BJP alleges corruption in Udupi City Municipal Council

[email protected] (CD Network)
June 28, 2014

Udupi, Jun 28: BJP leader and former Udupi MLA K Raghupati Bhat has alleged the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) of indulging in corruption.

Addressing media persons here, Mr. Bhat said that CMC had issued tenders for many works that had already been completed. “Tenders were called again for as many as 174 projects in different parts of Udupi. But in nearly half of these – involving around Rs. 72 lakh – the work had been done,” he said.

bhat
Based on a complaint given to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muddu Mohan by the Udupi Zilla Nagarika Samiti, Mr. Mohan directed the Assistant Commissioner to probe the matter. Based on a report by the Junior Engineer of the CMC, CMC Commissioner Srikanth Rao had submitted a statement saying that tenders had been re-issued in some works.

Mr Bhat said the BJP had lodged a complaint with the DC on this issue. “We want a thorough probe and a spot inspection by the Deputy Commissioner,” he said. The BJP would raise this issue in the general body meeting of CMC on Saturday and stage a dharna, he said.

He alleged that CMC president and vice-president were awarding tenders to selected contractors. “The CMC should call for all the works through e-tenders so that the entire process is transparent,” he said.

Mr. Rao denied that he had submitted to the Assistant Commissioner that tenders had been called for some works again. The CMC had done estimates for various projects in February 2014, but due to Lok Sabha elections, they could not be taken up, he said. The tenders were called after the election and there was no irregularity involved. A report was submitted to the Assistant Commissioner with the information sought, Mr. Rao said.

Amritha Krishnamurthy, vice-president of the CMC, said the CMC had taken up some advance works on account of approaching monsoon. Since no payment had been made to contractors, it could not be construed as corruption, she said.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

•    Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

•    STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

•    Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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News Network
December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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