Parmesh S Jain

Directorate of Enforcement (ED) conducted raids on six loan app firms owned by chinese nationals across the city and seized cash worth Rs 17 crores.

The raids were conducted based on series of complaints received by the Central Crime Branch in the recent past.

Directorate of Enforcement,(ED)has been carrying out search operations under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 on Friday.

The case is based on 18 Nos of FIRs registered by Cyber Crime Police Station,Bengaluru City against numerous entities and persons in connection with their involvement in extortion and harassment of the public who had availed small amount of loans through the mobile apps .

Inquiries revealed that these entities controlled by Chinese nationals .

The modus operandi of these entities is by using forged documents of Indians and making them as dummy directors of those entities,they are generating proceeds of crime.

It has come to notice that the said entities were doing their illegal business through various Merchant IDs and accounts held with Payment
Gateways and banks.

The premises of Razorpay Pvt Ltd,Cashfree Payments,Paytm Payment Services Ltd and entities controlled and operated by Chinese Persons are covered in the search operation.

During the search operation, it is noticed that the said entities were generating proceeds of crime through various Merchant IDs and accounts held with Payment Gateways and banks and they are also not operating from the addresses given on the website and registered address and having fake addresses.

An amount of Rs 17 Crore have been seized in merchant IDs and bank accounts of these Chinese persons-controlled entities.

The search operation is in progress,the official release,said.

Parmesh S Jain

Two persons sustained severe burn injuries in explosion due to LPG cylinder leakage at their house in Kashi Nagar of Yelachenahall in KS Layout on Saturday.

The duo identified as Goutham and Mondal , were admitted to victoria hospital .

The duo was from Assam and working as seurity guards and living in a rented house for few months.

The door and the window panes were damaged due to the impact of the explosion.

The KS Layout police who rushed to the site and conducted investigations suspected that the explosion was due to leak from the cylinder last night and the duo failed to notice.

Police suspect one of them woke up and tried to switch on light and the spark led to the explosion.

The residents woke up to the huge sound at around 7.30 am the owner of the house Venkataswamy Reddy rushed to the spot and alerted the police.

The cylinder and the regulator were found intact and we suspect that the explosion was due to gas formed inside the compact house.

The KS layout police are analyzing the items inside the house to ascertain any other reason for the explosion.

A case has been registered in KS Layout police station and further investigation is on.

Parmesh S Jain

The South Division police of Jayanagar police arrested a machanic and his associate and recovered 20 stolen bikes from them.

The accused has been identified as Afroz Pasha and his associate Hussain Saud.

Senior officer told reporters as their were series of bike thefts took place recently in and around Jayanagar area.

DCP South,P Krishnakant while conducting a crime review meeting instructed the Jayanagar Sub Division officers and crime staff to nab the bike lifter who has been a headache for many innocent residents who wake up to see a shock of their bike missing.

Based on instructions a special team was formed under the leadership of ACP,KV Srinivas,PI,UR Manjunath,and his crime staff swung into action.

The team analysed the CCTV footage from the scene of crime and with the help of technical inputs and police investigation skills the team identified the accused and apprehended from his house in Shivajinagar.

During investigation the accused confessed the crime and it was found the accused used to work as mechanic from his house and a full time bike lifter who was most wanted.

A detailed investigation by the team it has found that he used duplicate keys to steal bikes parked outside the house .

The accused started stealing bikes for the last sx months in and around south division and sell the parts of the bikes with his arrest the team recovered 20 stolen bikes of different companies worth around Rs.20 lakhs.

Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,CH Pratap Reddy has appreciated Addl CP West,Sandeep Patil,DCP,South,P Krishnakant,ACP,KV Srinivas, PI,UR Manjunath,PSIs,as,Chandan Kale, Ravikumar MH and other crime staff who has done a excellent work in nabbing the most wanted bike lifter a suitable reward will be given to whole team he added.

Parmesh S Jain

Trying to pay cancellation charges proves costly for a 34-year-old home maker as she lost Rs 94,367 to cyber fraudster.

Senior officer told reporters,The victim,Naziya G Naik,from Agrahara Dasarahalli,had booked a cab online to visit her relatives and later cancelled the trip .

The driver asked her to pay the cancellation charges for which she checked the customer care online and called the executive on the number mentioned.

The customer care executive offered to help her send a link to download Anydesk app and scan her debit card .

Ms.Naik followed the instructions and as soon as she scanned her debit card a total of Rs.94,367 has been deducted.

Shocked victim tried to call the number but there was no response .

Realizing that she has been cheated,the victim approached the West division cyber crime police and filed a complaint.

The police are now on trying to track down the accused through online transaction he said.

Parmesh S Jain

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the Government of India has given aproval for the New Coastal Zone Management plan as per the 2019 CRZ Notification and it was a victory for the 30 years of long struggle.

Speaking at a function organised in connection with launching and foundation laying for various works worth Rs.3800 crore at Goldfinch City by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday,he said this management plan will help in economy and tourism development in coastal region.

I thank the PM as the new Coastal Zone Management Plan as per the 2019 CRZ notification has been approved by Ministry of Forest,Environment and Climate Change.

Karnataka is the first State in the Southern India and only the second State in the country to get the Plan prepared and approved as per the new CRZ notification.

This Plan would give boost to the economy and tourism in the coastal region of the State”.

Bommai said the double engine governments are in Karnataka and in the Centre.Today, under Sagar Mala project,18 projects have been completed and 14 schemes worth Rs.950 crore are approved by Union Ministry of Inland Transport and Ports.

By doing this, the Modi Government is playing an important role in the development of the coastal region.

It is happening mainly due to the blessings of the PM Modi.I thank Modi for giving approval for projects which are helpful in the development of Karnataka.

The Modi Government has given approval for the development of Maajali Port in Karwar at a cost of Rs.350 crore.

This is the achievement of the double engine governments”.

The CM said under Pradhan Mantri Mathsya Sampada scheme,the Central Government has given approval to supply 100 high speech boats to help deep sea fishing.

The coastal areas will witness overall development from all these schemes.

Development of Navabharath through Navakarnataka.

He said the government along with development of two ports has also taken up the expansion of Mangaluru and Karwar ports.

These two ports will help in the realisation of prime minister’s dream of Atmanirbhar to infuse strength to India.

The government has implemented Vidyanidhi scheme for the children of fishermen and it will benefit 2 lakh children.

Five thousand houses are constructed at a cost of Rs 65 crore.The Inland and Fishery Institute will be established in Karwar.

The double engine governments are not only leading Karnataka but also India.

It would help in development of ‘Navabharath’ from ‘Navakarnataka’.

Bommai said today is a golden day in the development of the coastal areas and it happened due to vision of PM Modi.

The handling capacity of the ports have to improve to increase export and import which will help in fetching more foreign exchange.

The project which was pending for many years is now now yielding fruits. In the wake of this, a big facility is provided in New Mangalore Port at a cost of Rs.3800 crore and the eight year old dream became reality today.

The New Mangalore Trust is developing fast and it’s cargo handling has increased by four times.

A LPG terminal is coming up so as the oil processing unit.

In the coming days, the entire Karnataka will witness an overall development through the progress of coastal areas, he added.

MYSURU: After several protests and submission of memorandums to the authorities concerned, Bajarang Sene and several pro-Hindu outfits have decided to take up a legal fight in the Srirangapatna Jama Masjid row.

President of Bajarang Sene B Manjunath said as authorities failed to come out with a solution, he, along with several other pro-Hindu members, has decided to file a petition in the High Court in a few days.

“We have been arguing that the mosque has been constructed by razing down a temple and it should be handed back to us. But, the government has failed to respond despite protests. So, we have now decided to file a petition in the High Court. There are 108 people ready to file the petition,” he said, adding that the number 108 is significant and auspicious in the Hindu religious scriptures.

He said along with the petition, various pieces of evidence including photographs and mentioning of the episode of razing down of the temple which has been documented by several Britishers and also in the Mysore gazette will be submitted.

The Hindu outfits claim that during Tipu’s regime, the Srirangapatna ruler had demolished Anjaneyaswamy temple on the east gate of the fort which was converted into a mosque later. Over the last couple of months, pro-Hindu outfits have been protesting over the mosque row and as a preventive measure, police and the taluk administration had also imposed prohibitory orders in the month of June this year.

The award instituted in 1992 to reward a person for his/her extraordinary contribution in any field, was conferred on Rashtrakavi Kuvempu and Dr Rajkumar.

After 30 years, the film industry and especially one among Dr Rajkumar’s family has received the honour again. Many members of Dr Rajkumar’s family, including Puneeth’s brothers superstar Shivarajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar attended the ceremony to witness the award conferred on Puneeth, who passed away on October 29 last year due to cardiac arrest, aged 46.  

Puneeth’s wife Ashwini Revanath said, “Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is dear to our family. He and his government have done a lot for Puneeth. So I thank everyone on behalf of our family,” Ashwini said.

Rajini, Jr NTR recollect times with Appu

Superstar Rajinikanth, Tollywood actor Junior NTR and Infosys Foundation founder Sudha Murthy were among the guests who attended the event. Rajinikanth, who shares a long association with the Rajkumar family, said he first saw Puneeth in 1979 when he was just four years old and accompanied his father Dr Rajkumar to Sabarimala.

“Dr Rajkumar would carry Puneeth on his shoulders and walk for 48 kilometres. Again when his (Puneeth’s) debut film as lead actor was released, I was asked to review it and after I predicted that this would run for 100 days, Rajkumar told me that I should take part in a function and present a shield to Puneeth. That day was his day.

Today also is his day, though he is not among us. When the incident happened, I was in hospital and was informed three days later. I could not believe the news as Puneeth was so young and fit,” said Rajinikanth. The superstar said that the massive crowd which gathered to witness Tuesday’s event was a proof of Puneeth’s affable personality and his humane and humble nature.

Jr NTR, who shared a personal bond with the late actor, said Puneeth is a superstar, a great star, a father, a friend, a wonderful husband, and a person with a rich heart. “I have come here as a proud friend,” he said.The Telugu star spoke in Kannada and extended his greetings to Kannadigas in the state and the world over on the occasion of Kannada Rajyotsava Day.

The fans went crazy when singer Vijay Prakash sang songs from Appu’s (as Puneeth is fondly called) films. Deafening roars from the crowds echoed across the Vidhana Soudha premises (the location where the event was held)) as thousands of fans who had gathered cheered to ‘Nene Rajakumara’, ‘Ninnindale Ninnindale’ and other famous Kannada songs from Puneeth’s films. As some fans climbed the fence to enter the venue, the police had to rush in to cane a few.

GLOBAL INVESTORS MEET BEGINS TODAY
The Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2022 will kick off on Wednesday, with the state expecting a bounty in investment opportunities during the three-day mega event. Meanwhile, the government is also focusing on filling up vacancies. There are plans to fill 2.5 lakh vacancies in the government sector in the next two years, of which one lakh posts will be filled this year itself. These jobs will be provided to Kannadigas.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday extended the stay on a Karnataka High Court order by which it had restored a private complaint against former chief minister and senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa and his family members, accusing them of “taking bribes” for awarding government contracts.

A bench of justices D Y Chandrachud and Hima Kohli asked Yediyurappa to implead the Karnataka government in his plea and issued notice to the state.

“We should have the benefit of the assistance of the state government in the matter, even though it is a case arising out of a private complaint,” the bench said.

At the outset, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Yediyurappa, pointed out that the state has not been made a party to the matter.

The bench said it is extending its order issued on September 23.

On September 23, the top court had said, “There shall be a stay of further proceedings in PCR No. 40 of 2021, pending before the court of the LXXXI Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru (CCH-82) insofar as the petitioner is concerned till the next date of listing.”

On September 7, the high court had restored a private complaint filed by activist T J Abraham against Yediyurappa and others, accusing them of “taking bribes” for awarding government contracts.

A sessions court in Bengaluru had earlier dismissed a plea seeking a probe into the allegations of corruption against Yediyurappa as the then governor had refused to accord the sanction for prosecution.

Abraham had submitted the complaint, alleging that Yediyurappa and his family members had taken bribes from Ramalingam Construction Company and other shell companies in return for awarding Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) contracts.

He had sought a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the charges.

The others named in the complaint are Yediyurappa’s son B Y Vijayendra, grandson Shashidar Maradi, son-in-law Sanjay Sree, Chandrakanth Ramalingam, current BDA chairperson and MLA S T Somashekar, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer G C Prakash, K Ravi and Virupakshappa.

After the sessions court dismissed the complaint on July 8, 2021, saying it was “not maintainable in the absence of a valid sanction”, the complainant had approached the high court.

Allowing the petition in part, the high court had set aside the sessions court’s order and directed the LXXXI additional city civil and sessions judge’s court to hear the complaint afresh.

“The special court may proceed from the stage post presentation of private complaint. The rejection of the sanction for prosecution would not come in the way of continuance of proceedings against the accused no.1 (Yediyurappa) upon restoration of the complaint,” the high court had said.

The governor’s rejection of the sanction had to be ignored, it had said, adding that as such a request was to be made by a police officer of an investigation agency and not by the complainant.

Hence, Abraham approaching the governor for the sanction was of no legal significance and the sessions court need not have rejected the complaint due to that reason, the high court had noted.

Abraham had moved the special court seeking a direction to police to take cognizance of the alleged crimes under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). However, the judge said the special court had no authority to take cognizance under the PMLA and the complainant had to go through proper procedure.

The complainant had alleged that the work order was issued by the BDA in favour of M/s Ramalingam Construction Company Private Limited. Prakash demanded a bribe of Rs 12 crore for the same on behalf of Yediyurappa. Ramalingam has been accused of handing over cash amounting to Rs 12 crore to Ravi.

This was allegedly collected by Prakash and paid to Yediyurappa through his son. It is also alleged that Yediyurappa, Vijayendra, Maradi and Sree indulged in money laundering, using shell companies.

Bengaluru: The ruling BJP in poll-bound Karnataka received a shot in the arm as the party won 17 out of 35 seats in the Vijayapura municipal elections and emerged as the single largest party.

The party also performed well in the Kollegal city municipal council bypoll by winning six out of seven seats.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai congratulated Vijayapura BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and party workers for achieving an “unprecedented feat” in the municipal polls.

According to officials, the Congress won 10 seats, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) two, and the JD(S) one while five Independents also emerged victorious in Vijayapura (earlier known as Bijapur) in north Karnataka.

The municipal elections in Vijayapura and Kollegal were held on October 28 and the results were announced on Monday.

Polls were held in Vijayapura after a gap of six years and it was the first election since the city municipality was upgraded to a corporation.

Sources in the BJP said the party is confident of coming to power in Vijayapura with the support of independents.

The bypolls in Kollegal in Chamarajanagar district was necessitated after seven Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) councillors joined the BJP.

These seven councillors were the supporters of MLA N Mahesh, who was expelled from the BSP after he, along with a few others from the Congress and JD(S), helped the saffron party come to power in Karnataka.

Following the bypoll results, the BJP has emerged as the single largest party with 13 seats, Congress came second with 11 and BSP two while there are four independents in the 31-member Kollegal CMC.

Bommai said, “By winning 17 seats out of 35 seats in the Vijayapura Municipal Corporation elections, our party has achieved an unprecedented feat. My heartiest congratulations to every member who ensured our victory. I thank from the bottom of my heart to the Vijayapura BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and dedicated party workers who toiled hard for the BJP.”

Regarding the Kollegal bypoll results, the Chief Minister thanked the expelled BSP MLA Mahesh, the candidates and the party workers for their victory.

Bommai also thanked the voters who liked the “policies and achievements” of the governing party.

Prithvi Reddy

Bengaluru: The fledgling Aam Aadmi Party in Karnataka is aiming big in the upcoming state assembly election as it has decided to field candidates in all 224 constituencies with anti-corruption agenda as its main plank, a party leader said.

The AAP is already in the stage of finalising more than half of the candidates and intends to release its first list by the first week of January 2023, barely four months before the election.

Thereafter, the subsequent list of candidates will be announced.

“We have decided to contest in all the 224 constituencies. We have started our campaign in 170 constituencies of the state through Gram Sampark Abhiyan (village approach drive) and we are in the process of appointing people at the booth level in these 170 constituencies,” party spokesperson and Karnataka AAP convener Prithvi Reddy told PTI.

According to him, there are 58,000-odd booths in the state and the party is “aggressively” appointing at least 10 workers in each booth.

“We are strengthening our party by working at the booth level. That’s how we can fight against money and muscle power,” Reddy explained.

These booth level workers have been assigned the task of raising issues concerning people in their area, Reddy said adding that the response AAP is getting is tremendous because people are already fed up with the rampant corruption in the state.

The AAP leader said all the three main political parties in the state have failed to check corruption and meet people’s expectation.

Speaking about the prospects of winning in Karnataka, the AAP leader said the party is fighting the battle to win and it was hopeful that it will make its presence felt in the upcoming election.

“The AAP will be here to stay. We will either win now or in the next election. That’s how we are approaching this election,” Reddy said.

“We are not approaching people as the fourth party but as an alternative to the ‘JCB’,” Reddy explained.

The JCB is AAP’s coinage for the three main political parties of Karnataka — Janata Dal (Secular), Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“As the JCB these days has become synonymous with demolition, the three main parties of Karnataka have demolished people’s aspirations, their hard-earned income, the healthcare and education system, and the infrastructure,” Reddy quipped.

The reach of the AAP so far is quite encouraging with 80 per cent of people recognising it and the biggest strength, according to Reddy, is coming from the smartphone users.

“People, especially the youth, who use smartphones know extensively about AAP and what it stands for. They are aware. Similarly, educated women are also rallying behind us,” Reddy, who is also the AAP executive committee member, said.

The AAP leader said whenever the party volunteers approach people, they talk about the work that AAP has done in the field of education, hospitals, clean drinking water and electricity in Delhi under Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

“People are already aware of our anti-corruption agenda. They especially refer to the one instance where the AAP’s Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann sacked his minister for demanding one per cent commission on a contract,” Reddy claimed.

The new kid on the block is pinning much hopes on the Gujarat assembly election results where, according to Reddy, the fight is neck-to-neck with the BJP.

If the party wins in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat, then the prospect of winning in Karnataka will brighten, the AAP leader said.