Lokayukta SIT arrests union minister's brother for illegal export of iron ore

[email protected] (CD Network)
April 19, 2015

Bengaluru, Apr 19: The Lokayukta Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday arrested G M Lingaraju, managing director of Gem Laboratories Private Limited, in connection with illegal export of iron ore.

G M Lingaraju is the younger brother of Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Davangere MP, G M Siddeswara.

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According to sources, SIT IGP Charan Reddy took Lingaraju into custody as he did not satisfactorily answer the questions of investigating authorities during an inquiry. The Lokayukta Special Court have remanded Lingaraju to judicial custody till Monday.

Lingaraju was accused of exporting about 12,500 tonnes of iron ore from Belekeri port without permission.

GEM Laboratories, having its office at Gandhinagar in Bengaluru, is into export of processed food and beverages. It has exported around one-lakh MT of iron ore from the Belekeri port between 2009 and 2010. Investigators found that six of the consignments had been shipped out without proper documents.

The SIT had issued notice to Lingaraju to appear before the Investigating Officer (IO) for questioning on April 17, 2015. A senior police officer said Lingaraju failed to produce supporting documents for the export of 12,500 MT of iron ore. The SIT officials produced Lingaraju before the Lokayukta special court on Friday evening, which has remanded him in judicial custody till April 28.

“GEM Laboratories is one of the exporters operating at the Belekeri port. A total of six of its consignments were under scrutiny by our team while probing into illegal mining, transportation and export of iron ore from the Belekeri port. He was summoned and arrested for failing to explain the source of iron ore,” the official said.

GEM Laboratories is one of the companies promoted under the flagship GM Group of Companies owned by G M Siddeswara’s family.

When contacted, Siddeswara said he had no links with the company reportedly involved in the illegal export of iron ore. “I am in Delhi right now. I have no links with the businesses owned by my brother,” the minister said.

Asked whether he was the chairman of the GM Group, he said: “I am not the chairman of the GM Group of Companies.”

Minister has 9,649 shares

In the affidavit submitted to the Central Election Commission during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when he filed his nomination from the Davangere constituency, Siddeswara has mentioned that he has purchased 9,649 shares of GEM Laboratories Pvt Ltd, worth Rs 9.64 lakh, while another entry (Investments in firms and loans and advances given and other investments) has an entry of Rs 46.47 lakh given as personal loan to his brother G M Lingaraju.

The SIT had arrested Koodligi MLA B Nagendra on March 20 and Vijayanagar MLA Anand Singh on April 9 on similar charges. They were later released on bail.

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News Network
April 11,2024

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Bengaluru, Apr 11: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the party's unit in Karnataka have highlighted the statement of Class 12 Board exam topper from the state, Vedant Navi, and claimed that "it was a matter of pride as their schemes were bringing effective social and economic changes".

The Congress on Thursday launched a social media campaign by releasing posters and short videos.

Rahul Gandhi in his social media post said, “Such 'Success Stories' make me believe and ensure that our 'Mahalakshmi' guarantee of putting Rs 1 lac every year in women's accounts will prove to be a revolutionary step to shaping the country's fate.”

“Congress's Gruha Lakshmi scheme going on in Karnataka under which more than 1 crore women get Rs 2,000 every month, using the same money a mother taught her son Vedant and he got second rank in the whole state in PUC exam,” Rahul Gandhi stated.

“Vedant's story is a living example of Indian women's penance and willpower to strengthen the house with pai-pai. Imagine, when women of poor families across the country will get Rs 1 lakh every year through the 'Mahalakshmi Yojana', how many Vedantas will change the future of the family with their talent? This historic plan of Congress will give the dreams of poor families a flight into reality,” Rahul Gandhi said.

The Congress in Karnataka said the schemes of the government were giving succour to the people. “It is a matter of pride that in a span of 10 months, our government’s schemes are bringing effective social and economic changes,” the party claimed.

“It is a testimony to the success of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme that the family of Vedant, who secured first rank in the Arts stream, was supported by the money provided by the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. Our schemes have brought changes in many people’s lives. The Congress party has built the lives of the people and thereby built the nation,” the Congress stated.

Vedant Navi had secured first rank in Arts Stream in Karnataka. He is the overall second-topper.

“My father is no more. My mother faced difficulties as the family was debt-ridden. In this crunch time, the money received through the Gruha Lakshmi scheme (Rs 2,000 every month given for women heads of family) helped my studies and hostel stay and other expenditures,” Vedant had stated.

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News Network
April 9,2024

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Mangaluru/ Bengaluru, Apr 2: Karnataka’s coastal belt some of the neighbouring areas will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on April 10, while rest of the state will witness the festival on April 11 due confusion over moon sighting. 

Muslim religious heads in twin coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi on the night of April 9 declared the end of Ramadan and beginning of Shawwal following reports of sighting of crescent moon. 

With this Eid will be celebrated on April 10 in the above region. Similarly, Muslims in Bhatkal and neighbouring state of Kerala too will celebrate the festival on April 10. 

However, Muslims in other parts of Karnataka will continue to fast on April 10 and celebrate the Eid on the following day due to non-sighting of moon in their region. 

The Karnataka Moon Sighting Committee chairman Moulana Maqsood Imran formally announced that the Eid-ul-Fitr in Bengaluru and areas of Karnataka will be celebrated on Thursday April 11. 

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News Network
April 13,2024

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Mangaluru: After as the state health ministry issued guidelines to the public in view of a heatwave, the health department in Dakshina Kannada has advised people to be cautious about the impact of heatstroke, including heat rash, heat edema, heat cramps, heat tetany, heat syncope, and heat exhaustion.

Dakshina Kannada district nodal officer for climate change, Dr Naveenchandra Kulal, said that the impact of heat-related illness can also be found in the district, when there is a variation of about 4.5⁰C from the normal temperature.

Dr Kulal told media persons here on Friday, that the impact of heat-related illness is not confined to Raichur, Kalaburagi, and other North Karnataka districts.

“Those who reside inside tin sheet houses and closed environments are likely to suffer from heatstroke. People should hydrate themselves by drinking more water and avoid working under the direct Sun. Heat exhaust fans can be used. Though no heatstroke cases have been reported in the district, any negligence may cause heatstroke,” he said. 

DHO Dr Thimmaiah HR said that hotels and restaurants should supply boiled water, and they should clean the overhead tanks once every three months. The filter of drinking water units should be cleaned frequently, he said.

He also directed paying guest accommodations to supply fresh food to inmates.

“We have received complaints of many paying guest accommodations serving sambar cooked the previous day to inmates. Stale food should be avoided, as there are chances of food contamination. Plastics should be avoided while packing food in hotels. As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines, the use of plastic to pack hot food is restricted,” the DHO said.

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