kochi l tuesday l august 04, 2026 l `10.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION Encroachment-free footpath must on every road: SC to govt The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to ensure every road has an encroachment-free space for pedestrians Ensure proper demarcation, govt told ‘space must make pedestrians feel safe’ “Without any big investment and construction, just ensure that proper demarcation is done of walkers’ space. Wherever there is a road, there should be a walkers’ space. Do it with a rope or anything and ensure it is not encroached,” a bench of justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe told Additional Solicitor General K M Nararaj, who appeared for the Centre ■ ■ The bench said pedestrians should have confidence that the space is meant for them and they can walk freely without fear of vehicles. It was hearing a suo motu case concerning the right to safe footpath The direction comes weeks after the top court on June 19 held that the right to walk on a demarcated footpath is a fundamental right 2 weeks later is when the supreme court will hear the matter again CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Court acquits Brij Wake-up call for Bihar CM Bhushan, appalled as PK grabs BJP safe seat Phogat to fight on Cong holds on to Datia in bypoll, BJP retains Manjalpur in Gujarat r a m a s h a n k a r , A n ur a a g s i n g h & D i l i p S i n g h K s h atr i ya U DAYAN K ISHO R E & H a rpr e e t B a j w a @ New Delhi/Chandigarh A Delhi court on Monday acquitted ex-BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a 2023 sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers, including celebrated grappler Vinesh Phogat, citing lack of evidence. The court also granted relief to former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the case. “Both accused stand acquitted,” Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar said in a verdict pronounced in-camera. A separate FIR lodged by a minor wrestler was closed by court in May 2025 following a police investigation. The court had accepted a closure report filed by police in the case. In the present case, Phogat revealed she was one of the six victims in a video message posted on X on May 3, 2026. In the verdict passed on Monday, the court accepted the defence counsel’s arguments about inconsistencies and contradictions in witness testimo- Military-civilian integration a must, says Rajnath Singh j a v a r i a r a n a @ New Delhi TAKING the government’s integrated agenda beyond the three armed forces, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday called for integration between the military and civilian wings of the defence establishment, arguing that the two can no longer operate in silos. Addressing the AFHQ Civilian Services Day here, Singh said deeper institutional integration between the uniformed services and civilian officials was critical to creating genuine s y n e r g y, i m proving decision making and responding more effectively to rapidly evolving security and technological challenges. The interface between the military and the civilian bureaucracy has long been regarded as one of the weak links in India’s higher defence management. To narrow that gap, the defence minister advocated structured cross-exposure through joint training programmes and developmental assignments, allowing officers from both sides to gain a better understanding of each other’s roles, expertise and institutional strengths. “Military and administrative integration cannot advance on separate tracks,” he said, adding that as India moves towards joint and integrated military structures, closer coordination will be required across policy formulation, HR, and institutional knowledge. “Military officers bring operational experience, command perspective and an understanding of warfare, while civilian officers contribute administrative continuity policy expertise, , knowledge of government processes and institutional memory . Together, these strengths lead to more informed and effective decision making,” he said. 16 pages, including 4 pages of kochi Express @ Patna/Bhopal/Ahmedabad Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh shows victory sign after his acquittal | PTI I said on the very first day that if the allegations are true, I will hang myself. I am very happy that I have been acquitted today Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh nies, improbability and ground , of ‘alibi’ and acquitted the accused, said advocate Rajiv Mohan, who represented both Singh and Tomar. Reacting to the verdict, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia said they were “deeply saddened” but will continue the legal fight. In a joint statement, they said the complainants have instructed lawyers to appeal the verdict. SHATTERING BJP’s more than three-decade winning streak in the Bankipur assembly by-election in Bihar, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Monday emerged victor, defeating his BJP opponent by a margin of 19,324 votes. In two other assembly bypolls, the Congress retained Datia in Madhya Pradesh while BJP retained Manjalpur seat in Gujarat. While Kishor polled 64,151 votes, his closest rival Neeraj Kumar Sinha of BJP secured 44,827 votes. RJD’s Rekha Gupta stood third with 14,273 votes. Kishor was ahead of the BJP candidate throughout the counting process. The defeat is a significant blow to BJP national president Nitin Nabin, who had held the Bankipur seat for five consecutive terms, and to Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who faced his first electoral test after taking the baton from JD(U) boss Nitish Kumar. Kishor had cast the bypoll as a referendum on Choudhary’s leadership, ac- paper leak protests Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor with supporters in Patna on Monday | Express State govts can close or withdraw FIRs, says SC No alliance with any party: Jan Suraaj Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Monday ruled out the possibility of joining any political alliance. “We shall have no alliance. Our alliance shall be with the people of Bihar,” said Kishor when asked about a rethink on his earlier stance of going it alone in elections. cusing the BJP of “arrogance” in treating Bankipur as an unassailable bastion. A political analyst said that there was a feeling among a large section of the electorate that BJP should taste defeat this time. He claimed that the Gen Z demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and later in Patna over leak of NEET question paper had affected the Bankipur election even as the controversial Bhojpur police encounter, that claimed the life of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari, not only rattled upper castes and supporters of BJP but also other social groups, who do not generally vote for the party . Campaigning on jobs, education and gover nance rather than caste or religion, Kishor forged a connect that delivered Jan Suraaj its first-ever electoral win. Su c h i tr a K a lya n m o h a n t y @ New Delhi The Supreme Court on Monday said state governments are at liberty to withdraw or close FIRs registered against students who participated in the NEET paper leak protests. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also clarified that the expression “criminal antecedents” in its July 28 order on releasing student protesters referred only to those involved in grave and heinous offences. On July 28, the court ordered the release of all student protesters, except those with “criminal antecedents”. Monday’s clarification came after petitioners raised concerns that the expression “criminal antecedents” could impede the withdrawal of FIRs. State received 3 times normal rain in 3 days ceived 236 mm. Thiruvananthapuram regThree days of torrential istered a 457% rainfall surrain that claimed 15 lives and plus, followed by Kozhikode unleashed landslips, flash (326%), Kollam (302%) and floods and widespread de- Kottayam (300%). Among the struction across Kerala also heaviest single-day spells, significantly narrowed the Vagamon received 314 mm of state’s monsoon deficit. Ac- rain on Friday night, Vadascording to IMD data, Kerala serikkara 331 mm, Vazhikkarecorded 232% exdavu 308 mm and cess rainfall during Ayyankunnu in Kanthe three-day period nur 320 mm. from July 31 to AuKerala’s monsoon gust 2. Meteorolodeficit has dropped gists attribute such from 36% on July 29 extreme short-durato 24% on August 3. tion rainfall to the However, the short Kerala recorded combined effects of spell of intense rain232% excess global warming and fall is unlikely to sigrain from July 31 El Niño. nificantly replenish to August 2 According to IMD g r o u n dw a t e r r e scientists, Kerala’s serves, according to 533% excess normal rainfall for rainfall recorded C P Priju, principal the three-day period scientist at the Cenin P’thitta in from July 31 to Autre for Water Rejust 72 hours. gust 2 is 55.4 mm. The dist received sources Development This year, however, and Management 253 mm of rain the state received (CWRDM). against the 184.2 mm of rain “Recently we are normal 40mm during the period — witnessing extreme for the period 232% above normal. rainfall over a short Pathanamthitta duration of time in bore the brunt of the rain Kerala. This will not help to fury, recording a staggering replenish the ground water 533% excess rainfall in just 72 resources as there will be hours. Against the normal 40 heavy runoff and flash floods. mm for the period, the district Rainfall of normal intensity received 253 mm of rain. Ac- over a long duration will help cording to official sources, infiltration and percolation Vadasserikkara recorded 331 of water, which is not happenmm of rainfall on the night of ing in the case of intense ● More on P4 July 31, while nearby Laha re- rainfall.  E x pr e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Kochi EXPRESS READ ‘Ghee purchase from Milma bypassed tender’ Kochi: The chief vigilance and security officer, Sabarimala, has filed a report before the High Court revealing that the decision to abandon the e-tender process and procure ghee from Milma at a substantially higher price was taken despite specific objections raised by the commissioner. The report also discloses several discrepancies relating to the procurement, transportation and quality verification of ghee. P5 Kanjikode rail coach factory project scrapped Volunteers evacuate residents stranded in flooded houses at Kanjiraveli near Aranmula on Monday | SHAJI VETTIPURAM CM Satheesan cites lack of timely alerts from IMD T’Puram: Even as heavy rain and floods wreak havoc on state, the lack of timely and accurate weather forecasts in addition to the disaster response have come under scrutiny. Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Monday said the IMD had not provided advance and timely alerts. He attributed the sudden flooding to extreme, localised rainfall. “IMD could not predict the intensity of rain and could not give timely alerts. It was beyond their capacity due to the peculiar nature of the rainfall influenced by El Nino,” he said. | P4 Monsoon havoc 15 7 316 lives lost in rainrelated incidents so far people currently reported missing relief camps opened across the state to shelter affected people 3,596 farmers impacted by heavy rain 165 hectares of agricultural land damaged Orange alert issued for all districts, barring T’Puram & Kollam, on Tuesday Yellow alert in T’Puram & Kollam Palakkad: In what amounts to a formal ‘burial’ of one of Kerala’s biggest railway industrial dreams, the Centre has officially confirmed that the proposed rail coach factory at Kanjikode will not be implemented. The confirmation came in Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s reply in the Rajya Sabha to a question from MP John Brittas. P5 Attack on ED team: 9 CPM workers get bail Kochi: The Kerala High Court has granted bail to nine CPM workers accused of attacking Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during a raid at the residence of former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the CMRLExalogic case. P5 d i g i t a l t ra n s f o r m a t i o n One-fifth share in volume & value: Ernakulam drives state’s UPI economy R a j e s h R a v i @ Kochi From roadside tea stalls and fish markets to supermarkets, hospitals, and educational institutions, QR codes have become as common as cash counters across Kerala. And, true to its billing as Kerala’s commercial capital, Ernakulam district is leading the state’s shift to digital payments. The latest district-wise Unified Payments Interface (UPI) data from the National Payments Corporation of India UPI-ee ki yay! Kerala recorded 454.91 million UPI transactions — 2% of the country’s total volume — valued at L63,489.63 crore, or 2.2% of the national total in June Ernakulam logged 91.24 million transactions worth L11,938.18 crore during the period (NPCI) shows that the state’s digital payments ecosystem is maturing fast, with Ernakulam emerging as the undisputed leader in both transaction volume and value. During the latest reporting period of June 2026, Kerala re- corded 454.91 million UPI transactions — 2% of the country’s total volume — valued at `63,489.63 crore, or 2.2% of the national total. At the centre of this digital economy is Ernakulam, which logged 91.24 million transactions worth `11,938.18 crore. The district alone accounted for nearly one-fifth of Kerala’s total UPI volume and value, well ahead of every other district. Thiruvananthapuram ranked second with 54.74 mill i o n t r a n s a c t i o n s wo r t h `7,460.96 crore, followed by Kozhikode with 46.36 million transactions valued at `6,101.46 crore. Malappuram, despite being the state’s most populous district, was close behind with 45.43 million transactions worth `6,026.62 crore. Thrissur, another key commercial hub, rounded out the top five with 40.26 million transactions valued at `5,808.91 crore. Banking experts say the numbers reflect more than just population. “Er nakulam’s emergence as the leading dis- trict for UPI transactions reflects its strong digital ecosystem, high smartphone penetration, and vibrant economic activity. As Kerala’s commercial hub, it has a diverse mix of retail consumers, businesses, professionals, educational institutions and merchants who have made digital payments part of daily life,” said Indraneel Pandit, chief digital officer, Federal Bank. For Pandit, the scale shows UPI has moved beyond conven● More on P4 ience.