Archives for April 2022

Parmesh S Jain

Instructions have been issued for resolving the Azan issue harmoniously through holding peace committee meetings at the Police Station level.
The process is going on.

Everyone should follow the law,Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.

Speaking to media persons in Kalaburagi he said, there is a High Court order on Azan.A circular has already been issued in accordance with that.The rule also specifies the decibel level. The DG has already issued the circular.”

Replying to a question,Bommai said,the unity in the party is stronger than what it was earlier. There are no differences in the party.

A few issues that had cropped up have been resolved.We are more united than ever.Greater importance is being given for the development of Kalyana Karnataka region.We are confident of taking everyone along,Bommai said.

Parmesh S Jain

At a time when the Kerala government is going ahead with its ambitious semi-high speed railway project setting aside criticisms,a former Indian Railway official part of its feasibility study,on Wednesday, April 20,spoke out against the mammoth initiative claiming that the people of the state will be burdened by the project,which may eventually costs Rs two lakh crore.

Alok Kumar Verma,who had prepared the preliminary feasibility report of the Silver Line alias K-Rail project, said the original proposal of the state government was for a broad gauge line and the decision for adopting a standard gauge was taken by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL).

Recalling that the proposal sent to the Railway Board in 2017 was for a broad gauge line and not a standard gauge, he said the sanction given by them to prepare a detailed plan was also for the former.

There was no approval for a standard gauge,the standard gauge has been chosen by the KRDCL and this is the main reason why the Union government is not willing to bear any responsibility or any cost of this project,Verma told reporters.

Both the Railway Board and the Ministry of Railways have made it clear that most of the cost, may be 100 per cent of the project cost or the liability,will be on the shoulder of the Kerala government, he said.

The retired officer arrived in Kerala to meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and senior government officials to flag concerns regarding the mammoth infrastructure project, However, he reportedly did not get an audience with Vijayan.

Later,he met the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly VD Satheesan and discussed various aspects of the project.

While detailing the economic impact of the semi-high speed rail corridor project,he said it is the responsibility of the Railway Board and the Ministry of Railways to provide rail infrastructure everywhere and hence the point is why should Kerala people have to pay for a railway line.

The cost of the railway line should be borne by the Union government.So,the Kerala people are going to be burdened by a project which may eventually cost Rs two lakh crore.It does not make any sense,Verma added.

Asked about the KRDCL’s argument that Verma had only a three-month-long association with the rail corridor project, the retired officer charged that the agency knows nothing but to lie and “they have spoiled the whole project.”

Parmesh S Jain

The Vidhana Soudha police on Thursday launched an investigation into an allegedly forged Rural Development Panchayat Raj Karnataka (RDPR) letter in connection with the suicide of Santosh Patil,a contractor from Hindalga. 

On April 12, Patil killed himself and left behind a WhatsApp message blaming former Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa,who was forced to resign.

He had alleged that he had begun road work in Hindalga based on verbal assurances from the Minister and was under pressure to give commissions even though bill payments were pending.  

The police have sought the help of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team to ascertain notes written in green ink stating that order copies are to be issued on 5/3/2022.

At the end, it stated ordered for approval,The police claim it was based on this letter, which was accessed by a section of the media,that road work on Hindalga village was taken up. 

In fact the letter allegedly issued by the then CEO of the Zilla Panchayath is forged and no staff member of RDPR has written on this letter.

It does not resemble anyone’s handwriting, the RDPR department clarified .

Ramesh DO,Deputy Director,RDPR in his clarification said that such notes and work orders on a letter is illegal.

The letter going by its serial number is just a requisition received by the department and had been pending since then,said Mr. Ramesh in the FIR, which also stated.

Looking at all the aspects it was concluded that the letter with notes on green ink is a clear case of forgery.

The police are now trying to track down the source of the letter.

Parmesh S JAIN

The CCB officials on tuesday caught a 53-year-old PU drop out who posing as professor of IISc working at Microsoft company duped hundreds of unemployed youth promising jobs.

Senior officer told reporters,Based on a tip off,a team of officials seeking job approached Vikram Hosamani and fixed an appointment .

As per the deal the police went to Kai Ruchi hotel in Amruth Nagar in Konanakunte and Met Hosamani who claimed that he has completed BE from IIT Kharagpur and Ph D from IISc Bengaluru and working in US based Microsoft company .

The accused was staying in a posh apartment in Konanakunte and also placed advertisement in leading news paper with his bio data to offer job consultancy service and required training and asked the candidates to deposit under the pretext of enrollment fee.

The police recovered several fake letters,visiting cards and bank details from him and taken him into custody to ascertain his role .

CCB Inspector,Rahim Iqbal,has also filed a case against Vikram Hosamani charging him under cheating,impersonation and forgery with Konanakunte police station limits.

Parmesh S jain

The Kamakashipalya police on Thursday arrested a 37-year-old cab driver for strangulating his wife over domestic row .

The accused Ashok,resident of Kaveripura native of Vijayapura married to Vanajakshi,31 and living with three children.

The children are presently in their grandparents house and Vanajakshi was working as garment factory.

Senior officer told reporters,Ashok used to have frequent fight with Vanajakshi for always chatting and talking over phone and suspected affair.

On Sunday the accused returned from work and found her chatting .

Heated arguments ensued and in a fit of rage Ashok choked her to death and escaped after locking the house from outside.

Residents noticed foul smell on Wednesday and alerted police.Police rushed to the spot and found highly decomposed body.

The police later traced Ashok from his relative’s house in Magadi and arrested him and further investigation is on.

Parmesh S Jain

The Health Department has taken a big step to increase accountability of its staff by implementing biometric attendance system.

Under the new system,the salaries of officers, doctors and staff will be based on the attendance.

This will bring a qualitative change in the department by ushering more discipline, accountability and efficiency,said Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar.

Speaking to reporters after the Health Department’s review meeting on Monday, Sudhakar said that he had received several complaints from elected representatives and members of the public that doctors and other staff were not available at hospitals and office during working hours.

The indiscipline of government officials will impact delivery of public healthcare services.

So,I have given instructions to cut the salary of those who weren’t present during working hours.

All hospitals and other offices under the Health Department will be installed with a biometric attendance system (AEBS) which will record the attendance based on the Aadhar Card of the doctors,officers and staff,he said.

Biometric attendance had been stopped due to COVID-19,but,it has again been made mandatory from the past two months.

This has been conveyed through several meetings and circulars.However,some staffers and officers still haven’t been registering biometric attendance.

Now,a proper warning and an order has been issued.If anyone fails to register biometric attendance,they will be marked absent and will receive a pay cut, he said.

Responsibility of the DDO

It is the responsibility of all DDOs (salary drawing officer) to check all AEBS under their jurisdiction and submit a report on providing salaries to the concerned DHO.

They will inspect the report and provide directions about releasing and withholding salaries.Higher officers will inspect the work of DHOs.

If anyone is found to have less than 80% attendance, their payment will be withheld and further actions will be taken.

In case they have an attendance of 80%, the salary will be released and they will be questioned about the reason for the 20% absence and a notice will be served.

If the reason for absence is genuine,the matter will be closed.In case,the information is false,a portion of the pay will be reduced from the next month’s salary.

If salaries are given without verifying the attendance,the DDOs will be held responsible and action will be taken against them.If the supervision is improper,action will also be taken against the DHO.

Weekly review

In the weekly review of the Health Department,a review about the attendance and salaries will also be taken.

If there is any lacuna in the implementation of the new rule, strict action will be taken.

The doctors,officers and staff have been instructed to register their attendance thrice a day.Separate times have been set for hospitals and offices,Minister Sudhakar said.

“Timetable for attendance:

1. Administration offices: 10 am, 1 pm and 5.30 pm.
2. Hospitals: 9 am, 1 pm and 4.30 pm.
3. Those working in shifts at hospitals.
   a. First shift: 8 am, 11 am and 2 pm.
   b. Second shift: 2 pm, 5 pm and 8 pm.
   c. First shift: 8 pm, 12 am and 8 am (next day).
4. Special circumstances (Accident, Emergency. service and surgeries): In case doctors and attending staff can’t register their attendance thrice a day due to special circumstances,the district surgeon or administrating medical officers can provide exemptions on those days. However,a mandatory attendance has to be registered at entry and exit.

Dr.Sudhakar appreciated Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Department D.Randeep for leading by example in registering biometric attendance sincerely.

Total number of institutions under the Health Department: 3,230.

Total number of officers and staff: 65,318.

Parmesh S Jain

The RR Nagar police on Thursday arrested a gang of three involved in house break thefts and recovered valuables worth Rs.28 lakh from them.

The accused have been identified as Vinod raj, Saleem Rafiq and Bilal Mondal .

Senior officer told media persons,that all the the trio are habitual offenders and met at Parappana Agarahara while serving sentence for a previous cases and teamed up .

After coming out of prison on bail,four months ago,the accused resorted to their profession and vinod raj was assigned to recce and identifiy locked house,while Saleem and Bilal went to Mumbai.

As per the plan Vinod raj worked to provide logistic help and went around the areas to target locked houses and alerted Saleem and Bilal.

The duo had flew down from Mumbai to Bengaluru and stayed with Vinod Raj for few days before breaking into a house in RR Nagar and looted valuables on March 26,when the family had gone to the temple .

Based on a complaint the police analyzed the CCTV footage from in and around the area and identified Vinod Raj and arrested him.

Based on his confession the police arrested Saleem and Bilal and recovered the gold and silver valuables worth Rs 28 lakh from them.

The police have also seized a car and a motorcycle from Vinod Raj who was using them to recce the area.

Parmesh S Jain

The Anti-Narcotics Wing of CCB officials on thursday arrested a Nigerian National and seized MDMA crystals worth Rs 70 lakh from him.

Based on the information,a team of police rushed to a Banasawadi main road where the accused was waiting to deliver the drugs to his clients .

The police team recovered 800 grams of MDMA crystals and a mobile phone and a hand held electronic weighing machine from him.

The accused confessed that he sourced the drugs from his contacts in Mumbai brought it to the city by train and sell it to his clients for a price ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000.

The accused did not have any travel document with him.The accused has been booked under NDPS Act and taken into custody for further investigations.