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Regd. No., TN/CC(S) DN/223/15-17, RNI No: 33810 / 82VOL. XXXV NO. 354 � 8 PAGES � Rs. 4.00 CHENNAI ��FRIDAY 1.12.2017 (EVENING) � OTHER STATIONS SATURDAY 2.12.2017 (MORNING)

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Marina sealedWith the effects of cyclone Ockhi

continuing even up to Chennai, police have blocked public access to the beach. At one point of time, sources said, waves even crossed the shores of Marina.

CM at workChief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who chaired an emergency review

meeting of higher offi cials and directed them all steps to minimise damage, today announced a solatium of Rs four lakh each to the families of nine people killed in rain-related incidents, including fi ve due to cyclonic storm ‘Ockhi’ in the worst-hit Kanyakumari district yesterday.

In a statement here, he announced the solatium to the fi ve famliy members of Rajendran, Kumaresan, Alexander, Saraswati and Vimal Singh, who were killed when a tree got uprooted and fell on them due to gusty winds in Kanyakumari last evening before the cyclone moved towards Kerala and Lakshadweep.

Though Kanyakumari is the main target, cyclone Ockhi left its impact in Chennai too, as trees got uprooted and roads were water-logged. Photos: K VIJAY ANAND & B ANAND

9 dead in Cyclone Ockhi ravage� Kanyakumari cut off � Chennai too affected � Centre steps in � CM holds emergency meeting

Rajnath Singh talks to NDRF

chiefLooking the devastating effects

of cyclone Ockhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to NDRF chief and reviewed the situation in the areas affected. The NDRF teams have already been moved to the affected areas. More teams are on standby to respond to any further emergencies. MHA is also closely monitoring the situation.

NT BureauChennai, Dec 1:

It was Chennai last time and Kan-yakumari this time. The devastating effects of cyclone Ockhi are remind-ing one of 2016’s Vardah which not only caused irresistible damage to life and property but also deprived the residents of even basic needs like electricity, road infrastructure and food for more than 10 days.

Also what comes as a great shock was Ockhi’s rainfall. While Vardah’s maximum out-pour was 32 cm last year, Ockhi comfortably exceeded that fi gure as Papanasam recorded an insane 42 cm in just 24 hours.

Ochki’s present state is like adding fuel to fi re as Met department said it has turned into a severe cyclonic storm gusting up to 85 kmph question-

ing the lives of those living in many ar-eas. Already, the Kanyakumari district is the worst-hit. Thousands have left their homes, electricity was totally cut off, and disaster management teams are at work. Till now, report say nine (fi ve in Tamilnadu and four in Kerala) have lost their lives to rain-related incidents. The damage to property

too is said to be heavy.Though Ockhi moved away from

Tamilnadu, another fresh low pres-sure has developed and is fast ap-proaching. So, it’s time to get ready for the next set of surprises.

An offi cial, said, ‘The cyclonic storm Ockhi over southeast Arabian sea continued to move west-northwest-

wards with a speed of 17 kmph, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and lay centred today over southeast Arabian sea about 110 km north-northeast of Minicoy and 290 km southeast of Amini Divi. It is likely to cross Lakshadweep islands in the next 24 hours bringing very heavy rainfall along. On the other hand, the trough over Malay peninsula now lies as a low pressure area adjoining South Andaman sea. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and con-centrate into a depression. If it turns into a cyclone, it will be named Sagar.’

‘Due to these two weather systems, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Tamil-nadu and Puducherry today. Gale wind speed reaching 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph very likely along and off south Tamilnadu. Sea condi-tions would be high along and off

south Tamilnadu coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea during the next 48 hours,’ he added.

In view of the heavy rains, schools in 13 districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Villup-

puram, Pudukottai, Dindugul, Kan-niyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Salem ,Theni and Tiruvannamalai and in some parts of Nilgiris and Sivaganga, districts were declared holiday for the day. Though the intensity of the rains was expected to come down from tomorrow, Met department has forecast heavy rains in the next 12 hours in southern districts. Rain fury has left a trail of havoc and destruction resulting in severe damages in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts causing fl oods, uprooting hundreds of trees and electric poles.

Cyclone Ockhi was so brutal that it even brought Chennai under its wings. The city received sharp and intermittent rains since yesterday morning inundating several low ly-ing areas and causing hardship to

office-goers. The Met department offi cial, said, ‘Meenambakkam and Nungambakkam recorded 5.5 and 6.45 cm in the last 24 hours causing water-logging in many areas. Maxi-mum and minimum temperatures were 30 and 22.6 degrees Celsius. In the next 24 hours, sky condition is likely to be generally cloudy. Few spells of light to moderate rain is likely to occur.’

RK Nagar: Madhusudhanan,Marudhu, TTV file papers

� Campaign heat intensifies in north Chennai constituency

ED raids PC's kin� Searches related to Aircel-Maxis

deal � Six locations in city,Kolkata under scanner

NT BureauChennai, Dec 1:

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at six locations in Chen-nai and Kolkata this morning. The raids were at places owned by the relatives of former Union Minister P Chidambaram. The searches are in connection with money laundering probe of Aircel-Maxis deal, sources said.

According to sources, four locations in Chennai and two in Kolkata were being searched by the agency sleuths since early morning. The action has also been conducted at the premises of one S Kailasam at Teynampet in Chennai. Kailasam is the maternal uncle of Karti Chidambaram (son of Chidambaram).

The other places being searched be-long to S Sambamoorthy at Thiruvan-miyur and Ramji Natarajan at Alwarpet. Two locations of Manoj Mohanka at Lee Road and Lovelock Place in Kolkata were also being raided.

The ED case pertains to the For-eign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval granted in 2006 by Chidambaram. The agency had said it was investigating ‘the circum-stances of the said FIPB approval granted by the then Finance Minister (Chidambaram).’

The ED also alleged that Karti has disposed of a property in Gurgaon, which he had allegedly rented out to a multinational company ‘to whom for-eign direct investment (FDI) approval had been granted in 2013’.

Aircel is a telecom company owned by C Sivasankaran and Maxis is a Ma-laysian company owned by T Ananda Krishnan, popularly known as Tak.

This controversy kicked up during the 2G spectrum scam when the Supreme Court asked the Central Bu-reau of Investigation (CBI) to investi-

gate Dayanidhi Maran, the Telecom Minister before A Raja. Following this, Maran had to resign from the Union cabinet in April 2011.

In 2006, Maxis acquired Aircel by buying 74 per cent stake. Sivasanka-ran complained to the CBI in April 2011 that Maran had arm twisted him to sell his stake to Maxis.

It may be noted that the Income Tax department has been conducting a huge crack down on tax evasion in the State. The wide-spread searches began on 9 November.

DMK candidate Marudhu Ganesh f i l ingnominations. Photos: A R JAYAKUMAR

NT BureauChennai, Dec 1:

The RK Nagar by-election today gathered heat with three main can-didates fi ling their nominations.

DMK’s Marudhu Ganesh was the first to submit his papers around noon and he was closely followed by expelled AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran. AIADMK candidate and party presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan filed his nomina-tion later in the day.

The number of police posted at the Tondiarpet zonal offi ce easily outnumbered the public that were present on the stretch. Tight vigil was maintained for 200 metres from

the zonal offi ce where the nomina-tions were made.

All entrances to the constituency were heavily guarded by the police and the vehicles were subjected to inspection before entering the areas where the election code of conduct is in force.

This is the fourth time the election code of conduct is implemented in

the constituency within a span of two years.

Before coming to fi le his nomination, Dhinakaran fi rst visited the memorial of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, whose death caused the by-poll. He followed it by paying tributes at the memorials of C N Annadurai and party founder M G Ramachandran.

He said, 'whatever symbol we get, we will accept it and teach lesson to our opponents'.

There were no political banners in the comstituney following the model code of conduct. Returning offi cer Ve-luswamy receieved the nominations.

Nominations can be fi led till 4 De-cember and their scrutiny will take place the next day. The last date

for withdrawal of nominations is 7 December.

Electronic voting machines (EVM) with Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trial (VVPAT) will be used in the constituency.

The RK Nagar constituency did not have an elected represnetative after the death of Jayalalithaa in last year December. Following this bypoll was announced to the constituency in April 2017 however it was cancelled due to bribe allegations.

This is the fi rst election after the re-trieval of the AIADMK’s Two Leaves symbol by the camp led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Pan-neerselvam.

TTV Dhinakaran submitting papers at RK Nagar

Vishal to contest?Rumours spread thick and fast

this morning that Tamil Film Producers Council president and Nadigar Sangam general secretary Vishal would contest as independent candidate in the forthcoming by-poll to RK Nagar Assembly constituency. However sources close to the Tamil cinema’s most infl uential man, said, ‘The reports are just rumours. There is no truth in it.’

It may be recalled that Vishal had fa-mously contested the Nadigar Sangam and TFPC elections in the past couple of years and emerged winner. There are specula-tions that he may enter politics and try his luck in the elections. Sources say that Vishal is not hurrying to enter politics. He is taking cautious steps and would decide based on actors Rajiinikanth’s and Kamal Haasan’s political fortunes.

CRUCIAL STEPIN THE FRAY

KUMARI TO CHENNAI

NEW FLAGBY TTV

Supporters of Dhinakaran were carrying a new fl ag similar to the AIADMK fl ag. But it did not have the image of Anna embedded in it.

The ED case pertains to the

ForeignInvestment

Promotion Board (FIPB) approval

granted in 2006 by Chidambaram