DK Shivakumar hospitalised days after recovering from COVID-19

Health

The Karnataka Congress President had recovered from COVID-19 in a week following treatment from a private hospital.

TNM Staff

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president DK Shivakumar has been admitted to a private hospital in Bengaluru, days after he recovered from COVID-19. Sources said he has been admitted to Apollo Hospitals in Jayanagar after he started experiencing fever on Thursday. A source said that his oxygen saturation has dropped from normal levels and also has urinary tract infection. The former minister and heavyweight Congress leader had been discharged from Suguna Hospital in Rajajinagar, Bengaluru earlier on August 31 (Monday) following his recovery from COVID-19. At that time, he was admitted to the hospital as he was suffering from backache following his return from Delhi. He had also tested positive following a test for the novel coronavirus. However, he recovered after treatment by a multidisciplinary team of specialists from internal medicine, critical care, pulmonology, infectious diseases. He was admitted to the hospital on August 25. The same day, DKS was scheduled to visit flood-affected areas in north Karnataka. Prior to his admission to the hospital, he had announced on Twitter that he was cancelling his tour on health grounds. Post admission, Shivakumar at that time had said that he was doing fine and had got admitted on the advice of doctors. He had also said that he was hopeful of getting back to public life soon and urged all those who were in close contact with him. Shivakumar had then just returned from New Delhi after meeting the top brass of the party, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, for the first time since he took charge as the KPCC chief. He was reportedly briefing the central leadership about the developments in state politics, including the August 11 Bengaluru riots. He had also favoured that the Gandhi family remains at the centre of power within the Congress party amidst calls for a change in face of the party leadership. As the state president for his party, Shivakumar has led the party in criticising the state government’s response in fighting the pandemic and alleging corruption. He had also criticised the state government for not providing adequate compensation to those affected by the floods in north and central Karnataka.

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NLSIU to not accept CLAT scores for admission this year

The varsity confirmed the decision in a notice uploaded on its official website.

TNM Staff

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru has decided it will not accept the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) scores for admission to the BA LLB (Hons) course for the academic year 2020-21. The varsity confirmed the decision in a notice uploaded on its official website. NLSIU will instead conduct its own online entrance test for admissions this year. The entrance test, called National Law Aptitude Test (NLAT) 2020 will be conducted on September 12.  "The Admissions Notification outlined below exclusively governs all admissions to the BA LLB (Hons) Programme of NLSIU for the year 2020-21. Any student who seeks admission to NLSIU must apply directly to the University and complete the NLAT UG 2020 Entrance examination. The University will not accept CLAT 2020 scores for admission to Academic Year 2020-21," the varsity said in a statement.  The decision was taken due to the postponement of the CLAT examination this year. NLS follows a trimester model or three terms comprising 90 days each. The registration for the NLAT 2020 exam began on September 3 and will end in one week's time on September 10. A total of 120 students will gain admission into the university.  The CLAT 2020 examination was originally slated for May 10 but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and is now set to be held on September 28. CLAT is a common entrance test for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses in national law universities including Bengaluru's NLSIU. The registration fee for general category students writing the NLAT examination is Rs 150 and the fee for SC/ST category students is Rs 125.  According to Livelaw, a plea was filed in the Jharkhand High Court by five CLAT aspirants questioning NLSIU''s decision to hold its own exams instead of accepting CLAT scores. The plea stated that the move is unlawful and arbitrary as NLS is a 'permanent member of the National Law Universities consortium'.  

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IPL 2020: CSK to start training after all except 13 test negative for COVID-19 again

Sport

Chennai Super Kings players, except for the COVID-19 afflicted duo of Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad, will start training from Friday evening.

PTI

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and all other Chennai Super Kings players, except for the COVID-19 afflicted duo of Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad, will start training from Friday evening after clearing a third round of testing for the virus. The results are a major relief to the franchise, which was hit by 13 positive cases last week. The IPL is due to start on September 19 and will be played in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. "The training starts from today. All others, apart from the 13, tested negative for the third time. Those who tested positive will only be tested after the isolation period (two weeks) is over," CSK CEO KS Viswanathan said. Deepak and Ruturaj, along with 11 staff members of the contingent, will be tested twice by the end of next week when their 14-day isolation period gets over. They need to return with two negative tests before being allowed to train. Deepak is a first team starter in this line-up while Ruturaj is being groomed for the top-order in place of veteran Suresh Raina, who quit the tournament citing personal reasons and is unlikely to make a comeback. CSK starting off with their training is good news for the IPL governing council as it means that their marquee opening-round clash against the Mumbai Indians on September 19 "is very much on" contrary to some media speculation. No word on Harbhajan Singh There is no confirmation either from veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh or the CSK about the delay in the off-spinner joining the camp. There is speculation that he might pull out of the tournament due to personal reasons. Viswanathan declined to comment on the issue. For the record, CSK has three front-line spinners apart from Harbhajan -- leg-spinner Imran Tahir, left-armer Mitchell Santner and seasoned leg break bowler Piyush Chawla, who was bought for a hefty sum.

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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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