Archives for May 2024

Shivamogga/Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Thursday demanded the sacking of Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister B Nagendra and asked the state government to hand over the case of an alleged illegal money transfer from a Corporation bank to the CBI for a probe.

The unauthorised transfer of Rs 88.62 crore from the Corporation’s bank account came to light after accounts superintendent at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd, Chandrashekhar P, died by suicide on Sunday evening, leaving behind a death note.

He has named Corporation’s managing director J G Padmanabh, accounts officer Parashuram G Durugannavar and Union Bank of India chief manager Suchismita Rawal in the note, while also stating that the minister in charge had issued oral orders for transferring the funds.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the deceased officer’s house in Shivamogga, Vijayendra said that suspending two or three officials in connection with the case was not enough and the minister’s resignation was needed without any delay.

Demanding that the case be investigated by the CBI, he gave a deadline of one week’s time to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the state government and warned state wide agitation if the demand was not met.

“It is impossible for CID or local authorities to investigate the case impartially. Officials have taken the pen drive and laptop from the house of the deceased,” he said.

Vijayendra further alleged that during the Lok Sabha elections, hundreds of crores were transferred to Telangana through a ‘fake’ bank account and said there is a ‘big conspiracy’ behind this.

The deceased’s wife is working on a contract basis and has two sons. It is difficult for her to manage the family, he said, and urged the state government to announce a compensation of at least Rs 25 lakh to the family.

BJP’s ST Morcha on Thursday tried to lay siege to the CM’s residence in Bengaluru demanding the resignation of Nagendra. The protesters were stopped and later detained by the police.

Noting that in the death note, officer Chandrasekhar, mentioned the phone calls and pressure from the office of the concerned minister, Vijayendra alleged, “There is no possibility that the officials have transferred such a large amount (to a account) in Telangana without the permission of Minister Nagendra.”

On Wednesday, the state government suspended the managing director and an official of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd over allegations of an illegal money transfer.

Two FIRs have been registered following Chandrashekar’s suicide. The first was against the three people named in his note, and the second was registered against six bank officials for the alleged fraud.

Bhopal: A 32-year-old IT professional being treated for depression and back pain allegedly committed suicide in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh after wrapping a polythene bag tightly around his face and inhaling nitrogen from his mouth through a pipe, a police official said on Thursday.

As per police, Siddharth Khurana, who ended his life on Tuesday, left behind a 4-page suicide note in English in which he detailed his failures and said he was sick of living a “miserable life”.

Quoting from the suicide note, police sources said the deceased had dwelt at length about surfing the internet to find out ways for an easy death.

After reading about hanging, consuming poison etc, he opted for inhaling nitrogen gas as it kills within 40 seconds, police sources said.

In the note, Khurana has mentioned actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who committed suicide in Mumbai in June 2020, Misrod police station inspector Manishraj Bhadauriya told PTI but refused to elaborate.

“After being alerted, we entered Khurana’s house, which was bolted from inside, on Tuesday,” the official said.

An image of Khurana, clad in shorts and a black t-shirt, lying dead with a polythene bag around his face and a nitrogen cylinder nearby went viral on social media.

“Khurana hailed from Lucknow and was living in the house alone after his live-in partner left him a fortnight ago. He was employed with a a reputed IT company and was working from home since November. As per our probe, he was being treated for depression and back pain. The short post mortem report is awaited,” Bhadauriya said.

“We will record the statement of his girlfriend. The body has been handed over to the kin,” he added.

Mysuru: In a crackdown on corruption, Inspector Radha of Kuvempunagar Police Station in Mysuru was caught red-handed by the Lokayukta Police while accepting a bribe in connection with a case.

The incident took place when Inspector Radha allegedly demanded a bribe from a contractor whose cars had been seized by the Kuvempunagar police. The vehicles contained gold ornaments, property documents, a bank passbook, and an ATM card. In return for the release of the cars with the valuables, Inspector Radha demanded a bribe of Rs. 2 lakh.

Following this, the contractor lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta police on Thursday. Acting on the complaint, the Lokayukta Police conducted a raid at the Kuvempunagar Police Station and arrested Inspector Radha while she was accepting Rs. 50,000 as part of the bribe.

The operation was executed under the supervision of Lokayukta Director General of Police Prashant Kumar Thakur and Inspector General of Police Subrahmaneswara Rao. The team included Superintendent of Police Sajeet VJ, DYSP Krishnaiah, and several police inspectors from the Mysuru Lokayukta Police Station, including Umesh, Jayaratna, Rupashree, Ravikumar, Ramesh, Gopi, Kantaraju, Prakash, Mohangowda, Veena, Pushpalatha, Divyashree, Netravathi, Pradeep, Parasurama, Mohan, and Lokesh.

Inspector Radha has been taken into custody by the Lokayukta Police, and further investigations are underway.

Budaun (UP): A barber was kept in a lockup at a police station here for allegedly reaching late at a police officer’s residence for a haircut, officials said on Thursday.

The incident occurred when Circle Officer (CO) Sunil Kumar had called Vinod Kumar, a barber, at this residence for a haircut, they said.

Talking to the media, the victim’s brother Shiv Kumar said, “Vinod was busy with other customers so he got a bit late in reaching the residence of the CO. A few hours later some police personnel came to our shop. They closed it and took Vinod to the Bisauli police station.”

“They kept Vinod in the lock-up till Wednesday afternoon,” he added.

Following the incident, the Superintendent of Police Alok Priyadarshi said that the matter has come to his notice and an investigation is underway.

“Action will be taken against the person responsible,” Priyadarshi said.

Bengaluru: The Commissioner of School Education has on Thursday issued an order mandating all private schools (other curriculum schools) in the state to be accredited under the ‘ Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act-2009 (RTE) and its Rules framed under the Act-2012.

As per the order, all private aided and private unaided schools of all syllabuses shall comply with the norms laid down under Section-18 of the Right to Education Act-2009, and apply for recognition in Form-1 with self-attestation prescribed as per Rule-11 of the Karnataka Compulsory and Free Education Right Rules-2012. The recognition obtained in this manner will be valid for 5 years.

The Commissioner in the order also pointed out that if any school violates norms laid down or the provisions of the Act (even if the affiliation is granted by the Central Curriculum Board and renewed from time to time), the recognition of such school shall be withdrawn. Additionally, legal action will be taken if any school continues to operate without obtaining recognition/renewal of recognition or continues to operate after the recognition has been withdrawn.

The Commissioner has warned that if there is any school registered under the state or central curriculum that falls under the jurisdiction of RTE and has not renewed its accreditation, the concerned officials will be held directly responsible.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday claimed that a ritual named ”Shatru Bhairavi Yaga”, which involves the sacrifice of animals, is being performed at a temple in Kerala, targeting him, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in the state.

The state Congress chief, without revealing any names, alleged that some political people in Karnataka were getting it done, and Aghoris (monastic order of ascetic Shaivite sadhus) were being consulted for it.

”A big experiment is going on against me in Kerala and our government. Someone has given (details) about it to me in writing, about the pooja that is going on. Someone gave me in writing as to where it is being done and who is doing it,” Shivakumar said, when asked about a bracelet he was wearing. Speaking to reporters here, he alleged that it is being done against him and the chief minister.

”Shatru Bhairavi Yaga is being performed near Rajarajeshwari temple in Kerala for Shatru Samhara (destruction of enemies). For this yaga ‘Pancha Bali’ (five kinds of sacrifice) is being given…21 goats, three buffaloes, 21 black sheeps, five pigs….Aghoris are being approached. It is going on,” he added.

Further stating that those involved in the ritual have informed him, as to who is getting the yaga done in Kerala, and by whom, the Deputy CM said, ”it is their effort, why should I bother?” Asked if he believes in such yagas and rituals, he said, ”It is based on one’s belief…let them do any experiment against me, there is a Shakti in which I believe in, it will save me.” To a question whether BJP or JD(S) people are doing it, Shivakumar said, ”I know who is doing it, who is getting it done, they are experts in it….I don’t want to talk much as you (media) will take it to somewhere else. You, too, would know who it is.” Responding to a question about whether political people are behind it, he said, ”if not political people, who else will do it? Check near Rajarajeshwari temple (you will know).” ”More than their yaga, I have the blessings of God and people, also my belief ,” he said, adding that someone gave him the bracelet and hence he was wearing it.

When asked if he will be performing any pooja or rituals to counter it, Shivakumar said, every day he prays to God for a minute with folded hands, before leaving for work. ”That’s the reason I have this much strength and protection.”

New Delhi: Customs authorities have detained a former member of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s staff and another person at the IGI airport here in an alleged case of gold smuggling.

In a statement, the Customs said that on the basis of suspicion, its officers have booked a case of gold smuggling against an Indian national who arrived here from Bangkok on Wednesday.

It said further investigations revealed involvement of another individual, who had come to the airport to receive the passenger and also assist in the alleged smuggling.

The said the individual was intercepted and a heavy gold chain weighing 500 gm, valued at 35.22 lakh, was recovered from him. The gold was handed over to him by the passenger inside the arrival hall, the customs said.

Enquiry revealed that the individual had a valid Aerodrome Entry Permit.

The circumstances of acquisition of Aerodrome Entry Permit by the receiver, as a part of the protocol team for a Member of Parliament, are being looked into, the the customs said.

The recovered gold has been seized under section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962 and further investigation is underway, the statement said.

Tharoor, who is in Dharamshala for campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls, said he was shocked to hear of the incident involving “a former member” of his staff who has been rendering part-time service to him in terms of airport facilitation.

“He is a 72-year-old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and was retained on a part-time basis on compassionate grounds.

“I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action as may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its own course,” Tharoor wrote on X.

While I am in Dharamshala for campaigning purposes, I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance. He is a 72 year old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and…

Guwahati National Award-winning filmmaker Luit Kumar Barman has filed a police complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his controversial comments on Mahatma Gandhi.

Barman filed the complaint on Wednesday night at Hatigaon police station in Guwahati, alleging that Modi made a “highly derogatory statement” about the Father of the Nation.

The police said a preliminary investigation is on and no FIR was registered yet in this connection.

Prime Minister Modi in a TV interview to a TV channel said, “…Across the world, Mahatma Gandhi was a great person. Was it not our responsibility in these 75 years to ensure that the entire world knows Mahatma Gandhi. I am sorry to say that no one knows about him. The first time when the film ‘Gandhi’ was made, it was then that there was curiosity across the world as to who this person was. We have not done so…”

In his complaint, Barman said, “This is a highly derogatory statement and cannot be acceptable by a citizen of India. As a citizen, we can not accept insult to Mahatma Gandhi.”

No film is required to introduce him to the world, said Barman who produced the 2021 Assamese film ‘Boomba Ride’ which won the Rajat Kamal. 

“By comparing Mahatma Gandhi with a film, Narendra Modi has defamed Mahatma Gandhi along with the people of India. Therefore, I request you to take action against Narendra Modi under relevant section of law,” Barman said.

When contacted, Hatigaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Bijay Duwara told PTI that no FIR has been registered and a “preliminary investigation” is going on.