Justice Rao orders ADGP not to act on complaints

July 4, 2015

Bengaluru, Jul 4: Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao has passed another order directing ADGP Lokayukta not to proceed with any investigation based on any complaints already filed or to be filed in the matter relating to corruption in the Lokayukta office.

Lokayukta
Though, as the Lokayukta, he cannot interfere in the police investigation, Justice Rao has written to Lokayukta ADGP, Prem Shankar Meena, to direct his subordinates not to probe any complaints received on the administrative side in the office of the ombudsman.

The letter addressed to the ADGP through in-charge registrar stated, “In view of the facts, even in respect of complaints pertaining to allegations of corruption alleged to have taken place in the premises of Lokayukta office, received or to be received in the Lokayukta office in respect of the above matter (case involving Ashwin) we have to await the report of SIT and thereafter take appropriate decision in the matter. Any violation of order of the High Court would amount to contempt of court. In view of the above, as per the order of the High Court, ADGP is requested to instruct police not to register cases and not to proceed with the investigation based on such complaints received on administrative side in the office of the Lokayukta.”

Sources said the investigation into the FIR registered (56/2015) against Ashwin Rao, son of Bhaskar Rao, has completely halted as per the orders of the Lokayukta. Senior police officials were not told anything about the legal opinion on the High Court order.

Senior Supreme Court counsel K V Dhananjay said such orders from the Lokayukta only amounted to clear interference in the police investigation. “What has been stayed by the High Court is the internal enquiry so that the external SIT could enquire in place of the internal wing. A criminal investigation is very different from a mere enquiry. Who is the Lokayukta to say that a crime of extortion and bribery should not be investigated by the Lokayukta police? He is nobody to say so and nobody need heed him. The FIR already registered should be swiftly acted upon,” he said.

Though there is no stay on the FIR against Ashwin, the Lokayukta police have stalled the investigation on the directions by the Lokayukta. The delay in arrest will only hamper the investigation, he added. “Why on earth aren’t we seeing any arrests yet? Who is the Lokayukta police shielding? The Lokayukta police who are going soft should themselves become the subject of a criminal investigation and that is what I foresee happening if they try to shield the crooks in this case.”

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News Network
May 7,2024

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Udupi: Udupi became the second city on the Karnataka coast after Mangaluru to launch water rationing, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Commissioner of the Udupi City Municipal Corporation Rayappa said that the rationing system will come into force from Wednesday and will continue till the water in the reservoir reaches comfortable levels.

The dam built across the Swarna river at a place called Baje, which is the only source of water for Udupi city, recorded 3.25 meters of water as against the top level of 6.30 meters.

The decision of water rationing will be reviewed periodically until the reservoir regains its fullest levels, the official said.

The Mangaluru City Corporation resorted to water rationing on Saturday following declining water levels in the reservoir built across the Nethravati river at Thumbe. 

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News Network
May 2,2024

Bengaluru, May 2: Prajwal Revanna, grandson of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, was issued fresh summons on Thursday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which is investigating the case of obscene videos involving the former JD(S) member, several news outlets reported.

The SIT also junked his appeal which sought seven days time to join the probe, as per these reports.

Prajwal and his father, H D Revanna, have sexual harassment and stalking cases filed against them over the matter. Gowda's son, H D Revanna, however, said that what took place '4-5 years ago' is now being turned into a legal case.

JD(S) in its core committee meeting suspended Prajwal from the party till the end of the probe. Prajwal, meanwhile, took to X to state he would join the probe in seven days time, asserting 'truth will prevail'.

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May 4,2024

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Bengaluru: BJP leader Anantkumar Hegde represented Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha segment in Karnataka for six terms and now gynecologist Anjali Nimbalkar is putting up a spirited fight seeking to turn the tide and "deliver" it for the Congress.

Dr Nimbalkar is taking on former Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, who replaced Hegde, in this BJP stronghold.

A former Congress MLA, she lost the Assembly elections from Khanapur in Belagavi district last year.

The 62-year-old Kageri, a six-term MLA and a former minister, was also defeated in the Assembly polls from Sirsi.

"In the past 30 years, the voice of Uttara Kannada was not spoken and not even a single question was asked in the Parliament," Nimbalkar said in an apparent dig at Hegde.

If elected, she said her focus is to address the local issues related to forest dwellers, getting them 'patra' for their own land -- a battle they have been fighting for long.

Also on her priority list is getting a multispecialty hospital in Kumta as per people's demand, generating employment and focusing on tourism for the overall development of Uttara Kannada.

"Issues related to forest dwellers -- they want a 'patra' for their own land -- we will try and put forth these issues in the first session itself and we will see to it that maximum applications which are pending with the Central government get cleared during the first session itself," she said in an interview.

"So, our thing is that at least 50 per cent of the jobs should be given to the local Kannadigas in the Central schemes which are implemented in the district," she said.

Noting that Uttara Kannada has a combination of both beaches and temples, Nimbalkar said the district can be developed internationally in a much higher scale than "what actually Goa or Kerala is".

The Congress candidate is also banking on the five guarantee schemes launched by the Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka and the promises made by party in its manifesto at the national level.

Responding to a question, she expressed happiness that the Congress has fielded a total of six women candidates out of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka.

While campaigning, Nimbalkar said she was overwhelmed to see a large number of people, especially women, turning up for her rallies despite the intense heat in Uttara Kannada.

"They are very happy that the Congress has given a woman candidate and an educated candidate who herself is a doctor and a gynecologist. So they are excited that, yes, she can be our voice in the Parliament who can fight for our rights," the 47-year-old said.

"I have worked as an MLA (Khanapur), so they have seen my work in the Assembly and the expectations are like, yes, she will be the one who will be speaking for us and that faith is seen in their eyes," she said.

Nimbalkar strongly believes that when women enter any field, it brings a different perspective - be it in terms of management, policy formulation or even as homemakers.

Uttara Kannada is among the 14 constituencies going for polls in Karnataka under second phase on May 7.

Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha seats and the first phase of polling was held on April 26.

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