Bengaluru: A fast-track special court has sentenced a 51-year-old man from Tamil Nadu to three years of imprisonment for sexually harassing a minor girl during a Doha-Bengaluru flight.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Ammawasai Murugesan.

The incident took place on June 27, 2023, when Murugesan, under the influence of alcohol, inappropriately touched the minor girl while on the flight. The girl’s mother objected to his actions, after which flight attendants changed their seats.

Upon landing, the girl’s father reported the matter to Kempegowda International Airport police, leading to Murugesan’s arrest under Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was granted bail on July 27, 2023.

During the trial, the victim testified via video link as she was abroad.

Last week, the Additional District and Sessions Fast-Track Special Court in Bengaluru Rural district found Murugesan guilty and convicted him under the POCSO Act.

The court order stated that if Murugesan fails to pay the fine, he would face an additional three months of imprisonment. Half of the fine amount — Rs 5,000 — is to be paid as compensation to the victim.

The court also noted that Murugesan is entitled to set off the time he spent in judicial custody from June 28 to July 27, 2023, against his sentence.

The court has granted Murugesan bail to appeal against the conviction, citing his cooperative behavior throughout the trial and regular attendance in court hearings. Under Section 389(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), he can remain out on bail until the appeal period expires.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar on Sunday warned officials of “merciless action” if the potholes in Bengaluru city were not filled within the 15 days deadline that was set.

Shivakumar, who is also the Minister in-charge of Bengaluru city development had on September 1 set a 15-day deadline to the city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to fill potholes across the city, citing a lot of complaints.

“I have held a meeting with Bengaluru city corporation officials, senior officials and Chief Engineers and have told them that the fifteen days deadline I had given, within that time, the work should be completed. 400 staff-engineers who are there should first focus on filling the potholes,” he said.

Addressing reporters here after the meeting, he said on failing to do so merciless action will be taken against those responsible.

“How many will get suspended I don’t know, I have strictly told them that the potholes should be filled within the deadline. I have told them directly. Within their wards, those responsible, however big or small they are, from top to bottom they should be on the streets personally and get the potholes filled, that’s the first priority,” he added.

Shivakumar further said he will personally go around the streets of Bengaluru after the fifteen days. “Who will get suspended I don’t know.”

He also said that forest department officials have been asked to trim the trees to avoid incidents of tree fall due to breeze and rains.

“Trees cannot be cut, trimming should be done, to avoid incidents of tree fall.”

Noting that there are chances of rains in September, Shivakumar said, “so far we have managed without any problem. We have to be cautious now. Things should be monitored from the control room, in case of any rain effects such as water logging and water entering houses, the situation should be managed effectively and efficiently. The Deputy CM said on October 2 Gandhi Jayanti, at all schools in Bengaluru, whether it is corporation or private schools, an oath would be administered to all students on maintaining cleanliness.

“We will take pledge in Vidhana Soudha, and students in their respective schools regarding maintaining cleanliness in their respective areas and creating awareness among people and in their homes.”

Shivakumar said he will be travelling abroad for a week on a personal visit. To a question about the agenda of his trip to the USA and whether he will be meeting any big personalities there, he said, “it is a personal family trip…. no one, I’m going on a personal basis.”

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Rejecting reports that he was travelling to the United States of America to meet some top leaders there, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday clarified that it was purely a personal visit with the family.

The DCM has also released to the media a letter that he wrote to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, regarding his visit to the USA.

“I am travelling to the USA (from today) along with my family till September 15. The media reports that I am meeting former US President Barack Obama and US Vice-President Kamala Harris (who is also contesting upcoming Presidential polls there) are incorrect. It is a personal visit,” he clarified in a press statement.

“As I have already informed (you), I will be proceeding to Washington on 8th September 2024 evening on a private visit and I will be back on 16th September 2024. This is for your kind information,” Shivakumar said in the letter to Kharge.

Earlier in the day, Shivakumar speaking to reporters here said he will be abroad for a week on a personal visit.

To a question about the agenda of his trip to the US and whether he will be meeting any big personalities there, he said, “it is a personal family trip….(meeting) no one, I’m going on a personal basis.”

Shivakumar also met Chief Minister Siddramaiah at his residence earlier in the day, official sources said.

Bengaluru: A woman has alleged that she faced harassment and was physically assaulted by an auto driver here after she cancelled the ride booked through an app.

She said the incident happened on Wednesday when she and her friend booked two autos on Ola.

Ola responded to her on social media platform ‘X’ saying they would investigate the incident, which it said “sounds quite alarming”, after she tagged the ride-hailing company in her posts demanding immediate action.

Additional Director General of Police Traffic and Road Safety, Alok Kumar assured that appropriate action would be taken.

The video of the incident was also shared by the woman on the social media platform.

“Yesterday in Bangalore (Bengaluru), my friend & I booked two autos on Ola due to peak hours. I arrived first, so she canceled hers. The other auto driver followed us, furious. Despite explaining the situation, he started shouting and hurling abuse,” the woman alleged.

“The driver went on to verbally assault us, questioning whether the auto belonged to my father and making derogatory comments. I began recording, which enraged him further. When I mentioned reporting him, he challenged me, showing no fear of consequences,” she alleged.

She said things escalated when he tried to snatch her phone. “I resisted, and he slapped me in front of my auto driver, who did nothing, and bystanders who remained passive. Despite this, he continued his threats, saying he’d beat me with his slippers too,” she further alleged.

Responding to her post, ADGP Kumar stated: “Such behaviour is unacceptable. (A) few people like him give (the) auto drivers community a bad name. Have informed the concerned to take appropriate action.”

Later, ‘Ola Support’ responded to her posts and said: “This sounds quite alarming.. Don’t worry, we are here to help you with this.”

BJP MLA Aravind Bellad and CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: CM Siddaramaiah stated that BJP MLA Aravind Bellad had apologized for using abusive words and he warmly welcomed the move. He took to X to express his gladness for a rare political gesture, on Tuesday.

“Criticism [and] disagreements are common in politics. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, a statement that insults another person’s dignity comes and goes without [us] realizing it. Deputy Leader of Opposition Arvind Bellad levelled a personal abuse at me while speaking against our government’s decision to grant land to the Jindal Company. Realizing his mistake, he apologized through a letter. I welcome this move of his with the utmost openness, and hereby convey that I have neither hatred nor resentment in my heart towards him”, Siddaramaiah wrote in the post.

The CM said that he too had done the same mistake of using ‘singular-terms’ against his opponents earlier, which he had regretted later. He had taken care that it didn’t happen again, he said. Despite being on the receiving end of personal abuse many times in his 40-year long political career, Siddaramaiah said that it was the first time that a politician had ever apologized on his own for making such comments. Through the written apology, Bellad “has showed the right way to a new generation of politicians”, he said.

Remembering his enduring friendship with the MLA’s father Chandrakanta Bellad, Siddaramaiah called him a gentleman politician. “May Arvind continue his legacy of gentlemanliness”, he added.

Siddaramaiah said that when politics had become only criticisms, accusations and counter-accusations during these days, Arvind Bellad’s actions symbolized the existence of an honourable way of doing things. “The saying ‘there is no greater atonement than repentance’ makes more sense in this context”, he added.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has adjourned the hearing of a petition filed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, challenging the prosecution order issued against him by the Governor in connection with the MUDA case.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 9.

RV Deshpande

Mysuru: RV Deshpande, who is Chairman of Administrative Reforms Commission and a senior Congress leader, brushed aside questions about him replacing Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, clarifying that no such idea was discussed within the Congress or the High Command in New Delhi.

Addressing reporters in the city on Sunday, Deshpande, who had also headed the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), said that Siddaramaiah would not only continue as the CM of the state but also remain at the helm for the full term.

The former minister further clarified that no meetings over a possible replacement of Siddaramaiah had been held at the residences of either Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara or Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi. Deshpande said that any meeting that the senior ministers held would have pertained to their respective ministries.

When asked about his aspirations to become the CM of Karnataka, Deshpande said that he would reply to the question only if such an offer was made to him. Earlier, however, when asked if he hoped he would get a portfolio in the next Cabinet reshuffle, the Congress leader said that he had also held the position of a minister several times and now it would be appropriate for him to become the CM. He added that having ambitions was perfectly acceptable but not being desperate.

Although the issue of a replacement of Siddaramaiah has been raised in the backdrop of the CM facing charges of being allocated a site under the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) illegally, Deshpande supported Siddaramaiah, saying that there was not a single black mark in the CM’s five-decade-long career in politics. He pointed out that MUDA had allocated sites to Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi as compensation for acquiring her land in Mysuru and opined that the allocation by MUDA was not wrong.

Ullal: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mangaluru Unit Yuva Morcha protested on Wednesday evening for the police delaying the filing of FIR against Congress MLC Ivan D’Souza for criticizing Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for permitting the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is facing allegations of being allocated a site under the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) illegally.

BJP District Vice-president Ravindra Shetty Ulidottu, who also participated in the protest, and members of the Yuva Morcha who allegedly attempted to lead a blockade were reportedly taken into custody by the police.The BJP youth forum members, who staged their protest below the Thokkottu flyover in the city, also accused the Congress government in the state of delaying the investigation of the case against the CM by a misuse of the Police Department. Calling the City Police as ‘spineless’ in the presence of the Congress government in taking action against MLC D’Souza for his strong statement, they said that immediate action was taken against the BJP for bursting firecrackers after winning the recent elections.

BJP District President Sathish Kumpala challenged Ivan D’Souza to open a rowdy sheet against BJP MLA D Vedvyas Kamath, warning the legislator that an illegal power show would fail before the BJP members.

Ulidottu, speaking during the protest, repeated the demand of the BJP members for Siddaramaiah to resign as Chief Minister as he is allegedly facing charges of illegal acquisition of site from the MUDA.

BJP Mangaluru Unit Vice-president Ravishankar Someshwar, District Spokesperson Mohanraj KR, General Secretary Dayanand Thokkottu, Mangaluru Yuva Morcha President Murali Konaje, Mahila Morcha President Madhavi Ullal, were among the BJP leaders, members and activists who participated in the protest at Thokkottu.

Bengaluru: BJP state president and MLA BY Vijayendra accused the Congress government of failing to address rising violence against women since coming to power. He expressed his concerns during the inauguration of the state-level workshop of BJP Mahila Morcha at Jagannath Bhawan, BJP State Office, Malleswar.

Vijayendra criticised the current state government, calling it “anti-people” and irresponsible in its handling of women’s safety issues.

He asserted that it is the duty of the opposition to fight against policies that harm the people, especially when the ruling government is allegedly ignoring such critical issues.

He highlighted several issues, including the scams involving the Valmiki Corporation and Muda, and claimed that these are indicative of a broader pattern of misconduct under the Congress government.

He also criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Home Minister Parameshwara, and other ministers for their alleged negligence in addressing violence against women.

Vijayendra further criticised the Congress government’s flagship initiative of free bus travel for women, implying that the scheme was an empty gesture that failed to address more pressing concerns.

The event was attended by BJP Mahila Morcha state president K.K. Manjula, national executive member Sonal Ben Patel, Legislative Council member Pratapasimha Naik, and other key members of the BJP Mahila Morcha.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court today, upheld the state government’s decision to withdraw the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the illegal property gain case against Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

The court dismissed the petitions filed by the CBI and BJP leader Basanagowda Patil Yatnal, which had challenged the state Cabinet’s decision to halt the investigation.

This ruling comes as a major relief for DCM D.K. Shivakumar.