BENGALURU: Even before the new government has fully settled down to business, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa put new Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and the party in a tight spot by his controversial statement and objectionable remarks against opposition Congress leaders.

On a response to the media citing some Congress leaders’ ‘joker’ jibe at him, a rather upset Eshwarappa referred to his opposition colleagues as ‘sons of prostitutes’. Political rivals hitting each other below the belt is not new in state politics, but this was a new low.

Upon realising he had crossed the Lakshman Rekha in public discourse, the minister withdrew his comment and requested the media not to play it up. 

However, Chief Minister Bommai, apparently not knowing about Eshwarappa’s follow-up comments, initially went on to defend his minister’s aggressiveness. “It is not a provocative statement,” Bommai said, responding to a question if action would be taken against the minister for his remarks during a party workers’ meeting at Shivamogga on Sunday.

“It is true that violence is not an answer to violence, but Eshwarappa was giving expression to his pain as party workers were murdered in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Karwar and Sirsi,” the CM said. But with the opposition Congress seething with anger over Eshwarappa’s Tuesday offensive, which came in addition to his Sunday remarks, Eshwarappa was made to retract.

Taking umbrage, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah said the BJP leader “lacked culture”. “Those with civility would not use such derogatory words in public life! What administration can anyone expect from such people,” he said, adding that people in public should be ready to accept healthy criticism. He didn’t, however, elaborate how calling a minister ‘joker’ came under civil criticism.

KPCC president DK Shivakumar and senior Congress leader and MLC BK Hariprasad also hit out at Eshwarappa. “The entire State is watching him. He had taken an oath that he will not hate anyone and take everyone along. He has failed to honour that and stooped to such low levels. Congressmen in this State will answer him at the right time and place,” Shivakumar urged the new chief minister to take a befitting step against Eshwarappa’s no-holds-barred remarks.

State Congress working president Ramalinga Reddy too added that BJP should take action against Eshwarappa for hurling “abusive language”, and even demanded a first information report (FIR) be filed against the minister for hurting sentiments.

BENGALURU: Admissions for first-year PU courses began officially across the state on Tuesday.Director of Pre-University R Snehal said admissions for the year 2021-22 for first PU students were to start the day following declaration of SSLC results. The department has allowed admissions up to August 31. During this period, students will have to pay their fees as well. Online classes will start on August 16.

A late fine will be levied on admissions that are held thereafter. For those getting admitted between September 1 and 11, a late fee of `670 will be levied. Meanwhile, those getting admitted between September 13 and September 25 will have to pay a special fine of `2,890. Schools will have to pay the fees to the department of PU in a day of students paying the fee.

In the meantime, the Registered Unaided Private Schools Management Association (RUPSA) has written to Minister for Primary and Secondary Education B C Nagesh, to make arrangements for students who have written the SSLC examination to be admitted to PU or an equivalent grade.

RUPSA President Lokesh Talikatte said a letter in the regard has been sent to the government twice. He said that last year, only 6.23 lakh students were given seats in PU colleges. This year, 8.7 lakh state board students alone have completed Class 10, and if other boards are considered, the state is looking at over 12 lakh students applying for first PU or its equivalent grade. 

Talikatte requested that provision be made for admissions for the additional 3 lakh SSLC students who cleared the examination this year. He said that although there is unlimited intake in government PU colleges, there are just 1,234 such colleges, and they have only 6,250 permanent lecturers. He said now is the time to appoint more lecturers. 

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai

Mysuru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said there is no confusion regarding cabinet expansion and portfolio allocation and that he would talk to all those who have issues and will resolve it.

Amid simmering discontent within the party with several Ministerial aspirants not making it to the cabinet and some of those who have made it, being unhappy over the portfolios allocated to them, the Chief Minister pointed out that the cabinet exercise has been carried in a “special circumstance”.

“There are no confusions (regarding portfolio allocation)…Anand Singh (disgruntled Minister) had come yesterday, I have spoken to him, I have told him several matters, he is satisfied. I will call him in a couple of days and speak to him once again. There is no confusion in any way,” Bommai said.

To a question on “native” BJP leaders like S A Ramadas from the district being unhappy over not being part of the Ministry, he said, “He is a good friend, I was in touch with him during the cabinet process. I will talk to him. He too is aware of several matters and how it (cabinet exercise) was done.”

“As a senior politician he has understood that the cabinet expansion has taken place is a special circumstance. I will speak to him, everything will be resolved,” he added.

The Chief Minister had last week expanded his new cabinet, by inducting 29 Ministers and had allocated portfolios to them on Saturday.

At least two Ministers- Anand Singh and M T B Nagaraj- have openly expressed displeasure about their portfolios, while there are several legislators who are sulking on not being inducted into the cabinet.

Meanwhile, Bommai said he has accepted his predecessor B S Yediyurappa’s request to withdraw the government’s order granting him Cabinet-rank minister status.

“I have accepted it, he (Yediyurappa) has sent a letter yesterday. He has said that he doesn’t want a position equivalent to a Cabinet Minister. We have accepted it and will provide him facilities that should be given to immediate past chief ministers,” he said.

The government on Saturday had issued an order providing Yediyurappa all facilities on par with Cabinet-rank ministers and had said that it will be applicable until Bommai is in office as the Chief Minister.

Expressing confidence about getting approval for the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on Mekedatu project across river Cauvery, the Chief Minister in response to a question said he will be visiting Delhi to discuss the project with the union Minister concerned and inform about the facts and Supreme Court orders.

He said he will also hold a meeting with the state’s legal team along with Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol regarding the legal steps to be taken to exercise the state’s right over excess water in the Cauvery basin.

“We have already submitted the DPR to the central government, to the Central Water Commission (CWC) and they have said that they will give approval to it soon. There are certain process, once that is completed I’m confident about getting the approval,” he said, adding that state will take all the necessary steps to start the project.

Accusing Tamil Nadu of playing politics on the water issue, Bommai said there are parties there, who have gained power on the issue of Cauvery water.

“They always continue to play politics on the issue, but it should be kept in mind that the river is for the benefit of the people and farmers and not for politics,” he added.

Mekedatu is a multipurpose (drinking and power) project, which involves building a balancing reservoir, near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district.

Tamil Nadu is against the project and is of the opinion that it is against its interests.

The project once completed is aimed at ensuring drinking water to Bengaluru and neighboring areas (4.75 TMC) and also can generate 400 MW power, and the estimated cost of the project is Rs 9,000 crore.

BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said he has decided to visit all the border districts of the state that have more COVID-19 cases and review the situation there in the days to come.

“I will be traveling in Mysuru district today. I will have a discussion with officials on the COVID situation there. In the same way I have decided to visit all the border districts, where there are more COVID cases,” he said.

Speaking to reporters here ahead of his trip to Mysuru, Bommai said he will also visit Chamundeshwari temple and Suttur Mutt, a prominent Lingayat seminary in the region.

Concerned over the spread of the virus from the neighbouring Kerala and Maharashtra, the Karnataka government has announced weekend curfew in all districts bordering the two states.

Those districts that are bordering Maharashtra where weekend curfew is being imposed are- Belagavi, Bidar, Vijayapura and Kalaburagi-, similarly those districts bordering Kerala are- Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Mysuru and Chamarajanagara.

He has also deputed Ministers to each district in the state, and has asked them to visit and personally monitor the situation there.

The state recorded 1,598 fresh COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths on Sunday, according to the Health Department.

The number of the infected and the dead reported during the day took the total to 29,18,525 and 36,793 till date, the department said.

There were 23,930 active cases while the recovery of 1,914 patients took the number cured so far to 28,57,776.

Dakshina Kannada district, bordering Kerala, saw 438 cases and six fatalities while the Bengaluru urban district witnessed 348 fresh infections and one death.

The capital city of Karnataka has so far reported 12,30,486 infections and 15,914 deaths.

There were 8,493 active cases.

Other districts also reported COVID-19 cases: Udupi reported 129 cases, Mysuru 98, Kodagu 83, Hassan 80, Uttara Kannada 53 and Chikkamagaluru 52.

According to a bulletin, there were fatalities in nine districts, including Bengaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Kolar, Hassan, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada and Mysuru.

There were zero fatalities in 21 districts of the State where 1,46,446 tests were conducted today.

The tests included 1,14,176 RT-PCR tests, the bulletin said.

So far, 3.98 crore tests have been done, it said.

As many as 1,23,932 people were innoculated today and the total number vaccinated till date was 3.29 crore.

The test positivity rate for the day was 1.09 per cent and the case fatality rate 1.25 per cent, the Health Department said.

Enforcement Directorate,(ED)raided properties belonging to former MLA R.Roshan Baig and Congress MLA B.Z.Zameer Ahmed Khan,in connection with the Rs.4,000 Crore IMA Scam,a Ponzi scheme that cheated thousands of investors in the name of Halal investment and went bust in June 2019.

Raids have been underway at multiple locations in the city against both leaders since Thursday morning.

This is a first raid by the ED officials on the four-time legislator from Champarajepet Zameer Ahmed Khan’s premises after his name cropped up in the scam in July 2019 and even he had mentioned in asset declarations form submitted to the Election Commission that he borrowed loan from IMA and its founder.

While Mr.Baig has been chargesheeted in the case by CBI,Mr.Khan though was questioned by multiple agencies including ED before for a property transaction with IMA founder Mohammed Mansoor Khan,he has not been charged by any agency till date.

ED,Bengaluru that began the probe into the case in 2019,transferred the case to the head office in Delhi in 2020,due to the sensitive and high profile nature of the case,sources said.

The Agency that had largely kept quiet for nearly a year and a half sprung into action on Thursday.

A team of over 100 ED officials from New Delhi branch have landed in the city for the raids and search operations are underway at over six properties connected with Mr.Baig,including his two residences in Shivajinagar,while it is underway at the Chamarajpet residence of Mr. Khan apart from the offices of National Travels,a firm he owns and other properties linked to him, sources said.

Mr.Khan is known to have sold one of his properties on Serpentine Road,Richmond Town spread over 14,924 sqft for a consideration of Rs.9.38 Crore to IMA founder Mohammed Mansoor Khan,a transaction declared in the 2018 poll affidavit.

Mr.Khan has consistently denied any other business links to IMA other than the property sale.

He was questioned by multiple agencies -SIT of Karnataka Police,CBI and ED in connection with the case,but none charged him of any offence till date.

Meanwhile,Mr. Baig,whom IMA Founder Mohammed Mansoor Khan blamed for his business to go kaput as he was forced to pay him Rs.400 Crore,was arrested by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in November 2020 and is presently out on bail.

CBI filed a chargesheet against him in the case in April 2021 in which they accused that depositor’s investments in IMA was diverted to Mr.Baig,then a minister in the Siddaramaiah led Congress government to continue its illegal activities.

The Competent Authority in IMA and other scams of Karnataka on July 6 has already attached around 20 movable and immovable properties belonging to Baig,estimated to be worth over Rs.15 crore.

Congress suspended him from the party after the scam broke and though he wanted to join BJP, the party high command blocked his entry due to his tainted image making him a political pariah. Competent Authority in IMA and other scams, Government of Karnataka on July 6 attached around 20 movable and immovable properties of Mr. Baig,estimated to be worth over Rs.15 Crore.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Thursday arrested Congress legislator Zameer Khan’s nephew Muzamil says sources.

The search operations are underway at various premises connected with Baig,including his two residences in Shivajinagar,and at the Chamarajpet residence of Khan apart from offices of National Travels,a firm he owns,and other properties linked to him.

Sources revealed that in all the locations the officials informed the local police about the raids after which security was deployed in these areas.

Pramesh Jain

The Madanayakanahalli police have registered a case of cheating against a group of delivery boys who were cheating their company by booking orders through fake IDs and replacing them with the fake goods to return the same .

The fraud came to light when the company after a series of complaints brought it to the notice of its service partner.

The company officials verified the details and tracked the booking records leading to the exposure of the scam.

The accused would book the product using different Ids which they would create and mention the address which would fall under their area of work.

The accused are Nitish Kumar,Srinivas,Kiran and others working as delivery boys for a company which is a service partner for the parent company (amazon).

Using the modus operandi the accused have taken laptops from branded companies,wrist watches,mobile phones,cameras and ear phones cheating the company worth over four lakhs.

Based on complaint by the company senior representative a case of cheating and breach of trust is registered against group of delivery boys and manhunt is on to nab the group a special team has been formed to nab the culprits he added.

Pramesh Jain

Narcotics Control Bureau,Bangalore had neutralised a drug trafficking syndicate operating through courier.

The NCB Hyderabad Sub Zone raided the courier company after a thorough check the team seized a courier parcel shipment destined to Australia on 02.08.2021.

One Kilogram of Pseudoephedrine seized by NCB Bangalore Zonal Unit effected a seizure of 2.512 Kgs,of Amphetamine from a courier parcel destined to Australia at Bangalore.

Two arrested accused has been identified as,
A Thahir and R Meeran, from Tamilnadu identified by the NCB team with the help of CCTV cameras were arrested on Tuesday.

Amit Ghawate said,NCB Bangalore gave specific information to Australian authorities based on
which Australian authorities seized 1.4 Kgs,of Pseudoephedrine which was concealed with metal hand press kitchen appliances were recovered and two persons arrested.

The NCB officials of Hyderabad Unit on Monday busted another international drug racket and  seized one kg of Pseudoephedrine from a consignment at a courier office in Akbarbag, Hyderabad,which was readied to be shipped to Australia.

The consignment contained bundles of lace and along with other embroidery items.On thorough examination,the NCB officers found a transparent pouch with a white colour crystal powder well concealed in the cavity of the wheel of the bundle.

The extraction and testing of the hidden material revealed that it was Pseudoephedrine, a Controlled Substance under NDPS Act,1985.

NCB Bangalore Zonal Unit had seized 2.512 Kgs. of Amphetamine concealed in a gym equipment destined to Australia from a courier parcel at Bangalore.

Based on further analysis one suspected parcel destined to Australia from Hyderabad was identified and promptly informed to Australian authorities.

Australian authorities seized 1.4 Kgs of Pseudoephedrine from that parcel which was concealed with metal hand press kitchen appliances.

Further field surveillance indicated involvement of individuals from Tamilnadu.These two individuals named A Thahir and R Meeran were caught on 03.08.2021 by NCB Hyderabad while sending the courier to Australia.

The operation was headed by Amit Ghawate (Zonal Director,Bangalore) Sumit Arya, Superintendent and other officers associated to this case at NCB,Hyderabad Sub Zonal Unit.

Pramesh Jain

A day after members of the African community protested after the death of a Congolese man, the JC Nagar police registered two more FIRs and confirmed that one of the five arrested during the protest had tested positive for consumption of drugs

Followed by lathicharge in front of the JC nagar on Monday,police stepped up investigations to identify the people who instigated the attack .

We have taken two cases including the attack on PSI Latha and PSI Mallikarjuna during the protest and also a case about a minor boy injured when he was pushed by the accused while fleeing after the violence,a police officer said .

Based on the complaint by the boy’s parents the police have registered a case and are looking for the prime accused who led the violence group to attack the police.

The police have collected the CCTV and video footage to identify the accused.A special team has been formed to track down the accused who are on the run,the police added.

The police have arrested five persons so far in connection with the attack and their travel documents are being verified,Dharmedra Kumar Meena,said .

The accused have been subjected to medical examination since they are under the influence of alcohol.

The special team tracking down the accused also verifies the travel documents of african nationals during the search and take legal action whoever is found to be overstaying.

Mr.Meena said adding that the police have taken action against 154 persons in the north division who were caught staying without valid documents.

Meanwhile the post mortem of john died in police custody is being conducted at bowring hospital.

Meanwhile the CID officials visited the station and obtained the details of the deceased to initiate a probe.

Responding to the incident,Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the lathi-charge by the police was a response to the protestors turning violent.

He also added that For the last 2 years, we have been strictly monitoring drug issues.There are many African nationals in the State,some of them are staying even after visa expiry.

We are taking strict action in the matter and are arresting them under PIT NDPS Act”.

Alikali, vice-president,Congolese Community in Bengaluru, told reporters that,A student from our community was arrested around 1 am yesterday.

This morning we got the news of his sudden death.He was fully healthy.People protested because they think police brutality was meted out to him.

He added that though the JC Nagar police claimed they didn’t touch him and he died of a cardiac attack, many people including his girlfriend suspected police brutality.We want to
get a clear picture,he said.

Congolese embassy officials visit the Bangalore police commissioner’s office The two officers met Commissioner Kamal Pant.

North Division DCP Dharmendra Kumar Meena has issued a statement on the uproar of African nationals in front of the city. We have registered 2 cases of incident. 

1 case has been filed on the complaint of PSI Lata. A young boy has been hurt by the uproar of African nationals.We are already investigating these 2 cases.”

There is a video of those involved in yesterday’s protest. The accused will be found.Case under NDPS and Foreigners Act.

A sample of five urine has already been collected.One’s Drugs Intake Report has been positive.154 people have been found in the Northern Division for a year.Dharmendra Kumar Meena,DCP, North Division said,

Parmesh jain

The Sathanur police of Ramanagara district arrested two persons,including a former bank manager,for allegedly replacing 9.5kg of pledged gold with fake gold jewellery,and selling the original.Police recovered gold worth Rs 2.12 crore from the accused.

The accused has been identified as Anant Nag K, a resident of Peenya and former bank manager, and Rajneesh S Jain (42),of Gandhi Nagar in Mandya,who received the gold from him.

Senior officer told media persons,The Sathanur police on Tuesday arrested a 32-year-old former manager of Canara bank of Honniganahalli branch for stealing and replacing 9.5 kgs of gold valuables with fake articles and selling the booty to a mandya based jeweller to make money in the last three years .

The fraud came to light in July this year when the Assistant General manager of the bank auctioned some of the pawned gold valuables as part of a recovery drive and came to know that they were fake .

Suspecting the role of Rajanna HS,valuer appointed by the bank,Mr.Rao filed a complaint with the police on July 16.

Based on the complaint,a special team was formed by Superintendent of Police,Girish S and his team swung into action.

The team picked up Rajanna for questioning and after a detailed probe the police gave him a clean chit and summoned the manager,Ananthnag, 32, for questioning.

A detailed questioning by the police team in their own style not only led him to confess to the crime but also led the police to arrest his partner -in-crime,Rajnish Jain a 42-year-old jeweller from Mandya, who was buying the gold from Ananth Nag.

Based on his information the police seized 4.7 kgs of gold valuables (out of total 9.5kgs gold valuables he had stolen) worth Rs 2.12 crore along with cash Rs 23 lakh from him.

The police also seized 9.5 kgs worth of fake gold valuables which he had replaced with the genuine gold valuables and two cars used by the accused.

The accused had constructed a palatial house in Peenya out of the money he got from selling the pawned gold .

The accused had targeted the gold valuables of 352 customers who defaulted the repayment of gold loan and replaced 9.5 kgs of artificial gold valuables to take away the genuine gold and sell it to Rajnish Jain.

Finally DG-IGP,Praveen Sood,IGP,Central Range,M Chandrashekhar has appreciated,Superintendent of Police,Girish S,PI,Ravikumar C,and his team for the good piece of investigation,superintendent of Police,Ramanagar district,S Girish,announced a cash reward to Ravi Kumar C,to his team for the exemplary and commendable job done by them he added.