Padma Shri awardee arrested for financial fraud in Kerala
Kerala businessman and Padma Shri awardee Sundar C Menon has been arrested over complaints of alleged financial fraud in this district, police said on Tuesday.
He was arrested by the district crime branch wing of the state police on Sunday and sent to the district prison here after being remanded by a local court.
According to police, Menon, a recipient of the civilian honour in 2016, faced 18 cases of financial fraud in connection with accepting deposits from people in the name of two firms in which he was one of the directors.
He allegedly accepted Rs 7.78 crore from various people but didn't return the money after the maturity period of the schemes, the police added.
The accused committed the fraud by accepting deposits from over 62 investors, violating Reserve Bank of India (RBI) norms and cheating them by not returning the amount even after the maturity period, a police statement said.
"There were 18 cases registered against the accused at the West Police station here," it said, adding the investigation was later handed over to the Crime Branch.
As per the BUDS (Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes) Act, the properties of Menon and other directors of the firm have been frozen, and steps are being taken to attach them, police added.
Sixty-three-year-old Menon was also the president of the Thiruvambady Devaswom, one of the organisers of the famed Thrissur Pooram.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar occupies CM's suite at new Karnataka Bhavan
New Delhi: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has occupied the exclusive CM’s suite accommodation at the new Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi’s upscale Chanakyapuri area, stirring speculation in political circles regarding changes in the state’s Congress leadership.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had briefly occupied the suite during a previous visit to the national capital but later shifted to the CM’s suite in the Annexe building of Karnataka Bhavan, reportedly citing lack of ventilation in the new facility.
Sources quoted by Deccan Herald said that Shivakumar requested Siddaramaiah to allow him to use the suite since it was lying vacant, and the Chief Minister agreed.
Reacting to the buzz, Shivakumar told reporters there was no need to read into the matter. “The Chief Minister’s post is not vacant and there is no need to discuss such issues now,” he said.
Amid ongoing speculations of a possible leadership change in the state, Congress general secretary (Karnataka in-charge) Randeep Surjewala held meetings with party MLAs to gauge their views on current political developments in the state.
Shivakumar mentioned that Surjewala would soon hold a joint meeting with both him and the Chief Minister to discuss ongoing political affairs in Karnataka. However, he refused to disclose further details about the proposed meeting.
