Bangalore News Highlights: Congress leader B Nagendra to appear in court for a money laundering probe of Rs 94.73 cr

Bangalore News Highlights: The HC also adjourned until July 26 the hearing of a petition filed by the former chief minister to quash the case against him.

Bangalore News Live Updates: The case came into light after a corporation official P Chandrashekaran allegedly involved in auditing and coordinating with Union Bank of India committed suicide. (File photo)

Bangalore News Highlights: Congress leader B. Nagendra, arrested in connection with a money laundering probe involving the misappropriation of Rs 94.73 crore in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited, will appear in court on Saturday. He is set to face a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court, where the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will seek his remand for custodial interrogation.

Nagendra resigned as Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister on June 6 amid allegations linked to the scam. The issue came to light after the corporation’s accounts superintendent, Chandrasekharan P, committed suicide on May 26, leaving a note claiming an unauthorised transfer of Rs 187 crore. Of this, Rs 88.62 crore allegedly went to accounts of “well-known” IT companies and a Hyderabad-based cooperative bank, among others.

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What is happening in Yediyurappa’s POCSO case? The Karnataka High Court exempted former chief minister B S Yediyurappa from appearance before a special court on July 15 in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case. The 81-year-old filed an interlocutory application in the court on Friday seeking modification of an earlier plea for quashing a POCSO case. Three associates of the former chief minister – Arun Y M, Rudresh M, and Y Mariswamy – are also accused in the case under sections 204 and 214 of the IPC of destroying evidence by deleting a video recording of the minor victim’s mother’s confrontation with Yediyurappa over the incident.

Live Updates

Jul 13, 2024 10:18 PM IST

BJP leader Yediyurappa had accused former PM Deve Gowda of 'loot' in MUDA: Congress

Seeking to turn the tables against the opposition, the ruling Congress in Karnataka on Saturday released proceedings of the Legislative Council of March 2011, in which the then Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had accused JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda of "looting" the sites of the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

The Karnataka Congress even dared BJP leaders to press for a probe into the matter.

Urging BJP to make public the names of all party leaders who obtained sites, he alleged that, "It was during the BJP's tenure that most scams took place in MUDA.

Jul 13, 2024 07:53 PM IST

Petitions submitted to Siddaramaiah found near garbage pile, farmers' groups and opposition slam Congress govt

Petitions submitted to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by Chamarajanagara farmers were allegedly found near a garbage pile drawing sharp reactions from farmers' groups and the opposition BJP.

According to a PTI report, videos of the petitions dumped in the garbage pile have been widely shared on social media platforms

According to a farmer leader, on July 10, Siddaramaiah attended a meeting in Chamarajanagara where farmer groups submitted petitions to him on behalf of the entire district regarding the problems faced.

"But those petitions were thrown in the garbage. A chief minister should not have so much arrogance. He should apologise to the farmers of the state," he said.

Jul 13, 2024 07:33 PM IST

CM Siddaramaiah inaugurates Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Bhawan and Research Center in Bengaluru

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Bhawan and Research Center in Bengaluru. The event was attended by dignitaries, including Karnataka Legislative Council Speaker Basavaraj Horatti and Jagjivan Ram's daughter, Meira Kumar.

(Express Photo)

Jul 13, 2024 07:18 PM IST

MUDA 'scam':JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy accuses CM Siddaramaiah of 'misuse of power'

Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of "misuse of power", as he hit out at the latter for playing the caste card, following allegations against him in connection with alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by MUDA, which involves plots given to his wife Parvathi.

Pointing out that the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam case directly involves the CM's family, he requested any respected lawyer in the state to take this case before the Governor to seek prosecution sanction, and to take it before the court.

"Several scams of this state government, one after the other, have become a topic of discussion across the country....there is a negative feeling about this administration in Karnataka outside the state after Congress came to power in the state, and it is painful," the JD(S) leader said.

Jul 13, 2024 03:47 PM IST

CM Siddaramaiah meets Congress Workers at KPCC Office, assures support for their problems

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met with Congress party workers at the KPCC office on Saturday. He accepted their applications and promised to address their problems.

(Express Photo)

Jul 13, 2024 03:33 PM IST

CBI, ED should not become 'political weapons': Karnataka Home Minister on arrest of former minister B Nagendra

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate should not become "political weapons."

His comments come a day after the ED on Friday arrested former minister B Nagendra in connection with a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited.

Jul 13, 2024 12:23 PM IST

Assembly Bypolls Results Round Up

With all ten rounds of counting over for the Dehra seat, Congress candidate and Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s wife Kamlesh Thakur secured a victory by over 9,000 votes. In the Jalandhar West assembly seat, Aam Aadmi Party candidate Mohinder Bhagat has gained victory by a massive margin of more than 37,000 votes.

In Uttarakhand, the Congress has taken a lead in both the Badrinath and Manglaur seats. The TMC is ahead in all four West Bengal seats, with Raiganj candidate Krishna Kalyani taking a significant lead of more than 41,000 votes after seven rounds of counting.

Track the latest updates here.

Jul 13, 2024 12:20 PM IST

Bangalore News Live Updates: Bengaluru startup is 'ramping' up to make public spaces disabled-friendly

If you ever come across ramps at bookstores or commercial buildings on Church Street in Bengaluru, you have to remember that the installation is part of a larger goal to an ‘accessible’ India.

‘Be a part of the solution and not the problem’. As cliche as it sounds, but this motivation is what ‘ramped’ up Prateek Khandelwal to offer India an inclusive and accessible infrastructure solution. Prateek is the founder of Bengaluru-based RampMyCity, a physical accessibility startup that aims to improve the quality of life of Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and the elderly population of India.

Started in 2020, Prateek’s social startup wants to be the ‘solution’ that ensures end-to-end delivery of infrastructural solutions for public and private sectors, ranging from ramps, accessibility audits, retrofitting, recommendations, implementations, urban planning, training and awareness.

Prateek, just like any mid-20s’ working professional, had a job of his own, a successful career and was a social butterfly. However, in 2014, life presented itself with a tragedy that made Prateek wheelchair-bound. He had a fall in an under-construction building that led to paraplegia due to spinal cord injury.

Jul 13, 2024 11:48 AM IST

Bangalore News Live Updates: Karnataka HC issues contempt notices to commissioners of BBMP, city police

The Karnataka High Court on Friday morning took suo motu cognizance of the issue of illegal flex boards and hoardings in Bengaluru, based on news reports regarding the same.

The bench, consisting of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind, subsequently issued notices to the Commissioners of the Police and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), on why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them.

The bench stated, “The record is replete with orders in which directions were given by the court from time to time to the authorities, especially the BBMP and office of Commissioner of Police….attention of the court was drawn to a news item…..suggests that the BBMP had to remove over 6.8 lakh illegal advertisements. The contents of the news item only depict a very sorry state of affairs, more particularly in the light of various orders passed.” Read more

Jul 13, 2024 10:43 AM IST

Bangalore News Live Updates: Asia's largest tech summit 'BTS 2024' to be held in Bangalore

The 27th edition of Asia's largest technology show, Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2024, will be held from November 19-21 at the Bangalore Palace.

Priyank Kharge, Karnataka's Minister for Information Technology, Biotechnology, and RDPR, announced the event schedule on Friday during a meeting with tech leaders. He emphasized that BTS 2024 will position Bengaluru at the forefront of global tech innovation and collaboration.

The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, also attended the meeting and held an interactive session with over 200 CEOs from India's leading IT, semiconductor, electronics, AVGC, biotech, and startup organizations. The goal of this meeting was to foster an open dialogue between government officials and tech leaders, focusing on Karnataka's vibrant tech ecosystem and future prospects.

The government highlighted that BTS 2024 will serve as a hub for exchanging new ideas. The conference will span six focused tracks over three days, covering IT & Deep Tech, Biotech & Healthtech, the startup ecosystem, the Global Innovation Alliance, the India-USA Tech Conclave, and a newly added Electro-Semicon track.

The event will also feature over 85 sessions with 460 speakers, each curated by a committee of experts from the industry, research, and academia. Special programs like the CEO Conclave, Startup Conclave, and Fireside Chats with renowned personalities will also be included.

"Karnataka serves as the headquarters for major tech giants, GCCs, and leading unicorns. This success stems not only from the state's industry-friendly policies and programs but also from our active engagement and collaboration with the entire tech ecosystem. We deeply value our close association with Global Innovation Alliance Partners, which helps BTS attract the world's foremost leaders, innovators, and disruptors, drawing over 50,000 tech enthusiasts from India and more than 40 nations," said Priyank Kharge.

This year, there will be an increased focus on B2B meetings, allowing delegates and companies to engage in more structured and productive sessions. Attendees can schedule meetings with prospects well in advance and connect with participants seamlessly during the event.

(With ANI inputs)

Jul 13, 2024 09:38 AM IST

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar: No need for the ED probe into Valmiki Corporation irregularities

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said there was no need for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into alleged financial irregularities in a state-run corporation, as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the state government was already on the job.

Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, was reacting to a question on the agency taking former Minister B Nagendra into custody, as part of a money-laundering probe linked to the irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited.

“We (state govt) are doing an inquiry (through SIT), there was no need for it (ED probe), but they are doing it. I will try to know about it and then speak on it,” Shivakumar told reporters here. Nagendra quit as Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister on June 6 in the wake of the alleged irregularities.

Jul 12, 2024 03:22 PM IST

BJP accuses Karnataka govt of diverting SC, ST fund; claims Rahul Gandhi's double standards exposed

The Bharatiya Janata Party accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of diverting the fund meant for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for the purpose of fulfilling the guarantees promised by party leader Rahul Gandhi during the state assembly polls, news agency PTI reported. "People are being deceived in Karnataka," alleged Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal during a press conference.

While citing a report, Meghwal claimed that over Rs 14,730 crore out of Rs 39,121 crore meant for the SC and ST welfare had been diverted for the implementation of the guarantees. He further said that while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was carrying a copy of the Constitution everywhere, its values were being violated in Karnataka.

Jul 12, 2024 01:44 PM IST

Murder accused Darshan Thoogudeepa wants home-cooked food in prison, moves Karnataka HC

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, has filed a petition before the Karnataka High Court for the provision of home cooked food and other amenities by his family.

The matter was heard on Wednesday by a bench consisting of Justice S R Krishna Kumar.

The prayer of the petition in question requested home cooked food from his family, along with cutlery, bedding and books, citing the fact that he had fallen ill and lost weight on account of the food served in prison.

Jul 12, 2024 01:42 PM IST

Zomato ordered to pay Rs 60,000 to Karnataka woman for not delivering momos worth Rs 133.25

A consumer court in Karnataka has ordered Zomato to pay a woman from Dharwad Rs 60,000 for failing to deliver her order of momos placed online last year. The order by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Dharwad came on July 3.

Sheethal ordered momos through Zomato on August 31, 2023, and paid Rs 133.25 through G-Pay. After 15 minutes of placing an order, she received a message stating her order was delivered. However, she said she neither received the order nor any delivery agent came to her house.

Jul 12, 2024 01:41 PM IST

Aparna Vastarey, voice behind Bengaluru Metro announcements, dies at 57

Kannada actress and voice behind Bengaluru metro, Aparna Vastarey breathed her last on July 11.

Aparna, 57, died after a prolonged battle with lung cancer, said her husband, Nagaraj Vastarey, on Thursday.

Jul 12, 2024 01:31 PM IST

BJP leaders detained in an anti-Congress protest in Mysore

BJP workers blocked the Bengaluru Mysore Expressway on Friday to protest against the alleged scam in the Mysore Urban Development Authority(MUDA) involving the Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah.

They have been detained in Mysore for staging protest over alleged MUDA scam involving Congress government in Karnataka.

Jul 12, 2024 12:38 PM IST

Karnataka Lokayukta seizes Rs 45 crore from govt. officials| What was found?

The Karnataka Lokayukta police on Thursday conducted extensive search operations across the state, uncovering disproportionate assets worth Rs 45 crore.

11 cases involving government officers from various districts.

56 locations, illegal wealth amassed by these officers.

Basavaraj Magi, BBMP revenue officer -Mahadevapura division, : 586 casino coins, cash, agricultural land, and 15 sites, among other assets, amounting to Rs 3.3 crore.

Mahadev Bannur, AEE, Panchayati Raj Engineer Division, Belagavi : Rs 97 lakh. Rs 10,05,00,00 in immovable assets, Rs 1,84,122 in cash, Rs 20,33,526 in jewellery and Rs 7,50,000 in vehicles.

Read the full article to find more details

Jul 12, 2024 12:32 PM IST

ED takes former Karnataka Minister B Nagendra into custody in money laundering probe

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday took former Minister B Nagendra into custody, as part of a money-laundering probe linked to the alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited, official sources said.

“I’m being brought from my home…I don’t know anything,” Nagendra told reporters as he was being taken to the ED office.

The ED has carried out searches for the last two days at several places, including at the premises of former Karnataka Minister Nagendra and ruling Congress MLA Basanagouda Daddal, who is Chairman of the Corporation.

The agency covered around 20 locations in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra as part of a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said.

The illegal money transfer issue, involving the Corporation, came to the fore, after its accounts superintendent, Chandrasekharan P killed himself on May 26.

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