North Karnataka flood: CM Yediyurappa to conduct aerial survey of affected regions

Politics

The flood-hit districts include Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Raichur and Yadgir.

Soumya Chatterjee

As flooding worsens in north Karnataka districts, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has announced that he will conduct an aerial survey of the damage on Monday. This was announced after the CM held a video conference with district officials on Sunday afternoon. The flood-affected districts include Belagavi, the worst affected area, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Raichur and Yadgir. With heavy rain in Maharashtra, the upper riparian state has released water from the Koyna reservoir and Rajapur dam into the Krishna river, which had caused flooding. Moreover, rainfall within Belagavi city has flooded its streets, primarily in the suburban areas. Two platoons of the Maratha regiment soldiers have arrived in Chikkodi to support rescue operations. As more rain is expected over the next five days in Maharashtra, where dams are almost at capacity, the situation will remain serious in the coming week, officials said. They added that the localised rainfall was not a major source of concern. “The CM has held a video conference with the DCs of the five districts. The situation is currently under control and district administrations have taken all necessary precautions and moved people living in low lying areas. There are sufficient resources with them and there is no reason to worry. There are teams of Army, SDRF (State Disaster Response Force), NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and Fire and Emergency Department personnel on the ground,”  Karnataka State Disaster Monitoring Centre Director GS Srinivas Reddy told TNM. “There are already seven relief camps open and more will be opened if the district administrators feel it is necessary. So far, in Belagavi alone, 235 families with a total of 705 persons have been shifted. 365 household animals have also been shifted. Most of these have gone to their relatives’ place instead of relief camps,” he added. So far, one person has been killed in the floods and crops have been extensively damaged. Meanwhile, senior Congress MLA HK Patil has asked CM Yeddyurappa to skip his Delhi trip and focus instead on flood mitigation measures.  

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DK Shivakumar files Rs 204 crore defamation case against BJP MLA BR Patil Yatnal

Politics

BJP MLA BR Patil Yatnal had alleged that DK Shivakumar had lobbied with BJP leaders with regard to cases filed against him by central agencies.

TNM Staff

File image

Senior Karnataka Congress leader and former minister DK Shivakumar has filed a Rs 204 crore defamation case against BJP Vijayapura MLA and former Union Minister BR Patil Yatnal. This pertains to Yatnal’s statements to the media in June where he alleged Shivakumar lobbied with BJP leaders with regard to cases filed against him by central agencies. The defamation case has been filed by Shivakumar in the Kanakapura Senior Civil Judge and JMFC court. As part of the case, Yatnal has been asked to appear before the court on or before September 18.  “He (Shivakumar) is exerting pressure on the Central ministers through someone to drop cases against him. He is said to have assured the Union ministers and the BJP President that he would not oppose the BJP forming government in the state. No one from BJP has invited Shivakumar to join the party,” alleged Yatnal, while speaking to reporters on June 23. In his petition, Shivakumar has said, “These statements have been beamed in electronic and print media too. These are baseless, false, irresponsible and irrelevant statements made by Mr. Yatnal. These remarks are passed with malafide intension to malign and to tarnish my public image. This has put a huge question mark on my loyalty, sincerity, integrity and image at party and public level.” He added, “Further it is damaging to an extend that I am looked at with suspicion by Kanakapura assembly constituency voters, Congress leaders, workers, and citizens of India in general and Karnataka in particular. It gives an impression that I am sacrificing the trust of people, leaders and voters for my personal and political gains. I have played a pivotal role in bringing Congress - JD(S) government to power. With these baseless statements I am branded as a person instrumental in destabilising and dethroning the coalition government. This has caused a major damage to my reputation, image and my loyalty towards the party.”  Following the defamation case, Yatnal could not be reached for a comment.

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‘Let me live in peace’: Ex Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy hints at quitting politics

Politics

Kumaraswamy was responding to questions over whether his son Nikhil may contest in the KR Pet by-elections.

TNM Staff

PTI/File

Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday suggested he may quit active politics following the collapse of the coalition government which he led until recently. Son of former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy made the comments stating the nature of “today’s politics”. “I’m thinking of going away from politics. I came to politics accidentally. I became CM accidentally. God gave me opportunity to become CM twice. I wasn’t there to satisfy anyone. In 14 months, I did good work towards state’s development. I’m satisfied,” he said. Kumaraswamy had first become CM in 2006 for 20 months with the support of BJP. This time he was the CM for 14 months with the support of Congress. He added, “I'm observing where today's politics is going. It's not for good people, it's about caste infatuation. Don't bring in my family. I'm done. Let me live in peace. I don't have to continue in politics. I did good when I was in power. I want space in people's heart.” The former CM made this comment when he was asked by reporters if his son NIkhil Kumaraswamy will contest from KR Pet constituency in Mandya which had felt vacant following the disqualification of rebel JD(S) MLA Narayan Gowda. Rubbishing the speculation, Kumaraswamy said, “There is no truth in these reports. When Nikhil was nominated as the party candidate from Mandya, vested interests plotted to ensure his defeat. A conspiracy is afoot once again.” His son Nikhil had faced a humiliating defeat during the Lok Sabha Elections in Mandya, known to be a JD(S) stronghold at the hands of Sumalatha Ambareesh, wife of late film star and Congress leader Ambareesh.  The JD(S) which had joined hands with Congress post-2018 Assembly polls and had fought the Lok Sabha Elections together was reduced to just one seat. Even HD Deve Gowda had to eat humble pie after losing in Tumakuru. The only JD(S) representative in the Lok Sabha now is Prajwal Revanna who won from Hassan, the seat long held by Deve Gowda.a

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1 kg gold found hidden in rectums of two passengers at Bengaluru airport

Crime

The gold was hidden in the form of paste contained in capsules, officials said.

TNM Staff

Representational image

Custom officials at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru seized a little over one kilogram of gold hidden in the rectums of two passengers who landed in the city on Friday, reports said. The gold was hidden in their rectums in the form of paste contained in capsules. Officials said that the gold seized weighed 1.05 kg and was valued at around Rs 37.4 lakh. According to reports, the two men had reached the city from Dubai via Goa. They were on board Air India flight AI 994, which landed in Bengaluru at 5.35 am.  Officials of the Air Intelligence Unit said that the duo was approached after they were seen acting in a suspicious manner while they waited in the clearance area of the airport. Upon questioning, it was discovered that the two were carrying smuggled goods on their person via capsules. The airport had seen a dip in smuggling activities over the last few months. The last large-scale seizure was reported in April. At that time time, officials arrested three men for smuggling gold worth Rs 29.30 lakh concealed in their rectums. In that case as well, the gold had been smuggled in the form of paste in pellets mixed with other chemicals and insulated with tape. The three accused had flown into Bengaluru from Goa on an Air India flight. Earlier in January, customs officials at the Kempegowda International Airport had caught four passengers returning to the country with a total of 700 grams of gold worth Rs 23.19 lakh. In one case, a total of 496 grams of gold was found in the rectums of three women. According to officials, the three woman flying from Colombo on Sri Lankan Airlines flight were detained after suspicion. In another instance on the same day, an AP passenger was caught with 200 grams of gold strapped to his body as he reached Bengaluru from Kuwait on an Emirates flight

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Bengaluru mayor criticised for carrying plastic-wrapped gift, pays fine

Administration

Mayor Ganagambike Malikarjun was photographed with a plastic-wrapped basket of dry fruits being gifted to Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa

TNM Staff

Bengaluru Mayor Ganagambike Malikarjun, who has been actively campaigning against the use of plastic, committed a faux pas by giving a plastic wrap basket of dry fruits to Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on July 30. She acknowledged her mistake and took a step to make amends after she was called out.  A video of her presenting the basket to the CM during her courtesy visit went viral and was criticised by environmentalists. The mayor sought to rectify the error by voluntarily paying the mandated fine of Rs 500.  Speaking to Deccan Herald on the issue on Friday, the mayor said, “I don't know who bought the dry fruits basket wrapped in plastic. Nevertheless, I admit to my mistake and am willing to be punished. Being the mayor of the city, I should set an example to the others. On Saturday, I'll pay a fine of Rs 500 to the special commissioner (Solid Waste Management)," she told DH.  "We're in the process of amending the KMC Act, enabling the collection of fines for using plastic. Let it start from me," she added. A photograph of the mayor’s fine receipt is also doing the rounds on social media.  In June 2018, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) decided to slap a Rs 500 fine on consumers if spotted carrying plastic bags in the city. For subsequent violations, users will be fined Rs 1,000. The mayor and other top officials of the BBMP had been part of several workshops that were organised across the city to educate street vendors, caterers and other large-scale producers to stop the usage of plastic. Since Saturday evening, a photograph of the Mayor’s fine receipt has been doing the rounds on social media. Deccan Chronicle quoted her saying, “.., I did not wish to set a wrong example. I voluntarily approached the BBMP Health Wing and paid a fine of Rs 500.”  This drew her appreciation and praise on social media for being upfront about her mistake.

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IMA scam probe: IPS officer Ajay Hillori appears before SIT for questioning

IMA scam

The SIT has been probing senior police officers in Bengaluru for allegedly helping Mansoor Khan when his company had come under the RBI’s scanner.

TNM Staff

IPS officer Ajay Hillori on Saturday appeared before the Special Investigation Team probing the multi-crore I Monetary Advisory ponzi scheme scam. Former Bengaluru DCP East Ajay Hillori and ACP Ramesh Kumar have been accused of helping IMA founder Mansoor Khan get a clean chit. The SIT has been probing senior police officers in Bengaluru for allegedly helping Mansoor Khan when his company had come under the RBI’s scanner. Earlier this week, the SIT probing the case searched the office of Inspector General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department and Economic Offences. The SIT’s search operation was conducted to obtain evidence against the current Inspector General of Police of Anti-Corruption Bureau, Hemanth Nimbalkar. His previous office in CID headquarters was searched as he had served as the IGP of CID’s Economic Offences Wing when Mansoor Khan was given a clean chit. SIT sources had told TNM that Hemanth was allegedly heading the probe into the functioning of IMA run by Mohammed Mansoor Khan, after the state police had asked the CID to look into the matter following a notice it had received about IMA’s alleged illegal dealings from the RBI. In the search operation, SIT sources had told TNM that they have recovered allegedly tampered documents pertaining to the CID’s investigation into IMA. SIT is also on the lookout for CID DySP Shridhar, who was also part of the investigation team looking into IMA. The SIT source added that several bureaucrats and politicians too are suspected to be involved and that Mansoor Khan has confessed to the Enforcement Directorate about certain political links, which the SIT will be questioning him about. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Mansoor Khan was remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a Bengaluru court. Khan has been accused of duping thousands of people to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore in the IMA ponzi scheme scam.

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Coffee king VG Siddhartha death: Preliminary postmortem suggests ‘no foul play’

Crime

However, police officials probing the matter are yet to officially react until all the results are out. 

TNM Staff

PTI/File

The preliminary post-mortem report of coffee czar and Coffee Day Enterprise founder VG Siddhartha has ruled out any foul play and has indicated suicide.  Doctors at the Wenlock District Hospital handed over primary findings to the police on Friday evening. The analysis of viscera samples and other test results are still awaited. “There are physical changes. This happens when a body starts to decompose; it’s a natural process. The preliminary postmortem, as of now, does not indicate foul play. It appears to be a case of suicide,” an officer who accessed the report told The Times of India. However, police officials probing the matter are yet to officially react until all the results are out.  “The matter is under investigation and information will be given in an appropriate time. The concerned authorities will give the information in the right time," The Mint quoted Deputy Commissioner of Police Hanumantharaya (Law and order), Mangalore city as saying. He added, “It is more or less confirmed that Siddhartha indeed died of drowning, as the water found to be present in his lungs indicates that, so there is no foul play. However, there is a second report which is based on the chemical analysis of the samples taken from his body, which is yet to be generated by the forensic labs as the process takes a long time."  It might be recalled that Siddhartha who was reported missing from Monday evening was found dead on Wednesday, 9 km away from the spot from where he had allegedly jumped off into the Nethravathi river in Mangaluru.

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