Teacher sentenced to life imprisonment for raping student dismissed from service
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Sunday said that a teacher who was also a BJP activist, sentenced by a court to life imprisonment for raping a student in Palathayi here, has been dismissed from service.
Thalassery Fast Track Special Court Judge Jalarajani M T sentenced Padmarajan K, also known as Pappen Master (48) and a resident of Kadavathoor, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty under various sections and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on November 15.
Sivankutty said on his Facebook page that the manager of the school where Padmarajan worked has issued an order dismissing him from service.
Following the court verdict, the General Education Department had directed the school management to initiate disciplinary action.
According to the prosecution, Padmarajan sexually assaulted the 10-year-old student in the toilet of the educational institution and at his residence.
Panoor police registered a case on March 17, 2020, and arrested the accused on April 15.
The BJP had alleged that the case was part of a conspiracy by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
The case was later handed over to the Crime Branch, which initially did not include POCSO charges, allowing the accused to secure bail.
After concerns were raised by the victim’s family, the Kerala High Court ordered a fresh investigation.
The investigation team was changed twice due to dissatisfaction with the earlier inquiries.
A fifth investigation team led by Additional Director General of Police E J Jayaraj finally completed the probe and filed a charge sheet.
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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.
