Corrupt in Lokayukta extorted money from many IAS officers, says HDK

July 2, 2015

Belagavi, Jul 2: Corrupt elements in the office of the Karnataka Lokayukta didn’t just target low-ranking bureaucrats; they extorted money even from senior IAS officers, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has claimed.

Speaking about corruption in the Lokayukta, he explained to the Legislative Assembly the modus operandi reportedly used by corrupt elements in the Lokayukta. According to Kumaraswamy, two touts—Bhaskar and Rajashekar—had befriended Ashwin Rao, the son of Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao. They targeted government officials as per a list made by Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad’s private secretary, Nagaraj. The Lokayukta’s Public Relations Officer, Syed Riyazullah, is involved too, the former chief minister suggested.

Kumaraswamy claimed that many senior IAS officers sitting in the media gallery in the Assembly had paid up. His contention prompted many Congress and BJP members to demand that he name the IAS officers. But the JD(S) leader refused to reveal the names, saying that would “embarrass” the government.

Kumaraswamy didn’t just stop at that. He went on to state that Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee recently held a meeting with the principal secretary to the chief minister and other officials to discuss corruption in the Lokayukta. Many officials were transferred at this meeting, according to him. He demanded that the government disclose full details of the meeting.

BJP for CBI probe

The principal opposition party, the BJP, has demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the accusations against the Lokayukta. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Jagadish Shettar, suggested that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) could not probe into the accusations. The Lokayukta should own moral responsibility and step down, Shettar asserted.

Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, however, turned down the demand for CBI probe, saying the government was not empowered to hand over this case to the CBI, as per section 80 of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act.

When BJP members demanded that the Lokayukta Act be amended to empower the government to order a CBI probe, Siddaramaiah said that laws could not be amended in a hurry.

According to the chief minister, Justice (retd) Rao had written to the government, stating that the matter of corruption in the ombudsman’s office be investigated by an officer of the rank of the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). Hence, the government formed the SIT under ADGP Kamal Pant, he added.

Siddaramaiah further said that the government was planning to bring in comprehensive amendments to the Karnataka Lokayukta Act on the lines of the Lokpal. But BJP members remained unsatisfied with this reply and staged a walkout.

Speaking to the media later, Kumaraswamy said that the government had made all preparations to bury the case.

“When I raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly, the chief minister was silent. He would not have allowed me to speak, if there was no mistake on his part,” Kumaraswamy said. Nearly 20 higher officials gave money to the persons in Lokayukta institution, and probe should be conducted into this also, he added.

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Think Before You Post! Mangaluru Police Crack Down on Provocative Instagram Accounts

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December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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SMR Public School’s ‘EXCELLENTIA’ highlights academic excellence and holistic growth

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December 16,2025

Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present.

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