You can go out drinking in Bengaluru from September 1

Coronavirus

Bars, pubs, night clubs and micro breweries in Karnataka will be allowed to serve alcohol from September 1, as per an order issued by the state excise department.

TNM Staff

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The Karnataka government on Monday issued guidelines for reopening restaurants including pubs and bars from September 1 with 50% capacity. Bars, pubs, night clubs and micro breweries in the state, including capital Bengaluru, will be allowed to serve alcohol from September 1, as per an order issued by the state excise department. The establishments will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity and alcohol will be served only at tables, meaning the orders issued earlier allowing establishments to sell alcohol at MRP prices will no longer be in effect. Establishments with CL-4, CL-6a, CL-7, CL-7a, CL-7b, CL-9, CL-17 and CL-18 licenses will be allowed to open starting on Tuesday.  The department also introduced a slew of guidelines to be followed at restaurants, bars, hotels and other hospitality units. These included screening employees and customers for COVID-19 symptoms, maintaining physical distancing norms and encouraging take-away instead of dine-in. "Adequate personnel will be deployed at establishments to enforce social distancing norms," read the guideline. Spitting shall be strictly prohibited in establishments.  Hotels which are in containment zones will continue to remain closed till September 30 at least.  Earlier in the day, the Karnataka government confirmed the metro services will return in a reduced capacity from September 7 while schools, colleges and educational institutions will allow teachers to return in a reduced capacity from September 21. Students from classes 9 to 12 will also be allowed in the school to clarify doubts even as online education is encouraged.  Marriage gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 50 guests and funerals, last rites will be carried out with up to 20 people. The limit will be increased to 100 persons from September 21. Read: Karnataka issues order for Unlock 4.0, no word on pubs and bars yet

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SC orders MHA to ensure Vijay Mallya be brought before court on Oct 5

Legal

Earlier on Monday, the apex court has rejected Vijay Mallya’s pleas to seek a review of the order where he was held guilty.

TNM Staff

The Supreme Court on Monday asked former liquor baron and now fugitive Vijay Mallya to be present before the court in person on October 5 at 2 pm. The apex court has directed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to arrange his presence whi is currently in the United Kingdom. It was earlier reported n the day that Mallya’s review petition on the apex court’s 2017 order that had held him guilty of contempt of court for transferring 40 million dollars to his children were rejected. A bench comprising Justices UU Lalit and Ashok Bhushan said, "We do not find any merits. Review petition dismissed." The apex court had reserved its verdict on the review plea on August 27 after hearing arguments from both sides. Mallya had filed the petition seeking review of the apex court's May 9, 2017 order by which he was held guilty of contempt of court for transferring USD 40 million to his children in violation of the order. Mallya is an accused in a bank loan default case of over Rs 9,000 crore, involving his defunct Kingfisher Airlines. In 2017, the court was hearing a petition filed by a consortium of banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI), which had said that Mallya had allegedly transferred USD 40 million received from British firm Diageo, to his children in "flagrant violation" of various judicial orders. The SBI in its plea said, Mallya has disobeyed the court's order by making "vague and unclear disclosure of assets" by transferring 40 million dollars from Diageo to his children's accounts, and also by ignoring the summons to the court.   On June 19, the apex court sought an explanation from its Registry as to why the review petition filed by Mallya was not listed for the past three years. The Supreme Court has also asked the registry for the names of the officers involved in the process.   Mallya fled India in March 2016 and is reported to be in England. In January 2019, the Indian government had declared Vijay Mallya a fugitive economic offender.

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Why Bengaluru’s COVID-19 positivity, death rate are on the decline

Coronavirus

The mortality rate of Bengaluru at 1.5% is better than the Karnataka and national averages.

Soumya Chatterjee

In a positive sign for Bengaluru despite the daily increase in COVID-19 cases, both the positivity rate and mortality rate of the disease have decreased compared to what they were a month ago. Positivity rate is the percentage of patients testing positive per 100 tests while the mortality rate is the number of persons dying per 100 positive patients. In fact, the mortality rate of Bengaluru at 1.5% is better than that the state average (1.7%) and the national average (1.8%), as per the State COVID-19 War Room report of August 30 (data as of Aug 29). Though the positivity rate continues to remain higher at 15.11% while the state average is at 12% and the national average is 9%, there has been a decline of 2.23% in the positivity rate compared to July. Dr Giridhar Babu, an epidemiologist with the Public Health Foundation of India, who is part of expert committees formed by both the state and the Centre said, “Bengaluru is fairly in a good position given the number of cases are growing at a staggering pace.”  He attributed the improvement in the numbers to the increase in testing and surveillance activity, but he stressed that testing has to be improved further qualitatively and quantitatively.  “We should not worry about any numbers now as almost everything has opened up (lockdown relaxations), except for the death rate. Nobody should take credit for reporting fewer cases; rather priority should be to detect vulnerable cases early. As long as the cases grow at a pace that does not overburden the system, it should be fine. Ideally, the positivity rate should be less than 5% as recommended by the WHO,” Dr Babu said. Dr Pradeep Banandur, an epidemiologist at NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health And Neurological Sciences) who is working closely with the state health department, said that the improvement in allocating beds with time and better treatment modules coupled with the awareness of early testing has improved the situation. “People are being detected early and this means they can be treated early. More importantly, there is enough evidence now to state that maintaining oxygen saturation and provisioning oxygen instead of going for mechanical ventilation or intubation saves more lives. So I think with improved knowledge of how to treat people and an improved treatment protocol is helping us manage better than other states,” he told TNM.  Data details Cases in Bengaluru have been rising at least in excess of 2,000 cases every day for the last 10 days since August 20 with an average of around 22,000 people getting tested each day. As of August 29, as per the data, Bengaluru had 1,27,263 cumulative positive cases while the number was 53,324 on July 29. The number of total fatalities on July 29 was 1,010 and the same on August 29 are 1,939. With this, the mortality rate of COVID-19 in Bengaluru was at 2.77% while the positivity rate was at 17.34% on July 29. On August 29, the mortality rate is now at 1.52% and the positivity rate is at 15.11%. This improvement in positivity rate is observed after Bengaluru witnessed a steady increase in the number of cases due to ramping up of testing since June. The positivity rate in Bengaluru at the end of May was 1.17%, and 17.34% on June 29.  The spike can be explained with the stark difference of positivity rate in the month of June (6.91%) and July (24.15%).  Unlike the positivity rate, the mortality rate has been on a gradual decline since the end of May. On May 31, the mortality rate was 3.11%, and on July 29 it was 2.77% and is 1.52% as of August 29. Increased testing, early detection of cases and other medical interventions ensured that the mortality rate for the months of June (1.69%) and July (1.85%) did not increase significantly. 

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Laying of tracks on Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield line of Bengaluru metro begins

Transport

This comes as a major relief for those living and working around Whitefield area, as many have been waiting for metro connectivity.

TNM Staff

@WF_Watcher ·/Twitter

In good news for residents and those working in Whitefield, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has started laying tracks for the Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield metro line as part of the Purple Line extension. With this, the installation of rail tracks, as well as welding work, is being carried out on a 3-km stretch near Whitefield.  The report quotes contractors as saying that they are optimistic that around 3 km of track between Sitharama Palya (formerly known as Visvesvaraya Industrial Area) and Whitefield metro stations will also be done by October. Most of the work, including track laying work between KR Puram and Whitefield, is expected to be ready by March 2021, the report added.  However, Channappa Gowda, Special Land Acquisition Officer for BMRCL, told Bangalore Mirror that they are yet to acquire 57 properties needed for widening roads near the KR Puram Railway Station and Jyotipur underpass. Another issue that may be a hurdle to the metro line is that 60 trees in the Benniganahalli lake area need to be cleared and the case is currently being heard by the high court. This could further delay the timeline. This is the third stretch of the Bengaluru metro in the phase II plan, which has already seen the Kanakapura Road and Mysuru Road metro extensions being completed. The metro station at Yelachenahalli will be extended to Anjanapura while the station at Mysuru Road will be extended to Kengeri. Earlier, the inauguration of Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield line was to be done by December 2021 but a shortage of labour and a halt in construction this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed construction works. The 15km stretch is now expected to be completed by June 2022. Along with the Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield line, three other metro lines were expected to be completed by 2021. This included the metro lines from Nagasandra to Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Gottigere to Swagath Road Cross, and RV Road to Bommasandra via Electronic City.

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DK Shivakumar recovers from COVID-19, discharged from hospital

Coronavirus

Photographs emerged showing DK Shivakumar standing outside the out-patient department section of Suguna Hospital.

TNM Staff

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President and senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar was discharged from the hospital a week after he tested positive for the coronavirus. DK Shivakumar was receiving treatment in Suguna Hospital in Bengaluru's Rajajinagar and was discharged on Monday afternoon. Photographs emerged showing DK Shivakumar standing outside the out-patient department section of Suguna Hospital. "DK Shivakumar, President, KPCC who was admitted in Suguna Hospital, Rajajinagar since 24/08/2020 with complaints of fever and myalgia has recovered well and discharged from the hospital," read a statement from Dr. Kiran Kumar BR, CEO of Suguna Hospital. The statement said that Shivakumar had responded well to the treatment. "Suguna Hospital’s multidisciplinary team of specialists from internal medicine, critical care, pulmonology; infectious diseases treated DK Shivakumar and he responded well to the treatment," the statement by Dr. Kiran added. Shivakumar was hospitalised on August 25 on the advice of doctors. He was hospitalised soon after he returned from New Delhi after meeting senior Congress leaders. He postponed a scheduled visit to flood-affected areas in north Karnataka on August 25. His visit was set to cover Bagalkot and Belagavi districts in the state. Heavy rains disrupted life in parts of the state causing flood-like situations and triggering landslides. Recently, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Health Minister Sriramulu and former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Siddaramiah were hospitalised after testing positive for coronavirus. All three of them made a full recovery after being infected.    

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Karnataka issues order for Unlock 4.0, no word on pubs and bars yet

Lockdown

The Karnataka government is considering issuing a set of guidelines which allows pubs and bars to function in a reduced capacity.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka government on Monday issued an order in line with the Union Home Ministry's guidelines for relaxing restrictions in Bengaluru under Unlock 4.0. The guidelines allowed for metro services to resume in a phased manner from September 7 but there is no confirmation or guidelines specified for allowing pubs and bars to serve alcohol. The guidelines issued by the Home Ministry did not prohibit the opening of pubs and bars and the Karnataka government is considering issuing a set of guidelines which allows pubs and bars to function in a reduced capacity.  "The state government is deciding on the issue of opening bars and pubs. This will be communicated shortly," an official from the Excise Department told TNM. Until the decision is taken, pubs and bars will remain closed.  Theatres, entertainment parks, swimming pools etc will continue to remain closed however open-air theatres will be allowed from September 21. Schools and colleges will continue to remain closed. However, from September 21, 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff can be called to the school at a time for online teaching and counselling related work.  "Social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, political functions and other congregations with a ceiling of 100 persons, will be permitted with effect from 21 September 2020, with mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and handwash or sanitiser," reads the order.  Online education will be encouraged but students of classes 9-12 may visit schools for guidance from September 21. However, marriage gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 50 guests and funerals, last rites will be carried out with up to 20 people. The limit will be increased to 100 persons from September 21. The relaxations are applicable only outside containment zones. In these zones, the current restrictions will continue till September 30.  

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Bengaluru drug bust: Drug peddler allegedly had diary with names of Kannada celebs

Crime

The NCB has arrested three people in connection with the drug bust on August 21.

Theja Ram

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The Narcotics Control Bureau, which busted a synthetic drug racket last week, has seized a diary from the prime accused, which allegedly contains the names of 15 celebrities including actors, musicians, models and reality TV actors from Karnataka. NCB sources say they suspect that the drug peddlers, who were arrested, were selling MDMA and LSD to these artistes regularly. NCB sleuths are now looking to question these actors and musicians in order to obtain more information on other peddlers operating in South India.  On August 21, the NCB conducted raids at Nikoo Homes, an upscale gated community in Bengaluru and seized 96 pills of MDMA, weighing 40 gm, and 180 LSD blots. A drug peddler named Ravindra was arrested here. The second raid was conducted at Royal Suites Hotel service apartment in Kalyan Nagar, 145 MDMA pills weighing 60 gm were seized along with Rs 2,20, 500 cash. The sleuths arrested a man named Anoop, who was allegedly in possession of these drugs. Based on inputs from the arrested accused in these two raids, the NCB arrested Anikha D, who is the prime suspect in the case, from her home in Doddagubbi. The NCB seized 270 MDMA pills, weighing 111.6 gm, from her residence.  Upon interrogation, the NCB learned that Anikha allegedly became a campus dealer in 2014 and began selling synthetic drugs to students. NCB sources said that over the years, she built a network of actors, musicians, models and reality TV actors in Karnataka and used to sell drugs to them regularly. “In Anikha's possession was a diary, which has the names of celebrities she used to deal drugs to. We want to question them in the coming days to get to the bottom of the racket and fish out the peddlers and their network,” an NCB source said.  The drugs, which were seized in Bengaluru, were allegedly shipped from Brussels in Belgium. NCB sleuths said that Anikha was one of the drug peddlers, who used to supply synthetic drugs in huge quantities to members from affluent sections of the society. “Since the news of actors and musicians being involved is out in the open, it will be difficult to nab them red handed,” the NCB added.  Sandalwood filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh on Saturday, had openly said that drug use was rampant in the Kannada film industry. “Some actors do consume drugs, mostly at the parties. I am aware that they consume drugs inside their vanity vans on the sets. I would not deny the allegation that there is a link between the drug mafia and the Kannada film industry. Many budding actors attend rave parties and consume drugs to get noticed. But it is also true that not all actors consume drugs,” Indrajit Lankesh said. After his statement to the media, the Central Crime Branch summoned him for questioning on Sunday. Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police said that apart from the NCB’s probe, the state police too would begin probing into the drug mafia. Praveen Sood said that synthetic drugs were mostly sold by foreign nationals, whose visas have expired. “We will identify forign nationals whose visas have expired and look to see if they are selling drugs. Most of the time they turn to drug trade as they don’t have many employment options after their visas expire,” Praveen Sood added.   

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