Government could put MLA Ganesh back on rowdy list: Home minister

TNN
January 24, 2019

Bengaluru, Jan 24: State home minister MB Patil on Wednesday said the government could put Congress MLA JN Ganesh back on the rowdy-sheeter list, if he is found guilty in the case pertaining to his alleged assault on colleague Anand Singh. Police have charged Ganesh with attempt to murder.

In his first press conference since he was made home minister, Patil said he has given police a free hand to act against Ganesh, who is still at large.

“Nobody is bigger than the law,” Patil said. “This is a heinous act and will not be tolerated by the party or the government. An FIR has been filed against Ganesh and the party has already suspended him.”

Home department sources say Ganesh, who represents Kampli constituency in Ballari district, was on the Hospet police station’s rowdy-sheeters list between 2006 and 2015. The MLA, 39, is a black belt in karate and had been booked by Ballari police several times for his involvement in street fights. He faced several cases, including obstructing police from performing their duties, but it was withdrawn after the prosecution failed to prove the charges.

Ganesh was booked under sections 323 (causing hurt) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC for his alleged attack on Singh at a resort on Monday. Asked why the police had failed to arrest Ganesh even five days after registering the case, Patil said sleuths have launched a manhunt to find him.

“In such cases, the accused abscond, but police will arrest him soon,” Patil said. “We will not interfere in the investigation.”

FIR a political tool?

MB Patil’s decision to give police a free hand to act against his own party MLA is being perceived in political circles as an attempt to prevent Ganesh from defecting to the BJP. Congress and BJP sources said a case against Ganesh would be a handy political weapon should the MLA switch sides. Ganesh is reportedly among six Congress legislators who are ready to quit and join the BJP.

“The criminal charges will help the party act against him at an appropriate time,” said a senior Congress leader.

However, G Janardhana Reddy, former BJP minister and mining baron from Ballari, who called on Singh on Wednesday at the hospital where he is being treated in Bengaluru, gave the incident a different spin. Singh and Ganesh too are from Ballari.

Reddy claimed the incident is a clear reflection of the power tussle within the Congress.

“There are two factions in the Congress – one represented by Siddaramaiah and the other by DK Shivakumar,” Reddy said. “While Singh belongs to the Shivakumar camp, Ganesh and another Ballari MLA LBJ Bheema Naik are in Siddaramaiah’s camp.”

Meanwhile, the four MLAs — Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumatalli, Umesh Jadhav and B Nagendra — who were issued show-cause notices for staying away from the CLP meeting on January 18, are yet to furnish replies. Sources say the Congress leadership will wait for a couple of days before initiating action.

THE LOWDOWN ON ROWDY-SHEETS

A rowdy-sheet can be opened against any person involved in a crime. Even one incident of serious nature is enough for cops to open a rowdy-sheet against an accused.

Once a rowdy-sheet is opened, the accused must appear before police wherever summoned. Rowdy-sheeters are also taken into preventive custody during sensitive times like communal clashes.

A person who has a rowdysheet opened in his name must approach a local court to get it removed. If the court is convinced, it will direct cops to remove the tag.

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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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