Thoothukudi violence: Mention CBI probe plea on Monday, say SC
New Delhi, May 25 : The Supreme Court may hear on Monday a plea for a court- monitored CBI probe into the killing of over a dozen protesters during an anti-Sterlite rally in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.
As the petitioner, advocate G.S. Mani, mentioned his plea before a bench of Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice Indu Malhotra for urgent listing, the court said it will not entertain any mentioning of urgent matters on Friday and he may mention his plea on May 28.
In his PIL, the Supreme Court lawyer alleged a "pre-planned murder" by police with the help of high-level officials of police and civil administration.
He sought registration of an FIR under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code against the Thoothukudi Collector, Superintendent of Police and other police officials.
The petition said that announcement of Rs 10 lakh each as compensation to bereaved families was only meant to please the pubic and to escape a heinous crime of murdering innocent civilians.
He demanded Rs 50 lakh each to the kin of police firing victims, and Rs 25 lakh to the seriously injured.
The petitioner demanded that Internet services in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts be restored, since these were suspended after the incident.
Seeking the Central Bureau of Investigation probe, Mani pleaded that the Tamil Nadu Police would not be able to conduct free and fair investigation into the firing incident due to involvement of senior police officials.
On May 22, the Thoothukudi protests against Sterlite Copper smelting plant turned violent, following which 13 persons were killed in police firing and many others injured.
The construction of a proposed second smelting plant in Thoothukudi was stopped on the orders of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
