BENGALURU: As members of a pro-Hindu organisation played devotional songs from temples early Monday morning to protest against the use of loudspeakers at mosques for azaan, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the Supreme Court order on the use of loudspeakers in public places applies to everyone and it will be implemented in a strict, but cordial, manner. No one should take law into their own hands, 
he said.

Bommai, after chairing a meeting with chief executive officers of zilla panchayats, said the Supreme Court has issued an order on the use of loudspeakers in public places and the then state government in 2002 too had issued an order in this regard. The issue was discussed with the senior officers during the meeting and clear orders will be issued again on implementing the court directions, he said.

“The Central government too has issued an order in accordance with recommendations of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It clearly specifies the places and decibel levels for use of loudspeakers in public places. In 2002, the Karnataka government issued an order to implement the SC order and also directions from the Centre,” he said.

The GO issued by the state government also specifies details on various aspects, like whether the loudspeakers are used throughout the year and the need to obtain clearance for this.  

Guidelines will be issued to enforce the order: CM Basavaraj Bommai

The onus of implementing the order lies with police officers of the rank of DySP in the respective areas. “Suitable guidelines will be issued to enforce the order,” the chief minister said. Bommai said everyone should obey the order and no one should take law into their own hands.

The government has taken note of the developments in other states and the SC order is being followed in many states, including Uttar Pradesh, he added.

BAGALKOT: Criticizing Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik for his drive against loudspeakers in mosques, JDS leader and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy demanded stringent action and immediate arrest of Muthalik.

“The government should permit loudspeakers as per the norms of the Supreme Court. I feel that playing Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers will not help to save Hindutva. I recite Hanuman Chalisa everyday at my home and whenever there are health and other issues. These organisations will create nuisance in the society and destroy innocent lives. The government should consider it seriously and arrest Muthalik at the earliest,” he said.

“Instead of carrying out such drives, there is a necessity to raise voice against the government for high inflation and soaring fuel prices. The farmers are yet to get the crop insurance of the previous year. The common people are already suffering, and the organisations should not play with their lives,” appealed the former Chief Minister.

Bengaluru: A constable attached to the Vivek Nagar Police Station here, has been suspended for allegedly posing for a picture wearing the uniform of PSI even before the recruitment order was released.

Karibasanagouda was posted at Vivek Nagar Police Station as a constable and had secured 27^th rank in the provisional selection list of 545 Police Sub-Inspectors (PSI).

However, before the order was released of his recruitment as PSI, he posed in the uniform of PSI with two stars attached on the shoulders of the uniform, following which DCP Central Division MN Anucheth suspended the constable for violating police rules.

A resident of Gudasalakoppa village of Haveri Taluk, Karibasanagouda also reportedly took part in an event in his village where he was sitting on the stage wearing the uniform of PSI. Pictures and videos pertaining to him posing in a PSI uniform went viral on social media platforms before the Central Division DCP issued his suspension orders.

Several banners and flex were also erected in his village with his picture in uniform, congratulating him for his selection as PSI.

BENGALURU: Leader of Opposition in the Council BK Hariprasad on Thursday hit out at Upper House Chairman Basavaraj Horatti for “violating” the Constitution by announcing his decision to join the BJP while holding office. The Congress leader said this conduct of Horatti comes under the ambit of the Anti-Defection Law.

He has said he will resign as Chairman on May 11 and join the BJP, it is against the Constitution,” he added, demanding Horatti’s resignation. “A similar situation arose when Rajya Sabha member Sharad Yadav said he would join the RJD. Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu used that statement of Yadav to disqualify him,” Hariprasad said.  

Horatti should uphold dignity of House: Hariprasad

“Horatti  is occupying a constitutional post, he met Amit Shah and said he will be joining the BJP. No one expected such a stand by Horatti, who is senior and has long experience… before coming to such a decision, he could have conducted himself in a manner that safeguards the dignity of the post he is holding,” Hariprasad said.

“Horatti is holding a high constitutional post. It goes without saying that he has to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House,” Hariprasad said, adding there could be a Constitutional crisis if the Congress plans to complain against Horatti. “…because if we have to take it up formally, we have to file a complaint with the deputy chairman, and that post is vacant.” Meanwhile, Horatti (76) joining the BJP has posed several questions to the saffron party. “How will they accommodate him when the party principle is not to allow anyone above the age of 75 to hold any post?” asked a political expert.

As Horatti prepares to switch sides to join the BJP, a big question is how the party will manage so many contradictions. While Horatti is over 75 years old, it will mean denying the party ticket to their own candidate Mohan Limbikai, and giving the seat to Horatti. Horatti is joining the BJP with the consent of the JDS, and there are many questions whether this is one of the first moves to ensure a larger synergy the BJP is building with JDS.

Bengaluru: Moon Sighting Committee in Bengaluru on Sunday announced that Eid-ul-Fitr in the state’s capital will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 3.

The crescent moon was not sighted on Sunday, the committee added.

The decision was taken during a meeting at the Karnataka Wakf Board office in the city, chaired by Ameer-e-Shariyat Moulana Sageer Ahmed Khan Rashadi.

The committee added that the crescent moon was not sighted anywhere across the country and hence the Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 3.

DAVANGERE: Former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday said that BJP’s victories in the four States have boost the confidence of the Karnataka BJP workers and he exuded confidence of winning 150 seats in 2023 Assembly elections.

Addressing the public during the foundation stone-laying ceremony for various development projects in Jagaluru town, he described Congress as an “orphan” and a “sinking ship”, which will lose its existence in Karnataka too.

“The development works initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led the party to victory in four out of five States, which clearly indicates his popularity, and we want to replicate the same in Karnataka,” he said.

Taking note of the results from the Uttar Pradesh, the former CM said that the Congress is totally wiped out there Their last bastion, Karnataka, will be lost soon after the Assembly poll results, he claimed.Yediyurappa also said that he along with the BJP team will visit all the constituencies and try to achieve the target of 150 seats determined by the party high command.

“The 2.4 tmc feet of water allocated to Jagaluru will help improve the water table of the drought-prone taluk,” he said.

BENGALURU: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), in one of its biggest operations, seized Rs 5,551.27 crore from a Bengaluru-based Chinese telecom firm Xiaomi Technology India.The seizure was made after months-long investigations by ED. Xiaomi, which is one of the top mobile phone brands in the country, has an annual turnover of Rs 34,000 crore. The money has been seized from four bank accounts of Xiaomi under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

ED sources said the company had already sent a major portion of the money to its group companies in China. “The balance amount was lying in its four bank accounts at HSBC, Citi Bank, IDBI and Deutsche Bank,” the official source said.The royalty amount has been remitted based on the instruction of its Chinese parent group. A certain amount has also been remitted to two more unrelated US-based entities, the source added.

The company has been operating in India since 2014 and as per the agreement, it procures the completely manufactured handsets from manufacturers in India. These contract manufacturers have a direct arrangement with the group entities of Xiaomi based in China for supplying raw material and manufacturing of mobile sets as per the specifications provided by Xiaomi China, ED stated.

“Xiaomi India has not provided any technological input or software-related assistance to these contract manufacturers. Interestingly, Xiaomi India has transferred money to the three foreign-based entities from which they have not availed any kind of service,” ED authorities said.The Company, without having any authorisation, remitted the money — a violation of Section 4 of FEMA. The company allegedly also provided misleading information to the banks while remitting the money abroad.

Mumbai: The legendary Sunil Gavaskar has pitched for young pace sensation Umran Malik’s inclusion in the Indian team for the upcoming England tour following his stunning five-wicket haul against Gujarat Titans in the IPL here.

The 22-year-old Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer from Jammu produced one of the most fiery spells of fast bowling in the IPL history, snapping five wickets for 25 runs on Wednesday night.

But his breathtaking effort went in vain as Rashid Khan (31 not out off 11 balls) and Rahul Tewatia (40 not out in 21 balls) scored 56 from the last four overs, including 22 from the final six deliveries, to take the Titans home in a last-ball thriller.

“The next for him, I think is the Indian team,” former India skipper Gavaskar said during his commentary after the game.

“He might not play in the XI because India have got Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav. So, he might not play.

“But just travelling with the group, travelling with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, sharing the dressing room with them… just look what is going to happen to him!”

The young pace sensation has been clocking in excess of 150 kph consistently throughout the season and has picked up 15 wickets in eight matches at 15.93 average.

Introduced into the attack as late as the eighth over, Malik bowled devastatingly quick deliveries to scythe through the Gujarat Titans top-order, becoming the first IPL bowler to pick up all the first five wickets of an innings.

He rattled Shubman Gill’s off stump for his first wicket, before removing Hardik Pandya with a combination of pace and bounce.

Next, he produced a perfect 153 kmph thunderbolt yorker to smash the wickets of Wriddhiman Saha, before cleaning up both David Miller and Abhinav Manohar to sign off with a five-for.

India’s tour of England starts in June with the visitors playing the final Test of the five-match series, which was abandoned last year due to COVID-19, from July 1 to 5, before embarking on a three-match T20 series and playing as many ODIs.

India will begin the UK tour with two T20Is against Ireland in Dublin, starting June 26.

Parmesh S JAIN

Initiating investigations into the Assistant professor question paper leak case,the Malleshwaram police on Monday taken the prime accused into custody for questioning .

The police have also summoned 300 candidates who have appeared for the geography paper which has been leaked at 8.30 am much before the commencement of the exam.

The prime accused R Soumya,32,a PhD student was allegedly the first person to receive a set of 18 questioned on her mobile phone before the exam,which he had circulated to different numbers on Whatsapp numbers.

The same set of questions appeared in the exam scheduled on March 14 this year conducted by the the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), which had conducted the exam for the recruitment of assistant professors in government degree colleges.

Based on the complaint filed by Executive Director of KEA, the Malleshwaram police on Friday registered a case against Soumya R and others charging them under IT act and also under cheating and criminal conspiracy and arrested her.

The police produced Soumya before the court and taken into custody to ascertain the source of the leak and the people behind the conspiracy and her network .

Parmesh S JAIN

Continuing investigations into child sale racket case,the south division police on Saturday arrested a 41-year-old woman advocate who was co-ordinating paper works in the racket .

The accused has been identified as, Bhanumathi KP.

Senior officer told reporters,the accused Bhanumathi KP,was coordinating between hospital,childless couple and sarogate mothers taking care of the agreement and the other jobs on behalf of the hospital .

The accused who was working on divorce cases and legal issues for the last 11 years started working for the hospital as the legal consultant for the racket,a police officer said.

The job assigned to the accused is to prepare a document containing details on sarrogacy as per ICMR guidelines and counsel the childless couple and prepare a documents to get consent for the childless couple,to make it look like entire process is legal .

The accuse would then rope in poor women from other parts of the country luring them with money to be sarrogate mothers and get their consent on video recording as well as in writing along with the signature and monitor the mother at every stage and ensure the process is completed without any hassel .

The accused getting heavy fee for the job from various private hospitals and was on the run since the racket was busted in October last year.

However the police who have booked few hospitals in the case stumbled upon the role of Bhanumathi and tracked her down and arrested her .

There are more people suspected to be involved in the racket and efforts are on to track them down,said a senior officer.