Vishnu Varma is Assistant Editor and reports from Kerala for the Hindustan Times. He has 10 years of experience writing for print and digital platforms and has worked at The New York Times, NDTV and The Indian Express in the past. He specialises in longform reportage at the intersections of politics, crime, social commentary and environment.
Articles by Vishnu Varma
Rajeev Chandrasekhar set to be next Kerala BJP chief
The name of Chandrasekhar was proposed on Sunday by the party’s state in charge Prakash Javadekar and co-in-charge Aparajita Sarangi
Published on Mar 24, 2025 03:51 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Hair strand helped solve Mysuru quack’s murder case: Police
The victim, Shaba Sherif, was abducted from Mysuru on August 1, 2019 and he was killed on October 20, 2020 at a house in Nilambur.
Published on Mar 21, 2025 09:02 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
ASHA workers go on hunger strike in Kerala from March 20 for hike in wages
The ASHAs have been demanding a hike in their monthly honorarium from the current ₹7,000 to ₹21,000 and a lumpsum retirement benefit of ₹5 lakh
Published on Mar 20, 2025 04:20 PM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Kerala CM: 1,343 FIRs registered in ₹281 crore CSR case
The scam has been undertaken through Socio-Economic and Environmental Development Society and the NGO Confederation, the CM said
Published on Mar 18, 2025 09:38 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
India’s ragging menace: Horror stories from across campuses
HT takes a look at five prominent ragging cases across the country over the last 2 years, some of which resulted in the deaths of junior students
Updated on Mar 14, 2025 01:20 AM IST
Kerala CM, guv meet Sitharaman in Delhi, discuss multiple issues
The meeting came a day after the governor’s rare interaction with the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs from the state in Delhi
Published on Mar 13, 2025 08:30 AM IST
Kerala CM meets FM Sitharaman in presence of Governor in Delhi
The meeting came just a day after Governor Rajendra Arlekar’s interaction with the Kerala MPs in Delhi where he exhorted them to bury political differences and work for the interests of the state
Published on Mar 12, 2025 09:13 PM IST
Township in Wayanad to be unveiled on March 27
This came in response to an adjournment notice moved by Congress MLA T Siddique seeking to discuss the rehabilitation works in connection with the landslides that hit Meppadi in Wayanad.
Published on Mar 12, 2025 08:44 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
With CBI arraigning parents, where does justice for the Walayar girls stand?
Eight years on, while justice has still eluded the two Dalit minor girls, their parents have now been accused in the sexual assault case and eventual deaths.
Published on Mar 10, 2025 06:44 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Walayar
CPI(M) meet set to discuss elections, ‘new Kerala’ plan
The party’s delegate conference will be inaugurated on Thursday by national coordinator Prakash Karat
Published on Mar 06, 2025 07:32 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Vijayan accuses Cong of ‘aiding’ BJP’s rise
Vijayan’s critique of the Congress in an article published in a local newspaper on Wednesday came a day before the CPI(M)’s Kerala state conference begins in Kollam.
Published on Mar 06, 2025 07:28 AM IST
By splitting the secular votes, Congress helped BJP win: Kerala CM Vijayan
In an article published in local media, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that if the Congress does not work to include and accommodate other parties that can defeat the BJP
Published on Mar 05, 2025 07:32 PM IST
Investors will not face red tapes: Vijayan at summit
Over 3,000 delegates participated in the summit organised by the state government in its bid to attract investments and business proposals from several sectors
Published on Feb 22, 2025 07:50 AM IST
Decomposed bodies of 3 of Jharkhand family found in Kerala Customs flat
The bureaucrat, his mother and younger sister were found dead at his official home in Kochi, with the deaths suspected to have occurred at least 4-5 days ago.
Updated on Feb 22, 2025 10:13 AM IST
Seven suspended for ragging first year student in Kerala
This is the third incident of assault in the name of ragging at an educational institute in the state in recent weeks.
Published on Feb 19, 2025 07:10 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Kerala nurse body bars 5 students over ragging; principal suspended
The council observed that the accused — 3 of them from third-year and 2 second-year students — are unfit to enrol as nursing students in the state in the future
Published on Feb 16, 2025 03:00 AM IST
Five held in ragging case to be expelled: Min
The five students were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting and ragging a group of first-year students and extorting money from them
Published on Feb 15, 2025 03:00 AM IST
3 dead at Kerala temple after 2 jumbos run amok
A local municipal councillor said that the elephants brought the temple for festival suddenly became agitated allegedly after hearing the loud sounds of firecrackers
Published on Feb 14, 2025 07:40 AM IST
5 Kerala nursing students held for brutal ragging
Five students at Kottayam's Government Nursing College were arrested for allegedly assaulting and extorting first-year students; they face severe charges.
Updated on Feb 13, 2025 06:27 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
No populist measure as Kerala budget focusses on infra push
In the state’s annual statement, the fiscal deficit as percentage of GSDP has been pegged at 3.16% in FY 2025-26, down from 3.51% the previous financial year
Published on Feb 08, 2025 08:14 AM IST
Kerala to allocate ₹750 crore for Wayanad landslide survivors: Finance minister
Kerala finance minister KN Balagopal announced the project while presenting the annual budget for the 2025-26 financial year (FY) in the Assembly
Updated on Feb 07, 2025 12:56 PM IST
Kerala: Vacant homes to be utilised for tourism as part of new ‘K-Home’ project
In the initial phase, the project will be implemented within a 10-km radius of popular hotspots such as Fort Kochi, Munnar, Kumarakom and Kovalam.
Published on Feb 07, 2025 11:56 AM IST
Accused in Kerala ‘CSR scam’ duped 200 NGOs, say police
The accused allegedly cheated people and charitable societies by promising to deliver two-wheelers, laptops and household appliances at half the price
Published on Feb 07, 2025 07:56 AM IST
Hundreds cheated after being promised two-wheelers at half the price in Kerala
Police said over 10 FIRs have been filed across Kannur, Ernakulam and Idukki districts with hundreds of complaints pouring in by the hour from mostly women who have allegedly been swindled
Published on Feb 06, 2025 08:26 AM IST
Tiger declared ‘man-eater’ after fatal attack on woman in Kerala
The announcement was made by forest and wildlife minister AK Saseendran following a high-level meeting at the District Collectorate where it was also decided to enhance the wildlife management plan.
Updated on Jan 27, 2025 05:06 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Kerala tribal woman killed by a tiger, ‘capture or kill’ order issued
A 45-year-old tribal woman was killed by a tiger in Wayanad, sparking protests and calls for the capture or killing of the animal by locals.
Updated on Jan 25, 2025 07:58 AM IST
Two churches and a volatile chasm on the Malabar coast
The December 3 verdict sparked tensions along the Malabar coast and prompted the top court to order status quo on December 17
Updated on Jan 24, 2025 06:10 AM IST
56 held for rape of Kerala Dalit athlete, Vijayan tells assembly
The chief minister revealed the details and progress of the police probe in response to starred questions filed by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) legislators.
Updated on Jan 24, 2025 06:26 AM IST
Sr Noelle Rose to become first nun to lead NSS contingent at R-day parade
Sr Noelle Rose was picked by the regional directorate of the NSS from over 3,000 officers to lead the contingent of 12 volunteers from Kerala and Lakshadweep
Updated on Jan 21, 2025 08:20 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
New Kerala governor sticks to govt script in House
Arlekar, who assumed the post as the constitutional head of the state on January 2, stuck to the government-prepared script, avoiding controversies unlike his predecessor
Updated on Jan 18, 2025 06:58 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi