Bengaluru: The Election Commission on Wednesday said Rs 5.85 crore cash and alcohol worth Rs 21.48 crore have been seized in Karnataka since the Model Code of Conduct came into force, The general elections in Karnataka will be held in two phases on April 26 and May seven for its 28 constituencies.

According to EC officials, since the Model Code of Conduct came into force on March 16, the flying squads, static surveillance teams and police authorities have seized Rs 5.85 crore cash, Rs 5.87 lakh freebies, 6.84 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 21.48 crore, 24.3 kg narcotic substances worth over Rs 15 lakh and precious metals valued at over Rs 27 crore.

They have also registered 205 FIRs with regard to seizure of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metal and freebies while 47,868 arms have been deposited, 827 arms were impounded, eight arms licences have been cancelled, 2,173 cases were booked under preventive sections of CrPC, out of which 2,725 persons were bounded over.

The Excise Department has booked 249 heinous cases, 206 cases for breach of licence conditions, 13 NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) and 822 cases under Section 15 (a) of Karnataka Excise Act 1965 and also 156 different types of vehicles have been seized.

In a statement, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka said that Vijayapura Cyber, Economic and Narcotics (CEN) Police Station Team has seized Rs 2,93,50,000 cash in Bijapur Parliamentary constituency, Vijayapura taluk and district.

The SST team has seized Rs 32,92,500 cash in Siraguppa Taluk, Bellary Parliamentary constituency, Bellary district.

Another Rs 50,00,000 cash was seized by the static surveillance team in Bannikoppa Checkpost, Yelaburga Taluk, Koppal Parliamentary constituency, Koppal district.

”Out of the 1,740 calls received through voter helpline, 1,737 people have sought information, one has given feedback and three have registered complaints.” ”Cumulatively 1,740 calls have been disposed of. In addition, 6,943 complaints have been registered by the citizens on NGSP (National Grievances Service Portal), out of which, 6,368 complaints have been disposed of,” the statement added.

Mandya: Karnataka’s Agriculture Minister and Mandya district-in-charge Minister, Cheluvarayaswamy, took a dig at senior JD(S) leaders, expressing irony over their apparent loss of autonomy in announcing candidates for the Hassan and Mandya Parliamentary constituencies.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to the residence of Congress party’s Mandya candidate, Venkataramane Gowda (popularly known as Star Chandru), in Bandigowda on Wednesday, Cheluvarayaswamy remarked on the current political landscape.

Highlighting the perceived misstep of aligning with the BJP, Cheluvarayaswamy suggested that JD(S) leaders have begun to realize their error. He contrasted this with the respectful treatment extended to former Prime Minister Deve Gowda and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy during the JD(S)-Congress alliance.

Further underscoring JD(S)’s purported dilemma, Cheluvarayaswamy pointed out the nomination of Dr. Manjunath, Devegowda’s son-in-law, by the BJP in Bengaluru Rural, a move indicating a lack of confidence within JD(S). He also noted the sidelining of Vokkaliga leaders by the BJP in the old Mysuru region, exemplified by the denial of a ticket to senior leader Sadananda Gowda, the sitting MP.

Expressing confidence in the Congress party’s electoral prospects, Cheluvarayaswamy predicted victory in at least 20 seats, including Mandya, in the upcoming general elections. He highlighted the forthcoming nomination filing by their candidate Star Chandru on April 1st and attributed their optimism to the implementation of five guarantees and eight months of developmental initiatives undertaken by the Congress government in the state.

During the occasion, Congress party Mandya candidate Venkataramane Gowda (Star Chandru) was joined by several MLAs, including AB Ramesh Bandissidde Gowda, PM Narendra Swamy, P. Ravikumar Ganiga, KM Udaya, Dinesh Gooli Gowda, Marithibbe Gowda, as well as former MLAs KB Chandrasekhar, B. Prakash, HB Ramu, District Congress President CD Gangadhar, and other party leaders.

Shivamogga: Sandalwood actor Shivaraj Kumar made a appeal to voters on behalf of his wife, Geeta, who is contesting as the Congress candidate for Shivamogga constituency. Speaking at a gathering of party workers held at Lagan Kalyan Mandir in the city on Wednesday, Shivaraj Kumar urged the electorate to give Geeta a chance to serve as their Member of Parliament.

Highlighting Geeta’s rich background as the daughter of former Chief Minister Bangarappa and daughter-in-law of Rajkumar, as well as his own wife, Shivaraj Kumar emphasized her extensive experience. He stated that Geeta would champion the causes of women and children in Shivamogga district and appealed to the public to support her candidacy.

Reflecting on past electoral outcomes, Shivaraj Kumar acknowledged Geeta’s previous loss in the 2014 elections, attributing it to the natural ebb and flow of political contests. He underscored the importance of transparency in politics, urging politicians to be forthright with their promises and limitations.

In response, Geeta Sivarajkumar expressed her determination to secure victory and represent Shivamogga in Parliament. She pledged to uphold the district’s honor and serve its people diligently, drawing inspiration from her father’s legacy.

Asserting her longstanding involvement in politics since her father’s tenure as an MLA, Geeta emphasized her deep-rooted connection to the district and its residents. She appealed to voters to entrust her with their support, emphasizing her commitment to serving their interests.

Meanwhile, Minister Madhu Bangarappa criticized the incumbent MP, questioning his contributions to issues such as VISL and Sharavati victims in Parliament. Former MP Ayanur Manjunath and other prominent leaders were also present at the gathering to support Geeta’s candidacy.

Mangaluru: Third Additional and JMFC Court of Mangaluru on Thursday stayed an application demanding the survey of the Malali Mosque in Mangaluru. The plea was filed by Dhananjaya and others.

The advocate appearing for the mosque argued that they have received an order by the high court of Karnataka on the same day. The order directed to conduct an inquiry to verify their claim that the mosque was a property of the Waqf Board. He further added that following and implementing the order of the High Court was important.

The Third Additional and JMFC Court of Mangaluru heard the argument by the advocate for the mosque and stated that following the order of high court was of primary importance. It stayed the hearing of the plea demanding the survey of the mosque submitted by Dhananjay and others adding that their plea can only be heard after the Waqf Board related inquiry is completed.

Parmesh S Jain special corespondent

A 27-year-old youth was hacked to death by an armed group close to his house in Marasuru near Anekal in the early hours of Sunday.
The deceased Vijayakumar was involved in a murder case of a man identified as Manoj alias bablu in 2017 and came out of bail seven months ago.
On Sunday morning at around 4 am when he was sleeping at home he received a call and came out to attend only to confront a group of men waiting for him .
In the pretext of talk,they took him a few yards away before hitting him on his head with a wooden plank.
While jayakumar collapsed on the ground, the accused attacked him with lethal weapon and fled leaving him dead in a pool of blood 
Passers by few minutes later found the body was informed Surya city police who rushed to the spot and conducted investigation.
The police suspected that old rivalry was the reason behind the murder. The assailants wanted to avenge the murder of Manoj .
Based on the last phone call for jayakumar the police  have gathered some clues about the assailants.
This is the second murder reported in Anekal since Saturday . 

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Wednesday said it has approved “significant reduction” in tariff to commercial, industrial and domestic consumers, consuming above 100 units per month, effective from April one.

For LT (low tension) domestic lighting, energy charges have been reduced by 110 paise per unit and by 50 paise per unit for LT commercial installations, KERC said in a release

It said, the HT (High Tension) commercial energy charges have been reduced by 125 paise per unit, and demand charges by Rs 10 per KVA ( kilovolt-amps).

Further noting that HT industrial energy charges have been reduced by 50 paise per unit and demand charges reduced by Rs 10 per KVA, KERC said, for HT hospitals and educational institutions, energy charges have been reduced by 40 paise per unit, and demand charges by Rs 10 per KVA.

HT residential apartments demand charges have been reduced by Rs 10 per KVA, it said, adding that for LT Pvt. hospitals and educational Institutions, energy charges have been reduced by 50 paise per unit, and for LT industrial installations by 100 paise per unit.

“After scrutiny of ESCOM’s applications, the Commission has approved total Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) of Rs 64944.54 crore as against Rs 69474.75 crore sought by the ESCOMs (electricity supply companies) in their Tariff Applications,” KERC said.

UDUPI: On the lines of CBSE, Karnataka took a decision to allot 20 internal marks for PUC exams in non-practical subjects from the academic year 2023-24. From this year, based on the instructions from the Department of Pre-University Education, committees comprising of a principal and two lecturers are being formed at the district level.

Sources in the department stated that these committees have started visiting PU colleges to check whether assignments for project work have been completed by students and if internal marks have been allotted by lecturers.

Sources said the drive is also to ensure that evaluators at the colleges do not overrate the students by giving marks liberally. During the inspection drive, committee members have been randomly checking answer scripts of students and the marks of the respective students entered in SATS.

Udupi DDPU Maruthi told TNIE that the committee engaged in the inspection work will mainly check whether internal assessment marks have been entered in the SATS as this is the first academic year where question papers with changed pattern are being introduced.

Justice Nilay V Anjaria

New Delhi: Justice Nilay V Anjaria was on Friday appointed as the next chief justice of the Karnataka High Court, the law ministry said.

At present a judge of the Gujarat High Court, his name was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium earlier this month.

He would assume charge after incumbent chief justice P S Dinesh Kumar demits office on February 24 on attaining the age of 62 years.

Justice Anjaria was appointed as a judge of the Gujarat High Court in November 2011 and has been functioning there since then.

Before his elevation as a judge, he had practised in the Gujarat High Court in civil, constitutional, company law, labour and service matters, the collegium had noted while recommending his name.

BENGALURU: There is a rise in demand for Karnataka’s elephants in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. But the Karnataka forest department is not in a condition to give the elephant away, despite the increase in man-animal conflict in the past few months.

“There is a demand for Karnataka’s bull elephants to be used as kumkis (elephants used to capture other wild elephants) in other states as well. There is also a demand for elephants from other zoos of India. But after the incident of Arjuna, we have slowed down the relocation operation. We have also put a halt on the capture operation, as we don’t have enough space in the rescue centres. We have told the state government of the current situation and are awaiting its decision. We also need strong bull elephants, more so after the death of Arjuna, to capture other wild elephants in conflict,” said a senior forest department official, not wanting to be named.

Forest, environment and ecology minister Eshwar Khandre, had recently held a meeting with department officials, to address various issues including man-animal conflict and afforestation.

At the meeting while it was pressed upon the officials to address the man-animal conflict, capture or relocate the elephants, the officials told the minister that they are in no position to capture elephants. According to department records, there are 100 elephants housed in various camps, of which 30 – 35 can be used as kumki elephants. The remaining continue to be housed in the camps. The state government is keen on resolving the issue of man-elephant conflict and has set up task force teams to address the issue. During November-December, the forest department had listed a plan to capture wild elephants, from Hassan and Kodagu.

BENGALURU/TUMAKURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and senior Congress leaders on Monday slammed BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) for allegedly inciting people to hoist a saffron flag in Keragodu village in Mandya. Siddaramaiah, talking to reporters, alleged that BJP whipped up the flag-hoisting incident as it fears that it would lose the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka.

“BJP created an issue out of a non-issue and propagated communalism. JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy too joined the BJP’s protest for political gains and the entire incident is part of a political conspiracy,” he charged.

Siddaramaiah said people from Keragodu village had given letters of undertaking to the authorities that they would fly either the national flag or Kannada flag, instead hoisted Hanuma Dhwaja, violating the rule of law. “Action will be taken against those who take law into their hands. The police resorted to lathicharge as they were attacked. Should they remain mute spectators,” he asked. On BJP leader CT Ravi’s statement that the Congress government will collapse, Siddarmaiah hit back, saying Congress has the mandate of 136 MLAs and 43% vote share compared to BJP’s 37%.

DCM DK Shivakumar accused BJP of stirring up emotions in Mandya to build a political base in the district and for political gains. “BJP candidates lost their deposit in many constituencies in Mandya and they are trying to find a political base by joining hands with JDS. Their efforts will not pay off as the people of Mandya are tolerant and secular and they won’t fall for gimmicks like this. Our objective is to ensure peace,” he said.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge said BJP and Sangh Parivar, who had made coastal Karnataka a laboratory of communal politics for long, have now started their experiment in Mandya.

He accused Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka of lowering the dignity of the position he holds. He said the Keregodu villagers had sought permission to hoist only the national flag. “If BJP does not like the national flag, country’s Constitution and unity, let them go to their beloved Pakistan,” he added.