IMA scam: CBI to bring Mansoor Khan and former Karnataka Min Roshan Baig face-to face

Crime

Over 51,500 depositors are said to have lost approximately Rs 2,500 crore as part of the IMA scam.

IANS

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has decided to bring former minister R Roshan Baig and multi-crore IMA ponzi scheme prime accused Mansoor Khan face-to-face in a day or two. A senior CBI official from New Delhi told IANS that it is imperative for the probe agency to bring them face-to-face and seek clarification. "We have sought the CBI special court's permission to take their custody again and inquire about their connections," the official said. According to him, the CBI on Monday evening moved an application with the court in this regard. Earlier in the day, the CBI conducted search operations in two properties of Baig and recovered a large quantity of incriminating papers. IMA co-founder Mohammed Mansoor Khan at the time of his arrest had alleged that Baig had cheated him of Rs 400 crore and forced him to give expensive cars and jewellery as "gifts". He had also named some other government officials.   "The CBI is probing allegations. We need to know where and how such quantities of money were transacted. Was it cash or kind or both is the primary concern for the investigators. Therefore, we are planning to bring them face-to-face," the source explained. Since the scam broke, Baig had been publicly rejecting Khan's charges, claiming that except for some donations to Haj facilitation centres, he did not accept any money. Over 51,500 depositors are said to have lost approximately Rs 2,500 crore collected by IMA and its subsidiaries in the ponzi scheme. During investigations in  2019, the police found documents in which the prime accused in the IMA scam, Khan, had recorded payments made to politicians, policemen, and government officials. It showed Baig as a key recipient of funds. The source said that the CBI is likely to attach Baig's properties in order to repay the money to the investors as Khan allegedly claimed that he was forced to pay crores of rupees to Baig in order to keep the business going. Khan had fled the country but was arrested and brought back from Dubai in July 2019 by the Bengaluru police crime branch. Khan had released a video while he was in hiding, wherein he claimed that several state politicians and officials had coerced him into paying bribes, leading to the downfall of IMA. One of them, who he claimed had received nearly Rs 400 crore, was Baig, the then Congress MLA from Shivajinagar in central Bengaluru. After the video was uploaded on YouTube, Baig was detained by the SIT as he had tried to board a private charter plane to a foreign country The SIT had alleged that Baig was trying to flee the country. When the scam broke out in 2019, the then Karnataka Revenue Minister, RV Deshpande, had said that Baig had introduced him to Mansoor Khan in July that year, asking for favours to not investigate the company's dealings as suggested by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Baig, a seven-time MLA from Shivajinagar, was denied a BJP ticket for the bye-polls held for the Shivajinagar constituency in December 2019 on account of his links with the IMA scam. Baig, who began his political career in the Janata Parivar as the home minister of state, is a contemporary of opposition leader Siddaramaiah. Soon after a stint as minister in the Janata Parivar, he joined the Congress in early 90s. He quit the party on an acrimonious note after his tussle with Siddaramaiah and then Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao in 2019. It may be recalled that Baig was among the 17 MLAs of the erstwhile JD(S)-Congress coalition government, who resigned and paved the way for the formation of the current BS Yediyurappa-led government in the state.

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Karnataka cabinet reshuffle: BJP national general secretary meets CM Yediyurappa

Politics

BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel too, met the Chief Minister and held discussions.

IANS

BJP national general secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh on Monday met Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and reportedly discussed the long-awaited ministry expansion or reshuffle exercise. Santosh met the Chief Minister at his official residence and the meeting lasted for about 15-20 minutes, official sources said. The meeting assumes significance as Yediyurappa on Friday had said that he was expecting communication from BJP national president JP Nadda on the cabinet exercise in two days and that arrangements would be made in three-four days for the swearing-in of new ministers. BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel too, met the Chief Minister and held discussions. Though it is not clear what actually transpired at these meetings, party sources said that it was most likely about the cabinet expansion. Earlier in the day, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, along with BJP MLC, C P Yogeshwar met Santosh. Jarkiholi reportedly lobbied for a ministerial berth to Yogeshwar and Congress-JD(S) rebels who joined BJP along with him (Jarkiholi) last year and helped the party come to power. Yogeshwar was said to be instrumental in managing rebel MLAs during their stay in Mumbai ahead of the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government last year. Yediyurappa had met Nadda in New Delhi last week to discuss reshuffle of his cabinet, but was asked to wait for clearance from the central leadership to go ahead with the process. Political activities have intensified within the ruling BJP camp after Yediyurappa on November 10, soon after the party's victory in bye-polls to two assembly constituencies, indicated that a cabinet reshuffle was on the cards. He had then hinted about a reshuffle by dropping or inducting some ministers, in consultation with the high command. The cabinet expansion or reshuffle is expected to be a tightrope walk for Yediyurappa, considering that there are too many aspirants. While several of the old guard like Katti are waiting for a chance to be inducted into the ministry, Congress-JD(S) rebels like A H Vishwanath, R Shankar and M T B Nagaraj, who helped BJP come to power and are now party MLCs, are also aspiring for slots. As per the agreement, Yediyurappa will have to keep space for Munirathna, following his win from Rajarajeshwari Nagar seat in the November 3 bye-poll and also for Pratap Gowda Patil, who needs to win the Maski bye-poll that is yet to be announced. The cabinet currently has 27 members and seven berths are still vacant. There has also been intense speculation in some quarters that the BJP high command is mulling leadership change in Karnataka in the coming days, considering Yediyurappa's age (77 years), though the party's state unit had earlier rejected such reports.

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Akshaya Patra controversy: BJP MLC urges Chairman to step aside until exonerated

Controversy

This announcement by APF of a committee appointed by the Chairman to probe the allegations of diversion of funds and resources.

TNM Staff

Representational image

Karnataka BJP MLC Lehar Singh Siroya has written a letter to the Chairman of the Akshaya Patra Foundation (APF), Madhu Pandit Dasa, to have the allegations of governance issues and fund diversion probed by neutral persons with “no past or present association with either the Foundation or ISKCON Bengaluru”. He has also urged the Chairman to seek the suggestion of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or the Karnataka  High Court in appointing an ‘unimpeachable inquiry committee’. On Saturday, after allegations of funds and resource misappropriation were levelled by former independent trustees and audit committee members, the Chairman constituted a two-member committee chaired by former Central Vigilance Commissioner KV Chowdary along with MS Unni Krishnan, former MD and CEO of Thermax, to probe “all the issues raised by the erstwhile trustees and Audit Committee members”. The legislator, in his letter, has also suggested the Chairman temporarily hand over the charge of the foundation to an independent administrator until he is exonerated of all charges. This administrator, he said, can be suggested by either of the Chief Justices. In the letter, Singh urged the Chairman to step aside to enable a fair and transparent investigation. “Why I suggest such an independent inquiry panel is obvious because most charges made by the former trustees are against you and your missionary colleagues. Therefore, it may not be ethical or appropriate for you to be both prosecutor and judge at this juncture.” Furthermore, Leher Singh said that as per the allegations, the investigation should span across several states. “We have to exercise great caution in dealing with the charges and get them cleared at the earliest because the Foundation is a public trust that receives hundreds of crores from the public directly, through several state governments, and also in the form of donations from overseas and CSR funds...The nature of the probe falls in the jurisdiction of multiple federal investigation agencies like the Income Tax Department, the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation,” his letter read.  APF is a public-private partnership with ISKCON to provide mid-day meals to schools within a 10-km radius of ISKCON temples across the country. Whistleblowers and insiders have alleged that there is a possibility of leakage by way of grains, construction costs and diversion of donations in the APF program. Funds were allegedly gathered for temples and other activities by using APF’s name and credibility.  TNM had earlier reported a letter by the former Audit Committee of Akshaya Patra, which raised serious questions about the misuse of funds by the organisation. The audit committee had alleged that the missionaries of ISKCON control the functioning of Akshaya Patra Foundation (APF), but have no accountability towards the NGO that receives money from donors and government coffers. 

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AstraZeneca to seek FDA authorization for vaccine based on foreign trial data

It's the third Covid-19 vaccine maker to report results from a late-stage trial.

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Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta National Park buffer land allegedly encroached

Environment

: Activists, including a member of the State Wildlife Board, have alleged the involvement of a forest officer in the alleged encroachment on the elephant corridor.

Soumya Chatterjee

Representational image/ATREE

Karnataka Forest Minister Anand Singh has assured corrective action in the alleged land grab of hundreds of acres of forest land on the periphery of the Bannerghatta National Park by a forest officer. Activists, including a member of the State Wildlife Board, alleged the involvement for a forest official in the alleged encroachment. Importantly, the said land, which is just 200 metres away from the national park boundary, is also an elephant corridor. “We are following this matter after we received this complaint,” Minister Anand Singh told TNM.  Conservationists had approached Anand Singh and other senior officials last weekend over the inaction of the department regarding encroachment of hundreds of acres of eco-sensitive forest buffer land of the Bannerghatta National Park near Bengaluru city. They also shot a letter to the officials. In a letter to the minister on Monday, Vishnu Narain, Managing Trustee of Bannerghatta Nature Conservation Trust, alleged that one Anjanapppa in Survey 69 of Shivanahalli village in Jigani Hobli (Anekal taluk, Bangalore Urban district) is attempting to illegally grab the said land.  In his letter, Vishnu has also alleged the involvement of Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Bangalore South Venkatesh in this land grab. The letter said while the disputed land is subject to a joint inspection by the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Forest Department and Revenue department, Anjanappa has set up some temporary structures on the land.  “Despite this instruction (of joint inspection), on the night of November 22, 2020, the culprits planted stone pillars to demarcate what they claim is their land. We have been informed by reliable sources that the ACF of Bangalore South, Venkatesh, has instigated the culprits to do this and has even given them a sketch of the land, an act that is against all conservation initiatives and more so, as this land is right in the middle of the elephant corridor and less than 200 meters from the Bannerghatta National Park. We request you to immediately deploy your task force to stop this illegal act immediately,” the letter said. Dr Nagendran, another member of the Bannerghatta Nature Conservation Trust, also said that they have evidence against ACF Venkatesh and said even his own colleagues in the forest department are in disagreement with him over this matter. When asked about the alleged involvement of ACF Venkatesh, Minister Anand Singh said, “The investigation is underway.”  On the same matter, Siddharth Goenka, a sitting member of the State Wildlife Board, also wrote to the Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Environment and Ecology, on the matter urging urgent intervention from the Forest Department hierarchy. A part of his letter, dated November 20, reads, “I am sure you now appreciate the gravity of the situation and the Importance of the task at hand. I Implore you to ensure that this healthy wildlife habitat In Survey No 69 Shivanahalli Village, Jlganl Hobli Is protected as such at any cost, especially so as It lies within 200 meters of the Bannerghatta National Park boundary and Is a crucial element of the ESZ (eco-sensitive zone) and Elephant Corridor. “

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Off Karnataka coast, Netrani Island offers divers stunning coral reef and marine life

Tourism

A boat ride away from the temple town of Murudeshwar, the island is an ideal location for all levels of divers to experience the grandeur of the underwater world.

Susheela Nair

Pic courtesy: Dheeraj

After an eight-month long pandemic-induced hiatus, if you are wondering where to go, head to Netrani Island. A tiny, uninhabited island glistening on the horizon in the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea, the island lies off the coast of Karnataka in Uttara Kannada district. If you want to explore the hidden treasures of this incredible underwater world, grab your flippers and descend to the depths of this vibrant scuba diving site for an aqua adventure. With the opening up of tourism in several parts of Karnataka, MN Nandakumar, an advanced certified scuba diver, diehard naturalist and underwater photographer, could not curb his urge to dive. Accompanied by his family of scuba divers along with a motley group of hardcore scuba divers and underwater photographers, he headed to Netrani Island, which is just a boat ride away from the temple town of Murudeshwar. Located 10 nautical miles from Murudeshwar, it is called ‘Netraguddo’ or Netra Hill in local parlance. The British called it Pigeon Island because of the large number of pigeons that nest here. An arduous trek takes you to the top of the hillock, which offers a stunning view of the sea below. There’s a small temple at the summit where local fishermen go every year and leave hens and goats as offerings to Jattiga, a local deity. But the trek is not for the fainthearted or weak-kneed. Ensure you carry a stick with you when you climb. The approach is tricky and you have to literally scramble over rocks covered with barnacles, but the effort is worth it. Divers among shoals of fish (Pic by MN Nandakumar) The seas are crystal-clear and the vibrant coral reef is a veritable underwater paradise teeming with hundreds of marine species. The stunning coral reef forms the backdrop for creatures in myriad shapes, sizes and colours to swim against, protecting their secrets from the world above. Lionfish (Pic by MN Nandakumar) This eco-sensitive island was earlier used by the Indian Navy for target practice. Subsequently, this was stopped by green activists. For security reasons, casual tourists are not allowed on the island without permission from the coastal police. Some hotels in Murudeshwar have tie-ups with dive centres – organisations that arrange the diving expeditions, permits, boat, provide food, etc. “It’s not only Karnataka’s best underwater treasure trove but also one of the best dive sites in the country. There are about seven dive sites around here. Visibility is generally good and the island is an ideal location for all levels of certified divers to experience the grandeur of the underwater world. There are opportunities for beginners, seasoned divers as well as underwater photographers. The mesmerising colours, underwater caves, coral reefs, wrecks, idols and fascinating marine life provide exciting photographic opportunities,” says Dheeraj, another avid scuba diver who has clocked more than 30 dives in Netrani. Moray Eel (Pic by MN Nandakumar) “In Netrani, one can explore nooks and crevices for sea creatures. On your dive, you can swim amongst needlefish, goatfish, groupers, a thousand mackerel, a million silver blue fusiliers, a billion sweepers, and a zillion damsels. You can see a band of silvery barracuda streak across algae-covered rocks. It’s fascinating to see moray eels darting in and out of crevices, with their mouths open displaying razor-sharp teeth,” says Nandakumar, who has to his credit more than 750 dives in over 35 destinations, including more than 60 dives in Netrani. “You’ll encounter sea creatures like stingrays, pufferfish, sharks, turtles, sea urchins, colourful corals, fat sea cucumbers lazing on the sand, and large, brightly coloured parrotfish chomping down on rocks and coral. In the southern unsheltered side of the island, when you dive deeper you’ll find snappers and surgeonfish, morays, lizardfish, the deadly scorpionfish, squirrelfish and the curiously bright blue red-toothed triggerfish,” Nandakumar explains. Divers and snorkellers have even spotted the rare blacktip and whitetip sharks, whale sharks, orcas and Olive Ridley turtles on dives around the island. Honeycomb Moray Eel (Pic by MN Nandakumar) So abundant are the fish here that snorkelling can be just as productive as diving. According to Nandakumar, Jenny’s Aquarium, Nursery, Grand Central Station, Pebble Beach and Dini’s Delight are some of the popular dive sites. “These dives are exciting for their amazing variety and sheer volume of marine flora and fauna. Ocean currents bring in huge shoals of fish like jacks, trevally, tuna, reef sharks, pickhandle barracuda, moray eels and red-toothed triggerfish. You can snorkel almost within touching distance of the normally timid blacktip shark. Bigger varieties include giant barracuda, shoals of skipjack tuna, giant Indian pufferfish, boxfish and lobsters,” adds Nandakumar. The Nursery, aptly named so, is ideal for beginners and starts out only at about six metres. It is a shallow dive site (10 m), with juveniles of many fish species. At Grand Central Station, a 20-m gradual slope, you can see rabbitfish, parrotfish, batfish, barracuda and more. The 35-m Abyss is a favourite with deep-dive fanatics. Dini’s Delight, going down 8 m, is home to incredible aqua life including lobster, moray eel, angelfish and surgeonfish. At Cul de Sac, a gentle surge takes you into a dead-end teeming with tiny reef fish. Alladin’s Cave is the mouth of a tunnel which leads into the island’s core. If you are looking for adventure, you can find a small fishing boat resting at 22 metres. It acts as an anchor for corals to grow on. Diving and fishing must be regulated around the island and regular clean-up drives undertaken. This pristine ecosystem needs to be saved and preserved as a protected marine reserve. Preparing to dive (Pic by Dheeraj) Important tourist information: Permit for diving: Dive centres such as NATX, Planet Scuba India, Dive Netrani, Netrani Adventures, etc. arrange permits, boats, diving gear, etc. Food: Hotels like RNS Residency in Murudeshwar have good restaurants. Dive centres provide divers snacks, fruits and water. However, divers can carry their choice of snacks to eat on the boat between dives. Toilet facilities: Some dive centres provide toilet facilities on board. Best season: Depends on water conditions, but diving is ideal between December and May. Susheela Nair is an independent food, travel and lifestyle writer, and photographer based in Bengaluru.

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Karnataka CM allocates Rs 500 crore for Veerashaiva-Lingayat Development Corp

Politics

Former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday called for a similar board/corporation for Vokkaligas.

TNM Staff

The BS Yediyurappa-led government on Monday announced that Rs 500 crore will be allocated to the newly formed Karnataka Veerashaiva-Lingayat Development Corporation (VLDC). It may be recalled that it was only on November 17 that the Chief Minister Yediyurappa announced such a body will be set up in the state.  The CM’s decision regarding this was preceded by the decision to set up Maratha Development Authority (MDA). Incidentally the MDA had got an allocation of Rs 50 crore.  The push for the VLDC came after a group of ministers and Lingayat MLAs led by Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi met the CM. Yediyurappa is considered the tallest political leader of the community and the others urged him to form this corporation. According to these leaders, even though Lingayats form 17% population in Karnataka and have made a significant contribution in the state, the community has a substantial number of poor people, who eke out a living by working as labourers. According to political pundits, the decision to set up the MDA was designed to woo the sizeable Maratha populace in Basava Kalyan Assembly constituency in Bidar district bordering Maharashtra. The assembly bypoll is due in Basava Kalyan after the sitting Congress MLA B Narayan Rao died of COVID-19 in Bengaluru recently. However, this announcement had not gone down with a section which questioned why the Karnataka government should set aside money for Maratha development. So much so, a statewide strike has been called by pro-Kannada organisations opposing the government’s decision. Since the formation of these two boards/ corporations, there have been several representations made by many other communities in the state to the CM urging him to set up respective welfare boards. Notably, former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday called for a similar board/corporation for Vokkaligas, another politically large significant community like the Lingayats.

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