London(PTI): An Indian-origin doctor was on Wednesday sentenced to four years of imprisonment by a Scottish court after being found guilty by jurors of serious sexual assault against a woman over three years ago.

Manesh Gill, 39, was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh last month and sentenced at the same court for what Scottish police described as horrific behaviour this week. The court heard how the married general practitioner (GP) posed as “Mike” on the online dating app Tinder and arranged to meet the victim at a hotel in Stirling, where the assault took place in December 2018.

The conviction and sentencing of Gill sends a clear message to anyone found guilty of sexual offences, you will be brought to justice, said Detective Inspector Forbes Wilson of the Public Protection Unit of Police Scotland.

Gill must now face the consequences for his horrific behaviour. The victim has shown tremendous bravery in coming forward and telling her story and I would like to thank her for her assistance during our investigation. I hope today’s outcome will give her some form of closure, Wilson said.

“We remain committed to tackling sexual abuse, we have specially trained officers and work with partners to provide support to victims. I would encourage anyone to report sexual abuse in any form, as all reports will be thoroughly investigated, he added.

During evidence at the trial earlier this year, the woman said to be a student nurse described how her body “shut down” as she was sexually assaulted.

Gill, a father of three based in Edinburgh, had claimed the sex was consensual. The jury convicted him for committing a sex crime when the victim was incapable of giving or withholding consent. He has also been added to the Sex Offenders’ Register for monitoring his conduct.

Nasheman news

• Over the last six years, Nexus Malls has grown into India’s largest and most diversified retail platform spanning 

~10 million square feet of Grade A retail space 

• The Corporate & Portfolio identity has been rebranded to bring together 17 retail properties in 13 cities into one integrated platform
• Nexus Malls has recovered to pre-COVID levels, exceeding 130% in sales

Bangalore : Nexus Malls, India’s largest retail platform with nearly 10 million square feet of Grade A shopping centres across 13 major cities, has consolidated its 17 retail properties under one new brand identity. This marks one of the most significant transformations in the history of organised retail in India and Nexus Malls’ commitment to putting customers first.

The new brand identity seeks to strengthen ties between employees, retailers, and shoppers of the Nexus Malls platform and increase its awareness. The new logo is modern, bold, and inviting, reflecting Nexus Malls’ vision of better engaging with existing and future customers. Each vivid colour of the logo signifies different emotions and concepts including joy, excitement, freshness, life, and magic – and most importantly, happiness.  

Speaking on the occasion, Dalip Sehgal, CEO, Nexus Malls said, “The new identity brings to life our promise of ‘ Har Din Kuchh Naya ‘, a promise where we will bring something new, unique and personal every day to our 130+ Mn consumers . Moreover, the rebranding will help in ensuring greater cross functional synergies. This ascertains that everything we do revolves around our values of Customer Centricity, Caring, Innovation & Excellence .”

The organised retail industry has been enormously impacted by lockdowns and social restrictions of the pandemic. This has encouraged Nexus Malls to quickly rethink its business strategy and find innovative ways to minimise disruptions and restore confidence in Indian business owners and shoppers. 

“We are thrilled with the kind of confidence reposed by our patrons resulting in continuous recovery and sustained growth. Presently, we have recovered over 130% of sales and more than 100% footfall at portfolio level”, Sehgal added. 

The consolidation into one name, Nexus Malls, comes after the strong acquisition momentum, including eight shopping centres from Prestige Group in 2021. Nexus Malls has since grown into India’s largest and most diversified retail platform. 

To better connect with shoppers, Nexus Malls has started rebranding its retail properties starting with South India in May 2022. The rebranding launch will be celebrated through a range of engaging events over the next few months connecting Nexus Malls customers around the country.

About Nexus Malls

Nexus Malls is the Indian Retail Platform of the world’s leading investment firm, The Blackstone Group. Nexus Malls marked its foray into Indian Retailing in 2016 with an aim to transform the shopping experience of Indian consumers. Growing at great pace since inception, Nexus Malls now boasts of a portfolio of almost 10 Million square feet of Grade A retail space in the country. Nexus Malls have thereby established themselves as one of the leaders in the retail real estate industry in India.

With an objective of adding value to their assets, Nexus Malls today operates across 17 major malls in the country. Nexus Malls portfolio of malls is spread across 13 cities- Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Udaipur, Bhubaneswar, Pune, Indore, Mysore and Mangalore. The company also owns the distinction of owning India’s largest Transit Oriented Development – Nexus Seawoods in Navi Mumbai.

Set up with transformation being its core agenda, Nexus Malls seeks to implement best practices and state-of-the-art technology in India by bringing in professional and broader mall management in the country.  It also aims to aid its retail partners to compete effectively and cater to the omnipresent needs of the consumers in India.

Nexus Malls is redefining the shopping culture in the country by bringing transformation and upgradation for shoppers and retailers by identifying, evaluating, buying and adding value to the asset it acquires.  With a belief in bringing transformation, improvement and innovation in the retail sector, Nexus Malls through its portfolio is offering a one-stop-shop where consumers can have fun and brands come to life for their consumers. 

List of malls under Nexus Malls’ portfolio includes- Nexus Amritsar, Nexus Elante, Nexus Celebrations, Nexus Indore Central, Nexus Esplanade, Nexus Ahmedabad One, Nexus Westend, Nexus Seawoods, Nexus Hyderabad, Nexus Koramangala, Nexus Whitefield, Nexus Shantiniketan, Nexus Centre City, Fiza by Nexus, Nexus Vijaya, Treasure Island and The Pavillion

Hubballi: In the wake of protests in certain parts of the country in connection with alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad by a suspended BJP spokesperson, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said he has directed police to take all precautions to maintain law and order in the state.

A high-level meeting has been held with police top brass in the state to take precautionary measures in the backdrop of violent incidents in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh on Friday protesting the alleged derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammad, Chief Minister Bommai told reporters here.

“Presently, the situation is peaceful in the state. The police have been instructed to deploy the forces in sensitive areas. The deployment of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) contingents is already on. I have spoken to Police Commissioner of Hubballi-Dharwad and the SP of Dharwad to take appropriate measures,” the Chief Minister said.

The inspectors of all police stations have been instructed to interact with community leaders of their respective areas to maintain peace and harmony, Bommai said.

Bengaluru: Karnataka on Saturday saw a further spike in COVID-19 cases with 562 fresh infections taking the total number of affected people to 39,55,871, the state health department said.

The state had recorded 525 cases on Friday. There were zero fatalities due to coronavirus in the state during the last 24 hours.

Bengaluru urban district alone reported 545 cases, while Mysuru saw four cases, Dakshina Kannada three and Chitradurga two as a total of 12 districts reported fresh COVID cases on the day.

There were zero infections and fatalities in 19 districts of the state.

The health department said 352 people were discharged, taking the total number of recoveries to 39,12,376 till date.

The number of active cases stood at 3,387 and the positivity rate for the day was 2.07 per cent.

As many as 27,123 tests were conducted, including 20,659 RT-PCR tests. The total number of tests conducted till date were 6.66 crore.

There were 48,604 inoculations, taking the total vaccination count to 11.01 crore so far, the department said.

“Mask is compulsory at shopping malls, bus stands, railway stations, hospitals, schools and colleges and places where people congregate. BBMP Marshalls will be tasked to implement the rule.”

He however clarified that the palike at present will stick to government order and will not impose any penalty. The palike which is testing 16,000 people at present will test 20,000 people based on the symptoms.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 has claimed the life of a 72-year-old woman. The woman was suffering from fever for the last few days prior to her death. Although she received treatment, the senior citizen succumbed to the virus.

Reacting to the question on the issue over Chamarajapete Ground which the Hindu outfits claim that a particular community is occupying, the Commissioner stressed that the Muslim community can have prayers on the day of Ramzan and Bakrid with prior permission and others can also use the BBMP ground on other days with prior permission.

The Commissioner also informed that a single tender will be called for garbage management at 198 wards and this will be done by the Solid Waste Management Committee. The palike is also seriously contemplating completely banning plastic within its limits. The commissioner also informed that in terms of fixing potholes, the palike may delay in fixing all the craters due to rains as it still has 2,020 potholes to fill. In the last few days, the palike has fixed 9,482 potholes.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday indicated that his government is likely to take a decision on imposing certain COVID control measures in a couple of days, aimed at containing the uptick in daily cases.

The Chief Minister, however, said that there is no need for any unnecessary panic or worry, as the government has already put in place certain regulatory measures.

“In the wake of COVID cases increasing, our Principal Secretary-Health will hold meetings with officials of all districts to know about the situation there and review the COVID management measures being taken and will submit a report to me,” Bommai said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said based on the report in the next couple of days, the government will take several decisions.

“There is no need for anyone to have any unnecessary worry about COVID, we have already taken measures to control it, there is no need for anyone to panic,” he added.

On Sunday, Karnataka reported 301 fresh COVID infections and one death.

This was up from 222 cases on Saturday.

As COVID cases continue to surge in neighbouring Maharashtra, its Environment, Tourism and Protocol Minister Aaditya Thackeray recently indicated that the state could be staring at the fourth wave, but there was no need to panic.

In response to a question, Bommai said compensation has been given to the victims of COVID second wave and if there were any specific incidents about someone not getting it, the government will consider, if brought to its notice.

Meanwhile, responding to a question on several Veerashaiva-Lingayat seers seeking a survey of Peer Pasha Bangla, the Chief Minister said, “they have given their petition and certain documents, Archeological Department will consider all of them.”

Some Veerashaiva-Lingayat seers on Sunday appealed to Bommai to survey the ‘Peer Pasha Bangla’ in Basavakalyan in Bidar district, claiming that it was the original ‘Anubhava Mantapa’, which is said to be the first religious parliament in the world, where mystics, saints and philosophers of the Lingayat movement including Basavanna converged and held discourse in the 12th century

MYSURU: Ruling out the possibility of pulling out JDS candidate Kupendra Reddy from the Rajya Sabha elections, party senior leader HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday hinted that he is ready to negotiate with Congress to stop BJP from winning its third seat. He said JDS with 32 votes has a higher chance than Congress, which has 30 additional votes, to win the RS election. JDS is ready to exchange second-preference votes, provided Congress also agrees and acts positively, he added.

Congress, which attacked BJP over 40 per cent commission being collected from contractors, is helping the saffron party in the Rajya Sabha elections, he alleged. Though Congress is seeking JDS support to win the second seat, it has not approached nor sought our consent to field an additional candidate, raising questions over its commitment to defeat BJP, he said.

“I have not spoken to any leader and neither did Deve Gowda speak to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. Why did Congress not make minority candidate Mansur Ali Khan as its first candidate,” he asked. He criticised CLP leader Siddaramaiah for claiming JDS MLAs will cast conscience vote in the RS elections and asked if he had a conscience while hijacking seven JDS MLAs to get votes in favour of Congress candidates in 2018. He said RS poll results will expose who BJP’s ‘B Team’ is and warned the saffron party would capitalise on the victory of its third candidate. 

BENGALURU: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge’s absence at the Congress party’s ‘Nava Sankalpa Shibira’ and his sudden departure to the national capital gave rise to speculation that the party wants to withdraw its candidate from the fray to support the JD(S) candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls to be held on June 10.

Kharge, who was in Bengaluru on Tuesday, overseeing preparations for the ‘shivir’ left for New Delhi on Wednesday and reportedly held talks with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on various issues related to state politics. 

He could not meet party leader Rahul Gandhi who is said to be abroad

Kharge is expected to return on Friday with a message from Sonia. Friday is the last day to withdraw nominations for the Rajya Sabha polls.

Party leaders, including AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, are expected to take a decision on whether to withdraw the party’s second candidate Mansur Ali Khan from the fray or not.

JD(S) candidate Kupendra Reddy was also on good terms with Kharge for several years and his candidature was discussed much earlier, the JD(S) leadership had reportedly claimed. The party supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda had spoken to Sonia Gandhi and Kharge recently. 

Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, who is in Singapore since a few days, will return here on Friday. He had reportedly tried to placate five disgruntled JD(S) MLAs who are likely to cross-vote. 

There was a buzz in the JD(S) camp that Congress may withdraw its candidate as if it failed to do so it would help the BJP’s third candidate Lehar Singh Siroya.

A similar message has been circulated among JD(S) MLAs but one has to wait and watch Kumaraswamy’s move if the Congress continued its candidate in the fray.

On June 9, the Congress party is expected to hold its legislature party meeting which will be chaired by its leader Siddaramaiah.

As the contest for the fourth seat is certain, all the three parties have apprehensions about some of its MLAs cross-voting or resorting to a strategy of remaining absent during the vote.

The parties are expected to move its MLAs to resorts to be on the safer side, sources said.    

Meanwhile, in an interesting development on Thursday, AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and former CM and JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy held a telephonic conversation, details of which were not known.

SONIA DETERMINED TO APPEAR BEFORE ED ON JUNE 8: SURJEWALA

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who has tested positive for Covid-19, is determined to appear before the ED on June 8 in connection with the money laundering case, AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said on Thurs-day.  

The ED on Wednesday summoned her and Waya-nad MP Rahul Gandhi in connection with the National Herald case  Surjewala said Sonia has been meeting a series of leaders and activists over the past one week, and some of them have tested  Covid positive.

“She had a very mild fever on Wednesday evening and consequently tested positive on Thursday. She has isolated herself… She is perfectly fine and is recovering,” he said. 

BENGALURU: With the India Meteorological Department confirming the arrival of the Southwest Monsoon in Karnataka on Tuesday, the government said it has already prepared a checklist to deal with emergencies. Karnataka, which falls under the South Peninsula region, is likely to witness “normal to above normal” rainfall, which is about 82 per cent.

I have already given a checklist to deputy commissioners, identified vulnerable areas, and formulated action plans at the gram panchayat level,” Revenue Secretary TK Anil Kumar said. With the state likely to witness good rainfall this season, Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) Commissioner Manoj Rajan has predicted that districts in North Karnataka are likely to have above normal rain, and the upper catchment areas of Krishna and Bheema river basins, falling in Maharashtra, will also have above normal rain.

ain likely to be above normal in  Telangana: IMD

Hyderabad: As monsoon is set to arrive in Telangana, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a long range forecast stating that southwest monsoon 2022 is going to be above normal in most parts of the State this season. The ongoing La Nina conditions from the previous year were slightly weakened in January and subsequently in this February, but again started strengthening from March 2022 onwards.

BENGALURU: It is trouble brewing for Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President DK Shivakumar after a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi on Tuesday summoned him and others to appear before it on July 1 in a 2018 money laundering case. Special Judge Vikas Dhull took cognizance of the prosecution complaint (PC) filed by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) through its Special Public Prosecutor Nitesh Rana last week against Shivakumar and others under the PMLA, 2002.

‘ED took too long to file prosecution complaint’

He added that he was granted bail in the (PMLA) case by the Supreme Court in October 2019. According to informed sources, though the PC in PMLA cases, where the suspect has been arrested should be filed within 60 days from the time of arrest, the Central agency took twoand a-half-years to file the PC against Shivakumar and others reportedly because they had to “collect evidence, much of which was shared by the Income Tax Department, which had earlier filed a chargesheet against them,” said sources on condition of anonymity.

The ED in September 2018 had registered a case against Shivakumar and his four associates — Sachin Narayan (business associate), Sunil Kumar Sharma (proprietor of Sharma Transport), Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah (employee at Karnataka Bhawan, New Delhi) and N Rajendran, who is a former state government employee) — under the PMLA based on the chargesheet filed by the Income Tax Department, Karnataka & Goa, against them in early 2018 before a Special Court for Economic Offences (SCEO) in Bengaluru.

NEW DELHI: AAP leader Sanjay Singh has submitted a complaint to police against the BJP’s KS Eshwarappa over his reported remarks that the saffron flag would become the national flag of India one day and said he should be arrested.

BJP MLA and former minister in the Karnataka government Eshwarappa has reportedly said the saffron flag has been respected for thousands of years and it will undoubtedly become the national flag one day.ADVERTISEMENT

Singh said he has given an application to file a complaint against the BJP leader at the North Avenue police station here.

“I have given an application to register an FIR against Eshwarappa for insulting the national flag by saying that the saffron flag will become India’s national flag one day. For more than 50 years, the national flag was not hoisted at the RSS headquarters. Actually, the BJP is opposed to the national flag,” the Rajya Sabha MP of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said.

He further said Eshwarappa should be arrested for his comments.