Kerala's aphrodisiac man out to prove Musli potency

Kochi, June 25 : Ahead of the Kerala High Court hearing on the state government ban on popular herbal aphrodisiac Musli Power X-tra, its maker has offered a Rs.10 crore cash award to anyone who proves his pharmaceutical products contain synthetic steroids.

The case challenging the ban imposed by the Left Front regime on April 1 comes up before the Kerala High Court Monday. Kunnath Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures the contentious product, made the Rs.10 crore offer through front page advertisements put in leading newspapers.

"A few multinational companies are bad mouthing my product. I will offer Rs.10 crore to anyone who proves it through scientific testing using the protocol of high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrum analysis," Kunnath Pharma's chief K.C. Abraham told IANS.

There were allegations that the product contained tadalafil or synthetic steroids. Tadalafil is normally used for treatment of impotency - erectile dysfunction.

The then Left Front government on April 1 issued an order banning the product and even asked the company to stop production.

"It was only on April 6, I received this government order through the Drug Controller's office and the very next day I got the order stayed by the Kerala High Court. Let me tell you, not a single day has the production been stopped. This product is now available in the market. This case was posted twice and the public prosecutor on both occasions asked for more time to study the case. It is now coming up again on Monday," said Abraham.

Musli Power X-tra is formulated from safed musli, widely known as an Indian herbal aphrodisiac, and is doing roaring business in the country and abroad.

Kunnath Pharma over the past few years has been spending huge amounts for sponsorships by pumping in money for promotion of football and cricket.

The company was the main sponsor of Churchill Brothers football club a few seasons ago and last year took over the sponsorship of Wayamba cricket team, a Sri Lankan first class cricket side based in Kurunegala.

--IANS

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Two lab officials to be charged in Kerala's Abhaya case

Thiruvananthapuram, May 31 : Thiruvananthapuram Chief Judicial Magistrate Cherian Varghese Tuesday ordered two government officials to be formally charged for allegedly tampering with medical reports in Sister Abhaya's death.

The order to charge sheet R. Geetha, the then chief chemical examiner at the Chemical Examiners Laboratory here, and her assistant D. Chithra comes in the wake of chemical tests proving that the work book of the medical records was tampered with in eight places.

Sister Abhaya, a resident of the Pious X convent hostel near Kottayam, was found dead in the convent well in 1992. Three people were later arrested and the hearing in the case is continuing.

Geetha had done the chemical examination for the case in 1992.

This case took a turn when an English daily in 2007 came out with evidence showing that the medical reports of Abhaya had been tampered with.

According to the report, the results of the vaginal swab were positive for semen and spermatozoa. It was later found corrected using a whitener and the result rewritten as negative.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in November 2008 arrested Father Jose Putarika, a former professor at the Kottayam college where Abhaya studied, Father Thomas M. Kottor, the diocesan chancellor of the Catholic Church at Kottayam, and Sister Seffi, a resident of the convent.

The three accused got bail in January 2009.

Reacting to the court order, Abhaya's father Thomas said that more truths will now be revealed.

"I knew then itself there was a concerted attempt to hide the truth," he said.

--IANS

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Kerala's trawling ban begins June 15; fish to be dearer

Thiruvananthapuram, May 30 : With the annual ban on trawling coming into effect June 15, the price of fish is set to soar in Kerala.

A meeting chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Monday decided to enforce the ban on fishing in the sea by trawlers from June 15 to July 31, an annual practice since 1988 during the monsoon, which is the breeding season for a variety of fish.

The ban extends to 12 nautical miles off the Kerala coast, and applies to all kinds of trawlers and mechanised boats.

The fish prices are already very high in the state, with the popular Seer fish costing over Rs.400 per kg. The fish is is expected to become costlier once the trawlers stop venturing out into the sea.

This ban aims at conserving fish species during the monsoon, which is the spawning season for many varieties of fish, including shrimp.

During the ban period all those working in mechanized boats, peeling sheds and fishing harbours in the state are provided with free ration.

--IANS

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Two lab officials to be charged in Kerala's Abhaya case

Thiruvananthapuram Chief Judicial Magistrate Cherian Varghese Tuesday ordered two government officials to be formally charged for allegedly tampering with medical reports in Sister Abhaya's death.

The order to charge sheet R. Geetha, the then chief chemical examiner at the Chemical Examiners Laboratory here, and her assistant D. Chithra comes in the wake of chemical tests proving that the work book of the medical records was tampered with in eight places.

Sister Abhaya, a resident of the Pious X convent hostel near Kottayam, was found dead in the convent well in 1992. Three people were later arrested and the hearing in the case is continuing.

Geetha had done the chemical examination for the case in 1992.

This case took a turn when an English daily in 2007 came out with evidence showing that the medical reports of Abhaya had been tampered with.

According to the report, the results of the vaginal swab were positive for semen and spermatozoa. It was later found corrected using a whitener and the result rewritten as negative.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in November 2008 arrested Father Jose Putarika, a former professor at the Kottayam college where Abhaya studied, Father Thomas M. Kottor, the diocesan chancellor of the Catholic Church at Kottayam, and Sister Seffi, a resident of the convent.

The three accused got bail in January 2009.

Reacting to the court order, Abhaya's father Thomas said that more truths will now be revealed.

"I knew then itself there was a concerted attempt to hide the truth," he said.

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Kerala's trawling ban begins June 15; fish to be dearer

With the annual ban on trawling coming into effect June 15, the price of fish is set to soar in Kerala.

A meeting chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Monday decided to enforce the ban on fishing in the sea by trawlers from June 15 to July 31, an annual practice since 1988 during the monsoon, which is the breeding season for a variety of fish.

The ban extends to 12 nautical miles off the Kerala coast, and applies to all kinds of trawlers and mechanised boats.

The fish prices are already very high in the state, with the popular Seer fish costing over Rs.400 per kg. The fish is is expected to become costlier once the trawlers stop venturing out into the sea.

This ban aims at conserving fish species during the monsoon, which is the spawning season for many varieties of fish, including shrimp.

During the ban period all those working in mechanized boats, peeling sheds and fishing harbours in the state are provided with free ration.

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White paper on Kerala's finances soon: Mani

Kottayam, May 19:Kerala Finance Minister K M Mani said here today he would soon present a white paper on the actual financial position of the state, before the public.

Mr Mani, who took charge as finance minister of the state after a gap of 25 years was addressing a Meet-the-Press programme of the Kottayam Press Club.

The financial situation was very bad. Whether there was money in the treasury was not the problem.

The previous LDF Government had created enormous liabilities for the present UDF Government. With Rs 78,000 crore in debt, Kerala's financial position was alarming.

The white paper would reveal the actual situation.

An alternative budget would be presented during the next session of the Assembly in order to implement the commitments of the UDF.

The first decision of the UDF Government to forego tax on the recently higher price of petrol was a proof of the UDF Government's social commitment, he said.

Mr Mani said he wanted to integrate Kerala's economy with the global economy.

To ensure the welfare of the people, the UDF Government would introduce schemes for the rapid development of the State, Mr Mani said.

Earlier, a warm reception was given to Mr. Mani when the reached the Kerala Congress Headquarters here after taking charge as Finance Minister of the State.

--UNI

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