Ragini Dwivedi's remand report reveals drug peddlers were tipped off about police move

In its remand application, the CCB has quoted alleged chats between Ragini Dwivedi’s friend Ravi Shankar and another accused Prashanth Ranka.

TNM Staff

The Bengaluru police, in its remand application to the 31st Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, has stated that the accused in the drug case were allegedly tipped off two months ago regarding the Central Crime Branch’s probe into the drug use at high profile parties.  The Central Crime Branch sleuths have allegedly recovered chats that accused Ravi Shankar, a friend of Ragini Dwivedi along with another accused person Prashanth Ranka, who has been accused of procuring drugs for these parties that were held at five star hotels, pubs, nightclubs and farmhouses.  Ravi Shankar allegedly wrote, “Don’t talk to drug peddlers,” to which Prashanth Ranka allegedly said that he had not been consuming drugs for a long time. Ravi Shankar and Prashanth Ranka allegedly discussed the probe being conducted by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Patil. “Big time tracking is going on...Sandeep Patil sir...Came to know from sources yesterday,” Ravi Shankar allegedly wrote to Prashanth Ranka.  The CCB also stated that they retrieved chats between Ravi Shankar and Sengalese national accused of peddling drugs, Loum Pepper. Ravi Shankar is said to have asked Lou Pepper for a score of drugs less than a gram. “Get very very good stuff… 2G celebrity stuff… Give me less than 1 gram,” Ravi Shankar allegedly wrote in the chat. “No is because it is in rock form that is why it is complete 1G,” Loum Pepper is said to have replied.  CCB sources said that upon interrogation, they learned that Ravi Shankar had procured cocaine, an opiate known to have addictive properties, from Loum Pepper for parties that were held at various locations in the city.  The remand application states that Ragini Dwivedi, her long-time friend Shivaprasad, party planner Viren Khanna, Aditya Alva, Prashanth Ranka, Vaibhav Jain, Loum Pepper, Prashanth Raju, Ashwin, Abhiswamy, Rahul Tonse and others were members of a ring, where high profile parties involving celebrities were organised. The CCB stated that the accused persons procured marijuana, MDMA (ecstasy), cocaine and LSD for these parties for the consumption of those who attended.  Police said that the drugs were procured from Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, Mumbai, Goa and countries abroad. “The accused brought drugs from these places and distributed it to those who attended the parties. There is a need to probe the inter-state and international level drug racket,” the CCB wrote in its remand application. 

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Bengaluru has 15,537 active containment zones, most in RR Nagara

Coronavirus

The total number of containment zones in Bengaluru stands at 18,299.

TNM Staff

Image for representation/PTI

Bengaluru, which reported 3,419 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, has 15,537 active containment zones. Most of these – 3,392 – are in RR Nagara. Bommanahalli has the second highest number of active containment zones at 3,260, followed by Mahadevapura at 2,410. All the other zones have more than 1,000 containment zones that are active, except for south zone, which has 613 active containment zones.   In all, 85% containment zones in Bengaluru have active status, while 15% have returned to normal status. The total number of containment zones in the city is at 18,299. However, these numbers in containment zones for September 9 are drastically different from the numbers on the previous day when the total number was 28,042. Of the 3,419 coronavirus patients identified on Wednesday, most are men in the age of 30 to 39, followed by men in the age groups 20-29 and 40-49 respectively. Recoveries (1,564 total on Wednesday) were highest overall in the 30-39 age group. Most of the new cases were reported in the west zone (around 600), followed by east zone (almost 500) and Bommanahalli (less than 400). West, east and south zones reported the most recoveries in that order on Wednesday. In the last ten days, Bengaluru west has reported 19% of all coronavirus patients identified, followed by east (17%) and south (15%) zones. Bommanahalli has also reported a significant number of COVID-19 patients in the last 10 days at 13%. Both RR Nagar and Mahadevapura have a share of 11%; and Yelahanka has reported 8% of the cases during this period. Bengaluru has done a total of 11,12,090 tests for coronavirus till date, and has a positivity rate of 14.12%. The active rate in the city is at 26.87%, while the recovery rate is 71.66%. The death rate is 1.47%.   

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Work on film city in Bengaluru to begin soon: CM assures help to Kannada film industry

Politics

Recently, Deputy CM Ashwath Narayan had said that the film city would be established on 150 acres of land at Hessarghatta in the city.

PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday said that work on the proposed film city in Bengaluru will start soon as he assured all possible help to the Kannada film industry that is under stress due to the COVID pandemic and related restrictions. "Most importantly regarding the film city, there were earlier talks over whether it should be set up at Mysuru or Bengaluru. Now the search is on for land in Bengaluru. It will be finalised at the earliest. The film city will come up in Bengaluru, for which Rs 500 crore has been earmarked in the budget. Work in this regard will start soon," Yediyurappa said. At the earliest things will be finalised and work will start in this regard, he said. Speaking to reporters after meeting a delegation from the Kannada film industry, he said they shared their issues and concerns, to which he assured that he would address whatever was possible. Recently, Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan had said that the film city would be established on 150 acres of land at Hessarghatta in the city. Representatives of the film industry, including star actors Shiva Rajkumar, Yash, Duniya Vijay, Tara Anuradha, Film Chamber president D R Jairaj, among others, met the Chief Minister and submitted a memorandum, along with a charter of demands. Shiva Rajkumar said all issues concerning the industry, including film chamber, producers section, exhibitors, directors and labour, which include actors, have been shared with the Chief Minister and he promised to look into it and try to resolve whatever was possible at the earliest. Not wishing to put any figure to the loss faced by the industry due to the pandemic and lockdown, he told reporters that there was no doubt that they have suffered huge losses in the last six-month long period. "We have shared our issues and hope they will be addressed," Rajkumar said. To a question on whether any request was made on opening theatres, he said it was also discussed. "But the guidelines have to come from the Centre. we are waiting for it. Opening theatres is not a big thing, how much prepared we are should also be looked into... it all depends on the understanding between exhibitors, producers and distributors. They will have to decide. From our side, as actors, we are doing our bit by participating in shootings," he added. The charter of demands submitted to the CM pointed out that the industry was in a difficult time with all activities being shut for the last six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also sought laying the foundation for the film city at the earliest for which funds were allocated in the budget, repayment of SGST amount to producers, implementation of single window system and creation of a separate cyber cell for the industry to put an end to online piracy. It also requested the CM to not cut power and water connections to single screen theatres, who have not been able to pay dues because of COVID-19, and thereby help in reopening of theatres and also recommend to the Centre for exempting or giving concession for single screen theatres from paying SGST (state-Goods and Services Tax). The charter of demands include concession in power, water tariffs and property tax for studios, bringing workers at single screen theatres under the purview of the labour department, providing houses to seniors in the industry without a house of their own, and also fixing ticket prices at multiplexes and bringing in necessary rules under the film act.

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Siddaramaiah asks Speaker to extend Karnataka Assembly session till Oct 15

Politics

The former CM accused the BJP government of ‘destroying’ the parliamentary system and said the time fixed for the session will not be enough to discuss several crucial issues.

PTI

File image

Siddaramaiah, the Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday demanded that the monsoon session of the state legislature beginning from September 21 be extended till October 15. In a letter addressed to Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, the former chief minister accused the BJP government of continuously "destroying" the parliamentary system. Siddaramaiah said the time fixed for the session will not be enough to discuss several crucial issues in the state, and pointed out that as per rules, it was necessary for the House to meet for minimum 60 days in a year. "In 8 days (of monsoon session) it is impossible to discuss important issues, so I urge that this session should be extended for a minimum of three weeks, that is till October 15," Siddaramaiah said. In his letter, he said, according to his information, more than 35 bills including more than 20 ordinances will be tabled during the session. Also there are several issues, as the people of the state are facing difficulties like never before, with repeated floods and COVID-19 pandemic taking more than 6,500 lives. Adding to it, law and order issues are repeatedly cropping up in the state and drug menace was rampant, he claimed. Monsoon session of the legislature will be held from September 21 to 30 at Vidhana Soudha, the seat of the state legislature in Bengaluru. Siddaramaiah said, while the session is being held amid such a situation, the time fixed was not enough for anything. "It looks like the session is being held just for the sake of it without any care for the people," he said, alleging that an attempt is being made to pass several anti-people ordinances without any discussion, and termed the move as "treachery of the people, irresponsible and height of wickedness." The government was conducting itself in an "unconstitutional way" in this matter, he further said. The Congress and also JD(S) have vehemently opposed some recent amendments brought in by the government to the APMC Act, Land Reforms Act and certain labour laws through ordinance, for which replacement bills are likely to be tabled during the coming session. Siddaramaiah pointed out that as per the Karnataka Conduct of Government Business in the State Legislature Act, 2005, it is mandatory to conduct the assembly proceedings for a minimum 60 days in four sessions in a year. "But the BJP government was continuously destroying our parliamentary system. Its behaviour shows that it is calling for the session, just for namesake," he added.

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Citizens protest outside BDA office over Bengaluru Peripheral Ring Road project

Civic

Citizens for Bengaluru said that due process on the PRR project was being violated.

TNM Staff

Volunteers of Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB), a pan-city activist group carried out a protest at 3 pm on Wednesday demanding that the detailed project report (DPR) of the Peripheral Ring Road be released to the public. Following the demonstration; which involved a group of people coming together, freezing for a few minutes and then dissolving into the crowd, the activists met Bangalore Development Authority Commissioner HR Mahadev and handed over a formal petition demanding the same.  The protest was held in the context of a virtual conference scheduled on September 23, where Bengalureans can comment and suggest changes to the proposed Peripheral Ring Road (PRR).  As reported earlier, the BDA chairman told citizens that the DPR is yet to be made final as they are yet to finalise on some alignments, with some land left to be acquired. In their press statement, CfB said, “The process of conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment even before concluding the alignment and a public consultation on that, that too without the DPR,  is a sham given the changes forthcoming.” “CfB believes that due process on the PRR project is being violated. The public is not only entitled to an accurate DPR, the current public consultation process is meaningless  given the EIA is based on the old alignment and has no standing in view of the changed alignment,” they added. The project is facing opposition from the public as it could uproot 33,800 trees and affect multiple water bodies. The PRR involves laying 65.5 kilometres of an eight-lane road network between Tumakuru Road on the west and Hosur Road on the east via Ballari Road and Old Madras Road.

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Mangaluru anti-CAA stir violence: 21 PFI members get bail

CAA Protests

The apex court had earlier issued stay on bail granted to the protesters by the Karnataka High Court.

PTI

File image

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to 21 members of Popular Front of India (PFI) from Mangaluru accused of indulging in violence on December 19 last year during anti-CAA protests. Police firing on that day had resulted in the death of two men. The apex court had earlier issued stay on bail granted to the protesters on the appeal filed by Karnataka government against the High Court order. A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde, A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said that the applicants be released on bail on the condition that they will not participate in any violent activities or meetings. Having regard to the observation of the High Court that it was not possible to prima facie determine the presence of the accused persons at the spot and without treating the said observation as final finding of the fact, we consider it appropriate to direct that the applicants be released on bail on furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs 25,000 each to the satisfaction of the trial court, the bench said. The top court imposed two conditions for the bail that the accused shall report to the nearest police station on every alternative Monday and that "they shall ensure that they do not participate in any violent activities/meetings". It said, “We make it clear that the observations of the High Court on question of fact and law are obviously made prima facie and shall not affect the trial.” On March 6, the top court had issued notice to the accused after taking note of the appeal filed by the Karnataka government against the grant of bail by the High Court and granted an ad-interim stay on its operation. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, had earlier assailed the high court order saying that as many as 56 policemen got injured during the violent protests. "The rioters attacked the police station and set it ablaze," the law officer had said, adding that two persons died during those violent protests. The High Court, while granting bail, had said that the records produced indicate that the "identity of the accused involved in the alleged incident appear to have been fixed on the basis of their affiliation to PFI and they being members of the Muslim community". Two persons received bullet injuries in police firing and later succumbed at a hospital on December 19 last year as protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) turned violent in Mangaluru. Police had lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to baton charge and fired in the air to disperse anti-CAA protesters in Mangaluru, as thousands of demonstrators had hit the streets in many cities and towns across Karnataka on December 19 last year defying prohibitory orders.

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Retired army official dies as a tree branch collapses on him in Karnataka

Death

Reports indicate that heavy rainfall caused the branch to collapse.

TNM Staff

A 35-year-old retired army official, Patel RL, died while his friend had a narrow escape when a tree branch fell on them in Hassan district’s Sakleshpur taluk on Monday. The incident took place at around 5.17 pm on Wednesday when Patel along with his friend had been to DM road to buy tea powder. When the duo were standing by the footpath opposite to Sri Gandha hotel, a tree branch accidentally fell on both of them. People who were at the spot immediately went for their rescue and lifted the tree branches. Patel’s friend sustained a few injuries while Patel was immediately taken to the hospital. But the doctors declared him dead on arrival. Patel hailed from Mandya district and had been to Sakleshpur to meet his friend. Sources told TNM that the tree branches fell due to heavy rains and now the area has been cleared. Sakleshpur taluk recorded heavy rains last month when roofs of many houses were blown away and hundreds of trees were uprooted while a 50-year-old man succumbed to death when another tree had collapsed on him as well. Very heavy rainfall has predicted in Hassan, Kodagu, Shivamogga and Chikmagalur districts in Karnataka by the weather forecast on September 8 which is expected to increase inflow into the dams in the upper Cauvery and upper Tungabhadra basin. So an orange alert has been issued for South interior Karnataka and Kerala, warning residents to be prepared for the heavy downpour and other rough conditions. The Central Water Commission (CWC) has also warned of an increase in inflows over dams in Krishna, Cauvery, Pennar, Vaigai and in West Flowing Rivers between Tadri and Kanyakumari Basins.  Trigger warning: Due to tree fall an army lost his life in #Karnataka. It happened at Sakleshpur-opp Srigandha Hotel. RR Patil (35) was admitted to hospital. But he was declared brought dead. pic.twitter.com/nkkB5NR251 — Imran Khan (@keypadguerilla) September 9, 2020

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