Page 9 - Karnataka

Kannada actor Santhosh Balaraj dies at 34 of jaundice-related complications

Kannada actor Santosh Balaraj died at the age of 34. The son of the late producer Anekal Balaraj was reportedly suffering from jaundice and was later admitted to the ICU at a K'taka private hospital

Karnataka transport corporation strike: Unions demand pay revision, arrears

The strike left thousands of passengers stranded, particularly in major cities such as Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, and Belagavi

Karnataka bus services hit as workers begin strike, passengers stranded

Employees of Karnataka's state-owned transport corporations began an indefinite strike on Tuesday morning, severely affecting public bus services across the state and leaving passengers in the lurch. The unions went ahead with the strike despite a court stay against the agitation, underway pressing demands including wage revision. Buses remained parked at depots and only a few were seen running, as some staff chose not to participate in the strike. Some buses in rural areas operated as a few drivers opted to work for the convenience of students to ferry them to their schools, said sources in the transport department. The transport corporations are learned to have roped in trainee bus drivers to manage the situation. Bus stands in major cities like Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Raichur, Chitradurga, Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Hassan, Madikeri, Shivamogga, and Kalaburagi saw heavy passenger rush, with thousands stranded and struggling to find alternate wa

Protest vs protest: Govt prepared for Cong, BJP agitations, says K'taka HM

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday said all necessary security precautions have been taken ahead of the protests planned for August 5. Countering an agitation called by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi against vote theft during Lok Sabha polls last year at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, the opposition BJP is also protesting at Vidhana Soudha, to inform the public about the misleading stand of Congress. The day will also see state-wide protests by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) employees. Speaking to the reporters, the Home Minister said, The government has the capability to handle everything. Adequate police personnel have been deployed for security. Instructions have been issued for all necessary measures. Parameshwara also gave more details about the Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF), formed to eradicate drugs in Bengaluru city. They function like a task force. They act based on wherever the information comes from. We have already given specific instructi

Karnataka to host 'Quantum India Bengaluru Summit' from July 31 onwards

The Karnataka government is all set to host a two-day 'Quantum India Bengaluru Summit' here starting from July 31, officials said on Wednesday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the summit, while Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will release the 'Karnataka Quantum Roadmap'. Through this summit, the government aims to showcase quantum technology to the world and strengthen Karnataka's leadership in this transformative field, they said. According to an official statement, state Minister for Science and Technology N S Boseraju has conducted several preparatory meetings, engaging with private technology companies, startups, and representatives from various technical institutions. The landmark event will witness participation from quantum experts representing eight countries and over 1,000 delegates from across India, it said. The summit will also be attended by IT & BT Minister Priyank Kharge, Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda,

BJP urges K'taka govt to act against firms selling fake seeds, fertilisers

Accusing the ruling Congress of 'failing' Karnataka, state BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Sunday urged the Siddaramaiah-led government to file a criminal case and take strict action against companies that are supplying fake seeds and fertilisers to farmers. He said a police vigilance team should be formed to take strict action against the networks that cheat farmers. The BJP chief was responding to reports about fake seeds and fertilisers being supplied to farmers in some parts of the state. "The efforts to trouble the food-providing farmers and exploit them within the system have been ongoing for a long time. Companies supplying fertilizers and seeds are engaging in the despicable act of sabotaging agricultural activities by providing fake seeds to the enthusiastic farming community that are expecting a good harvest in the backdrop of a promising monsoon this time," Vijayendra said. "I urge the government to file a criminal case against such companies in this regard and take stri

SIT begins probe into mass burials in Dharmasthala amid new evidence

The SIT officers are visiting key sites in Dharmasthala, Karnataka, and preparing to question the anonymous complainant

Chinnaswamy Stadium unsafe: Report points fingers at several stakeholders

The Bengaluru stampede after RCB's win has triggered questions on safety, crowd control, and accountability, casting uncertainty over the upcoming Women's World Cup 2025 and IPL 2026 matches

Karnataka to reduce SSLC passing marks to 33% starting from 2025-26 session

The Karnataka government has issued a notification reducing the pass percentage for SSLC exam from 35 to 33, effective from the academic year 2025-26 The draft Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board First Regulations (Amendment) 2025 was notified on Thursday. According to the proposed guidelines, candidates must secure an average of 33 per cent marks, combining both internal assessment and external examination, to be declared pass. This reduction was implemented through an amendment to the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board Act, 1966. "Candidates shall secure an average of 33 per cent marks in internal assessment and external examination combined and shall be declared pass if they secure at least 206 marks out of a total of 625 marks, including at least 30 per cent marks in each subject out of the total marks of the respective subject," the notification issued by the Department of School Education & Literacy stated. According to the notification, 15 days ..

KCET, NEET UG 2025: Mock seat allotment results announced at website

KCET and NEET UG 2025 mock allotment results have been released by KEA today, July 25, 2025. Candidates can view their status online and make modifications to their choices from 26 to 29 July, 2025

Questions persist over Siddaramaiah's tenure as CM; leaves for Delhi

Will he or won't he. This is the million dollar question hotly debated in Karnataka's political circles over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah completing his term, even as a unique record beckons the veteran, who along with his deputy and another claimant for the CM's chair, D K Shivakumar, once again air dashes to Delhi. Siddaramaiah, in his second term as chief minister, is on the cusp of becoming the longest serving elected head of the state, closing in on veteran Devaraj Urs' record as CM for over 2,700 days. Despite his assertions, questions over whether he will complete a full five year tenure in office, or if he will make way for DKS as per a rumoured rotational formula, persists. Shivakumar is addressed as DKS. The two are in New Delhi in their third trip since June, even as an uneasy calm prevails in the state Congress unit where voices from either camps have fallen silent over the CM issue following a high command gag order. During their visit to the national capital, the two .

Govt won't pursue tax arrears on exempt goods, says CM Siddaramaiah

The move came after widespread concerns over tax notices issued based on Unified Payment Interface (UPI) data, which had prompted traders to plan a strike on July 25

SC refuses to hear plea challenging gag order in Dharamsthala case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to hear a petition challenging a sweeping gag order that restrained media houses from reporting on matters related to the brother of Dharamadhikari D Veerendra Heggade of Dharamsthala in Karnataka. The gag order pertained to reports on alleged murder of women in Dharmasthala in the state's Dakshina Kannada district. The plea, filed against an ex parte interim order of a local court, questioned the legality of the directive which directed as many as 390 media houses to remove nearly 9,000 links and stories related to the Dharamsthala burial case. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and Joymalya Bagchi asked the petitioner as to why the high court had not been approached. You go the high court first, the CJI said. The gag order was reportedly passed in a defamation suit filed by Harshendra Kumar, Secretary of Sri Manjunathaswamy Temple institutions, who highlighted the spread of allegedly false and defamato

Karnataka vendors demand relief after GST notice over UPI transactions

In Bengaluru and beyond, small vendors are switching to cash after receiving GST notices for UPI transactions over ₹40 lakh; associations call for urgent government intervention

Will move SC with contempt plea against Karnataka on Mhadei issue: Goa CM

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday informed the legislative assembly that the state government will file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka for carrying out activities that are aimed at diverting the Mhadei river water. The CM also accused the neighbouring state of being involved in activities aimed at diverting the river water. The two adjoining coastal states are embroiled in a dispute over sharing the Mhadei river water. The BJP-ruled Goa has accused the Congress-governed Karnataka of planning to divert the river water by constructing two dams. The Mhadei river originates in the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, and flows through Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra as it empties into the Arabian Sea at Panaji in Goa. The Centre had set up a tribunal which decided on sharing the river water between the three riparian states -- Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Goa and Karnataka along with Maharashtra have appealed against the tribunal's order on .

Serentica to source wind turbines from SANY for 336 MW Karnataka project

Renewable energy firm Serentica Renewables on Tuesday said it will procure Wind Turbine Generators for its 336 MW Wind Project in Karnataka from SANY Renewable. Delivery for the project is expected to commence by December 2025, a company statement said. Serentica Renewables has selected SANY Renewable, a leading enterprise of high-end equipment manufacturing, to supply the Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) for its 336 MW Wind Project in Karnataka, according to the statement The project will feature advanced SANY WTGs, each with a rated capacity of 4 MW. Akshay Hiranandani, CEO, Serentica Renewables, said in the statement, "336 MW wind project in Karnataka will play a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions while providing a reliable, renewable energy source to industrial consumers." Gaurav Amdekar, COO, SANY Wind Energy India, said, "This partnership demonstrates our shared commitment to driving the transition to a low-carbon economy and contributing to India's renewable energy ..

Mangaluru Police seek custody of prime accused in multi-crore fraud case

The Mangaluru City Police have filed a formal petition before the jurisdictional court seeking custody of the prime accused in a multi-crore investment fraud case, officials said on Tuesday. Roshan Saldanha, a resident of Bajal in Mangaluru, is currently in judicial custody, they said. He is accused of duping investors of several crores of rupees through fraudulent investment schemes that promised high returns, police said, adding that multiple complaints have been lodged against him by victims from various parts of Dakshina Kannada and beyond, alleging that they were misled by Saldanha's schemes and guarantees. According to Police Commissioner Sudhir Kumar Reddy, in one case, Rs 10 crore has been fleeced from an investor. The case involves the use of forged documents, shell companies, and sophisticated methods of financial manipulation, sources said. The police now seek custodial interrogation to uncover the full extent of the fraud, track the flow of funds, identify accomplices,

SC junks Karnataka govt's plea against quashing of case on Tejasvi Surya

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the Karnataka government's plea against a high court order quashing the criminal case against BJP MP Tejasvi Surya. What is this? Don't politicise the matter. Fight your battles before the electorate, a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and K Vinod Chandran said. Surya was alleged to have disseminated fake news on a farmer's suicide in state's Haveri district. The bench dismissed the appeal of the state government and cautioned its against politicisation of legal proceedings. The case stemmed from a post shared by Surya on November 7, 2024, in which he cited a report from Kannada news portals claiming that a farmer, Rudrappa Channappa Balikai, had died by suicide after discovering that his land had been taken over by the Waqf Board. The post was subsequently deleted after it emerged that the claim was unfounded.

IMD forecasts heavy rain for coastal K'taka, light showers for Bengaluru

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday predicted heavy to very heavy rain for the next 24 hours in parts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts. Meanwhile, Hangaloru in Udupi district received the highest rainfall on Sunday, measuring 92mm, Gadag district reported 77.1mm rainfall, the third highest rainfall for July so far, it said. It recorded 89.7mm in 2005 and 87.1mm in 2022. The all-time high of 136.4mm rainfall was witnessed in Gadag on September 29, 1960. In Bengaluru, rainfall between 4 and 10mm is expected in the Greater Bengaluru area on Monday. The state capital received 6.5mm rainfall on Sunday. Renjala (73.5mm) and Hakladi (70mm), also in Udupi District, are the other places in Karnataka where rainfall over 70mm was received on Sunday. IMD has predicted heavy rainfall on Monday in parts of Bidar, Kalburgi, Raichur and Yadgir districts of north interior Karnataka. In south interior Karnataka, parts of Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Shivam

Why use ED for politics? SC warns against misusing agency in Muda scam

The Supreme Court has dismissed the ED's appeal against Karnataka HC order quashing Muda case summons to Siddaramaiah's wife; said political battles should not be fought through agencies