Bengaluru:  The first baby girl born on New Year Day  is extremely lucky. She has earned a reward of Rs 5 lakhs which was handed over to her by BBMP Mayor Sampath Raj at the D Nagaraj Maternity Hospital at Bashyam Circle in the city on January 1, Monday. The Mayor had earlier made an announcement  that a cash prize will be awarded to the first baby girl born on New Year.

Pushpa, a resident of Rajajinagar  was admitted to the hospital on December 31 after she had developed labour pains. She had delivered a baby girl at  five minutes past midnight.  After BBMP Health Officer intimated about this, the Mayor visited the hospital on Monday morning and handed over the  cheque and  a Madilu kit to the mother. The Mayor also enquired about the health of the mother and baby.

 Later, speaking to reporters  he said  the amount will be deposited in a bank  in a joint account in the name of the  child and BBMP Commissioner.  It aims at  encouraging girls to excel in life, he added.

The lucky baby's mother Pushpa also expressed her immense pleasure and  said she would use the money towards the education of her child.

Deputy Mayor Padmavathi Narasimhamurthi,  Standing Committee  on Health President  Mujahid Pasha and BBMP officials were present.

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Kochi (PTI): The Kerala High Court on Saturday gave interim protection from arrest to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in a case of rape and forced abortion against him.

Justice K Babu said that it will hear Mamkootathil's anticipatory bail plea on December 15 and till then he should not be arrested.

"Petitioner shall not be arrested during the pendency. Post on December 15, 2025," the court said.

Advocate S Rajeev, appearing for the expelled Congress MLA confirmed the order.

However, Mamkootathil is accused in a second case of sexual assault.

A sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram had on Thursday rejected his plea for anticipatory bail in the first case of rape and forced abortion registered against him last week.

A second rape case was lodged against him on Wednesday based on the complaint of a second woman, a resident of Bengaluru.

Mamkootathil, who has been absconding since the registration of the first rape case against him, has claimed in his plea in the High Court that he was innocent and his custodial interrogation was not required.

He has also contended that the relationship between him and the first complainant was consensual and when it became strained, a complaint was lodged against him.

The MLA has further claimed that the woman was married, but separated from her husband, and in order to "save her own skin" she disowned their relationship.

In his plea, Mamkootathil has said that he was prepared to explain each and every circumstance of the offences alleged against him and will also cooperate with the probe if he would get an opportunity to appear before the investigating officer without any fear of arrest.

He has also alleged that there is an attempt by the investigation agency to "mislead the facts" and he has got ample documents to establish the same.