Bengaluru couple found murdered at their residence, cops suspect personal enmity

Crime

The police suspect the couple was murdered due to personal enmity.

TNM Staff

Representational image

A couple was found murdered in Bengaluru’s  Garudacharpalya near KR Puram on Thursday morning. The police suspect that Chandregowda, 63, and his wife Lakshmamma, 55, have been murdered due to personal animosity. According to the police, the incident took place on Wednesday night and the couple was attacked with a blunt object. The duo hailed from KR Pet in neighbouring Mandya district and was running a sari shop. Their death came to light when one Shivaraj, who runs a flour mill below their house, went to inform them about overflowing water from the tank. “Shivaraj peeped through the window and saw Chandregowda lying in the hall. Suspecting foul play, he alerted Mahadevapura police, who broke open the door and found Lakshmamma’s body in the bedroom,” Whitfield Division DCP Anuchet told The Times of India. City Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao also visited the spot. “We’re trying to find out who will benefit from these murders. The property ownership will go to the couple’s adopted daughter,” he said. Early on Wednesday, a couple and their child had visited Chandregowda and Lakshmamma, the report also quoted another shopkeeper as saying. While initially it was suspected that the murder was committed to steal valuables, it later came to light that no items were missing from the house. Deccan Herald reported that the police deployed forensic teams, fingerprint experts and dog squads to the crime scene and have formed three teams to nab the culprits. This double murder comes close on the heels of the sensational murder of former Vice-Chancellor of Alliance University, D Ayyappa Dore, on Tuesday night. The police on Thursday said that they have solved the crime and arrested Chancellor Sudhir G Angur. Family rift was the reason behind the murder, the police said. According to police, Suraj Singh, a functionary at the university, had allegedly carried out the crime at the behest of Sudhir to prevent his brother Madhukar from gaining control in the university. Ayyapa Dore was seemingly shifting his allegiance towards Madhukar, which allegedly prompted Sudhir to plot the crime. 

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Bengaluru residents irked as Pollution Control Board officer who worked for citizen rights transferred

Controversy

Manoj Kumar had recently submitted a scathing report to the Karnataka High Court regarding Bengaluru’s Solid Waste Management system.

Soumya Chatterjee

Many resident groups and activists in Bengaluru are unhappy with the Karnataka government’s decision to unceremoniously transfer Karnataka IFS officer Manoj Kumar from his position of Member Secretary of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board in Bengaluru.  Kumar declined to comment over the development. At the time of publishing an online petition demanding the officer be reinstated to his former position has got close to 500 signatures within a day’s time. A section of activists alleges that he was transferred as he was undertaking a few important projects that were aimed at bringing transparency in the board’s working. He was also working on expanding the board and was keen on building frameworks ensuring compliance with norms. A few residents pointed out recent instances when Manoj Kumar had gone against the status quo and had acted on complaints. Some of them include authoring a scathing report submitted to the Karnataka High Court regarding Bengaluru’s Solid Waste Management system in connection with dumping mixed solid waste in landfills. The report had stated that the BBMP was not following due procedure in waste management including running dysfunctional waste plants in contravention of Solid Waste Management Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. He had also reportedly recommended criminal prosecution of officers for violating enviornmental laws.  Pranay Dubey, a resident-activist based in Electronic City, said, “Is the recent report submitted to the High Court the reason for his transfer? The government must cancel his transfer order. It is totally unfair and injustice to an officer who had worked for citizen’s welfare.” Zibi Jamal, member of Whitefield Rising, a collective which successfully went to court for the closure of a Graphite India factory unit said, “Does good work mean getting transferred? This proves that nobody wants good governance in Karnataka. He is one of the best officers we had engaged with during our struggle. He was always ready to hear us.” The transfer came within just 14 months of him taking this position while transfers are normally recommended once an officer completes three years in the department. Top officials confirmed to TNM that the transfer was not recommended by the Forest Department. Incidentally, Manoj Kumar is yet to get a posting after he was asked to take charge as the Chief Conservator of Forests, Canara Circle, Sirsi but subsequently withheld. Sources close to Kumar, said, “He was working on a system to ensure contactless enforcement and compliance which meant license or consent seekers have to meet officers very few times and hence limited harassment or bribery associated with the board.” “Other than that, he was trying to streamline the functioning of the common Effluent Treatment Plants. Dysfunctional ETPs are the reason for frothing lakes and rivers in the city’s outskirts,” the source added.

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Karnataka tops innovation index, top 10 states in list dominated by south, west

Innovation Index

These rankings were released by the NITI Aayog on Thursday under the India Innovation Index 2019.

IANS

Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog

Karnataka has been ranked as the most innovative state in the country while the top ten states are concentrated mainly in southern and western India. These rankings were released by the NITI Aayog on Thursday under the India Innovation Index 2019. Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana, Haryana, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh form the remaining top ten major states respectively. The top ten major states are majorly concentrated in southern and western India. Sikkim and Delhi take the top spots among the north - eastern & hill states, and union territories. Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh are the most efficient states in translating inputs into output. According to the NITI Aayog, the study is an outcome of extensive research and analysis, which looks holistically at the innovation landscape of India by examining the innovation capabilities and performance of Indian states and union territories. "The aim is to create a holistic tool which can be used by policymakers across the country to identify the challenges to be addressed and strengths to build on when designing the economic growth policies for their regions", it said in a statement. Karnataka is the leader in the overall rankings in the category of major states. Karnataka's number one position in the overall ranking is partly attributed to its top rank in the performance dimension. It is also among the top performers in infrastructure, knowledge workers, knowledge output and business environment. According to the NITI Aayog, the index shows that the innovation ecosystem of the country is strong in south and western parts of India. In fact, three of the top five major states are from southern India. Delhi and Haryana seem to be an exception to this rule and seem to be doing well on the Index. "Thus, there seems to be a west-south and north-east divide across the country", the index report said. The index was released in the presence of Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog; Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog; Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science; Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology; and Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, AYUSH. Rajiv Kumar expressed hope that the India Innovation Index would create synergies between different stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem, and India would shift to competitive good governance. Amitabh Kant added that India has a unique opportunity among its myriad challenges to become the innovation leader in the world.

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SC Collegium pushes for 'expeditious' elevation of K'taka district judge to state HC

Judiciary

The Centre had earlier asked to probe a sexual harassment complaint against Bhat which was found baseless by a former K'taka CJ.

IANS

The Supreme Court Collegium has resolved to reiterate its move to appoint Karnataka District Judge P Krishna Bhat as a judge of the state High Court. The collegium had, on February 8, 2016, recommended the name of judicial officer Bhat for appointment as Judge of the Karnataka High Court but it has been stuck for 44 months over allegations of harassment levelled by a woman judicial officer. The Centre asked to probe the allegations against Bhat on the basis of a complaint sent by the woman and after a probe conducted by the former Karnataka HC chief justice, it was found that the woman's complaint was without basis. "On reconsideration of the above proposal, referred back by the Department of Justice, Government of India to the Chief Justice of India, the Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on October 15, 2019, has resolved to recommend that its recommendation made on August 23, 2016 and reiterated on April 6, 2017 be processed most expeditiously," a statement said. The issue of elevating Krishna at the High Court had also become an issue within the Supreme Court judges with former senior Supreme Court Judge Justice Chelameswar writing about Centre’s interference regarding this to the then Chief Justice of India Justice Dipak Misra. In 2016, the then CJI TS Thakur had asked the then Karnataka High Court Chief Justice SK Mukherjee to conduct an inquiry against Bhat on certain allegations levelled by a subordinate woman judicial officer. Bhat's name was later recommended after the probe gave him a clean chit.  Justice Chelameswar’s letter was written soon after an unprecedented rebellion in the Supreme Court. On January 12, four sitting judges of the apex court – Justice Chelameswar, Justice Gogoi, Justice Kurien, and Justice Lokur – announced to the country that the administration of the Supreme Court was not in order.

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E-cig industry fractures over looming laws as Big Tobacco plays the long game

Smaller e-cig makers and retailers are allying with free-market ideologues, suing governments and appealing directly to the public.

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Sibling rivalry behind Alliance Uni ex-VC murder, Bengaluru police arrest Chancellor

Crime

Ayyappa Dore, the former Vice Chancellor was hacked to death at RT Nagar in Bengaluru.

TNM Staff

Police in Bengaluru on Thursday said that they have solved the sensational murder case of former Vice Chancellor of Alliance University D Ayyappa Dore within 48 hours of the crime and arrested two persons including the present Chancellor. The accused in custody are Sudhir G Angur, Chancellor of Alliance University and Suraj Singh, an executive at the same university. According to police, Suraj Singh had allegedly carried out the crime at the behest of Sudhir to prevent his brother Madhukar from gaining control in the university. Ayyapa Dore was seemingly shifting his allegiance towards Madhukar which allegedly prompted Sudhir to plot the crime.  Addressing reporters on Thursday evening, City Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao said, “Eight teams were constituted and we were able to make headway soon because there was already a dispute within Alliance University, it facilitated our investigation. Within a short time, we were able to zero in on Sudhir Angur who led us to Suraj Singh. Upon interrogation, he broke down and confessed about the murder. He mentioned to us that it was at the behest of Sudhir Angur that he carried out the murder along with four others.” The Commissioner added that the murder was allegedly planned by Sudhir, who was assisted by an advocate. He also said, “We have averted the murder of another prominent citizen in this case. We questioned the people involved and in 24 hours we managed to make progress. Suraj Singh is a first time offender and not a contract killer.” Bhaskar Rao said, “A total of five people are involved. They studied the movement pattern of the deceased and together under the direction of Sudhir they carried out the assassination.” However, four others are yet to be nabbed by the police and are absconding. TNM had earlier reported how D Ayyappa Dore, the former Vice Chancellor of Alliance University, was found dead at around 6am on Wednesday in a pool of blood after he was allegedly hacked to death at RT Nagar's HMT Ground. According to the police, Ayyappa left his residence in RT Nagar on Tuesday night for a walk after dinner at around 11:30 pm as usual. “His wife went to bed, and realised that he had not returned home only the next (Wednesday) morning. She went out to search for him. By then, the police on patrol duty had discovered the body. It was part of his daily routine. He would take the house keys with him as he often returned late and didn’t want to disturb his wife,” a senior police officer had told The Hindu on Wednesday. Ayyappa is the former Vice Chancellor of Alliance University and an RTI activist. He is survived by his wife Pavana Dibbur, two daughters and an eight-year-old son. He also had political ambitions and had floated the Jana Samanyara Party in 2017 and unsuccessfully contested in Muddebihal constituency in Vijayapura district in the 2018 Assembly Elections.

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McDonald’s and other eateries in Bengaluru fined for hygiene issues and using plastic

Hygiene

BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar said that he has asked health officers to carry out such surprise raids across the city.

Soumya Chatterjee

Health inspectors of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Wednesday fined multiple fast-food chains, including a McDonald’s outlet in Shantinagar, and other eateries located in prime localities on Wednesday. Other than fines for poor hygiene, BBMP officials are also carrying out raids at restaurants for using plastic, which has been banned since 2017.    Samrudh Veg in the upscale Cunningham Road was imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 for serving unhygienic food. According to officials, the vendor was storing rotten fruits, vegetables as well and even rodents were found in their kitchen.  McDonald’s was slapped a fine of Rs 25,000. Other establishments that were raided and fined include Hotel Crazy 4 Food in Jayanagar, Ganjananda Bar and Restaurant in Chamrajpet and Bowring Institute.   Tweeting about the same, BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar said that he has asked health officers to carry out these surprise raids. A #BBMP Health team fined a restaurant on Cunningham Road Rs.10,000 for serving unhygienic food, having an expired trade licence & for stocking rotten fruits & veggies. Rodents were also found here. Have asked officers to pay surprise visits to #Bengaluru restaurants. #BBMPCOMM pic.twitter.com/CJLUj4jAKG — B.H.Anil Kumar,IAS (@BBMPCOMM) October 16, 2019 This is not the first time that the BBMP has taken action against restaurants and known names in the food industry.  Speaking to TNM, BBMP Chief Health Officer Vijayendra said that these raids are periodic and are carried out by the health department. “All medical officers and health inspectors across all eight zones of the city are authorised to carry out these raids. ON Wednesday, we raided six restaurants in the city,” he told TNM. “Officers also fine them for violating the plastic ban. The fine amount varies according to the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act and also based on the quantity of plastic seized as well,” says Vijayendra.    TNM had earlier reported how during enforcement drives carried out in May, the BBMP had cancelled the trade licenses of 15 dine-in and take-out restaurants in the city as the outlets were unhygienic and had dirty kitchens.  The outlets, which faced action then included Box 8, Andhra Ruchulu, Annan Mess, Ruh and Punjabi Nawabi. In March, the BBMP had fined top brands like KFC, Cafe Coffee Day and others for using plastic for packaging.

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