Gadag: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said his government will not be a mute spectator to corruption and will initiate action against the corrupt.

He said investigations are underway in ’40 per cent commission’ cases against the previous government and steps will be taken against the guilty.

“If any cases of corruption are found in the state, the government will not be a mute spectator. An investigation will be conducted and action will be taken against the culprits,” the chief minister said.

When asked about officials of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation demanding bribes from drivers to put them on duty, Siddaramaiah said an investigation against them would be conducted.

To a question on the allegations that the caste census was unscientific, the chief minister said the Backward Classes Commission has not submitted its report, yet some people are already commenting that the report is not scientific.

“Such statements are based on speculation without knowing the contents of the report. Let the report be submitted,” he said.

BELAGAVI:  As the Legislative Assembly passed the Karnataka Prohibition of Violence Against Advocate Bill, 2023, on Thursday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil allayed fears regarding misuse of law and assured considering the changes recommended by members while framing the rules.

Moving the Bill for passage, Patil said the crime in this regard has been subtly defined in the Bill and there would be no chance of misusing it. Violence means any activity which would endanger the life of an advocate or cause bodily harm or criminal intimidation to obstruct him/her from discharging their duty in respect of pending litigation or a case pending before any court, tribunal or authority.

Stating that the Bill has the backing of a verdict of the Supreme Court, the minister said it ensures the lawyers perform their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference. 

When the security of lawyers is threatened while discharging their duties, the Bill would be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.

However, BJP member Suresh Kumar suggested considering the inclusion of a compensation element to benefit advocates if they failed to pursue their functions lifelong due to violence, and recommended to Karnataka Bar Council whenever he/she is arrested by the police in respect of cognisable offence apart from president and secretary of the respective Advocates’ Association, as mentioned in the Bill.

Congress member AS Ponnanna stated that the same in Rajasthan has imprisonment for up to seven years, but in this Bill, it was six months to three years. He suggested increasing the imprisonment term in the coming days. 

BELAGAVI:  The State Government has said that 40 people have died in elephant attacks in Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan districts. Replying to BJP MLC Harish Kumar in the Council, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said 18 people have died in such attacks in Kodagu since 2020.

Fourteen people have died in Hassan since 2020, 5 in Chikkamagaluru since 2021 and 3  in Dakshina Kannada in 2022-23.

 “Railway barricades are being installed in 300 km of forest fringes and another 330 km is being planned,” he said, adding that the government will appoint a district elephant task force in areas reporting human-elephant conflict.

Madikeri: Three individuals have been apprehended by the Kodagu police for orchestrating a fake marriage and subsequently extorting an unmarried retired soldier.

The victim, identified as John Mathew (64) from Ernakulam district in Kerala, was lured into a deceitful marriage scheme that led to threats and extortion.

The arrested suspects have been named as Abdul Basheer (29) from Bantwal, Sadiq (30) from Kadaba, and Faizal. While Basheer and Sadiq were captured by the Kodagu Police on Sunday, Faizal was already in custody in connection with a separate criminal case in Mysuru. Another accomplice, Amir, remains at large, prompting the police to initiate efforts to apprehend him.

The police confiscated three mobile phones used in the commission of the crime, along with Rs. 1,05,000 in cash and a cheque worth Rs. 2,10,000 from the possession of the arrested individuals.According to reports, Faizal, who served as a driver for John Mathew, convinced him to enter into a marriage by assuring him a happy life. On November 26, 2023, Faizal invited John to a homestay in Madikeri, falsely claiming that he would be wed to a woman he knew. Abdul Basheer, Sadiq, and Amir facilitated the fake marriage and arranged for their stay.

However, the situation took a turn when, on the same evening, the four accused blackmailed John, demanding Rs. 10 lakh and threatening to expose the fake marriage to his family. Distressed by the threats, John paid Rs. 8 lakh in cash and provided a cheque for the remaining balance. Realizing he had been deceived, John filed a case, leading to the subsequent arrests.

Madikeri Sub Division DySP Jagadish M, CPI Anoop Madappa, DCRB PI I.P. Medappa, Madikeri Town PSI Lokesh, and other law enforcement officials conducted a coordinated operation to apprehend the accused. Kodagu District Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan commended the efficiency of the police officers and staff involved in the case. A special team has been formed to locate the absconding accused, Amir.

IT Minister Priyank Kharge

Belagavi: IT Minister Priyank Kharge declared in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday the imposition of the Karnataka Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill-2023 to levy taxes on casinos, horse racing and online gaming.

The GST Council Ministry had said on August 11 that amendments in the Goods and Services Tax Act-2017 will be implemented from October 1 of the current year. It had also stressed on the need to make necessary amendments in the Act prior to the implementation.

As the matter of extreme urgency and neither of the Houses of the Karnataka Legislature was in session, the Karnataka Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance-2023 was enacted to achieve this. The amendments under the Ordinance would not affect other legal provisions currently in force that provide for the prohibition, restriction or regulation on betting, casino, gambling, horse racing, lottery or online gaming, the ministry clarified.

It added that, in spite of this, imposition of tax on casinos, horse racing and online gaming would not regularize the business. Any illegal act committed in the business would not be immune to criminal action, as the new Bill is a replacement for the Ordinance.

Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda

Belagavi: Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has said that teaching Kannada, Mathematics, Science and Social Science will be made compulsory in Madrasas in the state, as the inclusion of additional subjects will help the students remain a part of mainstream society.

Responding on behalf of Wakf and Minorities Welfare Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed to a question put forth by Abdul Jabbar on behalf of JD(S) legislator BM Farooq during the Question Hour of the Karnataka Legislative Council in the city on Wednesday, Gowda said that students at Madrasas will be taught not merely religious texts but also other subjects to help improve their social life.

“The state government has formulated several projects for this. A pilot project will be implemented at Madrasas under registered Wakf institutions as well as at registered Wakf properties in the state to teach the students Kannada, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science, among other subjects, for two years,” said the minister.

“Discussions have been held for several years regarding various subjects being taught at Madrasas, to prevent the students from being left out of mainstream society. Our government has now decided to implement the plan to add other subjects to the curriculum at Madrasas, starting this year. The plan will initially be implemented in 100 schools on trial basis,” Gowda explained.

“In addition, the government has planned for Class 10, Pre-university and undergraduate courses in national and state-level open schools,” said Gowda.

Koppal: Gangavathi Town Police have arrested two men for the recent incident in Gangavathi town of assault of a visually challenged Muslim senior citizen, Hussain Saab, and forcing him to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

Koppal District Superintendent of Police Yashoda Vantagodi has said in a press meeting that the arrested men have been identified as Sagar Shetty Kalki, a software engineer and resident of Kuvempu Layout, and Narasappa Danakayara, a resident of Kallappana Camp in Gangavathi town.

“We have investigated various aspects of the case, but are yet to get proof of the arrested men having forced Hussain Saab to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. The suspects had also been accused of setting his beard on fire, but are yet to get proof of this too,” said the SP.

The officer, speaking on the incident, said that Hussain Saab was returning from Hospet to his house at Mehboob Nagar in Gangavathi at night on November 25, when he found a couple of young men on their bikes and requested them to drop him home. The two arrested men, who were drunk, agreed, getting Hussain Saab to sit behind them. Narasappa, who was seated in the centre, tugged at Hussain Saab’s skull cap, which infuriated the senior, leading to further clash. The bikers rode to the railway underbridge, where they physically assaulted the senior citizen, the officer explained.

A case had been registered at the Gangavathi Town Police Station based on the complaint that had been filed by Hussain Saab after the assault on November 25 and the officers investigated the case.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: With JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy repeatedly attacking him and his son Yathindra, a former Congress MLA, accusing them of a “cash for transfer” racket, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said he will retire from politics, if proved that he has taken money, even in a single transfer case of government officials.

He alleged such cash for transfer happened during Kumaraswamy’s tenure.

“I have told you not to ask about it (Kumaraswamy’s allegations). Haven’t I responded to it already? Let him tweet (post on X) a number of times. He is speaking about what they did during his tenure (as CM),” Siddaramaiah said in response to a question about Kumaraswamy’s attacks.

Speaking to reporters here, the chief minister said, “He (Kumaraswamy) is speaking about the money they (Kumaraswamy and JDS leaders) took for transfers. They took money during his tenure. In our tenure, we have not taken any money. I have already said — I will retire from politics, if it’s proved that I have taken money in even a single case of transfer.”

“Let him tweet a hundred times, I don’t want to reply,” he added.

Kumaraswamy had recently sought to link a phone conversation between Yathindra and Siddaramaiah, which was widely circulated on social media, to allege a cash for postings/transfer’ scam, a charge which has been rightly rejected by the chief minister and his son.

Continuing his attack, Kumaraswamy has even alleged that an official, whose name was mentioned in a phone conversation between the CM and his son, had figured in the transfer list of police inspectors released recently.

Further accusing Yathindra of acting like a “Super Chief Minister”, the JD(S) leader had even sought the resignation of Siddaramaiah over a video clip.

The former chief minister today too, in a series of posts on ‘X’, on the issue, accused Siddaramaiah of outsourcing his Varuna constituency in Mysuru district to his son Yathindra.

Yathindra from 2018-23 had represented the Varuna segment, and in 2023, he gave up the seat to his father Siddaramaiah to contest from his home seat for one last time, and himself did not contest from any other constituency.

“The people of Varuna have chosen you (Siddaramaiah). You have to do their work yourself. Why outsource the constituency to your son? I never outsourced the constituency to my son when I was CM. You have outsourced Varuna to the son,” Kumaraswamy posted.

Noting that as far as he knows, no CM has ever outsourced his constituency to children, he accused Siddaramaiah of giving power to his son, through the backdoor, by ensuring him a Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) post in the segment. “Is there any provision in the constitution that allows this? If so, let me know.”

Further stating that as far as he knows, CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility, Kumaraswamy said, “Now it has become Corrupt Son Of Siddaramaiah! Have you outsourced to your son — to do CSR collection in the state? Is he in-charge of CSR for 224 constituencies (in the state)? You seem to have your eye on the 2 per cent CSR as well.

Mysuru: In a surprising turn of events, senior BJP leader Giridhar has raised objections to Member of Parliament (MP) Pratap Simha’s stance against the ‘Mahisha Dasara’ celebration, asserting that the MP is misusing his position within the party. 

Giridhar has urged the Karnataka government and Mysuru district authorities to allow the observance of ‘Mahisha Dasara’ as it holds significance as a local tradition during the Dasara festivities.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Press Club in Mysuru on Wednesday, Giridhar emphasized that every citizen has the constitutional right to worship a deity of their choice. He condemned Pratap Simha’s attempt to oppose ‘Mahisha Dasara,’ highlighting that it was the MP’s personal opinion and not a party directive. Giridhar pointed out that Pratap Simha lacks the authority to interfere with an age-old convention, stressing that the MP does not own the Chamundi Hills, a revered place visited by people of all religions.

Giridhar asserted that the local BJP in Mysuru supports the ‘Mahisha Dasara’ tradition and expressed disappointment at Pratap Simha’s attempts to curtail it. He revealed that the MP’s statement, claiming that 5,000 people would protest against the convention, did not resonate with the local BJP members. Giridhar urged the Mysuru authorities to permit the residents to observe ‘Mahisha Dasara’ without hindrance.

In a scathing criticism of Pratap Simha, Giridhar stated that the MP, despite being elected to the Lok Sabha to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been acting unilaterally without consulting others. Giridhar accused Pratap Simha of making derogatory statements about Muslims, damaging the party’s reputation in the state. He stressed the need for the BJP to rein in members like Pratap Simha to ensure the party’s unity and effectiveness in the upcoming political endeavors.

Vijayanagar: In a tragic incident near Vyasanakere on the outskirts of Hospet, seven members of the same family tragically lost their lives in a serial accident involving two lorries and a cruiser while returning home from a temple visit.

The deceased have been identified as Uma (45), Kenchavva (80), Bhagya (32), Anil (30), Gonibasappa (65), Yuvaraja (4), Bhimalinga (50). Meanwhile, two people were injured in the accident.

The family, hailing from Hospet Ukkada Keri, had been visiting the Koolahalli Goni Basaveshwara temple in Harapanahalli taluk when their cruiser vehicle collided with two lorries, informed the police.