Greetings from the Public Relations and Media Committee!

Bengaluru: Utopia 2019, the International Cultural Fest of Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Bengaluru saw 721 students come from 28 countries to celebrate as one, the unity and harmony that are the foundations of a better world. The theme for this year was ‘Mélange’ which translates into blend of different cultures, performing arts and languages, that is, ‘A Blend of Brilliance’.

The series of events started with Rollick, the football event where the battleground came alive with the sports lovers sweating it out. Kinetoscope, the photography contest saw a great participation in capturing diversity of life and culture. Next competition of the event Chaine won all the hearts with their magical and groovy dance performances.

This was followed by a street play (Nukkad Natak) showing a sharp reflection of society. The next act was Mime which truly represented the power of silence with expression. Arpeggio, the musical extravaganza saw a perfect blend of melodies in the battle of music. Vogue, the fashion show displayed an aesthetic expression of one’s desire to stand out in a crowd. The most exciting gaming event was PUBG where participants ruled the battleground and won the Chicken Dinner.

SIBM-B also came up with Global Food Fiesta. The students explored varieties of dishes and satisfied their taste buds by devouring the luscious food catered to them.

For additional information along with a glimpse of the event, please find the attachments. In case of queries, please feel free to contact:

In the recent days, traffic police across Chennai and other cities in the State have adopted innovative measures to encourage motorists to use helmet.

Bangalore: Soon, you will be charged not Rs 100, but a whopping Rs 1,000 as fine for riding without helmet. The city traffic police have sent a warning to motorists, saying that the recently amended Motor Vehicles Act will be implemented within a few weeks. The amended Act, passed by Parliament, has raised the penalty for riding without helmet to Rs 1,000.

In the recent days, traffic police across Bangalore and other cities in the State have adopted innovative measures to encourage motorists to use helmet. They were seen thanking riders wearing helmets at some spots, while distributing sweets and chocolates to those riding without it, along with a message about the upcoming rule.

A press statement issued by the department said most victims of road accidents were young, and that 90 per cent fatalities were due to head injuries. “Earlier, when the helmet rule was being implemented in full force, there were many incidents of scuffles and arguments with police personnel,” said A Arun, additional commissioner, traffic.

“Though the High Court was repeatedly requesting public to wear helmets, when we enforced it, people were annoyed. They said we had not informed them of the rule beforehand. So now, we are notifying the public in advance about the revised penalty.” He said the traffic cops had already started to penalise pillion riders travelling without helmet.

“Nobody can anticipate when and where an accident will take place. Accidents happen and people lose life even at a short distance of 10 feet. …accidents can be prevented only if motorists realise their responsibility and follow the rules with self discipline,” the press statement read.

 Addressing the mammoth rally, Gowda slammed the Congress calling it a ‘curse’.

BANGALORE: The father and son duo of HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday tried to mollify the JDS workers in their own way. Stung by the workers’ complaints that their voices are never heard, the party organised a meeting at the Palace Grounds. ‘Nishtavanta,’ (loyal) party workers were taken aback when Gowda called the party’s coalition with the Congress for 14 months, a mistake.

And in an emotional outburst, Kumaraswamy said: “Do you remember that I shed tears when I met you after taking over as CM? I did it because I did not meet your expectations. With 37 MLAs compared to their (Congress) 80, I felt obligated to them. I swallowed poison like Vishakanta (Lord Shiva). I wept thinking of all the limitations. I was not free as a CM.’’ 

Addressing the mammoth rally, Gowda slammed the Congress calling it a ‘curse’. He was quoting his former colleague (late) J H Patel, who had said BJP was a ‘cancer’ and Congress a  ‘curse’.Gowda did not specify why he considered the Congress a  mistake or a curse or why he felt so let down by it. He said, “I would like to submit that ‘ I am to blame’.

”Speaking about the present government, Gowda said, “I wish this BJP government continues for the three years and eight months left. But then, we don’t know what will happen, we need to be alert.”

 Normal life has been affected in Malnad, as the intensity of rain has been increasing every day since Monday.

CHIKKAMAGALUR: Normal life has been affected in Malnad, as the intensity of rain has been increasing every day since Monday. Trees and electric poles are uprooted in some areas leading to road blockade and disruption in regular power supply. 

Major rivers like the Tunga, Bhadra and the Hemavathi are flowing above the danger mark. Hebbale Bridge across the Bhadra River near Kalasa is completely submerged in water, thereby disconnecting the route to the Annapoorneshwari temple of Horanadu.

Since Tunga river is in spate, it looks as if the temple town is floating on waters. An occurrence of land slide has blocked the road near Sriram estate between Kalasa and Kudremukh road. 

Traffic on Charmadi Ghat stopped for two days 
In view of heavy rains in the Charamadi Ghat ranges, land slides have occurred near 5th and 6th curves. Falls created out of rainwater are forcefully gushing on to the road. Sometimes loose boulders are rolling down. Sensing the danger, the Chikkamagaluru DC Dr Bagadi Gautam has ordered suspension of vehicular movement along Charmadi Ghat. 

Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who represents Badami constituency, has direct officials to take necessary precautions to save human lives and livestock, claimed sources.

BAGALKOTE: After the Krishna, it’s the Ghataprabha and Malaprabha rivers which are rising in the district, prompting the administration to declare a two-day holiday for all schools and colleges in the region.  The incessant rain in the Western Ghats has swollen all tributaries of these two rivers, with a sharp rise in the water level every day. This has submerged at least five villages and leftover 30 partially flooded.  

Rahul Melamalagi, a resident of Ranjangi village of Mudhol, told TNIE, “Many families 
have moved to their relatives’ homes after the district administration warned them to vacate their houses. Officers told us that the river will continue to flow at the same level for another week, as there is heavy 
rainfall in Maharashtra,” said Rahul.

Meanwhile, the Naviluteertha Water Reservoir is discharging more than 25,000 cusecs of water into the Malaprabha, and the district administration has been told to evacuate people dwelling on the banks of the river. If the Malaprabha overflows, it will affect 27 villages of Badami taluk and seven villages of Hungund taluk.

Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who represents Badami constituency, has direct officials to take necessary precautions to save human lives and livestock, claimed sources. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, who conducted an aerial inspection on Monday, will visit the flood-hit areas of Mudhol and Jamkhandi on Thursday. 

A few of them are still legislators, while others are rebels who exited their party and were subsequently disqualified.

BENGALURU: They might be tired of politics and ready to call it a day, but they certainly don’t seem ready to distance themselves from power. In the past one week, at least four netas, including former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, have expressed their desire to retire from active politics, while at the same time pushing for the political futures of their sons. 

A few of them are still legislators, while others are rebels who exited their party and were subsequently disqualified. With a lot of time on their hands, they are anxious to see their sons prosper. Former JDS state president AH VIshwanath announced his exit from electoral politics last Friday. But sources say he is paving the way for his son Amit Devarahatti, who is expected to contest from Hunsur in the upcoming bypolls. Amit even visited B S Yediyurappa’s residence the day before he took oath, adding to the speculation. 

At the time, Vishwanath was holed up in Mumbai with the other rebels. The very next day, an emotional Kumaraswamy spoke at length and said that his time in politics was done. At the same time, talks were underway for fielding Nikhil Kumaraswamy from KR Pete for the bypolls. While he publicly denied the same, sources say it is under consideration. 

Following Kumaraswamy, former minister GT Devegowda, who defeated Siddaramaiah in the biggest upset of the state elections in 2018, expressed his desire to quit. He said that he would serve as MLA till his term ended. It is said that he has been lobbying hard for a ticket for his son GD Harish Gowda in the upcoming bypolls. 

Another rebel MLA, MTB Nagaraj also hinted at exiting politics. His son Nithin Purshottam started his career as a BBMP Councillor in 2015 on a Congress ticket. Now, with his expulsion from the Congress, Nagaraj is looking for a political home for his son and hopes that the BJP would allow his son to contest the bypolls from Hosakote. 

CM will seek flood and drought relief; national leaders will have say on ministers, slots for rebels

BENGALURU: Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, who left for New Delhi on Monday on a three-day visit, is expected to discuss and finalise many issues, including his cabinet, the new BJP state president, the coalition rebels who resigned and also funds for Karnataka, which is facing both drought and floods at the same time. He is reportedly carrying a list of 20 members to be inducted into his cabinet. The three-day visit is expected to include many brainstorming sessions with national BJP leaders.

According to BJP sources, Yediyurappa’s list includes B Sriramulu, Govind Karjol. Basavaraj Bommai, R Ashoka, V Somanna and others. “He has prepared a list of names, most of them associated with his camp. But there are a few names from BL Santosh’s camp. It is up to them (national leaders) to accept the list or modify it. They cannot reject the entire list, but might modify it,’’ sources said.

CT Ravi and Aravind Limbavali, who are contenders for the state BJP president’s post, also figure in the list. If one of them becomes president, the other will be inducted into the cabinet. Karjol, Ashoka and Limbavali’s names are doing the rounds for the post of home minister, but again, it all depends on national leaders. 

On Tuesday, Yediyurappa discussed pending works related to Karnataka with all state MPs who are attending the Parliament session at Delhi. He will meet Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Wednesday, he will also hold a series of meetings with several Union ministers. According to sources, he is expected to seek more funds for the state, which is in a peculiar situation — drought in the southern districts and floods in the north.

More than Rs 2,000 crore is yet to be released under the MNREGA scheme.The biggest issue for Yediyurappa is said to be the disqualified rebel MLAs of the coalition, who have now approached SC. “While discussing the cabinet, they will probably leave some slots for the rebels and later, depending on what the Supreme Court rules, they will be inducted or not,” sources added.

list  of probables
R Ashoka, Umesh Katti, Balachandra Jarkiholi, Govind Karjol, Basavaraj Bommai, BC Patil, Renukacharya, B Sriramulu, Madhuswamy, Angaara, Basavaraj Yatnal, Dattatreya Patil Revoor, Prabhu Chavan, Rajegowda, Kota Srinivasa Poojary, SR Vishwanath Reddy, CT Ravi, Aravind Limbavali, V Somanna, Pradeep Shettar/Jagadish Shettar

The former chief minister also said that his government had allocated more money for constituencies of Congress MLAs than that of JD(S).

BENGALURU: Days after he was ousted from the chief ministerial post, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Monday said that he worked like a “slave” for its coalition partner Congress during the tenure of his government in the state.

“I had given full freedom to all the MLAs, and even corporation chairmen, why they are blaming me I don’t know. For the last 14 months, I worked like a slave for these MLAs and our coalition partner (Congress). Why they are blaming me? I don’t know,” Kumaraswamy told ANI.

The 14-month-old Congress-JD(S) government fell after it lost the trust vote. Later, Yediyurappa was sworn-in as the 25th chief minister of Karnataka on July 26, following the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) government.

The JD(S) leader said that several Congress leaders didn’t want to form the coalition government. “After the fractured verdict in our state, Congress leadership wholeheartedly wanted to join hands with JD(S) and they wanted to form the government. But, some local leaders were not interested according to my sources,” Kumaraswamy said.

“From day one, the way a section of the Congress leaders behaved and reacted in the public, everybody knows it,” he added.

The former chief minister also said that his government had allocated more money for constituencies of Congress MLAs than that of JD(S).

“Even when MLAs used to come without taking an appointment, I met them. Whatever requests they had for the development of their constituencies, I took decisions on them immediately. What previous Congress government couldn’t achieve, I did in 14 months. I have allocated more than Rs 19,000 crore in 14 months to constituencies of Congress MLAs,” he said.

Speaking on the JD(S)-Congress coalition, Kumaraswamy said that his party leaders were unhappy after he joined hands with the Congress to form the government. “Even some of my party leaders were not happy, but I formed the government with the help of Congress. They were not happy with the system. They knew how will they going to backstab us,” he said.

The former chief minister said that he has pain in his heart since nobody acknowledged his work. “I’m the happiest person now after vacating the office as a Chief Minister. For 14 months, I worked for the development of the state, there is a little pain in my heart because nobody appreciated my work,” he said.

The JD(S) leader said that his party leaders are not interested in a coalition with Congress in the future. “Majority of the workers are not interested in the coalition. But Congress high command even now is very much cooperative with us. Let us see what is going to happen in the future,” he said.

Ashwini V, a homemaker residing in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, filed a complaint with the Jayanagar police against Vinod alias Manjunath, a resident of  JP Nagar Sixth Phase.

BENGALURU: Despite all the warnings the police has been spreading about the dangers of befriending strangers online, their advice seems to have been going unheeded. The latest victim is a 23-year-old woman, who accepted a stranger’s friend request and ended up losing gold jewellery worth Rs 2.2 lakh to him.

Ashwini V, a homemaker residing in Rajarajeshwarinagar, filed a complaint with the Jayanagar police against Vinod alias Manjunath, a resident of  JP Nagar Sixth Phase.

According to the complainant, she received a friend request on Facebook from Vinod on June 1. Although she didn’t know anyone by that name, she accepted the request and within 10 days, they had even exchanged numbers. 

One day, Vinod called Ashwini and told her he was in dire need of money as his sister had some financial problems. Ashwini gave him Rs 4,500. A couple of days later, he called her again and told her that he needed money again as his mother was suffering from a cardiac problem and needed to have surgery. When Ashwini told him she did not have that much money, he asked her for her gold jewellery. Ashwini agreed and gave Vinod her two gold chains, a bracelet, three rings and a pair of earrings all together worth more than Rs 2.2 lakh.

After getting the jewelry, Vinod started to avoid Ashwini. When she tried contacting him, he did not respond. Ashwini found that not only was Vinod’s mother not a cardiac patient, but also that Vinod had another named called Manjunath. An investigating officer said, “We have taken up the case of cheating and launched a manhunt.”

The court adjourned the hearing to August 8 while directing the SIT to submit the further status report on investigation, and the CA to file affidavit explaining further action.

BENGALURU:  The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the competent authority appointed under the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments (KPID) Act, 2004, to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit of IMA and its associate companies, directors and partners  to track the inflow and outflow of funds in the unregulated deposit schemes.

The court has also asked the state to submit its response on the petitioners’ plea for issuing directions to probe other ponzi companies, and also appointment of competent authorities (CAs)  to deal with complaints against those companies. A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Mohammad Nawaz issued these directions during the hearing of a batch of petitions, including public interest litigation, seeking a probe into ponzi companies. 

Directing the state to submit its response on the CBI probe sought by IAS officer B M Vijay Shankar, arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), the court asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to share the details of properties attached with the SIT and do investigation in coordination with each other. 

The court directed the CA to publish the public notice seeking information about properties of IMA and its entities, benami properties, if any, in Urdu newspapers with wide circulation, as most of the depositors are Muslims. This was after a petitioner’s counsel sought such directions, as the public notice was published in Kannada and English newspapers only. 

The court adjourned the hearing to August 8 while directing the SIT to submit the further status report on investigation, and the CA to file affidavit explaining further action. Meanwhile, the court has ordered its registry to keep the status report, submitted by SIT, and that it should not be opened without the court’s order. 

IAS officer submits affidavit
Bengaluru Division Regional Commissioner V Rashmi Mahesh, who was appointed as CA under KPID Act to handle the depositors’ complaints against IMA, submitted an affidavit to the High Court explaining the steps taken to protect the depositors’ interests. The CA has stated that certain properties, of IMA and its allied concerns have been attached based on SIT report. “Letters are also addressed to the appropriate authorities in other states for information on properties of IMA and related concerns,” he said.