Sandalwood drugs case: Sanjana Galrani to approach Karnataka HC for bail again

Drugs Case

The Karnataka High Court had denied bail to Kannada actors Ragini Dwivedi and Sajana Galrani three weeks ago.

IANS

Kannada film actor Sanjana Galrani has decided to appeal for her bail once again in the Karnataka High Court, which is expected to come up for hearing sometime next week. "Last time, Galrani's petition was moved on general grounds, stating that she had been falsely accused in the case. This time, the petition is on the grounds of her health issues," a source close to actor Sanjana Galrani said. Another lawyer said that the bail can be sought on various grounds and the lawyers keep changing grounds for the bail in the high court itself. "Sanjana Galrani might have thought it would be better to petition here (High Court) before approaching the Supreme Court," the lawyer added. It may be recalled that three weeks ago, the Karnataka High Court had denied bail to actors Ragini Dwivedi and Sajana Galrani and other accused persons who were arrested in the Sandalwood drugs case. Earlier in late September, the trial court had also denied the actors bail along with the other co-accused.  As reported earlier by TNM, even though the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru police has made high-profile arrests, they might not be able to make a watertight case in the absence of material evidence, but only on electronic evidence. Viren Khanna, alleged drug peddlers Loum Pepper Samba, Rahul Tonse, Prashanth Ranka and Niyaz were among the others who have been arrested. The infamous Sandalwood drugs case came to light in September when the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested a person, who had revealed how high-profile drug parties were organised in Bengaluru. As part of the investigation, the city police arrested several drug peddlers, and subsequently, it led to the arrest of Ragini Dwivedi first, followed by Sanjana Galrani a week later. In connection with the same case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing actors Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjana Galrani, along with other co-accused, on the charges of money laundering.

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Bengaluru police arrest African national for duping women on matrimonial site

Crime

According to the Whitefield police, the man is part of a five-member gang, mainly consisting of his family members, based out of New Delhi.

IANS

The Bengaluru police arrested an African national, who impersonated an Indian groom settled abroad on various matrimonial sites and duped two women in the city. According to the police, the arrested person has been identified as a Nigerian national named Bright Mudukhas (25). He has been living in Vipin Garden Extension at Uttam Nagar in New Delhi. Bright is wanted in at least 10 such cases in Whitefield subdivision police jurisdiction alone.  According to the Whitefield police, he used to operate 38 bank accounts in India while operating 28 international bank accounts to divert the money collected through such illegal gains. The police have so far recovered four high-end laptops, 10 mobile phones and Rs 8.5 lakh from various bank accounts in India while Rs 6,00,485 in deposits, ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 75,000 from his various mobile wallets. The police said that the accused is not a matriculate pass yet his modus operandi was meticulous. After allegedly duping a victim, Anliya (named changed), from Bengaluru, he used her account to swindle another woman, Sanusha (name changed) to the tune of US dollars 27,000. The man is allegedly part of a five-member African gang, mainly consisting of his family members (who are now on the run). They were operating from New Delhi and committed similar types of crimes. How the police traced the culprit A police team led by Cyber Crime, Economic Offences and Narcotics (CEN) police station inspector Guruprasad G of the Whitefield Sub-Division told IANS that this case was registered based on a complaint filed by a victim named Sanusha on October 2. She said that her prospective groom had swindled a total Rs 24.5 lakh cash out of her account. According to Guruprasad, Bright used the fake matrimonial ID of SWAINRAJKISHORE on Shaadi.com. He contacted Sanusha a few months ago and started chatting over the mobile phone, email, WhatsApp and Skype, too. "Through his Whatsapp number (+447418341937), he used to chat with her regularly. He convinced her that he is a civil engineer with a reputed firm, assigned to go on a project site in Malaysia for a couple of days work from Scotland," the police said. The officials added that “after his few days stay in Malaysia”, he called Sanusha again, claiming that his account in Scotland was frozen for some reasons and he had made purchases for construction materials for the company. He said that he was supposed to make some payments in order to go back to Scotland. He asked her to send some money, assuring Sanusha that he would refund it. "Worried over her prospective groom in trouble, Sanusha agrees to transfer Rs 24.5 lakh to him, only to realise that she had been duped," Guruprasad explained. After receiving a complaint, when the police kept a watch on the account number, to which Sanusha had transferred the amount, was found to be from Bengaluru. "Initially, we thought that the account holder was the main accused, but a detailed probe revealed that she (Anliya) too was a victim like Sanusha. She, too, had fallen in his trap but she had not lost money yet," he said. The police added that Bright had given another excuse and he had asked her to send her debit card along with pin number to withdraw money deposited by Sanusha. "Getting this important input, our team headed to New Delhi and took the help of the post office in New Delhi, where we made Bright come to the post office to collect the Debit card," he said. The police added that when he came to the post office asking for the debit card, the CEN police team arrested him and produced before the Judge in Tihar Central prisons, secured a transit warrant and brought him to Bengaluru on Saturday morning. His four family members, who used to assist him, are absconding and he was yet to produce his passport to the Bengaluru police.

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BJP leaders harassed him: DK Shivakumar alleges on BSY’s PA’s suicide attempt

Politics

DK Shivakumar alleged that the BJP was blackmailing NR Santosh over a disk with compromising content.

PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa's personal assistant allegedly attempting suicide on Saturday turned into a political slugfest between ruling BJP leaders and the Congress. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president DK Shivakumar demanded a high-level probe into the suicide attempt by NR Santosh Kumar, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s relative and personal assistant.  Speaking to reporters in Karwar, Shivakumar alleged that he had learned of Santosh being under “tremendous pressure” as a few BJP leaders were harassing him. "They have a CD containing compromising content about Santosh and this CD was used to harass him," he alleged. However, he refused to divulge any details. Although, ruling senior BJP ministers including Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa challenged Shivakumar to name the BJP leaders, who allegedly harassed Santosh. "If he has proof, let him release the video and the names too. If not, he should accept that he has misled the people of this state," he said. Revenue minister, R Ashoka said that Shivakumar had falsely accused BJP leaders to, gain political mileage. "He has been making statements by 'imagining' scenarios only to stay relevant in state politics," he quipped. However, it is pertinent to note that the Karnataka Congress chief made these allegations soon after a Kannada News channel aired an interview with Santosh's wife Jhanavi, who claimed that her husband was severely upset with the "ongoing political developments" in the state. She, however, did not reveal what the developments were.  A section of the media speculated that Santosh had fallen out of Chief Minister’s coterie of advisors, who allegedly wanted him to resign from his post as Yediyurappa’s personal assistant.  However, this theory was rubbished by BJP state Vice President and Yediyurappa's son BY Vijayendra.  "I do not wish to respond to speculation. He is recovering, which is good news. I have seen in the media that his resignation was sought. There is no need for such a discussion. It is the prerogative of the Chief Minister to decide who should be appointed in which post," he said. Speculation has been doing the rounds that after Yediyurappa fired a senior journalist MB Maramkal, his former political advisor last year, Santosh too was likely to be removed from his post. In quick succession Yediyurappa's Media Advisor, Mahadev Prakash too, resigned last week. Maramkal and Santosh had played pivotal roles in negotiating terms with the 17 Congress and JD(S) legislators, who had defected to the BJP in 2019.  Sources said that Santosh was also eyeing an entry into politics and was working in Arasikere constituency in Hassan district, hoping to obtain a ticket to contest the 2023 Assembly elections.  Santosh had even held a series of press conferences in Arasikere and had levelled charges against seasoned JD(S) legislator Shivalinge Gowda. Shivalinge Gowda had confessed that Santosh was trying to cultivate his own base in his constituency whenever he met mediapersons in Bengaluru.

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Biden’s other health crisis: A resurgent drug epidemic

Joe Biden will emphasize treatment and prevention, not law enforcement, in addressing a drug epidemic that’s only grown more dire during the pandemic.

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Karnataka CM Yediyurappa asks MPs from state to get more grants from Union govt

Politics

During a meeting of the state BJP MPs, Yediyurappa advised them to take delegations to the Union Ministers to secure more grants for development works in the state.

PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday sought the support of MPs representing the state in availing more grants from the Centre for various development works. During a meeting of the state BJP MPs he convened in Bengaluru, Yediyurappa advised the MPs to take delegations to the Finance Minister, Home Minister and other Union Ministers to secure more grants for the development works in the state, the Chief Minister's office said in a release. According to the CMO, Yediyurappa said he would hold a meeting with MPs once in every two months to ensure better coordination and to achieve quick progress in development works in the state. The chief minister expressed relief over the improved situation of COVID-19 in the state. He noted that while there were instances of other states not paying the full salary to government employees, Karnataka has maintained fiscal discipline through timely payment of salaries to government employees and also in sanctioning of grants for various development works. He also assured that wherever water source was available the government would take up tank projects and reserve funds for the same in the next budget. The meeting is largely seen as an attempt by the Chief Minister to keep the MPs in good faith amid talks within the BJP circles about possible leadership change in the state in the days ahead in view of his age (77 years), party sources said.  

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Karnataka CM Yediyurappa’s political secretary NR Santosh attempts suicide

Politics

NR Santosh was rushed to MS Ramaiah hospital in Bengaluru and is currently out of danger.

TNM Staff

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s political secretary N R Santosh attempted suicide on Friday at his residence in Dollars Colony in Bengaluru. Santhosh was found unconscious in his reading room by his family members on Friday night. His family members rushed him to MS Ramaiah hospital, which is nearby. According to Santosh’s wife Jhanavi, Santosh is still unconscious and the doctors said that it would take some time for him to wake up. Jhanavi said that Santosh had attended a wedding on Friday morning and that he seemed to be jovial at the time. “He was facing a lot of political pressure. He was scared that he would lose his standing,” claims Jhanavi.  She said that he seemed to be melancholic after the wedding they attended. “We returned home and something seemed off. I asked him if everything was okay. He said he was fine,” Jhanavi said. Santosh went out later and returned home at around 7 pm. He went up to his reading room. At around 7.40 pm, Jhanavi went up to his room to ask him what he would like to eat for dinner. “He didn’t look fine. He looked like he was going to lose consciousness. I knew something was wrong. So we rushed him to Ramaiah (MS Ramaiah hospital) immediately. He was depressed about the imbalance in his political career. He was affected by it a lot. He is not conscious completely,” Jhanavi said.  Chief Minister Yediyurappa visited Santosh at the hospital on Saturday morning and said that he would speak with him after he regains consciousness completely. “I walked with him on Friday morning for almost 45 minutes. He was jovial and looked happy at the wedding. I don’t know why he took this drastic step. The doctors have told me that he will recover and gain consciousness soon. I will talk to him and ask him what happened,” the Chief Minister told the media outside the MS Ramaiah hospital on Saturday morning.  The Chief Minister's office has been witnessing much turmoil in the past few days. On November 19, Yediyurappa's media secretary Mahadev Prakash resigned from his post. On November 25, Brungesh, former Director of the Department of Public Information was appointed as the CM's media secretary. According to sources, the CM and his team was not happy with the Mahadeva’s reactive approach to the CM’s media management. The issue had cropped up after Yediyurappa's son Vijayendra was accused of allegedly obtaining kickbacks in a land deal. Yediyurappa was allegedly unhappy with Mahadev Prakash's handling of the issue, which was reported by Power TV. Recently another veteran journalist MB Maramkal was removed as the chief minister's political advisor. Media reports had cited Maramkal's alleged fallout with Yediyurappa's family members as the reason for his removal, TNM had earlier reported.

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Karnataka cabinet sub-committee to probe sale of 2000 acres of land to JSW Steel

Politics

The sub committee will probe why the government chose to sell the land as opposed to earlier agreement of leasing it.

PTI

The Karnataka cabinet on Friday decided to constitute a cabinet sub-committee to examine the proposal on the sale of 2,000.58 acres land to JSW Steel in Ballari district and make a suitable recommendation. "It was decided in 2005 to give 2,000.58 acres of government land at a Kurekuppa village near Toranagallu in Sandur taluk of Ballari to JSW. To examine it, a cabinet sub-committee will be constituted," Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said. Speaking to reporters here after a cabinet meeting, he said Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has been authorised to constitute the sub-committee. The previous Congress-JD(S) coalition government too had constituted a four-member cabinet sub-committee headed by the then Home Minister MB Patil to examine the proposal, as its decision to convert the lease of about 3,667 acres to JSW Steel at Ballari into sale, in accordance with the initial agreement, had created a row. Accusing the Congress-JD(S) coalition government of selling the land to the company at a throwaway price (Rs 1.22 -1.50 lakh per acre), the BJP, then in opposition, had held a two-day round-the-clock sit-in. Yediyurappa, who was then a state BJP president, had even accused the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition of getting "kickbacks" for the sale of land. In 2005, when Dharam Singh was the chief minister, the Cabinet had decided to give on lease-cum-sale arrangement 2,000.58 acres to JSW. An order on this was issued by the JD(S)-BJP coalition government that came to power thereafter when Kumaraswamy was chief minister and B S Yeddyurappa was industries minister. In 2007, another 1,666 acres were allotted. In another decision, after giving in principle approval to create Vijayanagara as the state's 31st district, carving it out from the mine-rich Ballari, the cabinet today said it has identified taluks for the new district and will be issuing a notification. Hosapet, Kudligi, Hagaribommanahalli, Kotturu, Huvina Hadagali and Harapanahalli will form part of the proposed Vijayanagara district, Madhuswamy said. Six out of eleven taluks will be part of the new Vijayanagara district with Hospet as its headquarters, while remaining taluks will be in Ballari district, he added. The cabinet has also approved a revised estimate of Rs 384 crore, enhancing it from the earlier Rs 220 crore for the development of Shivamogga airport. Other decisions include, appointing three more members- Bengaluru Police Commissioner, Divisional Railway Manager, and Managing Director Rail Infrastructure Development Company(Karnataka) Limited 'KRIDE'- to the committee overseeing the implementation of Bangalore Metro Rail Project. The committee already consists of Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries Urban Development, Finance, Revenue Department, among others. It has also approved the setting up of centre of excellence for efficiency augmentation by Karnataka government along with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), which may cost about Rs 26.77 crore, he said. "It's a five year project, we are now releasing Rs 17.6 crore," the minister said. The centre is aimed at drawing advantage from emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data and internet of things. The idea is to increase industrial production, increase efficiency in government services, supporting startups and innovation, among others. The minister said "under the labour department, till now remaining leave upto 30 days could have been carried forward to next year by workers, today we have made provision to carry forward up to 45 days."

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