‘Miscarriage of justice’: Uproar mounts on court order
Widespread outrage continued in Kerala on Saturday, a day after a Kottayam court acquitted Roman Catholic bishop Franco Mulakkal of charges of repeatedly raping a nun

Published on Jan 16, 2022 12:43 AM IST
{Kerala nun rape case} Outrage mounts over acquittal; activists launch online campaign
The nun had alleged Mullakal had raped her several times between 2014 and 2016; the Kottayam court said the victim’s statements were contradictory and corroborative evidences were missing

Published on Jan 15, 2022 10:25 PM IST
Bishop Franco acquitted in Kerala nun rape case
The unexpected verdict sparked a wave of condemnation, with supporters of the victim saying they will move the high court

Updated on Jan 14, 2022 11:39 PM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala nun rape: unusual case that witnessed many twists and turns
Earlier many priests have faced sexual harassment and assault charges from believers, but this is the first time one from the ordained flock turned against the powerful diocese head attracting widespread attention.

Published on Jan 14, 2022 06:55 PM IST
‘Pity that vice chancellor can’t write two sentences properly’: Kerala governor
Kerala University vice chancellor Prof. Mahadevan Pillai’s handwritten letter to governor revealed sthat the V-C, instead of convening a meeting of the university Syndicate meeting to decide on the governor’s suggestion, “discussed” it with some the university Syndicate members and told the governor that the University Syndicate had turned down the proposal.

Published on Jan 10, 2022 04:54 PM IST
Abandoned tiger cub develops cataract, rewilding prospects hit
The forest department is planning to import a drug from the United States called Lanosterol, which experts said can help dissolve the cataract to an extent

Published on Jan 10, 2022 12:27 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala actor’s abduction, assault case drags on
The Kerala actor abduction and assault case saw two special public prosecutors resign, 38 witnesses turned hostile, and prosecution moved higher courts, seeking a change of the trial judge

Published on Jan 06, 2022 12:41 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala: Vijayan announces relief package for those facing losses due to K-Rail
Congress, the main Opposition party in the state of Kerala, and the Bharatiya Janata Party have been opposing the rail project

Updated on Jan 04, 2022 04:32 PM IST
18 years and fighting: HIV-infected Kerala mother seeks job for her educated children
Her children were thrown out of their school but she fought back and ensured education to her children at the same school

Published on Jan 03, 2022 12:23 AM IST
Year that was: Left’s hold continues; nature’s fury returns in Kerala
This year saw the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) making history in the April assembly election by retaining power in Kerala that usually boots out the incumbent

Updated on Dec 30, 2021 12:45 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala high-speed rail: CPI expresses concern, PCC warns Tharoor to mend his ways
Two weeks back when 17 MPs from the state wrote to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav urging him not to give clearance to the high-speed project ‘K Rail,’ Tharoor abstained from it saying he needed more time to study the project. But he made it clear that not signing the letter does not mean that he supported the project.

Published on Dec 27, 2021 12:11 AM IST
Row over K Rail intensifies as CPI expresses concern
The ₹63,490-crore K-rail project aims at developing a high-speed rail network, connecting north Kerala’s Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram in the south.

Published on Dec 27, 2021 12:11 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Differently abled man in Kerala overcomes hurdles to help needy during Covid
Since 2019, Salim is the most sought after person in Ranni town of Pathanamthitta district, where he has helped more than 2,000 Covid patients reach the hospital in the past two years.

Updated on Dec 23, 2021 12:37 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Plea to remove PM photo from jab certificate dismissed. HC orders ₹1 lakh fine
The Kerala high court said the petition to remove PM Modi’s photo from the vaccine certificates was a publicity-oriented petition. “...and I have a strong doubt that there is political agenda,” the judge ruled

Updated on Dec 21, 2021 01:10 PM IST
‘Appeasement politics’: MoS Home Nityanand Rai raps Kerala govt on twin murders
The minister rushed to the state to pay homage to Sreenivasan who was hacked to death in his home in Alappuzha on Sunday

Updated on Dec 20, 2021 08:59 PM IST
Third generation Kerala craftsmen keep tradition of ‘Nettur petti’ alive
Craftsmen have no idea how Nettur petti got its name. “It is also known as Malabar petti, and we feel it might have imbibed the name from a village along the Malabar coast,” Suresh said.

Published on Dec 20, 2021 12:18 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram