Wayanad bypoll: Emotional scenes at polling booths for landslide survivors
Wayanad(Kerala) (PTI): Emotional scenes were witnessed at the polling stations set up for the survivors of the landslides, which hit the hill district in July this year, to cast their votes in the bypoll for the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency when they saw their neighbours and close friends after a long time since the disaster.
The survivors hugged each other with joy and then broke into tears as they recalled how they all lived together as one big happy family before the landslides swept away everything on July 30.
One elderly man broke into tears as he narrated how the residents of Punchirimattam, Chooralmala and Mundakkai villages, which were completely destroyed in the landslides, celebrated every festival together irrespective of their religions.
His friend, whom he met on the bus that was arranged to ferry voters of the landslide-affected to polling stations, hugged and consoled him, saying "don't cry, everything will turn out to be fine".
Another woman said after the landslides, the survivors were relocated or rehabilitated to different parts of the district.
"So, when we see them after such a long gap, the first thing we ask is where you are living and not how you are doing," she told media.
A special free vehicle service has been provided for landslide survivors to reach the polling stations from the various places they are temporarily residing at.
Over 200 people were killed in the landslides that swept away the three villages and destroyed hundreds of homes.
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Adani bribery case: US court orders joint trial of criminal, civil cases
New York: A US court has combined three cases against industrialist Gautam Adani into a joint trial, citing similar allegations and transactions. The charges involve the payment of USD 265 million (approximately Rs 2,029 crore) in bribes to secure solar energy contracts with state electricity distribution companies.
The cases consolidated for the trial include US vs Adani and others (a criminal case), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) vs Adani and others (a civil case), and SEC vs Cabanes (a civil case involving other accused).
The decision, taken to ensure judicial efficiency and avoid scheduling conflicts, assigns all cases to District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis, who is already overseeing the criminal case against Adani.
US prosecutors have alleged that the Adani Group concealed the bribery allegations from US banks and investors while raising funds for solar energy projects.
Refuting the accusations, the Adani Group described them as "baseless," asserting, "We are a law-abiding organisation, fully compliant with all laws." A company spokesperson emphasised that the indictment is based on charges, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
