Page 33 - Karnataka

UDAN scheme helps improve passenger footfall here: Mysore airport director

Anoop JR, Airport Director said that the state government is coordinating the land acquisition process for the expansion of the airport, after acquiring land, the runway expansion work will be started

Karnataka by-polls: Cong may announce candidates today, says Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the ruling Congress has made all necessary preparations for the November 13 Assembly by-polls in three segments in the state, and the candidates are likely to be announced later in the day. He said, while it has been decided to give Sandur ticket to Bellary MP E Tukaram's wife Annapurna, candidates for Shiggaon and Channapatna segments will be decided by the party. The last date for filing nominations is October 25, and the final date for withdrawal of papers is October 30. By-polls for Sandur, Shiggaon, and Channapatna are necessitated, as the seats fell vacant following the election of their respective representatives -- E Tukaram of Congress, former CM Basavaraj Bommai of BJP, and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S) -- to Lok Sabha in May elections. "We have made all the preparations (for bypolls), probably candidates may be announced today. The Sandur candidate has been decided, we will give the ticket to Tukaram's wife.

SC upholds anticipatory bail to Bhavani Revanna in kidnapping case

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to set aside the anticipatory bail given to Bhavani Revanna, the mother of suspended JD(S) leader and rape accused Prajwal Revanna, in a kidnapping case while dismissing the Karnataka government's plea. In a setback to the Karnataka government, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan took into account that the chargesheet had been filed in the case and refused to interfere with the Karnataka High Court order. During the hearing, the state government counsel, claimed the mother was directly involved in allegedly procuring women for her son. The apex court noted that the principal accused in the case had been arrested and put under custodial interrogation. After the Karnataka government sought the cancellation of the anticipatory bail to Bhavani, the top court on July 10, refused to set it aside and sought her response. The high court had on June 18 granted anticipatory bail to Bhavani emphasising she had already answered 85 questions duri

CBI, ED, I-T should be impartial, not in favour of one party: Karnataka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said central agencies like CBI, ED and Income Tax should be impartial and not function in favour of one party. He also said that the ruling Congress was ready to face and win November 13 by-polls in three assembly segments in the state. "Nagendra (former Minister B Nagendra) has told the media that he was pressurised by the ED. He also informed me that he was pressurised to name me and D K Shivakumar (Deputy Chief Minister). No agency should work in favour of a party. Whether it is CBI or ED or Income Tax, they should function impartially," Siddaramaiah told reporters. The Chief Minister was responding to former Minister B Nagendra's allegations that he was pressurised by the ED to name him and Shivakumar in the multi-crore scam in Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Nagendra had, after walking out of the jail on bail on Wednesday, also charged the ED (Directorate of Enforcement) with arresting him

MUDA chairman Marigowda resigns amid row over allotment irregularities

The Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) chairman K Marigowda quit on Wednesday, amid a row over irregularities in allotment of sites to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi B M. He submitted his resignation from the post to the Urban Development Department Secretary. "I have resigned following directions from the CM. Also, as I had health issues, I have resigned...there was no pressure on me, as I had health issues I have resigned," Marigowda, who is considered close to Siddaramaiah, told reporters here. Responding to a question, he said, "Probe is on (in MUDA case allegedly involving CM) and it will continue...it will be known from the probe whether there were any irregularities." Siddaramaiah is facing the Lokayukta and ED probes into alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the MUDA. Siddaramaiah's wife, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju -- from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi -- and others are na

Bengaluru braces for a rainy week as IMD issues alert across Karnataka

Bengaluru weather: The IMD predicts heavy rains to continue throughout the week, with a generally cloudy sky expected between October 14 and October 17

UP CM to withdrew cases against him, says Parameshwara on Hubballi riots

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday defended the government's decision to withdraw cases pertaining to the 2022 Hubballi riots and claimed that even Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had dropped ones against him. He was reacting to the BJP staging a protest at Freedom Park here against the government's October 10 move to withdraw criminal cases registered against a mob which had attacked policemen with stones on April 16, 2022 in Hubballi town in north Karnataka. This is one of the 43 cases the state Cabinet decided to withdraw at its meeting on Thursday following a petition by the Anjuman-e-Islam to Parameshwara, official sources said. After approving the proposal to withdraw the case, we have to inform the court. If the court accepts the proposal then the case will be withdrawn. If it doesn't then the case won't be withdrawn. We have to follow all the procedures cautiously. We cannot withdraw on our own just because someone said it, Parameshwara told ...

BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of corruption in MUDA land scam controversy

Bhandari also said that Mallikarjun Kharge has admitted that he abused his official position to provide alleged benefits to his family members after his family decided to return a five-acre land allot

Karnataka BJP MPs betrayed people of the state, says CM Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday hit out at the BJP MPs from Karnataka for not raising their voice against the injustice to the state in tax devolution. He appealed to people to rise against the 'injustice' to the state. Addressing reporters, Siddaramaiah said the state has received Rs 6,498 crore while Uttar Pradesh got Rs 31,987 crore, marking a huge difference in the tax devolution between the two states. "People need to raise their voice against the injustice to Karnataka. The BJP leaders supporting the Centre are betraying the people of the state, be it Pralhad Joshi or anyone else," he said. "So many MPs have gone from Karnataka. They need to raise their voice, which they have not done." According to the CM, the state has incurred a loss of Rs 60,000 crore in tax devolution in five years. Asked about the next move of the government on this, Siddaramaiah said he would discuss it with his cabinet colleagues. In a statement on this issue on Saturday, Siddaramaiah questio

Police apprehends eight Bangladeshis for illegal stay in Karnataka

Eight Bangladeshi nationals who were staying illegally in Udupi district here were apprehended, police said on Saturday. They were residing in Hoode village in the district for the past three years without valid passports or visas. According to Udupi Superintendent of Police Arun K, the arrest came after one of the accused, identified as Mohammed Maniq, attempted to flee to Dubai from Mangaluru airport using a fake passport. Suspicion from immigration officials led to his arrest at Bajpe airport in the neighbouring Dakshina Kannada district, he said. "Upon interrogation, Maniq revealed that seven other Bangladeshi nationals were staying with him illegally in Hoode village." The information was relayed to the Udupi police, who subsequently conducted a raid in the area. Police detained the seven individuals on Friday and initiated a detailed inquiry into their illegal stay. During the investigation, it was discovered that the accused possessed fake Aadhaar cards. SP Arun stated tha

All companies, schools to hoist Karnataka flag on Nov 1: DK Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said Kannada flag should be hoisted compulsorily at all educational institutions, businesses and factories, including those operating in the information technology and biotechnology sector, in Bengaluru on November one, the state's formation day. He said about 50 per cent of people residing in the city and Bengaluru Urban district are from other states, and they should also give priority to learn Kannada. "...we are marking 50 years of Mysore state being renamed as Karnataka. November one is a day of celebration for Kannadigas...as in-charge Minister for Bengaluru I have formulated a new programme as part of which at all schools and colleges, factories, business including IT-BT sector Kannad flag should be hoisted compulsorily," Shivakumar said. An order to this effect would be issued, he told reporters here. "All organisations, educational institutions, factories, businesses and others should compulsorily hoist Kannada flag

Bengaluru police arrest man who used pigeons to rob 50 locked houses

The accused identified as Manjunath would use pigeons, while searching for locked houses and apartments. The police have decoded how he managed to commit 50 robberies

Karnataka BJP chief predicts fast-paced developments, change of CM soon

Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Thursday predicted fast-paced political developments in the state in the next few days, including change of Chief Minister over the MUDA 'scam'. "Lot of political developments are certainly taking place in the state. In the next few days the kind of fast paced political developments will take place, which both you (media) and the people of the state will see," he told reporters here. Asked about his recent comments regarding change of Chief Minister after Dasara festival, he said: "I have said that fast paced political developments will take place, it includes everything." Vijayendra on Sunday claimed that, according to his information, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is facing a probe in the MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority) site allotment case, may resign after Dasara. A few Ministers in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet had recently held closed-door meetings, fueling speculation about leadership change. On several leaders in the BJP "no

Karnataka Cong MLA Nagendra 'mastermind' of multi-crore Valmiki scam: ED

Karnataka Congress MLA B Nagendra is the "mastermind" behind the multi-crore Valmiki Corporation alleged scam and the funds diverted from this state government entity were also used for a candidate who contested the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year, the ED claimed Wednesday. The federal agency said it has filed a prosecution complaint or charge sheet in this case sometime ago before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Bengaluru. The court has taken cognisance of the charge sheet, it said. "B Nagendra, MLA and former Minister for Scheduled Tribal Affairs, has been named as the primary accused and mastermind behind the scam, allegedly orchestrating it with the help of 24 others, including key associates like Satyanarayana Varma, Etakari Satyanarayana, J.G. Padmanabha, Nageshwar Rao, Nekkenti Nagaraj, and Vijay Kumar Gowda," the Enforcement Directorate said in a statement. Nagendra was arrested by the ED in this case. The agency claimed its probe found that .

Karnataka hosts Maldives Prez Muizzu, aims to foster ties in IT, tourism

The Chief Minister highlighted Karnataka's reputation as the Silicon Valley of India, asserting, "We are known as the Silicon Valley of India and have developed an ecosystem for start-ups, AI"

Haryana polls: Our overconfidence made us losers, says Congress' DK Suresh

Former Congress MP and Karnataka's deputy CM DK Shivakumar's brother, DK Suresh speaking to media on Wednesday said that overconfidence within the party had led to the loss in Haryana assembly elections."In J & K, the people have given us a good mandate where the INDIA alliance is going to form the govt. In Haryana, I think we had overconfidence in the election procedure and that we are going to come back. That is the major disadvantage that we are facing. Our party's high command will discuss the length and breadth of the defeat and lapses of the election..." he said."Yes, it is a setback in Haryana for us, our high command looking everything how and what happened. High command will react. Our over confidence made us losers. Our party in AICC looking at it. It's an example that over confidence will affect, same thing happened in haryana. Our Party leaders are looking at everything," he added.BJP won 48 out of 90 seats in Haryana assembly while Congress managed to win 37 seats. ...

Course on caste census to be decided by next week, says Karnataka minister

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said that the Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, also known as the "caste census", will either be referred to a Cabinet subcommittee or introduced in the legislature, based on what the Cabinet decides next week. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said the caste census will "most likely" be placed before the Cabinet for discussion on October 18. "We were accused of keeping the caste census in the cold storage after spending so much money. Now when we are saying that we will make it public, they are not able to take it," Parameshwara, a senior leader from the SC community, said, hitting back at the opposition over its criticism. Speaking to reporters here, he said everyone in the state knows that backward classes, minorities and Dalits are more in number, and in the days ahead for the government to plan and prepare programmes, the caste census will be helpful. "... shouldn't we prepare and give programmes for those ...

BJP Karnataka chief Vijayendra holds meeting with state minister Jarkiholi

Karnataka state BJP president B Y Vijayendra and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's brother D K Suresh called on state minister Satish Jarkiholi separately on Monday, triggering political speculation. These meetings took place in the context of several political interactions usually not seen among the leaders after Lokayukta police registered a case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA scam. These meetings triggered speculation as if they were held to work out a leadership change in Vidhana Soudha. The BJP leader told reporters that he, as an MLA from Shikaripura, met Jarkiholi to get some public works done in his constituency. When asked if he had any political discussion with the minister, especially on the possibility of changing the chief minister, Vijayendra said that the BJP had been demanding Siddaramaiah to resign and pave the way for a transparent investigation into MUDA scam and the Karnataka Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam. "You can

KSRTC announces to add 20 luxury buses each worth Rs 1.78 cr to its fleet

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Monday announced that it will add 20 luxury -- Airavat Club Class 2.0 model buses -- each worth Rs 1.78 crore to its fleet by the end of this month. KSRTC currently has a total of 443 luxury buses, they said. According to officials, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy accompanied by KSRTC Chairman S R Srinivas (Vasu) visited the Volvo bus manufacturing factory near Hoskote to inspect new buses. Some of the key features of the bus include -- powerful halogen headlights and daytime running lights (DRL) with new plush interiors and Scandinavian-style exteriors, offering visually appealing aesthetics, aerodynamic design providing better fuel efficiency, advanced engine technology, delivering superior performance and improved fuel efficiency (KMPL). The new bus will have 3.5 per cent increase in overall bus length, providing more space between passenger seats. "Windshield glass is 9.5 per cent wider, improving driver visibility and .

MUDA scam: RTI activist lodges FIR against K'taka minister, SP Lokayukta

RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna on Monday lodged a complaint against Karnataka Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh for allegedly shifting crucial files and documents related to MUDA 'scam' involving CM Siddaramaiah. In his complaint submitted to the Director General of Police Alok Mohan, he also accused the former Superintendent of Police of Lokayukta in Mysuru Sujeeth of "conniving" with the Minister in shifting the files in July this year, officials said. A complaint copy was also mailed to the DGP on Sunday seeking investigation into the matter. In the complaint, he alleged that the then Mysuru Lokayukta SP Sujeeth had allegedly alerted the Minister when the MUDA scam surfaced following which the Urban Development Minister flew to Mysuru via helicopter and took away the crucial files and documents related to the scam. Sujeeth had allegedly helped the Minister shift these files. The Lokayukta police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Siddaramaiah and ot