Pramesh Jain

IMA Multi-Crore Fraud Case: Mastermind Key accused Mansoor khan remanded to ED custody till July 23rd by PMLA Court :
The main prime accused in the multi-crore IMA Ponzi scam of about Rs.2500 Crore scam IMA founder Mansoor Khan was  produced on Saturday before the Special Prevention of money laundering Act court in Bengaluru and the Judge Shivashankar has sent the accused to the custody of Enforcement Directorate (ED) till July 23.
As the ED also booked Khan under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for transfer of funds to overseas banks,ED Director,Raman Gupta produced him before Special PMLA court judge Shivashankar for 10 days custody but the court has remanded him to 3 days. 
Security was heightened by the Bengaluru city police commissioner,Alok Kumar while he was being produced before the Special PMLA Court 2 DCPs as,Ramesh Banoth,Dr.Chandragupta with ACPs,PIs,with others more than 300 police personnel were deployed for no untoward incident take place as a precautionary measures as many investors were trying to stage a protest. 
STIR was seen near Shanthinagar ED office where in investors staged protest demanding CBI probe in the case.
The Delhi Police produced  Mansoor Khan before Duty Magistrate Harjit Singh Jaspal in New Delhi on Friday night for transit remand to take him to Bengaluru where his company is headquartered.
Khan was arrested at the international airport early on Friday on arrival from Dubai on an Air India flight by the ED sleuths.
The major breakthrough in the mega scam for the ED and SIT came as a lookout or Blue Corner notice on Khan was issued to all concerned, including Interpol.
He was brought back to Bengaluru on Saturday and produced before the court, where the Enforcement Directorate sought his custodial remand for further interrogation.
Khan reportedly revealed big names involved in the case during his questioning, according to sources. He will be confronted with documentary evidence gathered by the probe agency along with statements recorded by other suspects in the case.
It is alleged that Mansoor Khan has revealed the name of many politicians,7 IPS,6 IAS,6 KAS,former ministers and others names who has taken bribe from him.
The Karnataka Special Investigation Team, which is also investigating IMA, had also demanded police custody of Khan,They said they had arrested 23 accused in the case and his custody was required to establish the links.
Meanwhile the SIT team headed by DIG,Dr.BR Ravikanthe Gowda under the supervision of DCP Girish S and his team as ACP Balaraj and his special team has continued the searches they have conducted a search on Mulberry supermarkets and has been successful in recovering Rs.4.6 crore worth of demand draft from Adoni constructions  which was given by IMA founder to construct Skywalks in Bangalore and Cash worth Rs.52,030 and 300 silver coins worth Rs.60,000 were seized by SIT from Mulberry market.
IMA Ponzi scam:
Khan has been accused of running a ponzi scheme in Karnataka that has allegedly duped more than 40,000 people of around Rs.2500 crore.People from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, New Delhi, and Tamil Nadu are said to have invested into the company.
The Bengaluru-based company had been collecting investments for several years, assuring investors of returns of over 3% per month.However,the fraud came to light after hundreds of people gathered outside the investment firm’s offices on June 12, saying that it had not provided returns on their investments for more than two months.
On July 8, the SIT had arrested Deputy Commissioner of Bangalore urban district BM Vijay Shankar for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 1.5 crore from Khan. Shankar had taken the bribe in exchange for a favourable report after the Reserve Bank of India had asked the state government to investigate the firm’s business.
The SIT had also detained suspended Congress MLA Roshan Baig in the case and questioned him for several hours and after collecting the information he was released.
Investigations under PMLA revealed that the accused companies and its directors indulged in the offence of money laundering by cheating people through ponzi schemes and generating the proceeds of crime in the form of movable and immovable properties.
IMA founder Mansoor Khan,who is accused of perpetrating financial fraud worth crores,was shifted to a hospital on Sunday after he complained of chest pains.
Mansoor Khan, was taken to Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research on Sunday after he complained of chest pain.
Sources said Khan,who is in Enforcement Directorate custody after he landed in New Delhi from Dubai on Friday, was to undergo a health check-up, for which he was taken to Victoria Hospital on Sunday. However, he complained of chest pain and was rushed to Jayadeva Institute around 7 p.m.
C.N. Manjunath, senior cardiologist and director of Jayadeva Institute, told reporters that Khan came in with complaints of chest pain and palpitations. This, he said, could be an indication of stress and anxiety.Khan,who has a history of cardiac problems,underwent CT angiogram and has been on medication.He said Khan was advised admission for a day.However, he has refused admission. We will take it in writing from him,he said.
Mansoor Khan is in Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) custody till July 23.

Pramesh jain

Karnataka Assembly floor test : Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar adjourns House till 10 am,gives deadline to finish trust vote by 6 pm on Tuesday :
Highlights of Climax of KAR’NATAKA’.
* After much furore and high-voltage drama in the state Assmebly, the Speaker adjourned the House just before the clock hit midnight on Monday.He directed HD Kumaraswamy to prove majority in the Assembly by today 6 pm.
* Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah reiterated, Today we will finish the floor test after some of our members speak.By 4 PM today we will finish the discussion,by 6 PM we will finish the floor test.
* Before the adjournment,the Speaker has said that the session could continue till 10 or 11 pm while BJP leader and Leader of Opposition BS Yeddyurappa could be heard saying that his MLAs don’t mind sitting in the House till 12 am.Yeddyurappa has said that it would be the last day of the Kumaraswamy government.
* The fate of the Karnataka government remained uncertain even on the third day of the debate on the confidence motion moved by HD Kumaraswamy.
* Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar adjourned the proceedings till 10 am on Tuesday, saying that the floor test will be conducted by 6 pm on Tuesday.
* The Supreme Court is also set to hear on Tuesday the plea of two Independent MLAs seeking holding of the floor test ‘forthwith’.
* The house was adjourned twice,once for more than two hours in the evening amid much slogan shouting.The slogan shouting continued even after it reconvened and the exasperated Speaker was heard saying that they could continue till 10 pm,11 pm.  
* Amid the chaos,Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy distributed copies of what he claimed was a fake letter of resignation that was being circulated by his political rivals.
* The leaders Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy had said that the voting will happen today.I am here till even 12 am.We will listen to everyone.We expect the vote at the end of it,said state BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa,who earlier expressed confidence that today will be the last day of the Kumaraswamy government.
* The BJP has accused the government of dragging out its final days using lengthy speeches in the assembly to delay a floor test it is certain to lose after 18 exits.The coalition has accused the BJP of trying to draw away lawmakers to seize power.
* Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar earlier indicated that the trust vote will be held today,saying he wishes to stick to his word and asked the lawmakers to cut short their speeches.I want to stick to my word.Let’s wrap up the speeches soon,said the Speaker,who earlier nudged the coalition government to hold the test of strength today.
* There were reports that the Speaker had asked the rebel lawmakers of the Congress-Janata Dal Secular alliance to be present in the assembly by 6 pm. The lawmakers,who have stationed themselves at a Mumbai hotel,said they would not attend the assembly under any circumstances.
* Congress troubleshooter DK Shivakumar told reporters that he was trying to convince the rebels to comply with the party whip.Whatever BJP wants and whatever these members want,the rebels will suffer in the end.They will be disqualified.100% the constitution provides for this.No one can save them he told reporters at Vidhana Soudha. 
* On Friday, no trust vote could be held despite two deadlines from Governor Vajubhai Vala. The house was adjourned after marathon speeches by Mr Kumaraswamy and a few other coalition leaders.
* Two Independent legislators who have withdrawn support to the Congress-JDS government urged the Supreme Court to order a floor test.The court may take up their petition tomorrow.HD Kumaraswamy and the Congress have also moved the top court,accusing the governor of interfering with the assembly proceedings when the debate on the trust vote was underway and sought clarification on its July 17 order, which they said,stopped them from issuing a whip to the legislators.
* Sixteen legislators –13 from the Congress and three from JDS –resigned in the last two weeks,and two independent legislators withdrew support to the coalition government.Congress rebel Ramalinga Reddy appears to have returned.But Srimanth Patil,a Congress legislator,made his way to Mumbai.He hasn’t resigned and says he is unwell.
* The ruling coalition received miniscule relief when Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati directed her party’s lone legislator in Karnataka,N Mahesh,to support it.
* The coalition had 118 members in the 224-member assembly.If the resignations of the 15 legislators who approached the Supreme Court are accepted,the government will be left with 101 members. With the support of the two independents, the opposition BJP has 107 legislators, which is two more than the majority mark of 105.

After yet another day-long debate, the Karnataka Assembly was adjourned for the day on Monday without the trust vote that has been the bone of contention between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the state government led by Congress-JDS coalition. Turning down Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s request for more time before the floor test, Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar told the CM to prove his government’s strength in the House by 6 pm today.
The fate of the Congress-JD(S) government remained uncertain even on the third day of the debate on the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
After the ruling parties and BJP locked horns to debate on the motion,Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar adjourned the proceedings till 10 am on Tuesday.By 6 pm tomorrow (Tuesday), the floor test will be done he said.
Right from the time when the proceedings began,Kumar repeatedly reminded the government to honour its commitment to complete the trust process Monday itself.
As the House resumed its sitting after an hour’s delay in the morning, the Speaker made it clear,Everybody is watching us. Please don’t make me a scapegoat.Let us reach our goal,” stressing that the process should reach finality Monday.
Kumaraswamy had moved the confidence motion on Thursday to decide the fate of the Congress-JD(S) government, rocked by rebellion by a section of its MLAs threatening its survival.
The debate on the confidence motion prolonged to Friday, with the ruling coalition defying the two deadlines set by Governor Vajubhai Vala to complete the process by 1.30 pm on Friday and later by the end of the day.The proceedings were adjourned till Monday after the Speaker extracted a commitment from the government that the process would be completed by Monday itself.
It will not bring respect to the House or to me,” the Speaker made his position clear, implying that the trust vote should not be delayed further, amid reports that the ruling coalition had sought two more days time for voting.
We are in public life.People are watching. In the name of discussion, if an opinion is created that we are wasting time, it won’t be right on my part or anybody else’s he said.
The Congress’ position was stated during the debate on the confidence motion by senior Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who said that taking up the voting without the Speaker’s decision on the resignation issue would leave the confidence motion process without any sanctity.
We are in an extraordinary situation.I request the Chair to decide on the resignation first.Or else,it will (confidence vote)will have no standing,Gowda said, as the debate on the trust vote dragged on for the third day.
Is the resignation voluntary and genuine. Aren’t they against democracy? he asked.
Mounting an attack on the BJP-led government at the Centre,Gowda charged that there was a systematic effort to eliminate the political opposition in the country and the operation in Karnataka by BJP was part of such an attempt.
Alleging that there was an undeclared emergency in the country,Gowda told the BJP the blood of democracy is onyour hands.He also appealed to the rebel lawmakers to reconsider their stand.
The BJP suspects that the voting is being delayed by the Congress-JD(S) government only to buy time to win back the rebel MLAs, whose resignations have pushed it to the precipice.
Earlier, the governor had shot off two missives to the chief minister, setting deadlines on Friday to conclude the proceedings, expressing fear that the delay only gives rise to the scope for horse-trading.
Senior BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar and Madhuswamy told the Speaker that the business on confidence motion should be completed Monday itself and the debate should not be dragged on endlessly. The Speaker also on Monday gave a ruling that a legislature party leader has the right to issue a whip.
Issuing whip is your right.Following them is left to the MLAs.If any complaint comes to me,I will follow rules and take a decision, Kumar told Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah,who had raised a point of order on the issue of whip in the light of the Supreme Court order last week.
When the confidence motion was moved on Thursday last,Siddaramaiah had pressed for deferring it till the Speaker decided on the issue of whip in the wake of the apex court’s verdict on the political crisis in the state.
Siddaramaiah had said that the 15 ruling coalition rebel MLAs were influenced by the apex court order that they can abstain from attending the Assembly proceedings and asked the Speaker to give a ruling on the fate of the whip issued by him as CLP leader.
If this motion is taken up,then it will not be constitutional.It violates the constitutional provisions I request you to defer it.I want your ruling on this point of order, Siddaramaiah had told the Speaker.
Seeking to exert pressure on the government,BJP asked Kumaraswamy to resign and go if he has faith in the Constitution and people of the state. The BJP said Kumaraswamy himself moved the confidence motion, but the trust process was still prolonging.
Earlier,during Monday’s session,Kumar took a dig at the politics of defection in Karnataka.I am worried about the people of Karnataka who have voted them to power.They will be left without an MLA.If the ruling party has documentary evidence, please submit it to me.If you do not have, then I’ll have to expunge it from the records,he said.
Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah also said that while it is up to the Speaker to take a call on the confidence motion, his party has also filed a petition in the Supreme Court in the matter.
The House was adjourned for 10 minutes around 6.30 pm,but reconvened only after about two hours.During the adjournment, the Speaker held two meetings one with BJP and JD(S) members and another with Kumaraswamy,his deputy G. Parameshwara and other Congress-JD(S) members in his chamber.
After the House reconvened, Kumaraswamy claimed that a fake resignation letter forged with his signature was doing rounds on social media.I got information that I have tendered my resignation to the governor. I don’t know who is waiting to become chief minister. Someone has forged my signature and has spread the same on social media. I am shocked. It is a cheap tactic of politics.”
A while back,Kumar also snapped at the Congress-JD(S) MLAs,who were raising slogans,Save the Constitution in Vidhana Soudha.I am ready to sit till 12 pm.Why are you doing like this?This is not right.
SC to hear plea of two Independent MLAs tomorrow:The Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday a fresh plea of two Independent Karnataka MLAs,R Shankar and H Nagesh seeking holding of the floor test “forthwith”in the state Assembly on the trust motion moved by Kumaraswamy.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on Monday declined to hear during the day the plea.On mentioning, the matter is taken on board.List the matter tomorrow (Tuesday) before the appropriate bench as per the roster,the bench, also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose,said in its order.
Discussion of Assembly Proceedings :
Why HD Kumaraswamy wants to delay floor test in Karnataka Assembly:
Karnataka Speaker declined HD Kumaraswamy’s request to postpone the floor test on his government to allow the Supreme Court to pass a verdict on his petition seeing clarification on the government’s right to issue whips to the rebel MLAs.
If the floor test continues as scheduled on Monday,he is poised to lose it as his government slumped into a minority since the resignations of the 16 MLAs in the first week of July. On the other hand, if the trust vote is delayed and the Supreme Court allows the Congress and JD(S) to issue whips to their rebel MLAs, it may make them withdraw their resignations for fear of disqualification.
I will have to pass ruling today,’ says Speaker ahead of floor test:
As the proceedings of the Karnataka Assembly got underway on Monday, Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar said that the BJP delegation had approached him and requested that the trust vote be held as per scheduled.I will have to pass a ruling today.
Speaker urges MLAs to ‘maintain dignity’ of Assembly,warns against stalling tactics:
Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar began the House’s proceedings by addressing the MLAs and urged them to make sure the dignity of the Assembly is kept alive in their speeches on Monday.
These are times that stalling tactics are being used.It harms the image of Assembly,Speaker and also the image of you as MLAs,he said.Do not make me a scapegoat by delaying proceedings,he added.
BJP MLAs push for conclusion of floor test as coalition partners seek clarity on issuing whips:
JD(S) MLA,Shivalinge Gowda said that the rebel MLAs being allowed to camp in Mumbai felt like it was against the Supreme Court’s order.
Meanwhile,BJP MLAs Jagadish Shettar and Madhuswamy said that a time frame should be fixed for the trust vote and it should not be delayed by debate and discussion.
The Speaker responded to this and said, You have been a speaker and leader of opposition.We need to discuss all these points (about the vote of confidence). What I am saying is,instead of me telling you to wrap up,you honour the commitment we have made.
Karnataka Speaker says ‘will not send message’ to MLAs in Mumbai:
Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar asserted that he would not send a message to the rebel MLAs who are currently lodged in a Mumbai hotel.Issuing whip is left to leaders of respective parties,he added.
Rebel MLAs may face disqualification due to absence from Assembly:
Reports said that rebel MLAs are likely to face disqualification from the Karnataka Assembly due to their absence from the House on Monday. 
Congress’ Krishna Byre Gowda addresses House over rebel MLAs resignations:
Congress MLA Krishna Byre Gowda addressed the Karnataka Assembly ahead of the trust vote and raised the resignations of the rebel MLAs.One is Ramesh Jarkiholi.He has been in touch with the BJP,met them several times in the last few months.He was unhappy for not having received a ministerial berth.Jarkiholi has constantly been seen with BJP leaders.During the Lok Sabha polls as well,he has facilitated BJP.Hence we have filed a disqualification petition against him,he added.He also said that even though the BJP alleged that the government is in minority because of the resignation of the MLAs, they didn’t move a no-confidence motion.
PIL in Karnataka HC over ‘deliberate’ delay in trust vote:
Anand Murthy,an advocate,has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Karnataka High Court,alleging that trust vote is being deliberately delayed.
Speaker criticises rebel MLA BC Patil over absence in session:
Speaker Ramesh Kumar criticised rebel MLA BC Patil over his absence in the Assembly’s session on Monday. His statement came after a BJP MLA defended Patil when Congress minister Krishna Byre Gowda raised points about him.The Speaker said,Isn’t he an elected member?Shouldn’t he be present here? People have given him the opportunity to be present here. If he’s not coming, he needs to write to me.He hasn’t done that too.He has enough opportunities to defend himself.
Speaker asks for ‘documentary evidence’ on Congress’ claims of horse-trading:
Congress Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told Karnataka Speaker Ramesh Kumar that he would submit documentary evidence of the BJP’s horse-trading by the end of the day on Monday,after Ramesh seconded another MLA’s demand for evidence to support the allegations
DK Shivakumar says BJP ‘should accept’ that it conducted Operation Lotus in Karnataka:
Congress leader DK Shivakumar,while speaking in the Assembly ahead of the trust vote on Monday, said BJP should accept that they had spoken to rebel MLAs.He said,Why is the BJP not accepting that it wants the chair?Why are they not accepting the fact that they are behind ‘Operation Lotus’?They should accept that they have spoken to these(rebel) MLAs.
BJP is poaching MLAs in Andhra Pradesh,Telang na,West Bengal:Krishna Byre Gowda:
Karnataka Congress minister Krishna Byre Gowda accused the BJP of “poaching”MLAs in Andhra Pradesh,Telangana,and WestBengal as proceedings in the Assembly got underway for the trust vote on the coalition government on Monday.How can BJP deny meeting rebel MLAs in Mumbai?he questioned.It is a pre-planned conspiracy against the coalition government.16-17 MLAs didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to resign.
Resign and go:BJP slams HD Kumaraswamy over trust vote:
The BJP on Monday asked Karnataka​ chief minister HD Kumaraswamy to resign and go if he has faith in the Constitution and people of the state,as the confidence motion moved by him in the Assembly dragged on for the third day.The BJP said that Kumaraswamy himself moved the confidence motion but the trust process was still prolonging. In a post on its Facebook page,the BJP said,If at all you have faith and respect for the Constitution and the people of the state, you resign and go home.The BJP ran a hashtag in Kannada,people of the state will not forgive you
Trust vote has no sanctity without decision on resignations: Congress.
Karnataka Congress minister Krishna Byre Gowda demanded that the Speaker should decide on the resignations of the rebel MLAs.If there is no decision on the status of rebel MLAs,the trust vote has no sanctity.
Political defection is matter of national concern: Congress:
In the debate ahead of the trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday,the Congress presided over the debate in the House.State minister Krishna Byre Gowda accused the BJP of trying to eliminate all parties” and said that the coalition partners were fighting for equal opportunity. 
He added,Evil of political defection is a matter of national concern.The rebel MLAs have shifted their loyalties,they have an ulterior motive.
Karnataka Assembly adjourned for lunch till 3.30 pm:
BSP MLA absent from Assembly proceedings :
BSP MLA N Mahesh was reportedly absent from the Karnataka Assembly pre-lunch proceedings at the Vidhan Souda on Monday despite party chief Mayawati’s instruction to support the coalition in the trust vote. 
I did not eat any biryani,says HD Kumaraswamy in reference to picture with Mansoor Khan:
I did not eat any biryani,Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said in the Vidhana Soudha in an apparent reference to his photograph with the prime accused in the multi-crore IMA Ponzi scam, Mansoor Khan, which had gone viral on the various social media platforms.I am accused of having biryani at a particular person’s house.I was invited during Ramzan.I went there.I did not eat any biryani.After two health scares,I have given up non-vegetarian (food).I picked up only two morsels of rice,he said in the Assembly during the discussion on the trust vote.
BJP MLA raises IMA Ponzi issue in Karnataka Assembly:
Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy’s ‘Biryani response came after BJP leader CT Ravi raised the IMA Ponzi scam case in the Assembly during the debate on the confidence motion.Kumaraswamy said that he did not create any hurdles for the investigative agencies looking into the matter.After a report was sent from IT department in the Centre to my police,that’s when I spoke to the DG (of police) about the lapse in enquiry. When I went to IMA accused’s office,I saw RBI certificate (on his tax payment). Now,SIT has been successful in nabbing him and they have brought him to Bengaluru.They will investigate now. We will not misuse our government machineries,Kumaraswamy said. Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar said, Don’t bother about food habits.
Siddaramaiah says SC likely to hear Congress’ plea on Tuesday:
Speaking to reporters on the Karnataka political crisis,Siddaramaiah said that the Speaker will take a call on confidence motion.We have already told that we will prove the confidence in Vidhana Soudha. The case is pending in Supreme Court.We have also filed the petition.Most probably,Supreme Court will hear our plea tomorrow (Tuesday).He further said,If the rebel MLAs come back,then they will be with us.They (rebels) have told that they are not living comfortably.They could have stayed back here itself.
Dinesh Gundu Rao thanks Speaker for upholding whip:
Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao wrote on Twitter that the Speaker has upheld the sanctity of the whip and says it’s applicable as per 10th Schedule of the Constitution.He ruled that the Supreme Court interim order in no way protects the rebel MLAs if they violate the whip. Welcome his just and equitable order.Rao said.
‘Each member will speak only for 10 minutes’:
Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar asserted that Assembly members listed for speaking during the debate on confidence motion will only be given 10 minutes’time to talk.
JD(S) leader slams ‘backdoor entry’ to power via resignations:
Participating in the debate on the confidence motion,JD(S) leader AT Ramaswamy asked the rebel MLAs if they were being honest about them not being hungry for power.Danger lurks the Constitution if the backdoor entry to power is allowed by way of resignations,he said.
HDK likely to meet governor at 7 pm, say reports:
According to reports, HD Kumaraswamy has sought an appointment at 7 pm with Governor Vajubhai Vala.This has given way to speculation that he may tender his resignation during the meeting, due to lack of numbers.
On Sunday, Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar had made the claim that Kumaraswamy will vacate the chief minister’s position to save the Congress-JD(S) combine.
Have given my word to conduct floor test today:
Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar asserted that the floor test in the Assembly will be held on Monday itself. I have given my word to conduct floor test today. The coalition leaders have given word to prove majority,he said.
CMO denies seeking appointment with governor:
Karnataka Chief Minister’s Office has denied seeking appointment with Governor Vajubhai Vala.
Let’s wait for SC’s decision on Congress plea, says Dinesh Gundu Rao:
Speaking at a press conference,Karnataka Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the party wants to wait till the Supreme Court hears his petition on Tuesday before taking a call on the future course of action.Let us wait for the decision of Supreme Court after the hearing (on Tuesday),and then take the next step. We wanted rights of every member upheld, but trust vote cannot be conducted in such a manner,” he said.
MB Patil says Governor asked home Ministry to provide security to rebel MLAs:
Home Minister,MB Patil said at Vidhana Soudha that his ministry provided security to rebel MLAs only because governor had asked for it. He further claimed that the ministry wasn’t responsible for providing them with zero road traffic.
Drama in Assembly after MB Patil says rebel MLAs weren’t given zero road traffic:
Congress MLA HK Patil said in the Assembly,Let the home minister (MB Patil) investigate about this again(zero traffic to rebel MLAs)as everyone has seen how they were given zero traffic.MB Patil will have to gather more information and he has to find out who gave the permission.JD(S) MLA AT Ramaswamy said,If the home minister is lying blatantly in front of the House,how can I stay here?” and walked out of the Assembly.
HDK tells Speaker floor test can’t be held today:
According to reports,Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has sought two more days’ time from Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar for the trust vote, saying that he needs more time.
Won’t adjourn House till proceedings end, says Speaker:
Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar has reportedly refused to adjourn the proceedings till the trust vote is held on Monday.
MB Patil calls for meeting with police commissioner over zero traffic given to rebel MLAs:
Home Minister MB Patil has called an official meeting with the police commissioner, to discuss about zero traffic reportedly given to rebel MLAs when they came from Mumbai to Bengaluru to meet the Speaker.The development comes after JD(S) MLA AT Ramaswamy raised this matter in Assembly.
House adjourned for 10 minutes:
The Speaker has adjourned the Assembly for 10 minutes following an uproar by the MLAs of JD(S)-Congress.
MLAs stay inside Assembly despite adjournment for 10 minutes.
After HDK,Karnataka Minister meets Speaker seeking more time:
PWD Minister HD Revanna is currently holding a meeting with Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar to request for more time to hold the trust vote.
Speaker holds meeting with BJP, JD(S) leaders:
Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar holds a meeting with BJP leaders Sunil Kumar, Basavaraj Bommai,and CT Ravi,and JDS leaders SR Mahesh,HD Revanna,and Bandeppa Kashempur,in his chamber at Vidhana Soudha.
SC to hear plea of 2 Independent MLAs tomorrow:
The Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday a fresh plea of two Independent Karnataka MLAs,R Shankar and H Nagesh seeking holding of the floor test “forthwith” in the state Assembly on the trust motion moved by HD Kumaraswamy.A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on Monday declined to hear the plea by during the day. 
Speaker threatens to quit over demand for delay in trust vote, says report:
As Congress-JD(S) demanding the trust vote be further delayed,Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar has reportedly threatened to quit on the floor of the House.
PIL filed in Karnataka HC alleging deliberate delay of trust vote in Assembly:
A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Karnataka High Court on Monday alleging that the trust vote was deliberately being delayed in the state Assembly.The plea filed by advocate Anand Murthy also sought a direction to Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar and Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to conduct the floor test in a timely manner.
Speaker holds meeting with HDK, Siddarmaiah, other ruling leaders:
Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar is holding a meeting with HD Kumaraswamy,Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, SR Mahesh from JD(S),and Congress leaders Krishna Byre Gowda,and Siddaramaiah,in his chamber at Vidhana Soudha.
Assembly resumes after two hour adjournment:
The Assembly has reconvened after the Speaker adjourned the sitting or ten mins at 6.30 pm.
BSY urges Speaker to conduct floor test by midnight:
After the House reconvened, BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa urged the Speaker to conduct the trust vote by midnight.
Congress-JD(S) MLAs chant ‘save Constitution’ slogans; Speaker hits out at them.
Speaker slams Congress MLA for seeking delay in trust vote:
Congress MLA HK Patil said in the Assembly that debating on the confidence motion would be right after the Supreme Court takes a decision on Tuesday, when it is scheduled to hear pleas on the matter.Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar hit back, saying,Don’t push me to a point where I’ll have to take a decision without asking you.The consequences will be disastrous.
HDK claims fake resignation letter doing rounds on social media:
Speaking in the Assembly, HD Kumaraswamy said,I got information that I have tendered my resignation to the Governor.I don’t know who is waiting to become the chief minister.Someone has forged my signature and spread the same on social media. I’m shocked at the cheap level of publicity.
Shivakumar reminds rebel MLAs they won’t be Assembly members after disqualification:
Congress leader DK Shivakumar said, Speaker has served notice to rebel MLAs, giving them time till 11 am tomorrow (Tuesday).BJP is trying to convince them that they won’t be disqualified and they will be made ministers.As per Constitution of India, you can’t be made a member once you’re disqualified.”
Rebel MLAs who are watching all the proceedings from their destination said no chance of attending assembly and we dismiss DK Shivakumar warning we stand by our words we are united we will not go back ST Somashekar Rebel MLA said.
Congress-JD(S) press for adjournment:
Karnataka Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao requested the Speaker to adjourn the House, saying that there are several members with health issues, and women in the Assembly.Industries Minister KJ George also requested that the proceedings be adjourned till Tuesday. When Yeddyurappa said that the members should have dinner and then continue with the trust vote process till 1 am, KJ George said,Yedyurappa is a senior leader.Like he said, please adjourn for dinner.Let’s continue tomorrow.
Meanwhile BJP State President BS Yeddyurappa with other leaders were seen sharing toffees choclates to each other as even in their party also there were many sugar patients.
House adjourned till 10 am, Tuesday:
Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar adjourned the House till 10 am on Tuesday after the Congress agreed to allow the floor test to be held on Tuesday. “By 4 pm tomorrow (Tuesday), we will finish discussion, by 6 pm we will finish the floor test.”
The two MLAs, who withdrew support to the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka, had moved the top court seeking a direction to the Kumaraswamy government for conducting a floor test in the state Assembly on or before 5 pm on Monday.
The Independent MLAs’ petition came days after Kumaraswamy and state Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao moved the top court accusing the governor of interfering with the Assembly’s proceedings during the debate on trust vote.
Kumaraswamy and Rao had filed separate applications after the deadlines set by the governor to conclude the proceedings of the confidence motion were not met.
They had also sought a clarification of the 17 July order of the apex court by which the 15 rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs were granted relief that they cannot be compelled to participate in the ongoing Assembly proceedings.
In Karnataka, the Congress-JD(S) government slumped into a minority earlier in July following the resignation of several dissident MLAs. Sixteen MLAs from the ruling coalition, including thirteen Congress and three JD(S) MLAs, have tendered their resignations. One of the rebel MLAs Ramalinga Reddy took back his resignation last week, after holding talks with the Congress leadership.
On Friday, the Assembly failed to meet the deadline set by Governor Vajubhai Vala to complete the trust vote. After that, Kumaraswamy moved the Supreme Court challenging the governor’s directive to the government saying it was in violation of well-settled law laid down by the court.
The state Assembly has 225 members, including one nominated MLA. The halfway mark in the 225-member Assembly is 113. The ruling combine’s strength is 117, besides the Speaker.
With the support of the two Independents, the opposition BJP has 107 MLAs in the 225-member House, including the nominated MLA and Speaker.
If the resignations of 15 MLAs (12 from Congress and three from JDS) are accepted or if they stay away, the ruling coalition’s tally will plummet to 101, reducing the government to a minority.

Karnataka Floor Test Today, Karnataka Trust Vote : Stung by the resignation of 15 MLAs, the strength of Kumaraswamy government in the 225-member Assembly to 102 MLAs compared to the opposition BJP’s 105 MLAs plus two Independents.

The political drama in Karnataka continues with the Assembly being adjourned close to midnight on Monday, with a fresh deadline of 6 pm Tuesday to complete the floor test. “Don’t make me a breaker of promises… It will not bring respect to the House or to me,” Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar said, reminding the H D Kumaraswamy-led government to honour their commitment to conclude the trust vote proceedings on Monday.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, however, changed track and requested the Speaker to postpone the vote till the Supreme Court clarifies its order on the issue of a whip to 15 rebel coalition MLAs who had resigned. The Speaker has also directed the rebel MLAs to appear before him at 11 am Tuesday to respond to a complaint of disqualification filed against them.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, is likely to take up for hearing a fresh plea filed by two Independent Karnataka MLAs, seeking holding of the floor test “forthwith” in the state Assembly. The MLAs who withdrew support to the ruling coalition have sought direction to the ruling JD(S)-Congress coalition government to conduct the floor test on or before 5 pm on Monday.

The fate of the fragile Congress-JDS government in Karnataka will be decided today with a trust vote in the Assembly, even as a new twist to the political saga saw the grand old party assert that the JDS was “ready to sacrifice” for the coalition and they wanted either Siddaramaiah, G Parameshwara or DK Shivakumar to be the chief minister. A day before the vote, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy appealed to rebel MLAs to return and “expose” the BJP during the debate in the House, but they ruled out attending the session. Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa exuded confidence that “tomorrow will be the last day of the Kumaraswamy government” and said the chief minister was just trying to buy time.

After the voting on confidence motion did not take place despite two deadlines on July 19 set by Governor Vajubhai Vala, two Independent MLAs, who withdrew support to the Congress-JD(S) government, are going to move the Supreme Court seeking a direction for conducting a floor test forthwith in the state Assembly, their lawyer said.

Pramesh Jain

IMA Multi-Crore Fraud case :IMA Key Accused Mastermind, Mohammed Mansoor Khan arrested in Delhi Airport by ED,&SIT :

“In its first of its kind in the history of Bengaluru city police the SIT officers  has been successful in tracing and securing the key accused of biggest Multi-Crore Fraud case mastermind key accused,Mohammed Mansoor Khan  nabbed in one and half month in a joint operation by ED&SIT.”

The main accused in the Multi-Crore I Monetory Advisory scam Mansoor Khan was arrested in a joint operation led by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Special Investigation Team formed by karnataka state government.Team led by DG&IGP of karnataka Neelamani N Raju,headed by DIG,DR.BR Ravikanthe Gowda under the supervision of DCP,Girish S,with the able guidance and directions by there senior officers has finally nabbed the mastermind kingpin Mansoor Khan after 45 days on Friday soon after he arrived in Delhi from the Dubai,UAE.
IMA founder Mansoor Khan, who is accused of perpetrating financial fraud worth crores,returned to India in the early hours of Friday.
Mohammed Mansoor Khan, the owner of IMA jewels, has been arrested in New Delhi and is being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), said a special investigation team (SIT) in Bengaluru which is probing the alleged ponzi scam.
Khan, who had fled to Dubai, flew back to India and was arrested on landing in Delhi, it said in a statement.
The SIT said that its sources in Dubai persuaded him to come back and submit himself before the law.
Accordingly he travelled from Dubai to New Delhi (Flight AI 916) and landed at 01550 hours IST.SIT officers are in Delhi to secure and arrest the accused,it said.
A lookout circular was issued against him by both SIT and ED and he would be handed over according to procedure, the SIT said.
The mastermind behind the Ponzi scam is being quizzed and grilled by ED officials in New Delhi and will later be sent to Bengaluru for a detailed probe by the SIT.
SIT Chief,DIG,Dr.BR Ravikanthe Gowda,chief of the Special Investigation team probing the matter, said,An SIT team under the supervision of DCP Girish S and his team of 11 members SIT officers with the reliable sources has located IMA founder-owner Mohammed Mansoor Khan in Dubai, through its sources,and persuaded him to come back to India and submit himself before law. Accordingly, he has travelled from Dubai to New Delhi.SIT officers are in Delhi to secure and arrest him.As Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him by both Special Investigation Team (SIT) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), he will be handed over according to the procedures and at present he is in Joint custody of Enforcement directorate and SIT and as on 19th as per the notice issued to former Minister Shivajinagar MLA R Roshan Baig to appear before us for questioning has appeared today before SIT and submitted relevant records for perusal and the SIT team will go through the records.If further questioning is required he will be called again said by SIT Chief,Dr.BR.Ravikanthe Gowda. 
More than one lakh people had invested in the IMA Jewels which started 17 companies.Khan invited people, mostly Muslims, to invest in five companies, said the SIT, adding that Rs 4,084 crore was invested in the company.He has to refund approximately Rs 1,400 crore to his investors, the SIT said.
Around one and half months ago, Khan had fled to Dubai leaving thousands of investors in lurch.
Khan had promised his investors that he would return to India and would refund their money.
Based on thousands of complaints, the SIT registered a case against him and others. It has so far arrested more than 22 people, including Mohammed Mansoor Khan,12 directors of the firm,accused has been identified as,Dada Peer, Nasir Hussain, Naveed Ahmed Nattamkar, Nizammudin Azeemuddin, Afshan Tabassum,Afsar Pasha and Arshad Khan,Auditor Iqbal khan,Mohammed Idris,Shabad Akbar Khan,Israr Ahmed Khan,Usman Arbaize,Fuzail Ahmed,with Nominated corporator,Syed Mujahid,BDA Executive Engineer,Kumar,Assistant Commissioner North,LC Nagaraj,Bengaluru urban,Deputy Commissioner,BM Vijayshankar,Village Accountant Manjunath,Moulvi,Haneef Afsar Azeez,Brigade Babu,Muneer alias Gun Muneer,another Moulvi identified as,Umar Sharieff,and the main accused fugitive,Mohammed Mansoor Khan also been arrested jointly by Enforcement Directorate and SIT.
Before fleeing he had accused Shivajinagar Congress MLA R Roshan Baig of taking Rs 400 crore and not returning it.Baig categorically refuted the charge, terming it false and frivolous. The MLA who had rebelled against the party was suspended for anti-party activities.Baig then joined the bandwagon of rebel MLAs who resigned.The SIT had served him a notice to depose before it on July 15, but he sought time till July 25th.The SIT then asked him to be present before it on July 19.The day Baig was supposed to appear before SIT, he planned to fly to Mumbai by a special chartered plane but the SIT detained him and quizzed him extensively.The SIT released Baig and asked him to appear on July 19 and asked him to appear before them.
Earlier, on Monday, in a video message, Mansoor Khan had said, “God willing, I will return to India in the next 24 hours, I have full faith in Indian judiciary. First of all, leaving India was a big mistake, but circumstances were such that I had to leave. I don’t even know where my family is.
While Bengaluru DC,Vijay Shankar got Rs 1.5 crore,Nagaraj received Rs 4 crore from Khan to cover up the case and issue favourable reports repeatedly for IMA Jewels, after the Reserve Bank of India expressed concern about the functioning of the firm.
Two Moulana as Moulvi arrested for provoking or propagating investors to invest in IMA :
Meanwhile as on July 11th based on credible inputs the SIT team has arrested a maulvi on charge of Propagating people to invest in the IMA ponzi scheme.The arrested, Haneef Afsar Azeezi who worked as a priest at Masjid-e-Beparian in Shivajinagar is alleged to have influenced several people by Propagating them to invest in IMA in the name of Halal.For this the absconded prime accused IMA founder Mohammed Mansoor Khan has gifted the Moulvi a three storied building in HRBR layout in the year 2017,worth of Rs.3 Crores has also been seized and the  moulvi who was arrested on thursday July 11th,for encouraging Muslims to invest in IMA, has also been remanded in judicial custody till July 25th and further investigation is on and as on July 18th Another Moulana a Moulvi identified as Umar Sharieff (42) year old,Running a School by name.“Al Basheer” near off Banneraghatta Road,Bangalore.who is also a social activist,Educationist.Propagating for IMA and Mansoor Khan for last 5 Yrs.He has taken gifts as Rs. 60 Lakh in cash,with a 15 Lakh Rs worth Ashok Leyland Van for propagating IMA from Mansoor Khan.the SIT has produced the accused before the court and he has been remanded to Police custody till 22.07.2019.
Others who have been arrested include a corporator, a Bangalore Development Authority officer and a village accountant.
The SIT had in the past raided many IMA showrooms and recovered cash, gold, silver, valuable gems and costly perfumes.
The ED which has registered a money laundering case in the scam in which thousands of depositors are said to have been duped, had attached assets worth Rs 209 crore,including 20 immovable properties and bank deposits, in connection with the case.
Over 40,000 complaints have been filed against the company, demanding that their money be returned.

Karnataka Crisis: Visuals showed the lawmakers having dinner and then settling down for the night in more casual clothes.

BJP legislators eating dinner at the opposition lounge of Vidhana Soudha.
BENGALURU: 

Karnataka BJP lawmakers had dinner in the assembly and slept on its green carpeted floor at the end of a dramatic day at the Vidhana Souda on Thursday. The BJP was protesting what it called the Congress-Janta Dal Secular coalition’s refusal to take a trust vote at the earliest. Despite the political stand-off, political Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara of the Congress arranged food for his BJP colleagues.

“It is our duty to arrange food and other things for them. Some of them have diabetes and blood pressure conditions. So, we have arranged everything for them here. Beyond politics we’re friends, it is the beauty of democracy,” Mr Parameshwara was quoted as telling news agency ANI.

Visuals showed the lawmakers having dinner and then settling down for the night in more casual clothes. Some were seen with bed clothes and pillows delivered from their homes.

Photos showed Karnataka BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa sleeping in what appeared to be the centre of the house.

BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa sleeping on the floor of the Karnataka assembly.

“This government has lost the majority. They tried to drag on the issue and tried to provoke us but we acted with patience. We will continue to press for a trust vote on the motion. We will stage night-long dharna in the House,” Mr Yeddyurappa had earlier told NDTV.

Many lawmakers slept in the Well of the House and on the passage leading to the centre.

This morning, some of the BJP legislators were seen taking a morning walk in the assembly premises.

On the BJP’s complaint, Governor Vajubhai Vala yesterday wrote to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and asked him to prove his majority by 1.30 pm on Friday.

As many as 16 MLAs — 13 from Congress and three from JDS — had resigned, while independent MLAs R Shankar and H Nagesh have withdrawn their support to the government, putting it on the edge.

BENGALURU: 

With the Karnataka Governor asking Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to prove majority in the Assembly by Friday afternoon, state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa predicted the end of the coalition government and said his party will decide on the future course of action after consulting the national leadership.

Governor Vajubhai Vala had asked the Chief Minister to prove his majority in the Assembly before 1.30 pm on Friday. “Mostly today will be the end of Congress-JDS government”s misrule… the Chief Minister will make his farewell speech today, we will patiently hear it,” Yeddyurappa told reporters here.

“Depending on the outcome of the proceedings in the House today, we will discuss with our national president Amit Shah and decide on the future course of action,” he added.

This Friday will mark a good day for the BJP in Karnataka, Yeddyurappa said adding “I”m confident that with God’s grace, everything will be good.”

Mr Yeddyurappa, who is Leader of the Opposition, along with the party MLAs stay put in the Assembly last night, protesting the delay in the trust vote.

Accusing the ruling coalition and the Assembly Speaker of trying to delay the trust vote despite fixing a time, the BJP leader said “they tried to instigate us on Thursday but we remained silent, we will continue to do the same thing on Friday also.”

A new political showdown loomed in Karnataka as the governor Thursday night set a timeline and asked Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to prove his majority before 1.30 pm Friday, hours after a trust vote could not take place with the Speaker adjourning the day”s proceedings in the assembly.

Shortly after the Assembly rocked by bedlam was adjourned on Thursday, Vala had shot off a letter to Kumaraswamy, saying resignation of 15 ruling combine MLAs and withdrawal of support by two independents “prima facie” indicated he has lost the confidence of the House.

The trial of strength is taking place after the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the 15 rebel Congress-JDS MLAs “ought not” to be compelled to participate in the proceedings of the ongoing session of the state Assembly.

As many as 16 MLAs — 13 from Congress and three from JDS — had resigned, while independent MLAs R Shankar and H Nagesh have withdrawn their support to the government, putting it on the edge.

Congress member Ramalinga Reddy retracted, saying he would support the government.

The ruling combine”s strength is 117– Congress 78, JD(S) 37, BSP 1, and nominated 1, besides the Speaker.

With the support of the two independents, the opposition BJP has 107 MLAs in the 225-member House, including the nominated MLA and Speaker.

If the resignations of 15 MLAs (12 from Congress, 3 from JDS) are accepted, the ruling coalition”s tally will plummet to 101, (excluding the Speaker) reducing the government to a minority.

This is the third motion on trust vote after the 2018 assembly polls yielded a fractured mandate with the BJP emerging as the single largest party with 104 seats but failing to mobilise numbers.

Mr Yeddyurappa had resigned as CM after being in office for three days before facing the trust vote in May last year. HD Kumaraswamy who succeeded him had won the trust vote after forming the coalition government.

Adding to the worries of the ruling coalition, another Congress MLA Shreemant Patil was not seen in the House on Thursday, in the midst of reports he has been admitted in a Mumbai hospital.COMMENT

BSP MLA Mahesh, on whose support the coalition was counting, also did not show up, amid reports he was keeping away as he has not received any directions from the party leader Mayawati on the stand to be taken on the trust vote.

Mansoor Khan, who ran I Monetary Advisory (IMA), which provided investment options keeping with Islamic laws, fled India in June.

NEW DELHI: 

Mohammed Mansoor Khan, the main accused in the multi-crore IMA Ponzi scam, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate after he landed in New Delhi from Dubai at about 1:50 am today. Central agencies had issued a lookout notice against Mr Khan and “persuaded” him to return to India and join the investigation, sources said.

Mansoor Khan had released a video message on Monday, saying he would return to India within 24 hours. Calling his decision to leave the country “a big mistake”, he sought protection of the police.

“I have full faith in Indian judiciary. First of all, leaving India was a big mistake, but circumstances were such that I had to leave. I don’t even know where my family is,” he had said.

Mansoor Khan, the owner of I Monetary Advisory (IMA), is accused of cheating thousands of investors who were offered investment options in keeping with Islamic laws and promised big returns. He fled India in June leaving investors in panic. All he left behind was an audio clip threatening to commit suicide. In the audio clip, he also talked about officials accepting bribes worth Rs. 400 crore and the involvement of Karnataka Congress legislator Roshan Baig, who has since been questioned by investigators.

On June 23, Mansoor Khan had released a video telling the Bengaluru police commissioner that he wished to return to India and expose all those involved in the downfall of his business. In the video, which surfaced two weeks after the IMA scam broke, he also claimed that “the real culprits” behind the swindle included “big names at the state and central levels”. In response, the Bengaluru police said they would guarantee his safety if he returned to the city.

The Enforcement Directorate, which is currently questioning Mansoor Khan, had filed a case of money laundering against IMA and had summoned the businessman on June 24. It had also requested the Interpol to issue a Blue Corner Notice, used to locate suspects.

More than 30,000 complaints were filed against the firm and many held protests at the Bengaluru Freedom Park. Mansoor Khan has maintained that his financial venture was no Ponzi scheme, and that he would do everything in his power to ensure that the investors are compensated. A Bengaluru corporator and a prominent Muslim cleric Maulana Haneef are among people who have been arrested in this case so far.

Pramesh Jain

Karnataka Political crisis :Can Kumaraswamy government survive? After Supreme Verdict,Can’t compel 15 rebels to attend Karnataka House: SC:
“Wind in BJP sails”

Highlights :
* Hailing the Supreme Court direction on Karnataka political crisis, rebel Congress-JDS MLAs camping in Mumbai on Wednesday said there was no question of going back on their resignations from the Assembly or attending the session
* The Supreme Court directed on Wednesday that the 15 rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs ‘ought not’ to be compelled to take part in the proceedings of the Assembly
* A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also said the Speaker was free to decide on the resignations of the rebel MLAs within the time-frame decided by him.

With the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruling that the 15 rebel Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of the Congress-Janta Dal (Secular) government cannot be forced to take part in Assembly proceedings, the state government led by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy looked all set to fall.
In its interim order on Wednesday, though the three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that legislative assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar was free to decide on the resignation of the 15 MLAs within a time-frame he considered appropriate,the rider that these MLAs should not be forced to take part in the proceedings of the house sounded the death knell for the Kumaraswamy government.
We also make it clear that until further orders,the 15 members of the Assembly ought not to be compelled to participate in the proceedings of the ongoing session of the House and an option should be given to them that they can take part in the proceedings or opt to remain out of the same.We order accordingly, the three judge bench said.
The Congress-JD (S) government had a total of 117 MLAs in its fold, before 16 of these elected representatives–13 from the Congress, three from JD(S)–resigned about 10 days ago.Two other independent MLAs, S Shankar and H Nagesh have also since withdrawn their support to the coalition government. With 99 MLAs by his side, it will take a mammoth effort on the part of Kumaraswamy to save the coalition from falling when he takes the trust vote on July 18 to save his 14-month-old government. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has 107 MLAs in the 225-member House, which includes the nominated MLA and the Speaker.
The Supreme Court’s interim order came on a plea moved by nearly 10 rebel MLAs who had been staying at a hotel in Mumbai since they had resigned from the government. In their plea before the top court, the MLAs had alleged that the Speaker of the assembly was not doing his constitutional duty by refusing to accept their resignation from the government. The Speaker of the legislative assembly, had, however, refuted the allegations and said that he would have to verify that the resignations were genuine before accepting them.
While the top court’s order was welcomed by the rebel MLAs, who said that there was no question of their going back on the resignations at any cost.
Hailing the Supreme Court direction on Karnataka political crisis, rebel Congress-JDS MLAs camping in Mumbai on Wednesday said there was no question of going back on their resignations from the Assembly or attending the session.We are happy with the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court,we honour it,rebel Congress MLA,BC Patil said in a video released to the media, a day ahead of the trial of strength in the Karnataka assembly.
AH Vishwanath Rebel MLA said,We are not going to Bengaluru to attend the Assembly on Thursday.We thank the Supreme Court for allowing us to abstain from the session as we have already resigned and urged the Speaker to accept them forthwith,” JD(S) rebel lawmaker AH Vishwanath told media persons.We will return to Bengaluru after the present government collapses.We are united in our common cause and remain together till we achieve our goal,said Vishwanath,who was the state president of the JD(S) till last month.Accusing the leaders of the coalition allies for the current political crisis,Vishwanath said they (rebels) were only attempted to put an end to the anarchy prevailing in the state due to poor governance and maladministration he added.
Of the 14 rebels staying put in Mumbai, 11 belong to the Congress and 3 to JD-S.Two more Congress rebels,R.Ramalinga Reddy and R.Roshan Baig are in Bengaluru.We also make it clear that until further orders the 15 Members of the Assembly, ought not to be compelled to participate in the proceedings of the ongoing session of the House and an option should be given to them that they can take part in the said proceedings or to opt to remain out of the same,” part of the order read.
The plea was filed by Pratap Gouda Patil, Ramesh Jarkhiholi, Byrati Basavaraj, BC Patil, ST Somashekar, Arbail Sivaram Hebbar and Mahesh Kumathalli from the Congress and K Gopalaiah, H D Vishwanath and Narayan Gowda from the JDS.Five other rebel MLAs are,K Sudhakar, Roshan Baig, MTB Nagaraj, Muniratna and Anand Singh – had approached the court on July 13 contending they had resigned “voluntarily” and that their resignation must be accepted by the Speaker.
Full discussion on matter to be held in court later: Mukul Rohatgi:
Mukul Rohatgi, senior counsel representing Karnataka rebel lawmakers in Supreme Court, says,In view of the trust vote on Thursday, the SC has said two important things – 15 MLAs will not be compelled to attend the House tomorrow. All 15 MLAs are given the liberty that may or may not go to the House tomorrow.The Court has said that the matter will be fully thrashed out at a later date he added. 
Congress Leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi On Top Court Verdict On Karnataka Lawmakers:
I wonder what victory BS Yeddyurappa is celebrating.The Supreme Court  has not given any date or deadline to the Karnataka Speaker.No whip has been issued.No date has been fixed for voting.The discussion is starting on Thursday.It will be a long debate in the assembly he said.
Karnataka Speaker Welcomes Decision:
Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar says he welcomes this decision.I will try to live up to the confidence of the Supreme Court put in me.I hold the judiciary in high esteem. The court has increased my responsibilities. Kumar says.I will take a decision that in no way will go contrary to the Constitution,the Court and the Lokpal he even said that he would conduct himself responsibly in accordance with constitutional principle as I have got additional responsibility I welcome the Supreme Court verdict addressing media persons he said.
Kumaraswamy must resign: BS Yeddyurappa:
BJP President,BS Yeddyurappa says Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy must resign tomorrow.He has lost his mandate.Certainly, the government will not last because they do not have the numbers.I welcome the Supreme Court’s decision, it is a victory of the Constitution and democracy.It is a moral victory for the rebel lawmakers.It was only an interim order.In the future,the court will decide the power of the Speaker which will set a new trend in the parliamentary democracy.I have respect for the Speaker.According to Supreme Court’s direction, he will act. Let us wait and see he said.
BJP leader Jagadish Shettar says,There is anarchy in the state because of HD Kumaraswamy,he should resign immediately after this verdict and not wait for the trust vote he said.
Top Court should create timeline for Speakers in future: GVL Narasimha Rao
BJP leader,GVL Narasimha Rao says the Supreme Court in its final judgement will have to create timelines for Speakers to decide a matter be it Assembly or Parliament.If required we’ll look at need for amending the act so that Speakers can’t go by their own whims and fancies he said.
HD Kumaraswamy declines to comment:
Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy declines to comment,when asked about Supreme Court’s verdict on Karnataka rebel lawmakers.After the Supreme Court verdict the Chief Minister who was performing Puja in Shankarmutta temple with his family members after finishing the Puja reporters asked his reaction he refused to comment and went directly to meet his father and after discussing with his father who is JD(S),Supremo HD Devegowda he even met KSRTC employees and addressed their grievances he then made all sudden movements and moved towards HAL Old Airport Road everyone were confused whether CM HD Kumaraswamy is going to Mumbai to pacify Rebel MLAs or he is going to Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi but later it was found the CM went to embassy golf links to meet Minister KJ George and discuss about the developments what to be done next from there he came to Vidhana Soudha,to sign the transfer orders of 146 Civil Police Inspectors and 30 DYSPs after finishing his works he then moved towards KPCL office as Shakti Bhawan and their he met all the senior congress leaders and discussed what need to be done next to save the government.
Meanwhile sources said that the congress leaders has been successful in pacifying two Rebel MLAs and took them in confidence it is said that Ramalinga Reddy MLA of BTM layout has decided to take back his resignation and support coalition government and reliable sources says Chikkabalapur Rebel MLA Dr.Sudhakar who is a close aide of Siddaramaiah has also been taken into confidence by its leader he will also attend assembly session and support congress he will come tomorrow and take back his resignation sources said. 
If the karnataka state coalition government falls tomorrow then there will be Governor or President rule in the Karnataka.
There will be heightened and elaborate security arrangements has been done by Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar who inspected the vidhana soudha and surrounding places as tomorrow it is a crucial day for the coalition government so precautionary measures has been taken up by the police.
Judgement gave strength to democratic process: Congress leaders :
Congress leader DK Shivakumar says,This landmark judgement has given strength to democratic process.Some BJP friends are trying to misguide that whip is not valid but the party can issue a whip and take necessary action as per anti-defection law he added.Congress’ chief troubleshooter in Karnataka,He even warned the Congress-JD(S) lawmakers of disqualification proceedings against them under the anti-defection law if they did not obey the whip and participate in the proceedings during the trust vote in the Assembly on Thursday.Some BJP friends are trying to say that whip is not valid. But the party can issue a whip and take the necessary action as per anti-defection law,” he said responding to the Supreme Court verdict that rebel lawmakers cannot be forced to attend tomorrow’s Assembly session he added.
Randeep Singh Surjewala Supreme Court’s order sets terrible judicial precedent:
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, in a series of tweets, says Supreme Court’s order nullifying the whip sets a terrible judicial precedent.Does this mean court can interfere with the working of the State Legislature by deciding when a Whip will be enforced? he questions?.He says it is tragic that the court did not appreciate the context and designed history of defections to subvert democratic mandates by PM Modi government over the last 5 years he added.
Karnataka Public Works Minister and HD Revanna,brother of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy,on Wednesday rejected allegations by some of the rebel Congress MLAs that he functioned as a Super CM and interfered in other departments.Revanna,son of the former prime minister and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda,said he would comment on the allegations, including that his style of functioning was responsible for the resignation of MLAs,once the present crisis facing the Congress-JDS coalition government was over.A total of 16 MLAs of Congress and JDS have resigned from the assembly while two independent legislators withdrew their support to the 14-month old ministry, plunging it into a crisis with Kumaraswamy to seek a trust vote Thursday.Of the many reasons cited by them, the rebel MLAs have alleged that Revanna was interfering in other departments (headed by Congress representatives).You people started calling me as super CM.After listening to it I said let it be so,he told reporters here.He further said,I never interfered in any government department.I will not react to the charges that Revanna is responsible for them to quit.I only say that I never laid hands on the transfers in departments other than mine (PWD).Rejecting charges that he sought contracts from the city corporation, Revanna said I will retire from politics if the BBMP (civic body) commissioner or an engineer says he added.
Whip relief enough for rebel MLAs?
The rebel MLAs who moved the Supreme Court against Speaker saying that their resignations should be accepted from the moment they submitted the same to the office of Speaker Ramesh Kumar.The Speaker has not decided on the resignations by rebel MLAs saying that he is not convinced that it was done voluntarily by the dissident legislators. Speaker Ramesh Kumar has cited his powers enshrined in the Tenth Schedule to defend the delay in decision on resignations of the MLAs.This led to the possibility of disqualification of the rebel MLAs should the Speaker reject their resignations and their respective parties issue whips asking them to attend Karnataka assembly session during the trust vote.The Supreme Court, in its ruling, said the rebel MLAs cannot be “compelled” to attend the trust vote slated for Thursday. This translates into a shield for the rebel MLAs protecting them from the party whips.This protection is politically significant as disqualification would make them ineligible for appointment as ministers if the BJP stakes claim to power after the Kumaraswamy government falls, if at all. They would be required to get re-elected for becoming ministers in the government.But if their resignations are accepted, the rebel MLAs would still be eligible for a ministerial berth.They would only need to get elected within six months of being appointed as ministers in the new government.In these circumstances, the competing claims have to be balanced by an appropriate interim order, which according to us, should be to permit the Hon’ble Speaker of the House to decide on the request for resignations by the 15 Members of the House within such time frame as the Hon’ble Speaker may consider appropriate.We also take the view that in the present case the discretion of the Hon’ble Speaker while deciding the above issue should not be fettered by any direction or observation of this Court and the Hon’ble Speaker should be left free to decide the issue in accordance with Article 190 read with Rule 202 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Karnataka Legislative Assembly framed in exercise of the powers under Article 208 of the Constitution.However, in an attempt to balance the rights of the competing parties ahead of Thursday’s trust vote, in this case the speaker, the chief minister and the rebel MLAs, the Supreme Court said that they should not be compelled to attend Assembly proceedings; it should left to them to decide.
Meanwhile CM Kumaraswamy issues Whip to its 37 MLAs:
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday issued whip to all 37 MLAs of JD(S), including three rebel legislators Narayana Gowda, Gopalaiah and H Vishwanath, asking them to be present in the Vidhana Soudha (State Assembly) during the trust vote on Thursday.Kumaraswamy warned that if MLAs do not attend the House and vote against the party whip even after attending the session on the day of the trust vote, strict action will be initiated under the rule of Anti-Defection Law and that MLA will be disqualified from his post.
Supreme Court verdict on Karnataka Crisis:
The Supreme Court says that the discretion of Karnataka Assembly Speaker in deciding resignation should not be fettered by direction or observations of court.A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi has directed that the Speaker’s decision on resignation of rebel lawmakers be placed before it.The Speaker should be allowed to pass appropriate orders within parameters of Article 190 of the Constitution and relevant the Rules, the top court says.The Three Bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi,even said the Karnataka Speaker cannot be forced to take a decision within a time frame, the top court says.It says the rebel lawmakers should decide whether to attend the Assembly or not.They ought not to be compelled to participate in the Trust motion on July 18.We have to maintain constitutional balance, the court says.
If the resignations are accepted, the coalition’s 118 members will come down to 100 and the majority mark will drop from 113 to 105. The BJP has 105 members and the support of the two Independents, which would take its tally to 107.
Sixteen legislators of the JDS-Congress coalition and two independent lawmakers have resigned over the past two weeks.
The 13-month-old Congress-JDS government had slumped into crisis after these MLAs resigned from the membership of the Assembly earlier this month. 

The Supreme Court directed that the 15 rebel Congress and JD(S) legislators “ought not” to be compelled to take part in the proceedings of the Assembly, where Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy is slated to face the floor test on July 18.

BENGALURU: 

Hailing the Supreme Court direction on Karnataka political crisis, rebel Congress-JDS lawmakers camping in Mumbai said there is no question of going back on their resignations from the Assembly or attending the session.

“We are happy with the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court, we honour it,” rebel Congress legislator BC Patil said in a video released to the media, a day ahead of the trial of strength in the Karnataka assembly.

Flanked by 11 other Congress-JD(S) legislators who have quit, he said: “We all are together and whatever decision we have taken… at any cost no question of going back (on resignations). We stand by our decision. No question of going to assembly.”

 that the 15 rebel Congress and JD(S) legislators “ought not” to be compelled to take part in the proceedings of the Assembly, where Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy is slated to face the floor test on July 18.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also said the Speaker was free to decide on the resignations of the rebel leaders within the time-frame decided by him. The court further said the Speaker’s decision be put before it.

The court was hearing the plea of 15 rebel legislators of Congress and JD(S) seeking direction to the Speaker to accept their resignations from the Assembly.

As many as 16 lawmakers — 13 from the Congress and three from JD(S) — have resigned, while independent legislators S Shankar and H Nagesh have withdrawn their support to the coalition government, keeping it on the edge.

The ruling coalition’s strength in the House is 117 — Congress, 78, JD(S), 37, BSP, 1, and nominated 1, besides the speaker.

With the support of the two independents, the opposition BJP has 107 lawmakers in the 225-member House, including the nominated lawmakers and Speaker. If the resignations are accepted, the ruling coalition’s tally will be plummet to 101, reducing the 13 month-old Kumaraswamy government to a minority. According to official sources, nominated member too has a right to vote.