Daily News Dose: Crime Branch questions Kavya Madhavan in actor assault case | May 9, 2022

Hello, this is your daily dose of news from Onmanorama. I'm your host, Ajish Jimmy George, and these are the major news stories of the day:

Vijay Babu likely trying to force assaulted actress to withdraw complaint

Crime Branch questions Kavya Madhavan in actor assault case

Russia marks World War 2 victory shadowed by Ukraine

IndiGo bars specially-abled child from boarding flight, Aviation Minister says no human being should have to go through this

Rupinder Pal Singh to lead India in Asia Cup

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Let's get into the details:

The Kerala Police team investigating the rape case filed against noted actor and filmmaker Vijay Babu has received information that the accused is trying to use his influence with some film personalities to compel the survivor to withdraw her complaint.

Vijay Babu is presently untraceable and is evading arrest by hiding in Dubai.

After learning about these moves of the actor, the police have hastened the procedures to involve the Interpol to arrest him from Dubai.

Meanwhile, more people have approached the Kerala Police expressing their willingness to give statements about his shady activities.

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The Crime Branch on Monday questioned Mollywood actor Kavya Madhavan at her Aluva residence in connection with the 2017 actor assault case.

Kavya's husband and fellow actor Dileep is a key accused in this case.

Kavya's statement is crucial as Dileep's brother-in-law had earlier told officials that it was the animosity between the survivor and the actor that led to the 2017 assault.

The officials are also investigating whether there were any financial and real estate deals between the survivor, actor Dileep and his former wife Manju Warrier.

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Russian forces pushed forward on Monday in their assault on Ukraine, seeking to capture the crucial southern port city of Mariupol as Moscow celebrated its Victory Day holiday.

Determined to show success in a war now in its 11th week, Russian troops pummelled a seaside steel mill where an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters are making their last stand in the port city of Mariupol.

The mill is the only part of the city not overtaken by the invaders. Its defeat would deprive Ukraine of a vital port and allow Russia to establish a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014.

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A day after it came to light that IndiGo barred a specially-abled child from boarding a flight at the Ranchi airport as he was in "a state of panic", Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Monday that no human being should have to go through this and he himself is investigating the incident.

As the boy was prohibited from boarding the airline's Ranchi-Hyderabad flight on Saturday, his parents -- who were with him -- also decided to not enter the plane.

The Saturday's incident came to light after other passengers posted about this incident on social media on Sunday.

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Experienced drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh will captain the India team while seasoned Birendra Lakra will be his deputy during the Men's Asia Cup hockey tournament scheduled to be held in Jakarta from May 23 to June 1 this year.

Hockey India on Monday named a 20-member squad for the tournament, which is a World Cup qualifier. India are clubbed with Japan, Pakistan and hosts Indonesia in Pool A, while Malaysia, Korea, Oman and Bangladesh are in Pool B.

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Now let's check out the COVID numbers:

India logged 3,207 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,31,05,401, while the active cases dipped to 20,403.

The Union Health Ministry data released at 8 am also showed that 29 fatalities, including 26 from Kerala alone, were reported in a 24-hour span.

The daily positivity rate was recorded as 0.95 per cent and the weekly positivity rate as 0.82 per cent.

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That brings us to the end of this episode. Be sure to come back tomorrow. As always, thanks for listening to Daily News Dose.