MDMA drug bust: NCB questions Bengaluru Congress corporator’s son in Mumbai

Crime

Yashas, son of corporator Keshavamurthy, was summoned for questioning by NCB on Friday.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

Bengaluru Congress corporator from Mahalakshmipuram, Keshavamurthy’s son Yashas on Monday appeared before the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in connection with the drug bust conducted simultaneously in Mumbai and Bengaluru in August.  According to the NCB, the sleuths went to Keshavamurthy’s residence on Friday and delivered the notice summoning his son Yashas for questioning. According to the NCB, Yashas’s name allegedly came up during the interrogation of an accused named Rahman, a drug peddler, who was arrested in Bengaluru.   NCB sources said that Yashas had allegedly switched off his mobile phone when the officers tried to reach him. Subsequently, on Friday, the NCB conducted raids on the Congress corporator’s residence in Rajajinagar and delivered the notice for Yashas’s summons to Keshavamurthy. Speaking to TNM, Keshavamurthy said, “My son has gone to Bombay (Mumbai) to answer the NCB’s questions. He will submit his answers in the next two or three days. We are not worried at all. We expect him home after he submits his answers.”  NCB sources said that Yashas’s name came up during the interrogation of an arrested accused in a drug bust case, named Rahman and that the Mumbai wing of the NCB summoned him for questioning. “We wanted to know if there is a link between the drug bust in Mumbai and Bengaluru on August 10 and the drugs Rahman procured from Germany. We suspect they were part of the same gang,” the NCB added. Rahman had allegedly procured 750 MDMA pills from Germany on July 31 and was arrested by the NCB on August 22. He had absconded after the NCB recovered a huge cache of drugs from the Foreign Post Office on July 31. Rahman is a commerce graduate and was allegedly selling MDMA and other synthetic drugs to college and school students. He had allegedly procured the MDMA pills from the dark web in exchange for bitcoins. Upon interrogating Rahman, the police arrested Anikha D, Anoop and Ravindran from three different locations in Bengaluru on August 28.  The accused were taken to Mumbai for questioning after connections between the MDMA bust in Bengaluru and Mumbai emerged. On August 10, the NCB’s Mumbai wing arrested a couple from Navi Mumbai for allegedly ordering ecstasy from Belgium, just like Anikha, Anoop and Ravindran allegedly had. All accused in these cases are being questioned in Mumbai.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3hfQCEg
via IFTTT

IMA ponzi scheme: Two Karnataka govt officials chargesheeted by CBI

Crime

The officials concerned are then Assistant Commissioner of Bengaluru North Taluk LC Nagaraj and village accountant Manjunath N.

PTI

Representational image

The CBI has filed a charge sheet against two Karnataka government officials in the multi-crore I-Monetary Advisory (IMA) ponzi scam case, alleging they took bribes from IMA promoter Mohammed Mansoor Khan to give him a clean chit.  The officials concerned are then Assistant Commissioner of Bengaluru North Taluk LC Nagaraj and village accountant Manjunath N after getting the state government's permission to prosecute them in the alleged Rs 4,000-crore scam, they said. It has been alleged in the charge sheet that Nagaraj received a bribe of Rs 4.5 crore and Manjunath Rs 10 lakh, they said. The scam surfaced in mid-2019 when Mansoor Khan suddenly fled to Dubai, from where he was later deported. In the charge sheet, the agency did not mention the then Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban District  BM Vijay Shankar, who was named in the FIR, as he had passed away, they added. It has been alleged that IMA group entities headed by Mansoor Khan had raised illegal and unauthorised deposits in an alleged, dishonest and fraudulent manner from innocent investors to the tune of over Rs 4,000 crore. In its charge sheet filed recently before a special CBI court in Bengaluru, the CBI has alleged that Nagaraj received Rs 4.5 crore from Khan and other directors of IMA for giving a clean chit to IMA activities, while Manujnath as middleman had received Rs 10 lakh. The case is an off-shoot of the IMA scam in which the CBI has filed two charge sheets against 22 accused, they said. The agency has registered four separate FIRs related to the scam. Along with Khan, the directors and others who benefited from the scheme were arrested. In all, around 25 people were arrested in connection with the scam. The CBI in its charge sheet has alleged that when the state government received complaints about the shady activities of the I-Monetary Advisory (IMA) jewels, it directed the district authorities to probe it. LC Nagaraj prepared a report stating that there was nothing wrong in the IMA investment firm and gave a clean chit to Mohammed Mansoor Khan, who operated the ponzi scheme, the agency alleged. Nagaraj received Rs 4.5 crore bribe for the clean chit, it alleged. It added Shankar too accepted the report and forwarded it to the state government without verifying it. Manjunath, the village accountant, allegedly acted as a middleman in this deal and accepted around Rs 10 lakh as a bribe, the CBI has alleged.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3lWP5X9
via IFTTT

Draft EIA 2020: Karnataka HC extends stay on publication of final notification

Environment

The Centre had failed to file its response despite seeking time from the High Court.

Soumya Chatterjee

Representational image

The Karnataka High Court on Monday extended the stay imposed on the Union government restraining it from publishing the final notification of the Environmental Impact Assessment 2020. This after the Union government failed to file its response despite seeking time for the same earlier.  The first stay was granted by the same bench led by Chief Justice AS Oka on August 5 as the draft notification had not been given wide publicity nor was it available in regional languages. The court order was based on a public hearing litigation filed by the United Conservation Movement (UCM). Speaking with TNM, Prince Isaac, advocate for the  UCM, said, “The High Court has primarily observed that the Central government did not respond proactively while they had only sought for time. Therefore, the stay has been extended. As of now, there is no next date of hearing fixed for the case as of now, and it has been postponed sine die. The court has observed that it is a case for final hearing and it should be heard extensively.” Wide-scale opposition and controversy The Draft EIA 2020 has been challenged in various High Courts in the country and other non-legal forums by environmentalists, who have alleged that it dilutes environmental norms in the garb of fast tracking developmental and industrial activities. Major changes proposed include reduced public consultation process and post-facto environmental clearance meaning projects can begin without prior environmental clearance. Other than environmental activists and rights groups, former Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh have also spoken against it. Incidentally, the Union government on Friday had told the Delhi High Court that publishing the draft in languages other than Hindi and English would lead to “translation and interpretation issues”, resulting in the “obfuscation” of the words used in the draft. The Delhi HC in a June 30 judgement has directed the notification be published  in all the 22 languages (mentioned in 8th Schedule of the Constitution) within 10 days of the verdict. Incidentally, a Right to Information request filed by environmental activist Vikrant Tongad had also revealed the Minister of Environment and Forests Prakash Javedkar had rejected a proposal by officials to extend the deadline for public to submit feedback on the draft. Incidentally Vikrant is also the petitioner at the Delhi HC.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/323IlP8
via IFTTT

Fact-finding committee on Bengaluru riots was appointed by state govt: Minister CT Ravi

Violence

The address of the collective is listed as the address of the office of the Kannada magazine Vikrama Weekly, a publication of the RSS.

Prajwal Bhat

A fact-finding report compiled on the riots that broke out in eastern Bengaluru in August by 'Citizens for Democracy' was by a committee appointed by the state government, Tourism Minister CT Ravi said. "Fact finding committee appointed by State Government in the Bengaluru Riots case has submitted its report. It was a pre-planned attack having no connection with the alleged Facebook post," said CT Ravi in a tweet. Fact finding committee appointed by State Government in the Bengaluru Riots case has submitted its report. It was a pre-planned attack having no connection with the alleged Facebook post. Every RIOTER who planned & executed this attack will be punished. No one will be spared. — C T Ravi ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) September 6, 2020 The report was released on September 4 by 'Citizens for Democracy', a collective that included former IAS and IFS officers. It did not specify that it was a government-appointed committee. Multiple news reports published on the findings of the report did not mention that the fact-finding committee was appointed by the state government and instead said that it was an independent civil society group.  'Citizens for Democracy' claimed that it is a platform of responsible citizens committed to democratic values, safety and security of the citizens of India. The fact finding panel was headed by retired District Judge Srikanth D Babaladi, and had retired IAS officer Madan Gopal, retired IFS officer R Raju among others which include retired bureaucrats, journalists, advocates, professors and social workers.  The address of the collective - No. 106, 5th main, Chamarajpete, Bengaluru - mentioned in the report is listed as the address of the office of the Kannada magazine Vikrama Weekly, a publication of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).   In its report, 'Citizens for Democracy' found that the recent riots in Bengaluru were "pre-planned and organised" and it was "undoubtedly communally motivated". It said the mob during the riots on August 11 night had specifically targeted certain prominent Hindus in the area, and the entire incident qualifies to be a "riot against the state" with the motive of "reducing the faith of common people in the state". The report by the collective said that the riots were motivated by communal tensions and likened it to riots in New Delhi and in Malmo, Sweden where riots occurred in earlier this month reportedly after a copy of the Quran was burned by members of the far-right Danish party Stram Kurs (Hard Line). "Despite attempts being made to project the same as political rivalry, it was undoubtedly communally motivated. The panel is of the opinion that based on the kind of houses and people targeted, the motive of the riots could also be fear mongering so as to change the demography and turn the area into a Muslim majority one," the report said. It was also of the view that SDPI and PFI were involved in planning and execution of this incident. Mob riots broke out in DJ Halli on August 11 after residents were triggered by a Facebook post termed derogatory by Muslims. The post was uploaded by Naveen P, the nephew of Pulikeshinagar Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy. A mob of people angered by lack of police action against the MLA's nephew launched attacks on two police stations and the residence of the MLA in Kaval Byrasandra. Dileep bar located close to the MLA's residence was also burnt down by the mob. The violence which began around 9 pm on August 11 was quelled in the early hours of August 12 after police opened fire at the mob killing 3 people in the mob.  Read: How two police stations in Bengaluru became targets of mob violence on Tuesday night  

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2F6i9L9
via IFTTT

Upgrade Doddajala station to make airport line a success: Rail activists in Bengaluru

Transport

Upgrading the Doddajala station will improve the frequency of trains and make the Airport line a viable alternative, say activists

Soumya Chatterjee

Image and map by Rajkumar Dugar

With the railway station near the Kempegowda International Airport ready for all functional purposes, activists in Bengaluru advocating for connectivity between the city and the airport are now pushing for upgradation of Doddajala to a crossing station. Doddajala is located in between the airport station and Yehalanka. This, they say, is a very significant infrastructural push required to make the railways a feasible mode of alternative transport to reach the airport from different parts of Bengaluru. Rajkumar Dugar, convenor of  Citizens for Citizens (C4C), one of the activists pushing for the rail station explained that the 24 km of rail line between Yehalanka and Devanahalli is a single track, which means that trains can only go once every 30 minutes in either direction. He said, “While ideally, we would want a double line, that may take several years. A crossing station will be an easy fix to the problem, costing no more than Rs 10 crore.” Rajkumar had also started an online petition in 2018 which was endorsed by 13,000 Bengaluru residents and brought the topic into prominence. Sanjeev Dyamannavar, an activist and transport analyst said that upgrading Doddajala to a crossing station will involve laying of new tracks of approximately 1 km in length, parallel to the existing track and connected at both ends. “This also involves signalling equipment other than the tracks so that the two trains can cross over simultaneously. With this, the section capacity can be doubled with trains running in both directions every 15 minutes,” he said. Rajkumar added that besides helping commuters to and from the airport, the crossing station at Doddajala will also make the railways a viable option for intra-city commuting for these areas, from other parts of greater Bengaluru. Rajkumar and Sanjeev along with other activists had also met with Chief Secretary Vijaya Bhaskar on the issue in January this year. At the time, they said that they were assured that the state government would take this matter up, but there has been no follow up. “Upgrading the existing station at Doddajala to a crossing station will cost Rs 10 crore approximately, so that proposal has been sent to the Railway Board, New Delhi. The Board is considering all aspects and work can begin once they approve the project and funding is provided, which is done annually at the time of the Union Budget. As of now, for the traffic volume we have, a single line is sufficient. With the Airport station opening up, we have to see if there is a substantial increase in train usage in these routes,” AK Verma, Divisional Railway Manager, Bengaluru told TNM.   However, disappointed with the coveted suburban rail project being delayed for decades even after multiple promises by the current government at the Centre, activists are now rallying for the crossing station to be built with corporate funding. Incidentally, the airport station at the edge of the airport campus is also built with funding provided by Bangalore International Airport Limited, the company that manages the airport. The commuters to the airport including the staff will be taken to the terminal in shuttle buses.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3lZVPU0
via IFTTT

Bengaluru police launch drive to bust peddlers, drugs worth Rs 90 lakh seized

Crime

The accused allegedly procured synthetic drugs from the dark web and sold it to school and college students.

TNM Staff

In its attempted crackdown against drug abuse, the police on Monday arrested 11 drug peddlers from multiple locations in East Bengaluru and have seized 1,100 LSD strips, 980 MDMA (ecstasy) pills, 450 gm of crystal meth, 25 gm of heroin, 500 ml of weed oil and 48 kg of marijuana. The police estimate the drugs to cost anywhere between Rs 90 lakh and Rs 1 crore.  The Halasuru Police on Monday arrested Keval M Lohith, a computer applications graduate, who allegedly participated in rave parties in Bengaluru and Goa and allegedly consumed drugs. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant said that Lohith allegedly began dealing drugs in order to make money.  “He used his contacts with African and Nigerian drug peddlers to purchase synthetic drugs and then he started to get synthetic drugs independently through the dark web by using bitcoins. Then, he used his associates as delivery boys to supply the drugs to party-going youths and college students,” Kamal Pant said.  The Halasuru police also arrested Mohammed Hifzulla alias MD, a college dropout, who had been working as an office boy at a product promotion company. The police said that Mohammed Hifzulla later started his own event organising company named Fusion Entertainment Company and allegedly began organizing events and parties where drugs were sold and consumed.  “In these parties, Hifzulla and his associates started supplying drugs to participants and also for students near schools and colleges to gain more money, to lead a luxurious life. He had contacts with African and Nigerian drug peddlers from whom he used to purchase cocaine, weed oil and other narcotic substances, apart from procuring through the dark web using bitcoins,” Kamla Pant said. Police said that Keval Lohith and Mohammed Hifzulla allegedly learned how to procure drugs from forums on the dark web, and allegedly began procuring them by using coded language in chats. The duo allegedly hired Aziz Niyaz, a Rapido captain and Guru Prasad, a Dunzo delivery person, and paid them to deliver drugs. They were given Rs 500 per delivery, investigation officials said. Meanwhile, the East Division police have arrested seven others in separate cases. The Ramamurthy Nagar Police arrested Mohammed Irfan, who was allegedly selling drugs to school and college students by procuring them from Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Crystal meth, heroin and marijuana were seized from his residence, officials said. The Banaswadi Police arrested Shaik Mohamed Yaseen, a native of Hyderabad, for allegedly selling marijuana. Nineteen kg of ganja was seized from his residence.  The DJ Halli police arrested courier delivery boy Dilip Kumar for allegedly selling marijuana. As much as 16 kg of ganja was seized from his residence, according to officials. The Ramamurthy Nagar Police, meanwhile, arrested AP resident Ram Babu and Mulabagal resident Mohan Raj for allegedly selling marijuana at the KR Puram Railway Station. The police said that they seized 10 kg marijuana from the duo.  “In Bharathi Nagar, KG Halli, Hennur Police Stations of East Division too, cases have been registered against many drug peddlers and abusers. So far, in East Division, 294 cases have been registered against 320 persons under NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act this year,” Kamal Pant added. 

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/35hoRbR
via IFTTT

Bengaluru man cheated by logistics company, cops intervene to ensure delivery

Crime

A 26-year-old engineer from the city says Leo International Packers and Movers went incommunicado and did not deliver his bike for six weeks before he filed a police complaint.

Prajwal Bhat

On July 11, 26-year-old Saideep Cherukuri, an engineer based in Bengaluru, wanted to transport his bike to his hometown in Tadepalligudem in Andhra Pradesh. After making searches and enquiries on Logisticmart, an online search portal for movers, he received a call from someone claiming to be working with the reputed logistical company Agrawal Packers. He handed over his bike to a man on July 11 but over six weeks later at the start of September, Saideep had lost over Rs 16000 but was no closer to seeing his bike turn up at the destination.  "The man on the call introduced himself as Agrawal packers and movers but when he gave us an invoice for transporting the bike, the company was named Leo International packers and movers. A man named Anil Kumar took the bike and then there was no contact for a while," Saideep tells TNM. Saideep initially paid Rs 1000 for transporting after agreeing a price of Rs 4000. But two weeks after he handed over the bike, the man reached out to him asking him to pay Rs 12000 to deliver the bike. He says that even after paying this amount, there has been no trace of his bike over the past month.  Saideep approached Sadashivanagar Police Station in Bengaluru with a complaint on but he says he was told by police officials to wait longer for the company to deliver the bike. Sadashivanagar police inspector M Manjunath told TNM that the complaint was taken up last week on September 3 and the company - Leo International Packers and Movers -  was investigated. An FIR was registered in Sadashivanagar police station under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) accusing Anil Kumar and his colleague Jaideep.  "I repeatedly approached the police station for weeks to recover my bike but they said that it could be a delay due to the pandemic.. But when the movers began asking me for more money to deliver the product, I filed a police complaint and eventually, the bike was delivered on Saturday," says Saideep.  M Manjunath, the police inspector at Sadashivanagar police station who investigated the case, says that the police contacted Anil Kumar, the man who collected the bike, through the phone number shared by Saideep. "We brought him in for questioning after visiting his office near Goreguntepalya about withholding cargo meant for delivery. He was released after the cargo was delivered," says Manjunath.  Another Bengaluru resident Asif Khan, 28, also told TNM that personnel who claimed to be from Leo International Packers and Movers have not returned his belongings for over five months now. Asif, a resident of Whitefield in Bengaluru works in the entertainment industry, called up Leo International to move household items on March 20 this year from Bengaluru to Mumbai. Asif found Leo International through Justdial, a local search engine service.  According to Saideep and Asif, there are more people who are similarly waiting for their items to be delivered by this company. 

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/35efqd6
via IFTTT