Money laundering case: DK Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh questioned by ED

Crime

Meanwhile, the special court which denied Shivakumar bail on October 1, has granted the Enforcement Directorate permission to interrogate him across Thursday and Friday.

TNM Staff

File image/PTI

Bengaluru Rural MP DK Suresh, who is the brother of former Minister DK Shivakumar, on Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the money laundering case. The questioning comes as Shivakumar remains in jail for a month after being arrested by the central probe agency on September 3 in connection with the same case against him. Sources said that Suresh would be questioned on the alleged hawala transactions to the Congress high command and also about the meteoric rise of his personal wealth.  In his election affidavit before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Suresh had declared that his assets have grown close to four times in the last five years. While his assets were valued at over Rs 85 crore in 2014, his affidavit for the upcoming elections states that his wealth is now approximately Rs 338 crore.  Read: With assets worth Rs 338 crore, DK Suresh’s wealth quadrupled in 5 yrs Meanwhile, the special court which denied Shivakumar bail on October 1, has granted the Enforcement Directorate permission to interrogate him across Thursday and Friday. He had been in ED’s custody for two weeks initially and on September 17, he was remanded to judicial custody.  Shivakumar has been on the radar of the Income Tax Department and the ED since demonetisation in 2016. An Income Tax search at his New Delhi flat on August 2, 2017, led to the seizure of unaccounted cash worth Rs 8.83 crore. Thereafter, the I-T Department lodged cases against the Congress leader and his four associates under Sections 277 and 278 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and Sections 120(B) ( criminal conspiracy), 193 (Punishment for false evidence) and 199 (False statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The ED has also questioned DK Shivakumar’s daughter Aisshwarya and Belagavi Rural MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar in connection with the case. Incidentally, according to Shivakumar’s affidavit submitted to the Election Commission ahead of the Assembly elections in 2018, his daughter Aisshwarya owned assets of Rs 108 crore compared to only Rs 1.09 crore in 2013. Shivakumar, however, clarified that Aisshwarya was not dependent on his income and that he was still declaring her assets as per the Representation of Peoples Act.  

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2pyx1ty
via IFTTT

‘Want to contribute in a non-political way': Ex-Dakshina Kannada DC Sasikanth Senthil

This was the former DC of Dakshina Kannada Sasikanth Senthil’s first public appearance after resigning.

Harsha Raj Gatty

Ruling out political innings, former Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada Sasikanth Senthil said although he has resigned, both the state and the union government are yet to give an official endorsement to his resignation. He was speaking at a programme in Mangaluru city on Wednesday and this was his first public appearance after resigning. The former IAS officer said he had taken the right decision of resigning from the post.  “Like I said earlier, it was purely a personal decision. It was a very personal thing, it was a national thing, connected with national sentiment that made me to resign,” he said. Speaking at a symposium on 'Baapu and Nationalism' at the 150th birth year celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi in the city, Senthil said that the present was a testing time for ordinary people where one is asked to prove his or her patriotism at every phase. “Why are some people forced by others to say ‘Bharath Matha Ki Jai?’ After 10 years of serving the Indian government, I have been called an anti-national for resigning from service,” he said Citing the example of how Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the civil disobedience movement following the Chauri-Chaura incident, Senthil said it was such nationalism that was the need of the hour.  “In the present circumstances we are in need of the Gandhian way of ‘Nationalism’ that was based out of truth and ahimsa (non-violence). “Gandhi never propagated violence for a national movement or to promote nationalism. It is the same reason why, following the departure of the British, there was global endorsement to Indian Independence,” he said. On being asked his take on Prime Minister Modi being hailed by the ‘father of the nation’ by a section of his supporters, Senthil said that although people talk a lot about Gandhi, he believed that given the sacrifices and struggle of Gandhi for humanity, not many have lived up to the status (standards) set by him.  Senthil said that personally he believed that the legacy set by Gandhiji was unparalleled. ”However, there are different people with different views on certain matters. What they think or whom they think (is the father of the nation) is left to them and they are entitled to their opinion,” he said. He said given that he had a lot of time at his disposal and following his resignation, he is mulling on contributing to society in non-political way.  “I am meeting people, trying to understand the grass root-level issues and the people’s problems. When I was a DC, people used to maintain a distance from me. Now I am anonymous, in the ground. Being nobody and anonymous, I can learn a lot and understand things better. It will only enrich my experience,” he said. He added that although he has submitted his resignation, the government is yet to accept the same. “I don’t know within what framework the process will be completed, accepting my resignation is left to the government,” he said. He also said that given the fact he has stayed in Bengaluru for a long time, he will continue his domicile in Karnataka. “Of course, wherever the issues of people, I will be there. Now I am more equipped to do good work. I can write study and interact with people, express and influence the government,” he said. While reiterating that there was no pressure on him during his tenure as the DC of Dakshina Kannada, he said that he stuck to every word that he had put in his resignation letter. He also added that the resignation was not forced on him, so there is nothing negative about my departure.  “It is just that I felt that I can be of better use for many things.”  But he added that he could not endorse the All India Service (AIS), with whatever is currently going on at the national level, on moral grounds. “Simply put, if someone is hurt on the road, it’s a moral obligation to help him – if you are unable or disallowed to help, then it’s up to oneself to make a choice. I think I have made the right choice. I am entering into a better space (post resignation),” he said. Story by Story Infinity (Subs and Scribes Media Ventures LLP.)

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2oDucXM
via IFTTT

False ceiling in Bengaluru metro station falls off, no injuries reported

Accident

In the past, there have been many instances of rainwater seeping through the stations.

TNM Staff

Screengrab

In what was a major scare for some passengers of the Namma Metro in Bengaluru, a false ceiling fell off at the National College Metro Station in Bengaluru on Monday evening. The issue came to light as a CCTV footage of the incident went viral on social media platforms by Wednesday.  The video shows part of the false ceiling coming down while three women were trying to make their way through the automatic fare collection gates towards the platform. As part of that, a fallen brick has damaged part of the gate as well. Fortunately, no one was injured in the mishap.  “One of the bricks in the 70cm-high wall constructed between the platform deck and track bed got loosened and fell on the false ceiling. The track side has plastering while the platform side doesn’t have it due to less access. Therefore, the brick got loose and collapsed due to vibration caused by train movement,” Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited   (BMRCL) Managing Director Ajay Seth (IAS) told The Times of India. “The wall is not part of any structural part and hence there is no issue regarding safety to the structure. To prevent such occurrence in the future, the un-plastered side has been covered by mild steel sheet permanently. Other stations are also being checked for preventive measures,” he added. However, this is not the only such incident that has come to light off late with he city’s metro.  While there were defects in the overhead rail bridge near Trinity Circle in 2018-end due to a honeycomb formation, there have been multiple instances of rainwater seeping through to underground stations.  In one of the most recent such incidents, officials at the Byappanahalli Metro Station had to keep buckets in place to collect the rainwater seeping through the roof.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2py0V1b
via IFTTT

Gandhians re-enact 'satyagraha' in Bengaluru to promote sacred' economy

Livelihoods

"By sacred economy, we mean a production system which creates maximum jobs with least investment and zero damage to the environment," said noted Gandhian SR Hiremath.

IANS

Calling for job creation and protecting the natural ecosystem to promote a sacred economy, Gandhians on Wednesday re-enacted Mahatma Gandhi's famous 'satyagraha'  in Bengaluru on his sesquicentennial. "By sacred economy, we mean a production system which creates maximum jobs with least investment and zero damage to the environment," said noted Gandhian SR Hiremath on the occasion.. With another Gandhian Prasanna, 75-year-old Hiremath revived the non-violent political resistance (satyagraha) Gandhiji initiated against the British rule across the country at Vallab Niketan, an orphanage social reformer Vinobha Bhave had set up to prevent bright people from increasing wealth and consumerism and imbibe Bapu's values. Hiremath returned from the US to lead an austere life, upholding Gandhian values and settled at Dharwad, a hub of Indian culture, about 430 kms northwest of this tech hub. As part of the satyagraha, Prasanna, a 68-year-old social activist and theatre personality, will embark on a fast to draw the attention of the industry leaders, eminent people and the state to achieve a sacred economy. "In the prevailing situation, the Indian economy is on the verge of collapse, as evident from the loss of over 3 lakh jobs during the last three months in the organised sector alone and many more in the unorganized sector," Prasanna told IANS. Urging the government to focus also on farmers, small traders, vendors, handicrafts and small businesses in the unorganized sector than only on corporates and industry, Prassana said in the worsening automobile sector, the ancillary units are the sacred economy as they are job intensive. "It's a blatant lie to say the auto sector in India constitutes 48 per cent of the workforce in the organized sector, which is largely automated," asserted Prasanna. Using satyagraha as a platform, the Gandhians called on the youth to question the government on being mindful only of the rich and not the poor. "The government should give tax discounts to small sectors and producers of handicrafts, not corporates or India Inc alone," said Prasanna. Expressing disenchantment on incumbent governments, Prasanna said whether it is the BJP or the Congress rule, their governments are going to be mindful of the big businesses. Both the Gandhians professed faith in the teachings of Gandhi.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2nQUINu
via IFTTT

Bandipur night traffic ban to stay, can’t go against court: Karnataka CM Yediyurappa

Controversy

The Kerala government has insisted that the existing night traffic ban be lifted on a 25 km stretch.

TNM Staff

In a major relief for environmentalists, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday stated that the state government will not allow the lifting of the night traffic ban from the core tiger habitat of the Bandipur National Park. "I cannot go against the court order. The court has ordered not to allow vehicles in the night in Bandipur forest area," the CM said. The statement from the CM came a day before Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to join protests in Wayanad by groups who are seeking the relaxation of the ban. Ahead of his visit, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan had also held a meeting with Rahul Gandhi on the issue. The Kerala government has been insisting that the existing night traffic ban be bypassed on a 25-km stretch of National Highway 212 (now called 766), by cutting through a core part of the forest with an elevated corridor. The Supreme Court had also upheld this night traffic ban earlier in August. In March 2018, the National Tiger Conservation Authority had advised the Centre against moving ahead with the project, as it could have adverse effects on the forest habitat, where over a hundred tigers currently reside. The existing traffic ban on traffic flow after dark came into effect in 2009 while the Karnataka High Court was hearing a case pertaining to roadkill. At least 215 animals were killed by oncoming traffic between 2004 and 2007, according to the court. Recently TNM had reported a note by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar to Pinarayi had also reiterated that the union government will not allow such a project.  In that letter, the union minister said, “Your suggestion has already been discussed at length by a Committee of Secretaries chaired by the Cabinet Secretary to the Government of India, wherein, it was recommended to maintain status quo on restriction of nighttime traffic through Bandipur Tiger Reserve and strengthen the alternative route already available for nighttime traffic.” “Further, I take this opportunity to inform you that by following the Principle of Avoidance, Core/Critical Tiger Habitats (CTH) need to be kept in view for long-term sustenance of ecology of the area,” he added. Currently, only a limited number of government-run buses and emergency vehicles are allowed to operate during the restricted period of 9 pm to 6 am on the stretch. During this period motorists take an alternative route via Hunsur-Gonikoppal-Kutta-Mananthavady Road, which is around 30 km longer. While the plan of the elevated corridor was suggested by the union government through the National Highway Authority for the Bharatmala project, it withdrew the proposal after inter-ministerial discussions and Supreme Court orders. The Kerala CM had written to Javadekar offering to fund half the project soon after the SC verdict on night traffic, stating that it will prove beneficial to residents of Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. Pinarayi who had met the central minister again on Tuesday said that the Centre has agreed to form an expert committee to study the night ban. Read: Night traffic ban in Bandipur Tiger Reserve to stay: Centre to Pinarayi Vijayan  

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2n1HsVA
via IFTTT

Does telehealth save money? The jury’s still out.

In a recent assessment of a telehealth-related bill, the Congressional Budget Office concluded that covering the technology sometimes increases and sometimes reduces spending.

from Health Care https://ift.tt/2nX8Q7A
via IFTTT

Isolated heavy rainfall expected in Bengaluru and parts of Karnataka in next 4 days

Weather

Other than Bengaluru, rains have been forecasted for entire south interior Karnataka and parts of north interior Karnataka.

Soumya Chatterjee

Heavy rainfall over isolated places is likely over Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Mandya, Mysuru, Ramanagara and Shivamogga districts of south interior Karnataka,  the Karnataka State Emergency Operation Centre said. Officials predict that isolated places will receive over 65 mm rainfall over the next four days.  However, when asked about the possibility of flooding in Bengaluru, officials in the know said there is no immediate reason for concern, even though many areas have been waterlogged in the last few days due to rains. Incidentally, BBMP officials had to take the help of the fire department on Wednesday morning to drain out water in the third and seventh sectors of HSR Layout due to rains. According to rainfall data maintained by KSNDMC, Bengaluru Urban received only 24 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours.  The Meteorological department has said that Bengaluru will continue to have cloudy skies with rain.  In its long-range outlook on September 27, the IMD had said, “A cyclonic circulation lies over northeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood and extends up to 2.1 km above mean sea level. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over north Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood by tomorrow and is likely to become more marked during the subsequent 48 hours.”  Officials at the Karnataka State Disaster Monitoring Centre said that the rains will be fairly widespread, with moderate to heavy rains likely over districts in south interior Karnataka and parts of north interior Karnataka. Coastal and Malnad districts are likely to receive scattered to widespread light to moderate rains on Wednesday. Additionally, the Meteorological Centre in Bengaluru said that Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Belagavi, Dharwad, Ballari, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Kolar, Shivamogga and Tumakuru were likely to see that thunderstorms accompanied by light to moderate spells of rain and strong winds reaching 30 to 40 kmph or more. The rains are expected at a time when Karnataka is yet to get central aid for the floods that ravaged a major part of the state in August, killing more than 80 people and leaving thousands homeless.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2otkdUY
via IFTTT