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Karnataka MLAs salary up by Rs 5,000; Siddaramaiah to take home Rs 50,000

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Siddaramaiah-Parameshwara

Bengaluru: Karnataka legislators on Monday gave themselves a hefty hike in salaries and allowances with the Chief Minister’s monthly salary set to jump from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000.

The salaries of the ministers will go up from Rs 25,000 to Rs 40,000 per month.

The sumptuary allowance has been increased to Rs. three lakh per month for both Chief Ministers and the ministers.

The salary of MLAs will go up from Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per month under the Karnataka Legislature Salaries, Pensions and Allowances (Amendment) Bill.

There is considerable increase in other allowances including conveyence and house rent.

The salaries of the Legislative Council Chairman and the Speaker will be Rs 50,000 per month and sumptuary allowance Rs three lakh each.

The increase in salaries, pension and allowance of the legislators will entail an additional expenditure of Rs 44 crore per annum and the hike in salaries and allowances of ministers will cast an additional burden to the tune of Rs 3.50 crore per year on government exchequer.

The Karnataka Legislature Salaries, Pensions and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and Karnataka Ministers Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, moved by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, were passed in the assembly by voice vote.

(PTI)

Congress leaders want CBI probe into past cases involving BJP, JD(S)

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Photo: IE

Photo: IE

Bengaluru: The Congress legislators on Wednesday unanimously urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to hand over to the CBI for investigation certain issues and cases that have occurred during the BJP and JD(S) rule in the past.

A list of 11 issues and cases, including the accusation of receiving Rs 150 crore kickback from mine owners against JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, rape case against H Halappa, the Padmapriya suicide case and the BBMP fake bill scam, was circulated at the Congress Legislature Party meeting chaired by Siddaramaiah at the Vidhana Soudha.

Another list of three cases that were handed over for CBI probe in the last two years by the Siddaramaiah government was also circulated. These are the Soujanya murder case, irregularities in the Ramanagar-Channapatna Urban Development Authority and Mandya Urban Development Authority.

Many legislators, including Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, chief whip P M Ashok, P M Narendraswamy, Pramod Madwaraj and A Manju, said the government should pay back the Opposition in the same coin, by ordering a CBI probe into the cases of the past.
Shivakumar said the ruling party should effectively counter the Opposition by raising issues and cases of the past. Manju said the BJP and the JD(S) had politicised the IAS officer Ravi’s case. The issues that have been listed are fit for CBI investigation. But the BJP and the JD(S) governments in the past had refused to hand them over to the federal investigating agency despite the Opposition demand, he said.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah explained the circumstance that forced his government to hand over the Ravi case to the CBI. Opposition parties, the BJP and the JD(S), targeted the government, he said.

The chief minister, however, did not react to the demand from the legislators to hand over the list of 11 cases to the CBI.

Some legislators also took exception to the ministers for not properly defending the chief minister in the Ravi case. Some ministers behaved as if they did not belong to this government. They were least bothered about the issue and made no effort to counter the Opposition. Some ministers give prominence only to the Opposition party leaders and neglect the ruling party MLAs. Action should be taken against such ministers, Ashok is learnt to have said.

Rajarajeshwarinagar MLA Munirathna demanded that the government recommend a CBI probe into the accusation that he had kept hundreds of BBMP files at his residence. The Lokayukta had subsequently raided his residence.

The chief minister turned down the demand for increasing the legislators’ annual area development fund to Rs five crore from Rs two crore.

(Agencies)

CCTV footage at D K Ravi's residence have been deleted by CID sleuths, alleges Ravi's father-in-law

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hanumantharayappa

Bengaluru: A day after IAS officer D K Ravi death case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation by the State Government his father-in-law Hanumantharayappa has accused the Criminal Investigation Department of deleting some footages from the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) of  Close Circuit Television (CCTV) which was taken from D K Ravi’s flat in Nagarbhavi by CID sleuths when they were investigating the case.

On March 16, Ravi was found dead under mysterious circumstances.

According to a State television channel Hanumanthrayappa is said to have stated that the CID officials had taken away the DVR without seeking permission from him.

On Monday, March 23, when the DVR was returned the footages recorded after 10.30 a.m  on March 16 has been deleted, alleged Hanumantharayappa.

When I questioned about the same to CID SP Narayanaswamy he gave me unsatisfactory answer stating that as they were unable to open the DVR they had returned it and that they had not deleted anything.

However, Hanumantharayappa who was not convinced with Narayanswamy’s reply stated that normally backup of footages of 20 days will be available in the DVR.

The DVR returned by the CID has footages of only few days. Infact the DVR which was handed over to the CID has captured the videos of  D K Ravi going to his office, returning from his office and also  talking over his phone after he got down from his car. All these are missing from the DVR which was given back to us, which has led me to believe that the CID sleuths have either deleted those footages or copied them, he alleged.

Though the Government and Police Department claimed that the D K Ravi had committed suicide, his parents, fans and the opposition members stated that he was murdered by few influential people. The death case probe which was first handed over to CID was later handed over to the CBI by the government.

(Agencies)

CBI Chennai office likely to handle DK Ravi's case

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D-K-Ravi

Bengaluru: The Chennai office of the CBI has a homicide and burglary squad which is likely to handle the case of DK Ravi once referred by the state government to the CBI HQ through the MHA, which may take another couple of days. This is subject to the headquarters not appointing any special team for the purpose, sources said.  “But given the heat generated by Ravi’s death, a special team handling the matter cannot be ruled out,” they added.

“Normally, in such cases, the case will be either handed over to the CBI office nearest to the place of crime, or a special team will be formed,” police sources familiar with the way the CBI works said. The nearest CBI office in Bengaluru is headed by an officer of the rank of superintendent of police but this chapter specializes only in ‘anti-corruption and banking frauds’ and officials are not well equipped to investigate cases like the one on hand, the sources pointed out.

A fresh line of inquiry?

CBI sleuths will start afresh from the scene of crime and parallel question officials from the CID and city police, and forensic science laboratory experts who have handled the case till now, sources said. Advocates say they can register a case of murder under section 302 and start the investigation from that angle till they reach a conclusion.

Investigating officials will collect all material evidence, documents, statements and related things from the CID and local police. The video CD of the postmortem will also be taken by the CBI.

If required, the CBI may go in for another postmortem, send viscera samples to special labs in Delhi and Hyderabad. Ravi’s call detail records (CDR) for the past six months have been already taken by the CID and if needed, the CBI will get more CDR, sources said.

The investigators will also keep an eye open for any tampering or destruction of evidence, if any, during the course of investigation by local authorities.

(Agencies)

Siddaramaiah government refers DK Ravi case to CBI for investigation

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D-K-Ravi

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday decided to handover the death case of IAS officer D K Ravi to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigation.

“I have decided to handover the case to the CBI for investigation. I had said that CID will investigate and a senior official of CID had started the investigation. We will give a status report on the investigation while the assembly is in session, but even that is not acceptable to the opposition,” said Siddaramaiah in the Karnataka State Assembly.

Before calling for a CBI probe in the case, he said the government’s objective was not to cover up anything and that it is not trying to protect anybody. “This government wants to give fearless environment for officers to work efficiently. We have faith in our police. I have not criticized the CBI and not said anything against it. The CBI is an institution that works independently, so does the CID,” he added.

He further said that he has faith in the police, the CID and democracy. “One shouldn’t do politics over death. We are not here to make political capital over deaths,” he added. The chief minister’s political capital remark was met by an opposition uproar in the assembly.

Earlier in the day, Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter to Ravi’s wife assuring her of a fair probe in the death case of her husband. Karnataka Pradesh Congress president G Parameshwara had earlier on Saturday requested Siddaramaiah to order a CBI inquiry into the case and had said that the truth in this matter should come to the fore without any confusion.

Ravi, posted as Joint Commissioner in Commercial Tax Department, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his apartment by his wife on March 16. The police suspect it to be a case of suicide, though no note was found from around the officer’s body.

The state government, which ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the case, has so far ruled out a CBI inquiry.

(Agencies)

Government will not not protect anyone in IAS officer DK Ravi death case: Siddaramaiah

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Photo: The New Indian Express

Photo: The New Indian Express

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday, March 21, assured that his government will not protect anyone in the IAS officer DK Ravi death case.

“The government will not hide anything… will not protect anyone,” Siddaramaiah said amid pressure on his government to hand over the death probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Even Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote to the Karnataka CM on Friday, March 20, asking him to hand over the investigation to the CBI.

Siddaramaiah said he will speak to Ravi’s parents once his post-mortem is out.

“Have told the parents of DK Ravi that I will speak to them after his post-mortem report comes in and is examined. We also want the truth to come out, that’s what I have promised to the parents,” the CM said.

“I have been in politics for 35 years. I understand people’s sentiments and respect them. More importantly, I have promised the parents that I’ll get to the truth,” Siddaramaiah said further.

The Congress leader said he will make his stand clear on the floor of the House. All the information will be given in the Assembly on Monday, he added.

He rejected Opposition allegations that his government was trying to hide the truth.

“Opposition is making allegations for the sake of politics. I am not interested in burying the truth, that’s not my business,” said Siddaramaiah.

There has been a clamour for CBI probe into Ravi’s death from Opposition parties and the family of Ravi who was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his flat on Monday.

Stepping up the pressure, BJP and JD(S) MLAs had on Thursday marched in a procession from Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, to Raj Bhavan and requested the Governor to advise the Siddaramaiah government to refer the case to CBI.

(Agencies)

DK Ravi's death: Sonia Gandhi requests CM Siddaramaiah for CBI probe

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Photo: Raveendran/AFP

Photo: Raveendran/AFP

New Delhi: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has written a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging him to recommend CBI probe into the mysterious death of IAS office DK Ravi.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also reportedly spoken to Siddaramaiah advising that the state should opt for a CBI inquiry.

According to media reports the state government has decided to change its stand on this issue and it may now agree to handover the probe to CBI.

Today, the Opposition members once again created uproar in the Karnataka Assembly demanding a CBI probe in the incident. Following this, the Assembly was adjourned till Monday 11 am.

The latest development came after CM Siddaramaiah’s earlier decision to refuse demand of CBI probe. He had said, “This is not a case to be handed over to CBI.”

35-year-old Ravi, a popular bureaucrat for being honest and gutsy in taking on the sand and land mafia and tax evaders, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his room in a flat here on Monday evening.

On Thursday, IAS officers from state had signed an online petition to Narendra Modi to press for their demand of CBI probe.

The case is currently with the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

(Agencies)

Karnataka budget: Petrol, liquor, tobacco to be costlier

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Karnataka budget

Bengaluru: Liquor and tobacco products are set to become more expensive as CM Siddaramaiah increased the VAT on them from between 17 to 24 percent, while presenting his 10th state budget on Friday.

He also announced 1 percent hike in tax on petrol and diesel in the state budget for 2015-16.

There was a small relief for consumers as he made mobile phone chargers, footware, manufactured sand, wick stove, industrial cables, solar panels and solar inverters cheaper.

There was also some tax relief low-salaried individuals as professional tax for those earning up to Rs 15,000.

Siddaramaiah said he was presenting a responsible budget by keeping fiscal deficit within 25 percent for 2015-16 as mandated in Karnataka Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The total receipts are estimated at Rs 1,39,476 crore from this budget, while the total expenditure is pegged at Rs 1,42,534.

As usual, Bengaluru got the CM’s attention: in order to make city roads safer for pedestrians, Siddaramaiah announced 25 new skywalks that will be built under PPP model. Meanwhile, Rs 80 crore has been allocated to develop underpass and flyover at Hebbal junction, which witnessed a horrible road incident last month. Rs 44 crore has been allocated for a flyover at Doddanakundi.

Besides, several CCTV cameras will be installed across Bengaluru at an estimated cost of Rs 8 crore and free WiFi zones will be established across the city in phased manner.

25 skywalks

In much needed investment to develop sky-walks and underpasses in the city, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today announced 25 new sky-walks would be built under the PPP model.

Rs 80 crore was also earmarked for extension of underpass and flyover at Hebbal junction where last month two people were crushed to death and five other injured by a speeding tanker. The BBMP has already come up with the design of a proposed skywalk to be constructed at the busy junction and expects to complete it within two or three months. Ballari road and Jayamal road to be widened.

He also announced Rs 44 crore for flyovers and Doddanakundi while providing Rs 270 crore to deal with the garbage situation in the city. 50 solid waste removal machines are also to be procured.

Rs 2,900 crore has been alloted to BBMP for development work. Rs 1000 cr also allotted for Bengaluru under CM’s city improvement scheme. For better security management CCTVs are to be installed across Bengaluru at a cost of Rs 8 cr.

(Agencies)

Siddaramaiah announces Pashu Bhagya scheme for farmers

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Photo: IE

Photo: IE

Bengaluru: Presenting his state budget for 2015-16, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced Pashu Bhagya scheme to provide subsidies to farmers to set up cattle, sheep, goat, pig and poultry units.

The new scheme, which was announced in the State budget-2015 presented by the chief minister, seeks to provide subsidy to the tune of 33 per cent to farmers from the Scheduled Castes/Tribes and 25 per cent to other small and marginal farmers on the loans to a maximum extent of Rs. 1.20 lakh availed from commercial banks.

The Chief Minister also announced setting up of a Centralised Helpline facility to provide veterinary services at the farmers’ doorsteps by levying service charges.

Similarly, it has also been proposed to provide interest-free short-term loans through co-operative banks on the lines of crop loans for taking care of expenses towards cattle feed and other maintenances. To encourage sheep/goat rearing, grants to the Karnataka Sheep and Wool Development Corporation has been proposed to be increased by fourfold. In the present year, an allocation of Rs. 25 crore would be made to this Corporation.

The budget also proposes to widen the network of Karnataka Milk Federation by setting up 750 new milk producers’ co-operative societies in north Karnataka at a cost of Rs. 16 crore.

(Agencies)

Karnataka: Congress under pressure to replace CM Siddaramaiah with a Dalit face

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Siddaramaiah-Parameshwara

Bengaluru: Though summer is yet to set in, political heat is affecting the Congress party in Karnataka.

Dalits from across the state have come together to lobby for a CM from their community, and are backing Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G. Parameshwara for the post.

Last week, representatives of at least 30 different Dalit organisations of the state met in Bengaluru to demand CM’s post for Parameshwara.

If reports are to be believed, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwara’s name has been floated by his supporters as the likely successor to Siddaramaiah.

Reports also suggested that Siddaramaiah is well aware of the forces backing Parameshwara and he is also in no mood to offer any powerful slot to the latter.

After Parameshwara’s shocking defeat in 2013 Assembly polls, he was forced to concede CM’s post to Siddaramaiah.

The Dalit groups have also planned a massive rally in Bengaluru on April 14 to press for their demand. The day coincides with Dr BR Ambedkar Jayanthi.

According to some media reports, Parameshwara is expected to lead a delegation to New Delhi shortly to meet the party high command.

(Agencies)

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