CM defends induction of "tainted" ministers

Bangalore, Jan 3: Under attack over his mini-cabinet expansion bringing in two senior "tainted" legislators, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today defended his action, saying the new ministers D K Shivakumar and R Roshan Baig have not been held guilty of corruption.

"Have they (Roshan Baig and D K Shivakumar) been proved guilty in any court of law? No, they haven't. There is nothing wrong in inducting them into the cabinet," he told reporters here at his official residence 'Krishna'.

Shivakumar and Baig, who are viewed as "scam tainted", were inducted yesterday reportedly reluctantly by Siddaramaiah who had kept them out of the ministry for the last several months but ultimately yielded to party high command.

A former Congress state unit working president, Shivakumar is facing allegations of illegal mining and land scam. Baig is under cloud over land grab charge. He had resigned as minister in 2003 for alleged links with the multi-crore Karim Telgi fake stamp paper scam.

To a query, Siddaramaiah said it was not prudent to compare alleged corruption of former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and mining barons Reddy brothers (Janardhana and Karunakara) with Shivakumar and Baig. "They weren't jailed like Yeddyurappa and Janardhana Reddy," he argued.

Moreover, the BJP does not have any moral right to question the induction of Shivakumar and Baig as R Ashok and K S Eshwarappa continued in the previous BJP ministry, despite facing corruption charges, Siddaramaiah said.

On the delay in cabinet expansion, he retorted, "Can anyone question why we have delayed it. We had to do it and we did it now. It is a political decision. We take such decisions after discussing them with the High Command," he added.

To another question, Siddaramaiah retorted, "Who told you we have Low Command. We have only High Command. There were no hurdles (in expanding the ministry). We have freedom (to take decision). There was no interference."

Siddaramaiah's move has not gone down well with civil society groups and several prominent public figures, who had been opposing induction of Shivakumar and Baig, besides triggering discontent among ministerial aspirants.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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