Ex-MP Vishwanath's son accused of vandalism

Mysore, Jul 9: The Congress in Karnataka is facing more trouble. After legislator Vijayanand Kashappanavar's alleged slapping of police constables, Congress leader Vishwanath's son Poorvaj is in the news for alleged vandalism at a roadside hotel near Hunsur town on Monday night.

Hotel owner Sandesh alleged that Poorvaj and his friends came to the hotel on Monday night and demanded food and liquor. As it was past closing time, the men were refused service. This angered Poorvaj and his friends, and they ransacked the place and set a canopy made of hay on fire, the complaint states.

Poorvaj is the son of Venkatalakshmi second wife of Vishwanath. He resides with his mother, wife and son, opposite KSRTC?bus depot at Aravinda?Nagar in the city.

Based on the complaint, the Hunsur town police have booked a case against Poorvaj and five others under various sections of the IPC. Poorvaj has been charged for causing damage to property, and for threatening people at the hotel. Poorvaj, however, denied indulging in arson or vandalism. "I visited the hotel to recover money which the hotel owner owed me. But I returned when I was told he was not at the hotel," he said.

Reacting to the complaint, Congress leader A H Vishwanath said: "The law will take its course, I do not want to interfere. If my son has committed any crime, let police investigate and take action against him."

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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