Catholic church denies misappropriation of flood relief funds to the tune of Rs 50 cr

Controversy

The Catholic church in Karnataka was responding to corruption allegations by Justice Saldanha.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

File photo

Following media reports of large scale corruption in the Catholic church, the church has died these allegations. In a press statement, the Archbishop of Bengaluru said, “The archdiocese of Bangalore is deeply disturbed to receive a notice from Justice Michael Saldanha… His allegation of misappropriation of Rs 49.50 crore of the flood relief fund is totally wrong, baseless and far from the truth.” The statement further said that the total amount of funds collected by the Archbishop of Bengaluru for flood relief amounted to Rs 2.15 crore, while the Mysuru Diocese collected a sum of Rs 2.43 crore and that the proposed music concert by Mr. Sonu Nigam was cancelled due to his indisposition. “The total amount collected by the Archdiocese of Bangalore and the Diocese of Mysore for the Flood Victims is Rs 3.93 crore only. The funds from the Archdiocese of Bangalore were sent to the Beneficiary Dioceses through Caritas India, New Delhi,” the statement added. However, the church did not respond to the allegation of murder, nor did it issue any clarification on the issue of mass transfer of priests, who had raised a complaint against the Mysuru Bishop KA William. The spokesperson for the Archbishop of Bengaluru told TNM that the transfers were within the administrative purview of the Diocese of Mysuru and did not comment on the allegations of murder. Allegations of corruption and murder In November 2019, 37 priests from various parishes in Mysuru district had accused KA William, Bishop of the Diocese of Mysore, of supporting a priest Leslie Morris, who had allegedly sexually harassed a woman. Following this, in a letter to the Archbishop of Bengaluru, dated May 24, Justice Michael Saldanha alleged that the Bishop KA William fabricated evidence to cover up a murder of one of the priests, who had complained and signed the letter, which had accused Bishop KA Williams of various offences including sexual misconduct and corruption. Read: Former judge demands resignation of Mysuru Catholic bishop, raises serious allegations Speaking to TNM, Mysuru bishop KA William too, denied all charges. “I have received the emails from Justice Saldanha. It is all far from the truth. They are making baseless allegations and blackening my name for no reason,” he said. Transfer of priests The bishop terms the transfer of 37 priests and the complaints following the transfer as an internal matter. “Transfers are an administrative matter. The priests have been transferred before, it is nothing new. There is no lockdown or anything for those doing service in the church. Besides, we have ordered transfers on May 29, when everything was relaxed.” Meanwhile, Justice Saldanha has said that he would be filing an interim reply on the matter. “The Archbishop has transferred about 70 priests during the lockdown in defiance of their own Cardinal's orders to defer transfers for this year, forcing movements during the lockdown in total defiance of government of India regulations,” he added.

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Brahmins in Karnataka to soon get caste, income certificates: CM Yediyurappa

Reservation

Brahmins account for a mere three per cent of the southern state's seven crore population.

TNM Staff

File photo

The Karnataka government has assured legislators from the Brahmin community that the government would soon start issuing caste and income certificates to Brahmins though they are in a minority, accounting for a mere three percent of the southern state's seven crore population. The Karnataka State Brahmin Development Board was set up in March 2019 as a state-run company with Rs 5 crore authorized capital and Rs 5 crore equity and is registered with the Registrar of Companies. "The Board has petitioned the state government to implement the 10 per cent quota for the economically weaker sections, as its benefit is being given by the central government jobs and in admissions to the national educational institutions," said its chairman H.S. Sachidananda Murthy. Responding to the demand, state Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said the state government would consider issuing caste certificates to the Brahmins so that they too can benefit from the state's various welfare schemes. "Though Brahmins belong to the forward community, they are economically weaker and need financial support," said Yediyurappa on Wednesday after unveiling the Board's official website for all its stakeholders here. Brahmins account for a mere three per cent of the southern state's seven crore population. Brahmins whose gross annual family income is less than Rs 8 lakh per annum will be eligible for the benefit schemes. "The Board will soon be authorised to issue caste and income certificates to the members of the Brahmin community so that they can also benefit from the schemes," the Chief Minister said. Yediyurappa said the Board would be empowered to serve the Brahmins. "The Board also proposes to provide interest-free loans to the financially weaker sections of the people in the Brahmin community," added Murthy. The community members urged the Chief Minister to provide 10 percent of the state government jobs and seats in state-run educational institutions, including professional colleges. With IANS inputs

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Bazaar Street in Bengaluru's Halasuru shut after positive COVID-19 case

Coronavirus

This comes one day after the number of containment zones in the city went from 36 to 113 in the span of 10 days.

Haripriya Suresh

Bazaar Street in Bengaluru's Halasuru area was shut down on Friday morning after one positive case of COVID-19 was reported. A case was found in the first cross in Bazaar Street. The usually bustling Bazaar Street was deserted on Friday. Shopkeepers in the area told TNM that they were informed about the case on Thursday night, and were asked to shut down all their stores by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike on Friday morning. Though there was speculation that there are three positive cases from the area, Dr Siddappaji, Health Officer (East) of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), said that there was one positive case confirmed for now. An auto fitted with loudspeakers was seen making announcements asking people not to step out of their homes in the street. Bazaar Street in Halasuru shut after a positive case of COVID-19 was found pic.twitter.com/P3IO86d4qr — Haripriya Suresh (@HaripriyaS_) June 12, 2020 “Please do not come out of your homes and maintain a physical distance of six feet from people around you. Senior citizens, children and pregnant women should not step outside without reason. From the perspective of public health, people should be careful. Let us unite to fight this disease,” is the announcement being made. This comes one day after the number of containment zones in the city went from 36 to 113 in the span of 10 days. 106 COVID-19 cases were reported between June 7 and June 12 in the city. However, most of the zones like Halasuru have just one COVID-19 case each. The areas or houses nearby are marked as containment zones and there is nothing to panic, added officials. Of the 6,245 coronavirus cases in the state, 581 are now from Bengaluru. The city recorded its highest increase in cases on Wednesday, when it saw 42 new cases, a majority of whom reported to hospitals with influenza-like illness symptoms. A total of 23 patients have died to COVID-19 in Bengaluru, 13 of which were reported in June alone. The number of active cases currently in Karnataka is currently 3,195, and 2,976 patients have been discharged. 72 have died while 10 are admitted to ICUs. As of June 11, 4.16 lakh samples have been tested so far, of which 4.02 lakh have returned negative. Currently, Yadgir is leading the state's COVID-19 burden with 626 active cases, followed by Udupi (619), Kalaburagi (503), Raichur (290) and Bengaluru Urban (258), among others. The total number of cases reported is highest in Udupi with 969 cases so far. Bengaluru Urban has accounted for 23 deaths, followed by Kalaburagi (8), Bidar, Vijayapura, Davangere and Dakshina Kannada (6 each) and Chikkaballapura (3 each).

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Containment zones in Bengaluru increase from 36 to 113 in ten days

Coronavirus

The number of cases in the city went from 475 on June 7 to 581 on Thursday evening over a span of five days.

Prajwal Bhat

The number of containment zones in Bengaluru increased to 113 on Thursday, after the city saw more than 100 COVID-19 cases reported over the span of five days since June 7.  The total number of cases in the city now stands at 581. The number of cases in the city went from 475 on June 7 to 581 on Thursday evening. As many as 44 patients reported in this time had no contact or travel history and reported in hospitals with symptoms of Influenza-like illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI). On June 1, the city had only 36 containment zones.  "The cause of concern for the public is the increase in the cases this month following the relaxation of rules. Some cases are travellers, others are contacts of old cases but there are also cases indigenous to Bengaluru alone because of a surge in ILI and SARI patients testing positive", Dr Lokesh, Special Commissioner in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and in-charge of COVID-19 surveillance told TNM.  Bengaluru now has 113 containment zones, up from 36 on June 1. 106 COVID-19 cases reported in the past week (since Sunday) and over 40% of them are ILI and SARI patients with no contact, travel history. List of new containment zones pic.twitter.com/OhraY5vL2W — Prajwal (@prajwalmanipal) June 12, 2020 Dr Lokesh said that the containment zones are restricted to the patient's house or the entire street of the patient's house depending on the geographical location. The size of a containment zone was reduced in May as per lockdown 4.0 norms. On June 4, a discussion was held to reduce it further in certain cases and only restrict it to the home of a patient. He further added that the health department officials are yet to observe a cluster of cases in Bengaluru after the outbreak in a slum in DJ Halli in the city. On May 25, a 38-year-old woman diagnosed with SARI tested positive for the virus. Areas around her home in DJ Halli were demarcated as a containment zone however, as many as 15 COVID-19 cases have emerged in the area since then. As many as four containment zones are located in a slum in SK Garden, close to DG Halli. 13% of the active cases in the city are also from this area, a congested settlement near Benson Town in the city.  On Wednesday, Bengaluru recorded its highest increase in COVID-19 cases in a single day with 42 new patients. A majority of the patients reported in hospitals with ILI symptoms. Of the 23 deaths reported among COVID-19 patients in Bengaluru, 13 were reported in June.  

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Karnataka makes changes to Land Reforms Act to allow non-agriculturists to buy farmland

Law

The amendments will be made in the next session of the state legislature.

TNM Staff

In a major change to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961, the state Cabinet has decided to allow non-agriculturists to purchase agricultural land and to remove the cap on income from non-agricultural sources to do so. It has also increased the number of units of land a person can own. The income limit from non-agricultural sources was fixed to ensure that farmland is not misused. The Congress government-led by Siddaramaiah had amended the Act previously in 2015 increasing the income limit from non-agricultural sources to Rs 25 lakh. It was earlier just Rs 2 lakh. The BJP, then the principal Opposition in the state, opposed the bill claiming that the purpose of the Land Reforms Act will be void with such a move, The Hindu reported.  However, five years later, the BJP is now keen on adding more relaxations in the Act. Briefing the decisions taken in the Cabinet meeting, Revenue Minister R Ashok and Law Minister JC Madhuswamy told reporters that the amendments will be made in the next session of the state legislature. The Act currently imposes a cap of 10 units for a five-member family. This was changed to enable a five-member family to possess 20 units of land. Similarly, families with more members can hold up to 40 units of land, the ministers stated.  This move will benefit high-salaried professionals in Bengaluru, particularly in the Information Technology sector, to buy land in Karnataka. Many such IT professionals had turned to buying land in other states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh due to the inflexible laws in Karnataka, Economic Times reported. Anyone earning more than Rs 25 lakh through a non-agricultural source loses the tag of 'farmer' regardless of whether their family is involved in farming or not. The previous law requires agriculturists to sell farmland only to other agriculturists.  Over 80,000 court cases related to the sections of the Land Reforms Act under scrutiny are pending in various courts in the state.   Few months ago, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had amended the same Act allowing buying and conversion of agricultural land for industrial purposes within a 30-day time frame. This was opposed by the Congress, the opposition party in the state.  Similarly, Congress had also registered its opposition to the BJP's decision amending the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act.

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Massive disparity as Karnataka BJP RS nominees, Kharge, Deve Gowda reveal assets

Politics

Ashok Gasti, one of the BJP nominees, stated that he does not even own a car in his affidavit.

TNM Staff

Former PM Deve Gowda filing his nomination

The assets of nominees for the June  9 Rajya Sabha biennial elections from Karnataka revealed a stark contrast in figures between veteran leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Deve Gowda, and BJP's relatively unknown party workers - Eranna Kadadi and Ashok Gasti. According to affidavits, the four candidates filed along with their nominations on June 9, BJP's candidate Ashok Gasti from Raichur district does not even own a car, has not filed income tax returns and has only Rs 1 lakh in cash. "In contrast, Kharge declared assets valued at Rs 9.8 crore, while his wife's assets are valued at Rs 9.2 crore," his affidavit revealed. Kharge's liabilities, including that of his wife, are Rs 23.7 lakh. Similarly, BJP's other nominee, Eranna Kadadi from Belagavi, owns assets worth Rs 2.32 crore, as per his affidavit. Some of the assets in the movable category of Kadadi include a revolver worth Rs 60,000 and a petrol bunk with working capital and assets valued at Rs 45.6 lakh. His liabilities are estimated to be Rs 1.9 lakh, according to his affidavit. On the other hand, former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, 87, declared assets valued at Rs 1.13 crore while his wife's assets are worth Rs 7.4 crore.  Gasti, 56, and his family members, including wife and two daughters, did not file I-T returns over the past five years claiming their income was below the limit. "As income tax below limit hence no return of income filed," said Gasti's affidavit. Gasti, his wife and one daughter have insurance policies for an assured sum of Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively. He and his family have no liabilities. He rides a two-wheeler he bought for Rs 25,000 in 2007. He had a scooter worth Rs 3,500 bought in 1996. "Gasti's wife and daughters have gold ornaments weighing 110 grams," said his affidavit. His total assets have been valued at Rs 2,85,673 while that of his wife and two daughters is Rs 8,54,375. With IANS inputs

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3 months after arrest, Bengaluru student Amulya gets bail in sedition case

Court

Amulya is expected to walk out of the Parappana Agrahara jail on Friday.

Sanyukta Dharmadhikari

PTI

Amulya Leona Noronha, the college student who was booked for sedition case for saying “Pakistan Zindabad” in a protest was granted bail, three months after she was arrested and jailed.  She was granted bail by the 5th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court under Section 167(2) of the CrPC on June 10. According to Amulya’s lawyers, the section stipulates a time period in which the charge sheet has to be filed (60-90 days), and on the 91st day, the accused is entitled to bail.  Speaking to TNM, R Prasanna, a part of the team of lawyers arguing the case, said, “Earlier, the bail that was applied for under Section 439 of the CrPC was rejected by the sessions court. So, on Wednesday, we had approached the 5th ACMM court with a different application seeking default bail under Se 167(2). Default bail was granted on Thursday. Formalities are done, we expect her to be released on Friday.” Section 439 is what is generally used to apply for bail for an accused, and it lays down the special powers of a high court or sessions court to grant bail.  The bail was granted against a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, and on the condition that she cannot influence witnesses or obstruct investigation or commit a similar offense again.  Amulya is expected to walk out of the Parappana Agrahara jail on Friday. Earlier on Wednesday, a sessions court had rejected the bail plea of the 19-year-old student and activist saying that she “may abscond” if she is released, and “may involve [herself] in a similar offence which affects peace at large”. Amulya is a student of journalism and English. She was arrested in February after she said “Pakistan Zindabad” thrice during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Bengaluru. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi was the chief guest at the protest. She then said “Hindustan Zindabad,” and tried to make a point, but she was not allowed to do so, the microphone was grabbed away from her and she was whisked off the stage. She was charged under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups and imputations) and 153B (assertions prejudicial to national integration) of the Indian Penal Code. The Karnataka government, in its submissions in court opposing bail for Amulya, had stated that she “may threaten and influence the witnesses and hamper the case of the prosecution."

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