Singapore's Indian-origin human rights lawyer M Ravi dies, says report
Singapore (PTI): An Indian-origin former lawyer M Ravi, widely known for representing death row inmates, including Malaysians, in Singapore, has died on Wednesday at 56.
He was found dead in the early hours of December 24, according to a report by The Straits Times. Police are investigating a case of unnatural death, said the daily report.
Ravi, whose full name was Ravi Madasamy, was born in 1969 and was a lawyer for more than 25 years.
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He had also been in the news over his conduct, and was an advocate for the LGBTQ community and supported the abolition of the death penalty. Ravi was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2006.
Lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam, who had previously served as Ravi's counsel, said that he "was a man who stood up for and fought hard in court for what he believed in".
"He was dedicated to his pro bono work and deeply cared for his clients," the Channel News Asia quoted Thuraisingam as saying.
"He was a friend and he will be deeply missed by all in the legal fraternity."
According to the Encyclopedia of Singapore Tamils, an online resource, Ravi was a graduate of the National University of Singapore and Cardiff University and was called to the Bar in 1996.
He founded his own law firm, M Ravi Law, in 2019.
In 2023, he was recognised for his human rights work by the International Bar Association, receiving its "Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Practitioner to Human Rights".
The organisation, according to the Channel report, praised Ravi for his "extraordinary dedication to defending human rights and advocating for the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the abolition of the death penalty in the Republic of Singapore".
Thirty-three offences—including murder, drug trafficking, terrorism, use of firearms and kidnapping—warrant the death penalty under Singaporean law.
Ravi had several brushes with the law, being fined for disorderly behaviour in 2004 and given a mandatory treatment order to address his bipolar disorder in 2018, before he was sentenced to 14 weeks' jail for a string of offences in 2024.
He was handed a five-year suspension from practising law in 2023 for making "grave and baseless accusations of improper conduct" against the attorney-general, officers from the Attorney-General's Chambers and the Law Society.
Ravi was a one-time political candidate, running in the 2015 General Election as part of a Reform Party slate.
He was also an author, publishing an autobiography, Kampong Boy (a boy from a village), in 2013. The book was shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize the following year.
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BJP 'favours only rich' while we care for poor: CM Siddaramaiah
Davanagere (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing it of "favouring the rich", while asserting that his government stands firmly with the poor.
Interacting with reporters after a campaign event in Davanagere South constituency, Siddaramaiah said the BJP subscribes to an economic model that benefits the wealthy, while the Congress government is committed to welfare measures aimed at uplifting the underprivileged.
“There are two economic theories – Trickle down theory and Universal Basic Income theory. BJP supports trickle-down—meaning they favour the rich. While we believe in Universal Basic Income, which supports the poor,” he said.
The CM said the public response to the ongoing campaign had exceeded expectations and reflected growing awareness among voters.
“In the campaign, people are responding beyond our expectations. People have realised that the BJP, despite being in power for four years, did nothing,” he said, alleging that the previous government “carried out no development work and only looted the state.”
Defending the government’s flagship guarantee schemes, Siddaramaiah said they have been implemented successfully over the past three years and have restored public confidence.
“Every year, we are spending around Rs 52,000 crore. Up to March 31, Rs 1.31 lakh crore has been spent. So there is no question about these schemes—we will continue them,” he said, dismissing the BJP’s claims that the programmes would bankrupt the state.
Rejecting criticism over rising debt, he said borrowings remain well within permissible limits. He added that the state’s fiscal deficit is also under control at 2.95 per cent, in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act norms.
The Chief Minister attributed the revenue deficit to reduced central transfers rather than welfare spending.
According to him, Karnataka lost around Rs 10,000 crore due to changes in GST implementation and the Centre had not released Rs 11,495 crore in dues and grants.
On allegations of corruption in welfare schemes, Siddaramaiah said the charges were "baseless" as funds are directly transferred to beneficiaries.
“The money is directly transferred to beneficiaries’ accounts. Where is the scope for bribes?” he said, citing the Gruha Lakshmi scheme under which Rs 2,000 is credited to women beneficiaries.
He also countered claims regarding unpaid dues to contractors, saying the previous BJP government had left behind significant liabilities.
“They left Rs 29,000 crore unpaid. We have already cleared Rs 24,000 crore,” he said.
Responding to BJP state president B Y Vijayendra’s demands for a White Paper on the state’s finances, Siddaramaiah said all details had already been presented in the Budget and debated in the Assembly.
“Why ask for a White Paper again? Isn’t the Budget itself a White Paper?” he said, adding that he had replied to the discussion for over four-and-a-half hours.
On fuel pricing amid global uncertainties, including tensions involving Iran, the Chief Minister said petroleum pricing is under the Centre’s purview.
Reaffirming the government’s stand on social justice, Siddaramaiah said it is committed to internal reservation and criticised the BJP’s stance on AHINDA, which is an acronym for minorities, backward and Dalits.
“When did the BJP ever show concern for AHINDA? They only talk about Hindutva,” he said.
On employment, the CM announced that large-scale recruitment would continue despite concerns over finances.
“This year, we will fill 56,432 posts. Around 2.5 lakh vacant posts will be filled,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the functioning of the Karnataka Public Service Commission, Siddaramaiah said it is an independent body and that certain interviews were postponed to ensure transparency and proper procedure.
