Hebbal bypoll: Setback to CM as Sharief’s grandson Abdul Rahman gets ticket

January 27, 2016

Bengaluru, Jan 27: In a major snub handed out to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, top central leaders of Congress picked former Union minister and party veteran CK Jaffer Sharief’s grandson Abdul Rahman Sharief for next month’s bypoll to Hebbal Assembly constituency.

The party high command has rejected the nomination of Independent MLC Byrathi Suresh, a close confidant of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Mr. Jaffer Sharief had lobbied hard to get ticket for his grandson. Jubilant over his grandson getting ticket, Mr. Jaffer Sharief said:, “Now the party has to work collectively to grab the Hebbal seat from the BJP.”

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, sources said, strongly opposed giving ticket to an outsider — Mr. Suresh, who is not yet become a Congress member. Apparently, M. Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, too had opposed naming Mr. Suresh as the party candidate. Senior leaders Oscar Fernandes and B.K. Hariprasad too had opposed the candidature of Mr. Suresh, sources said.

The Chief Minister’s morale to lead the election campaign would be dented as “his candidate” (Mr. Suresh) had been denied ticket, a senior leader said.

Sources said that the high command had questioned the State Congress adopting different rules in two constituencies — Hebbal and Bidar. While the State unit had recommended the name of Rahim Khan — who had faced a defeat in the 2013 Assembly election — for the byelection in Bidar, it had opposed giving ticket to another defeated candidate, Mr. Rahman Sharief, in Hebbal.

The Congress high command therefore decided to field “party loyalists” so as to send the right signals to the party cadre ahead of the zilla and taluk panchayat elections next month.

Mr. Rahman Sharief had lost to Jagadish Kumar of the BJP in the 2013 Assembly election by a margin of just 5,000 votes in Hebbal, while Mr. Khan was defeated by Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli in Bidar by a margin of 2,000 votes.

Ms. Gandhi has approved the candidature of Rahim Khan for Bidar and V. Rajashekhar Naik for Deodurg. Mr. Naik is the son of A. Venkatesh Naik, the then Deodurg MLA who died is a train accident in November last.

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Jaffar Shariff took signature from various religious institution to lobby for his grand son. Still things were not in his favor. He used his ultimate trump card to convince the state and national Congress.

\If you don't give ticket we will fight election on SDPI ticket.\" Blackmailed worked, congrats Rehman."

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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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Udupi NRI duped of Rs 12.25 lakh in Telegram investment scam

News Network

December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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