Bengaluru: The investigation into the obscene video pen drive case involving Hassan JDS MP Prajwal Revanna has gained momentum after 18 personnel, including police officers and staff from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), have been appointed to the team.

Following directives from the Director General of Police, key appointments to the SIT include ACP Priyadarshini Ishwar Sanikoppa from Marath Halli Sub Division, Bengaluru City, ACP Satyanarayan Singh SB from Bengaluru City CCB, and Dhanya N., ACP of Mangaluru South Sub Division.

Other notable members include Inspector Bharti G. from Mangaluru Urwa Police, Inspector Sumarani B.S. from K.R. Police Station, and Inspector Swarna G.S. from Alanahalli Police Station.

Initial proceedings have involved the interrogation of five women victims, from whom statements have been obtained.

Bengaluru: Veteran politician, BJP MP and former Union Minister V Srinivasa Prasad died on Monday, family sources said.

The 76-year-old Lok Sabha member from Chamarajnagar was ailing for some time and being treated at a private hospital, where he passed away early today.

Prasad is survived by wife and three daughters.

He was a six-time MP from Chamarajanagar and also served as MLA from Nanjangud in Mysuru district for two terms.

On March 18 this year, Prasad announced his retirement from electoral politics, marking his 50 years in public life.

He first contested Assembly elections as an independent in 1974.

Prasad joined the erstwhile Janata Party in 1976 and switched over to the Congress in 1979. He also had a stint with the JD(S), JD (U), and the Samata Party before crossing over to the BJP.

Prasad served as the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 1999 to 2004.

He returned to the Congress fold later, got elected as an MLA in 2013 and became Revenue Minister in the Siddaramaiah government.

In 2016, Prasad resigned from the Assembly and rejoined the BJP. He contested the 2017 Nanjangud bypolls on a BJP ticket but lost. He then successfully fought the Lok Sabha election from Chamarajanagar in 2019.

Condoling his death, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described Prasad as a strong voice for the oppressed Dalits.

“The departure of the leader who lived the struggle against injustice and inequality is a big setback for the political struggle for social justice in the state,” he added.

“He was a progressive-thinking political leader. Although we worked in different parties for a long time in old Mysuru region, we maintained a respectful relationship with each other. When I met him recently, we reminisced. I never thought Prasad would leave us so soon,” the CM said.

BJP stalwart and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said: ‘I met him only a few days ago and I can’t believe that he is not with us now. He was recognised as an influential Dalit leader who had made his mark in the politics of the state and the country.”

Bengaluru: BJP leader CT Ravi was on Friday booked for allegedly promoting hatred and enmity between citizens through his social media post, the Election Commission said.

The action was initiated by the election officials of Chikkamagaluru, they said.

Taking to ‘X’, the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer said Chikkamagaluru election Officials have booked an FIR against CT Ravi for his post on X for violation under the Representation of the People Act and 505(2) (Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code in Basavanahalli police station for allegedly promoting hatred and enmity between different classes of citizens.

Bengaluru: “The JD(S)-BJP alliance will crush the ruling Congress party after the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The citizens have understood the Congress party’s empty guarantees, people have understood that they will be trapped in debt due to the guarantees,” said JD(S) Karnataka President HD Kumaraswamy during a poll campaign for Bengaluru South BJP candidate Tejasvi Surya on Sunday.

Highlighting the Prime Minister’s immense contribution to the state, Kumaraswamy stated, “People are going to vote for the schemes implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the welfare of people.”

He further revealed that workers of both the parties were working in harmony without allowing any room for confusion across all the fields.

Kumaraswamy commended the works done by Surya and called him a good parliamentarian who unites and leads the youth. He further said, “ Surya has done several good works in Bengaluru South constituency in the last five years. His residence is also in this constituency, he has a vision for the development of this constituency.”

Speaking at the campaigning, Bengaluru South contender Surya stated that former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has always appreciated and encouraged him for his works in the constituency. “Kumaranna’s campaigning on my behalf has increased my strength in this constituency,” he said.

Udupi: An elderly woman passed away after casting her vote at her home in Brahmavar taluk on April 16.

P. Yashodha (83), the wife of retired village accountant D. Narayan Upadhyay is the deceased. The Election Commission had permitted special voting arrangements for senior citizens, allowing them to vote from home. Consequently, P. Yashodha exercised her voting right from home.

On Tuesday, when the senior citizens were scheduled to vote, P. Yashodha experienced chest pain but opted to go to the hospital only after casting her vote. She was subsequently admitted to Koteshwar Private Hospital. Sadly, she succumbed to her illness around 9 pm without receiving treatment.

Bengaluru: The funeral rites of veteran Kannada film producer and actor Dwarakish, who died of a heart attack on Tuesday at the age of 81 years, were conducted, with state honours, at the TR Mill Crematorium in Chamarajpet on Wednesday.

The body of the late actor was kept at the Ravindra Kalakshetra on Wednesday morning for people to pay their last respects to Dwarakish, prior to the funeral.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, actors Yash, Ravichandran, Dhruva Sarja and Shruti as well as other dignitaries offered their respects to the actor at Ravindra Kalakshetra.

Soundarya Jagadish

Bengaluru: Soundarya Jagadish, a film producer and businessman residing in Mahalakshmi Layout, Bengaluru, has committed suicide at his residence. The police are investigating the incident and will take further legal action after recording statements from family members.

Soundarya Jagadish was known for producing films like “Appu and Pappu,” “Mast Maja Maadi,” “Ramleela,” and “Friends.” He also ran the Jet Lag Resto Bar on Rajkumar Road in Rajajinagar. The bar was in the news previously when a case was registered and later closed by the police following a night party held during the release of the movie “Kotair” starring actor Darshan.

The police suspect that financial difficulties may have led to Soundarya Jagadish’s suicide, and the investigation into his death is ongoing.

Kolkata: Medical tests of the two Bengaluru cafe blast case accused were conducted at a state-run hospital before their production at a metropolitan court here on Friday.

They were taken to Bankshall court for transit remand, an NIA lawyer said.

The two accused, Mussavir Hussain Shazib and Adbul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa, were taken to Bidhannagar state general hospital for a medical check up, an official said.

Purba Medinipur SP Soumyadip Bhattacharya said the duo was arrested in a joint operation by the NIA and West Bengal Police.

Shazib was the one who placed the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the cafe and Taahaa was the mastermind, the officials said.

Nasheman news

On the occasion of Ramzan, BJP MP Lahar Singh Siroya visited Jamia Masjid in Bengaluru and extended Id Greetings to Imam Dr. Mohamed Maqsood Imran Rashadi. Later, they discussed matters of goodwill and harmony in the society.