⚖️ Kerala HC reserves order on asset case plea

The Kerala High Court has reserved its verdict on Tomin J. Thachankary's plea to suspend sentence in the disproportionate assets case. This appeal was filed against the Vigilance Court's sentence in Kottayam, where he was found guilty as IG from 2003 to 2007. The Vigilance Bureau alleged he amassed ₹64 lakh in assets beyond income, showing a 52.33% disproportion. The government pleader stated the initial order was sustainable, noting Thachankary bought 18 properties. The court will now decide on the suspension request's legal standing. ⚖️

⚡ KSEB speeds up hydro projects after power crisis

Facing criticism over a monsoon power crisis, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has decided to accelerate all ongoing hydroelectric projects. This decision was made during a review meeting chaired by Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph on Thursday. Specifically, four small hydro projects totaling 39.5 MW will be finished by April-May 2027. This includes the Chinnar, Poovaramthode, Olikkal, and Pazhassi Sagar projects. KSEB also plans to fast-track preliminary work on larger projects like the Idukki and Sabarigiri extensions. ⚡

🎗️ Cancer diagnosis delays discussed at COGC 2026

Soumen Das and Deepak Poudel discussed late cancer presentation at COGC 2026. The discussion took place in Kolkata, India, and Dharan, Nepal, addressing a major issue in low- and middle-income countries. Around 60% of women present with stage III or IV disease, with a median tumor size of about 3.5 cm. Strengthening clinical examination at the community level is suggested as a key step to improve early detection. This approach can help shift diagnosis earlier before relying solely on mass screening. 🎗️

🏭 Petkim starts huge $70M feed process plan

Petkim has officially commenced the master plan for its feed process operations. This major undertaking involves the company at Petkim. The project has a total capital expenditure planned amounting to $70 million. This expansion is set to significantly upgrade their existing production capabilities. The company is moving forward with this large-scale investment. 🏭

🚨 Drug Bust Leads to ₹4 Crore Property Seizure

An investigation starting from a 770-gram Alprazolam seizure has traced a drug network to properties valued at ₹4 crore. Zaheerabad Town Police and EAGLE Force targeted properties linked to accused Vishwanath Karbhari Shipankar and his relatives in Sangareddy district. The initial operation on September 22 involved seizing 770 grams of Alprazolam and ₹7.5 lakh in cash. Investigators scrutinized financial records to link the assets to narcotics trafficking proceeds. These properties were officially seized on September 22 under Section 68(F) of the NDPS Act. 💸

⚖️ SC flags POCSO misuse in custody battles 🚨

The Supreme Court flagged an alarming trend of misusing the POCSO law by warring parents in custody disputes. The bench, led by Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Vishwanathan, set safeguards before arresting an accused in certain POCSO cases. These safeguards apply when the allegation is against a parent/family member in the same house and there is an existing matrimonial dispute. Police must involve a child psychologist or counsellor for evaluation before taking coercive action. The court stressed that the POCSO Act is not meant for settling personal scores.

🏏 Desert Vipers Development Batting in Cricket Match

Desert Vipers Development has been elected to bat in the current cricket match. The game is taking place with umpires Shiju Sam Mannil and Nadeem Anjum officiating. The match details are set for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 16:00 GMT. Conditions are clear with a temperature of 33°C and a fast and bouncy pitch. Further updates will be provided as the match progresses. 🏏

💡 KSEB asks public to cut power use

KSEB has repeated its appeal for the general public to voluntarily lower electricity usage between 7 p.m. and midnight. The Kerala State Electricity Board has urged the Kerala Water Authority to shift water pumping to daytime operations. In a September 23 circular, the utility noted daily consumption hit 95.39 million units, with peak demand at 5,400 megawatts. Industries are also asked to shift energy-sensitive processes to solar hours or off-peak times. This voluntary reduction is crucial for managing the current demand-supply issue.

🚌 KSRTC ramps up bus service for Gandhi Jayanti weekend

KSRTC is running 850 extra buses for the Gandhi Jayanti weekend celebrations. These special services will run from Bengaluru on October 1 and 2, with extra buses heading to Bengaluru from various locations on October 4. Services connect to numerous places like Dharmasthala, Mangaluru, and Hyderabad across Karnataka and neighboring states. Passengers can avail discounts, including 5% for groups of four or more, and 10% on return tickets booked together. Advance online reservations are now live on the KSRTC website for these special runs.

💳 Govt says UPI cash fear is misplaced

Government sources stated that the fear surrounding a shift to cash due to merchant fees on UPI is completely misplaced. This statement was made by officials across India concerning the digital payment ecosystem. Currently, the focus is on ensuring the smooth operation of UPI transactions across various merchants and platforms. The government aims to promote digital adoption while addressing concerns about transaction costs. Moving forward, more efforts will be made to stabilize and improve the UPI infrastructure. 💳

🚌 Bus lane could slash JNTU-Raidurgam commute by 20 mins

A proposal suggests introducing a dedicated Counterflow Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on a congested Cyberabad corridor. This initiative was discussed at a joint meeting involving various officials on Thursday. The study found that the JNTU-Hitec City-Raidurgam corridor takes 45 to 50 minutes during peak hours. The dedicated BRT lane could cut travel time by up to 20 minutes without major land acquisition. Officials are now directed to reassess the plan and study short-term relief options. 🚌