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Supreme Court declines Saravana Bhavan owner’s plea for extending time to surrender

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Supreme Court declines Saravana Bhavan owner’s plea for extending time to surrender

The Supreme Court today (Tuesday, July 9) refused relief to P Rajagopal, the owner of Saravana Bhavan hotel chain, who cited medical grounds for extension of time to surrender in a case of murder of his employee 18 years ago.

Rajagopal was supposed to surrender on July 7 as per a March 2019 judgment of the Supreme Court, holding him guilty in the case and sentencing him to life imprisonment.

The case had attracted international attention, as much for its sensational nature as for the fact that Saravana Bhavan, a well-known restaurant chain, has outlets in 20 countries including the US, the UK, France and Australia. There are 25 restaurants in India including in Delhi.

In 2004 P Rajagopal was convicted in the kidnapping and murder of an employee, Santhakumar. A local court had sentenced Rajagopal and five others involved in the murder to 10 years in prison, said media reports. Five years later the Madras High Court upheld the verdict and increased the sentence to life in prison, a punishment then upheld by the Supreme Court in March this year.

In its order, a three judge bench of Justices NV Ramana, Mohan M Shantanagoudar and Indira Banerjee had held that, “Having regard to the entire material on record and the totality of the facts and circumstances, we find that the evidence on record fully proves the case of the prosecution.”

Following the Supreme Court’s confirmation of his sentence, the Rajagopal was expected to surrender before the court or the local police on July 7, Sunday. However, he failed to do so. It is reported that he got admitted to a hospital on July 4, after spending the last few months since his sentence at his Ashok Nagar residence.

He filed a petition in the apex court seeking an extension of the deadline to surrender, saying he had been hospitalised and needed more time. The hearing had been postponed to Tuesday.

However, Rajagopal’s accomplices, including Daniel, Karmegam, Zakir Hussain, Kasi Viswanathan and Patturajan, surrendered before the fourth additional session court in Chennai.

Today, the Bench of Justices NV Ramana, M Mohan Shanatanagoudar, and Ajay Rastogi said he must surrender immediately. “If he was so ill, why did he not choose to indicate the same during the hearing of his appeal here?” Justice NV Ramana asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Rajagopal, on Tuesday.

“No more adjournments now,” Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar, on the Bench, observed orally.

Giving the background of the case, an NDTV report said that the case, which has attracted considerable attention both in India and abroad, goes back to the 1990s, when Rajagopal wanted to marry Jeevajothi, the daughter of an assistant manager at Saravana Bhavan’s Chennai branch.

At the time Rajagopal already had two wives and Jeevajothi had refused his proposal. She married Santakumar in 1999. The prosecution told the court Rajagopal threatened the couple in 2001 and demanded they call off the marriage.

The couple even filed a complaint at a local police station saying they were intimidated by the Rajagopal’s gang. On October 26, 2001, Shanthakumar was kidnapped and strangled to death by Rajagopal’s henchmen.

The Forest Department found Shanthakumar’s body in Tiger Chola Forests. A charge sheet was filed under Section 302(murder), 364(abduction) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the IPC.

In 2004, a special court found the hotelier guilty and awarded him 10-years of rigorous imprisonment. The Saravana Bhavan owner challenged the special court’s decision and the prosecution sought enhancement of the punishment. In 2009, the Madras High Court enhanced the punishment of Rajagopal to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 55 lakh, including Rs 50 lakh as compensation to Jeevajyothi.

On March 29, 2019, dismissing appeals against the 2009 verdict of the Madras High Court, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices NV Ramana, Mohan M Shantanagoudar and Indira Banerjee ruled: “In our considered opinion, the prosecution has proved the complicity of all the appellants in murdering Santhakumar by strangulating him and thereafter throwing the dead body at Tiger Chola (in Kodaikanal).”

The Supreme Court had concluded that the steadfast testimonies of Jeevajothi and her family, the circumstantial evidence, recovery of personal items, such as the wallet and a gold chain of the victim, along with forensic techniques such as the superimposition test to identify the body, undoubtedly pointed to the guilt of Rajagopal and his henchman. All of them had appealed in the Supreme Court after the Madras High Court had convicted and sentenced him to undergo life imprisonment.

India News

Siddaramaiah to step down as Karnataka Chief Minister, names DK Shivakumar as successor

In a major political development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced his decision to step down, clearing the path for his deputy, DK Shivakumar, to assume leadership.

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Bringing the curtain down on a long-standing leadership dispute within the state ruling party, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Thursday morning that he will resign from his post. The significant announcement was made during a breakfast meeting hosted at his official residence, ‘Kaveri’, in Bengaluru, where senior cabinet ministers and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar were present.

Siddaramaiah informed his cabinet colleagues that he will formally tender his resignation at 3:00 PM. He further requested the ministers to extend their support to DK Shivakumar, declaring him as the next Chief Minister of the state.

A graceful transition of power

The breakfast meeting, which featured traditional Kannada dishes like masala dosa, idli, and kesaribath, served as a poignant farewell from the veteran leader who recently completed three years of his second term in office. Ministers present at the gathering described the atmosphere as emotional yet graceful. While some cabinet members broke down in tears following the announcement, Siddaramaiah remained poised, expressing his gratitude to the team for their cooperation during his tenure.

Ahead of the formal discussions, the two top leaders displayed a strong message of camaraderie and unity. Images released from the residence showed DK Shivakumar touching the Chief Minister’s feet to seek his blessings, followed by a warm embrace between the duo. Following the meeting, the state party unit shared these images on social media with a caption emphasizing that unity remains their core strength and public service their eternal commitment.

High command intervention ends long-standing dispute

The decision follows 48 hours of intense consultations in New Delhi with the party’s central leadership, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. Media reports indicate that the party high command actively facilitated the transition, offering the outgoing Chief Minister a national role, which includes a Rajya Sabha seat.

As the Governor is currently out of the state on personal matters, Siddaramaiah is expected to hand over his resignation letter to the Governor’s secretary at Raj Bhavan. Following the formal acceptance of the resignation, a Legislature Party meeting will be convened to officially elect Shivakumar as the new leader before the scheduled swearing-in ceremony. Meanwhile, celebrations have already erupted outside Shivakumar’s residence, where supporters gathered to distribute sweets and chant slogans welcoming his upcoming elevation.

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Rain and thunderstorms to bring relief to Delhi NCR from intense heatwave

Delhi and NCR are set to get a break from the scorching summer heat as the IMD forecasts thunderstorms and light rain, bringing down the mercury significantly over the weekend.

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Weather

The persistent heatwave gripping Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) is expected to ease down as changing weather conditions promise sudden relief. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a drop in temperatures alongside incoming thunderstorms and rain across the northern plains.

Thunderstorms and rain predicted for Delhi NCR

According to the weather department, Delhi’s maximum temperature is expected to settle around 43 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is likely to hover near 29 degrees Celsius. The afternoon and evening hours are expected to witness light to very light rainfall, accompanied by strong winds and squalls moving at speeds of 50-60 kmph.

A more drastic change in weather conditions is anticipated on May 29, when maximum temperatures could drop sharply to around 36 degrees Celsius, with minimums decreasing to about 26 degrees Celsius. The region is likely to witness thunderstorms, lightning, rain, and squalls with wind speeds ranging between 40-50 kmph. This cooler trend is predicted to continue through May 30 and 31, keeping the maximum temperatures locked around 35-36 degrees Celsius.

Scorching temperatures persist across northern and central India

Before the arrival of these rains, severe heatwave conditions continued to scorch several parts of the country. Media reports indicate that Banda in Uttar Pradesh recorded a maximum temperature of 47.8 degrees Celsius, followed closely by Prayagraj at 46.4 degrees Celsius and Jhansi at 46 degrees Celsius. The states of Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi also registered daytime temperatures ranging between 45 and 46 degrees Celsius.

In Rajasthan, cities like Pilani saw temperatures touch 47 degrees Celsius, while Sri Ganganagar recorded readings 5.5 degrees above normal. Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region experienced marginal relief, though temperatures remained high around 45 to 46 degrees Celsius. In Nagpur, the intense heatwave conditions led to 11 suspected heatstroke deaths within a 24-hour period.

Southwest monsoon advancement and safety advisories

On a national level, the IMD stated that environmental conditions are turning favorable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into parts of the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, and the Bay of Bengal. Since India relies heavily on the monsoon for its annual rainfall, farming, and drinking water, its timely progression remains critical.

Amidst these soaring temperatures, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the public to take necessary precautions. In a statement shared on social media, he advised citizens to stay hydrated, carry water when stepping out, and offer assistance to those working under the sun to combat the harsh summer heat.

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India News

Siddaramaiah not interested in taking Rajya Sabha post, say sources

Sources reveal that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has turned down an offer for a Rajya Sabha seat, preferring to remain active as an MLA in state politics despite leadership transition talks by the Congress high command.

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The political landscape in Karnataka is witnessing intense developments as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly expressed his unwillingness to accept a Rajya Sabha berth or transition into a national role in New Delhi. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the veteran leader prefers to remain active within state politics and continue his tenure as an MLA rather than shifting his focus to the national capital.

High command pushes for transition

This revelation comes on the heels of marathon high-level meetings convened by the Congress leadership in Delhi to address the ongoing leadership discussions in Karnataka. Insiders state that the party central leadership has backed Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to take over the top post, in line with internal understandings following the 2023 assembly elections.

To facilitate a smooth leadership transition in the state, the high command offered Siddaramaiah a parliamentary seat in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections alongside a prominent national role. However, sources indicate that the Chief Minister has rejected this proposal and requested more time to deliberate on his next steps.

Official stance downplays leadership shift

Publicly, senior party leaders have sought to quell rumors regarding an immediate change of guard. Following a lengthy deliberation at the party headquarters, General Secretary K.C. Venugopal stated to the media that the discussions were exclusively centered around selecting candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council seats in Karnataka. He dismissed reports of an imminent chief ministerial swap as mere speculation.

Siddaramaiah also echoed this sentiment when questioned by journalists, emphatically denying that any leadership changes were debated during the official meeting. Despite these denials, political circles remain abuzz, as the Chief Minister has reportedly met with cabinet ministers and loyalists to discuss the evolving situation before returning to Bengaluru.

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