Bengaluru drug case: Actor Ragini Dwivedi taken into custody for questioning

Crime

The magistrate has also remanded Ravi Shankar, Ragini's friend, to a five-day police custody.

TNM Staff

Sandalwood actor Ragini Dwivedi was taken into custody for questioning, on Friday, by a team of Central Crime Branch sleuths. She was taken in for questioning after the CCB sleuths conducted search and seizure operations at two of her apartments in Yelahanka from around 6am on Friday.  The CCB sleuths searched the premises of her flats, and also her Innova car. However, CCB sources said that they did not find any drugs in her possession. “We only found bottles of alcohol,” a CCB source said.  Ragini Dwivedi was taken in for questioning after her friend Ravi Shankar, an official at the State Regional Transport Office in Jayanagar, was arrested on Thursday after being questioned for six hours. CCB sources said that they obtained evidence that Ravi Shankar was peddling drugs. Joint Commissioner of Police and chief of CCB, Sandeep Patil, said that Ravi Shankar was remanded to five-day police custody. “We gathered evidence that he was peddling drugs to several actors. We are still investigating the matter,” he added.  CCB sources suspect that Ravi Shankar and actor Ragini allegedly held parties at her residence and allegedly consumed synthetic drugs including cocaine, LSD and MDMA. “Upon interrogation, we found that Ravi Shankar obtained drugs through a friend from a peddler named Prateek Shetty until 2018. Prateek Shetty was arrested in 2018 after we (CCB) conducted raids and seized 1.5 crore worth drugs including cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy),” the CCB source added.  CCB sources said that they are looking into Ravi Shankar’s finances as he allegedly lived a lavish lifestyle. “His earnings and spending habits don’t add up. We are looking into his financial information to find out more,” the CCB source added.  However, the actor vehemently denied that she consumed drugs and had said that she condemns drug use. She had also lauded the police for busting the drug racket and launching a probe into the issue.  Ragini Dwivedi was the first actor taken in for questioning in connection with the Sandalwood drug abuse case after filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh submitted to the CCB, a list of 15 names of actors, musicians and directors who allegedly consumed drugs. On Sunday last, Indrajit Lankesh submitted to the CCB a list of names, locations of alleged rave parties they had attended and their associates, who he claimed were procuring drugs for these parties.  What is the Sandalwood drug abuse case? The current drug bust started on August 20 when the Narcotics Control Bureau conducted raids in Navi Mumbai and seized over 3000 MDMA pills. Following this, the NCB arrested a couple- HA Choudhary and R Batharey. The NCB then raided the residences of three drug peddlers in Bengaluru.  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 Mohammed, 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.  Following this, the NCB had said that actors and musicians from Karnataka were under its scanner in connection with the racket that was busted. The NCB's revelation led to the state government ordering an inquiry into the drug racket operating in Karnataka.  The Central Crime Branch has been charged with the probe. However, a few days ago, Kannada filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh told the media that several actors in Sandalwood consumed drugs at rave parties. On Saturday last, he was questioned by the CCB, where he is said to have submitted a list of names of actors, directors and musicians, who allegedly consume drugs. The CCB has asked Indrajit Lankesh to appear before the investigators on Thursday and has asked him to furnish proof of his allegations.  

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Bengaluru West has over 3000 active COVID-19 containment zones

Coronavirus

At present, Bengaluru has 40,440 active cases of COVID-19.

TNM Staff

Image for representation: PTI

Bengaluru has 13,645 active containment zones, of which the city's west zone has the highest at 3,032, followed by Bengaluru East at 2,685 and Bengaluru South at 2,596, authorities of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said. According to the latest bulletin, RR Nagara has 1,539 active containment zones, followed by Mahadevapura at 1,242 and Bommanahalli at 1,048. Only Dasarahalli and Yelahanka have less than 1,000 active containment zones at 991 and 512 respectively. However, there seemed to be certain discrepancies in the figures issued by the BBMP, as its previous bulletin had said that the city had reported 38,231 containment zones, out of which 15,229 were active. In the latest bulletin, the BBMP claimed that the total number of containment zones reported so far were 15,146, out of which 13,645 were active. Meanwhile, Karnataka's COVID-19 tally crossed the 3.7 lakh mark to reach 3,70,206 with 8,865 new infections reported in a 24-hour period. Another 104 people succumbed to the virus taking the state's death toll to 6,054, an official said on Thursday. "Today, 8,865 new cases were reported while 7,122 people have been discharged," said Health Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey. Continuing the daily trend, Bengaluru accounted for the highest number of infections with 3,189 cases, taking the city's tally to 1.38 lakh with 40,440 active cases. Among other places, Mysuru accounted for 475 infections, followed by Belagavi (454), Ballari (424), Dharwad (342), Dakshina Kannada (316), Hassan (252), Shivamogga (251) and Koppal (226). The total number of recoveries in Karnataka stands at 2.68 lakh. Meanwhile, 104 more patients succumbed to the virus, taking the statewide death toll past the 6,000-mark to 6,054. Of the total 3.7 lakh cases in Karnataka, 96,098 are active, out of which 735 are in the ICU. With IANS inputs

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Drugs case: CCB searches Kannada actor Ragini Dwivedi's residence in Bengaluru

Crime

The search comes after the actor’s friend was arrested on Thursday for being involved in drug peddling.

TNM Staff

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Bengaluru carried out a search at the Yehalanka residence of Kannada film star Ragini Dwivedi on Friday morning in connection with a drug case. Sources said cops in two cars arrived at the actor's residence which is within an apartment complex at around 6:30 am in the morning. Ragini was summoned by the police on Thursday but had failed to appear for questioning. Instead, she had said on Twitter that she would appear on Monday, citing that the summons was given at a short notice. She added that the same was communicated to the police through her lawyers. However, police served her a second notice asking her to appear for questioning by Friday itself. Incidentally the search on Friday morning was carried out after the CCB on Thursday announced the arrest of Ravi Shankar, Ragini’s friend and an alleged drug supplier.  “We have arrested Ravi Shankar after getting evidence that he was peddling drugs. We have also secured his custody for five days to interrogate him to ascertain to whom all did he supply the banned drugs," Bengaluru Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Patil told reporters on Thursday evening. Read: Kannada filmstar Ragini Dwivedi seeks time to appear before cops in drug case "We have served Ragini another notice to appear for questioning on Friday at the CCB office after she said that she could not come today (Thursday) as she was unwell and sought time till September 7," Patil added. According to sources, Shankar is a government employee working with the Regional Transport Office in Jayanagar and is known to have attended rave parties where there was widespread use of contrabands like marijuana (ganja), cocaine and hashish. These developments come in the wake of the Kannada film industry being linked to wide-scale drug abuse. The allegations had surfaced after the police and the Narcotics Control Bureau nabbed an international drug trafficking racket in multi-city raids earlier in August. Among the kingpins who were arrested, main accused Anikha had told the police that there were multiple Kannada film celebrities who in her customer base. Ragini along with others were issued summons after filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh had also reportedly named her and Ravi of being involved in regular drug use. Background The current drug bust started on August 20 when the Narcotics Control Bureau conducted raids in Navi Mumbai and seized over 3000 MDMA pills. Following this, the NCB arrested a couple- HA Choudhary and R Batharey. The NCB then raided the residences of three drug peddlers in Bengaluru.  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 Mohammed, who was allegedly in possession of these drugs.  Based on inputs from the 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.  Following this, the NCB had said that actors and musicians from Karnataka were under its scanner in connection with the racket that was busted. The NCB's revelation led to the state government ordering an inquiry into the drug racket operating in Karnataka. The Central Crime Branch has been charged with the probe. However, a few days ago, Kannada filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh told the media that several actors in Sandalwood consumed drugs at rave parties. On Saturday last, he was questioned by the CCB, where he is said to have submitted a list of names of actors, directors and musicians, who allegedly consume drugs. The CCB has asked Indrajit Lankesh to appear before the investigators on Thursday and has asked him to furnish proof of his allegations.

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Karnataka clears Special Incentives Scheme for Electronics System Design sector

Industry

The incentives announced for investment in the ESDM sector include- capital investment subsidy of 25% on land and 20% on plant and machinery.

PTI

By DustyDingo via wiki commons

The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to the "Special Incentives Scheme" for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector in the state, through which it expects investment of over Rs 5,000 crore and 43,000 direct employment in 5 years. The incentives announced for investment in the ESDM sector include- capital investment subsidy of 25% on land and 20% on plant and machinery, also 100% reimbursement of stamp duty and registration charges, and 100% reimbursement of land conversion fee. It provides for power tariff reimbursement of Rs 1 per unit for 5 years from the month of commencement of commercial production, and 100% exemption from electricity duty for 5 years from the month of commencement of commercial production. The government will also give a production linked incentive for new investments as well as expansion of 1% of annual turnover during the policy period of five years. Under the scheme, 25% capital investment subsidy on land will be eligible to those industries which are setting it up in areas other than Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts, an official release said. Capital investment subsidy on land will be provided for land area up to and not exceeding 50 acres and on actual procurement cost if procured from Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) or any other agencies of state government, it said. Subsidy for land procured from other sources will be as per the guidance value of land at the time of procurement, it added. As per the scheme, 20% capital investment subsidy on plant and machinery will include expenditure on used/second hand/refurbished plant, machinery, and equipment, whether imported or procured domestically, not exceeding 20% of the total eligible plant, machinery and equipment. Production linked incentive will be based on annual sales turnover (includes sales within the state, inter-state and exports), as evidenced by annual audited accounts/audited balance sheets, it said. Incentives will be provided only to new investments or for capacity expansion, and will not be applicable for existing companies, it clarified. Stating that the total quantum of incentives sanctioned to a manufacturing/assembly unit under this package shall not exceed 100% of the value of fixed assets created by the unit, the government said the scheme will be applicable for new investments or investments in expansion of existing units for a period of 5 years from the date of its announcement. The state's incentive scheme can be availed in addition to incentives and subsidies provided under any of the policies of Government of India (GOI). However, industries availing this package of incentives cannot avail incentives under any of the other policies of the Karnataka government. Products/activities eligible for incentives include manufacturing and design of electronics products, semiconductor manufacturing and design, electronic manufacturing services, solar cells manufacturing, LED, and any other electronics verticals/products covered by the national policy on electronics. The release notes that incentives are over and above the schemes notified by GOI encompassing the entire range of products and activities under ESDM and not limited to only certain products as in central schemes. According to the release, the government is also subsidising the land procurement under the special incentive scheme. "An investment of over Rs 5,000 crore is expected to the State through this Scheme, with a potential to generate 43,000 direct employment over next 5 years," it added.

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44 police personnel in Karnataka have died of COVID-19

Coronavirus

Karnataka DG-IGP Praveen Sood said he has directed all his subordinates to liberally sanction earned leave to police personnel having comorbidity or serious illness.

PTI

Representational image/PTI

The Karnataka state police chief Praveen Sood on Thursday said 44 police personnel have died due to COVID-19 in Karnataka so far and their kin have been given Rs 30 lakh ex-gratia announced by the government for all frontline warriors.  The Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG-IGP) hailed Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa for categorising police personnel also as corona warriors along with doctors, nurses and ASHA health workers as it entitled them for the Rs 30 lakh COVID ex-gratia in the event of their death. "So far 44 policemen have lost their lives due to COVID- 19. We have not just given Rs 30 lakh each to their families. They will also get insurance, other benefits and a job for a dependent on the compassionate ground," Sood told reporters in Vijayapura, in response to a question. The ex-gratia of Rs 30 lakh had been given within 48 hours of the demise of the police personnel, he said. The DG-IGP said he has directed all his subordinates to liberally sanction earned leave to police personnel having comorbidity or serious illness. "The others will have to work because we cannot sit at home permanently. The infection is not on the road. It has entered every house. We have to take precautions," he said. He, however, saw coronavirus as a blessing in disguise as it helped in extensive usage of technology. "One good thing that has happened due to COVID-19 is that technology is widely used. Video conference is extensively used (in court proceedings). It is happening from Bengaluru to Bijapur. It should reach the interior villages," he added. The police have stopped taking accused to the court and were getting their appearance done through video conference. He said that in the next four to five years, even evidence might be recorded through video conferences. On the drug menace, Sood said the police were initiating action to check it, adding a lot of seizures had been made and the drive would continue in future also. "We have to eliminate the drug menace from the state" and people would see the results soon due to the measures taken to curb the entry of drugs coming from neighbouring states such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, he said

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Karnataka govt withdraws 62 criminal cases against BJP MPs and MLAs

Controversy

This comes on the recommendation of a sub-committee headed by Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka government has decided to withdraw 62 criminal complaints against its MPs and MLAs. Based on the recommendation of Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who headed a sub-committee, cases against several sitting ministers, including the Law, Tourism and Agriculture ministers, will be dropped as well.  The cases that are being dropped are those against Karnataka Minister JC Madhuswamy and Tourism Minister CT Ravi, according to a report in News18. They both were facing charges of rioting, unlawful assembly and wrongful restraint.  The case against Anand Singh, rebel Congress leader who last year switched to join the BJP, has also been dropped. Anand Singh was booked in 2017 for attacking a Hospete Taluk office and was charged with criminal intimidation, assaulting a public servant, and damaging public property.  The case against Mysuru MP Pratap Simha, who was booked for trying to run over a policeman, has also been dropped. The policeman had tried to stop him during a Hanuman Jayanthi procession in December 2017 and had been injured then. Simha had been booked for overspeeding and for voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant. Other leaders against whom cases are being dropped include Mandya independent MP Sumalatha Ambarish, BJP MLA fromYelburga Hallapa Achar, BJP MLA from Honnalli and CM’s political secretary MP Renukacharya.  The proposal to drop these cases was opposed by the director general and inspector general of police(DG-IGP), the director of prosecution and government litigation and the law department but despite this, the government has decided to go ahead with it.  The BJP government has refused allegations of ulterior motive behind the move and have claimed that it is ‘routine’ and the leaders had cases filed against them for taking up ‘public issues.’  A couple of days ago, the government also decided to drop cases against several protestors, most of whom are part of farmers’ groups and had taken part in protests on the Mahadayi issue.  The Youth Congress in Karnataka, meanwhile, has questioned the state government’s move. The party give tickets only for them Who have a criminal background or one who have done crimetl The person who don't know to speak English he's Tourism Minister Another one who don't know to talk properly with women's & peoples of Karnataka he's Law Minister.#CriminalsOfBJP pic.twitter.com/U3FOn9HfvV — M.Kashif Ahmed || ಎಂ.ಕೆ. ಅಹ್ಮದ್ (@M_KashifAhmed) September 3, 2020

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Contact tracing foiled by conspiracy theories, lack of federal messaging

A total of 14 states and New York City supplied POLITICO contact tracing results showing widespread public reluctance to participate in disease tracking.

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