JD(S) MLA under scanner after driver, who had eloped with his niece, found murdered

coastaldigest.com news network
January 10, 2019

Bengaluru, Jan 10: K Gopalaiah, the Janata Dal (Secular) MLA from Mahalakshmi Layout in Bengaluru is reportedly under scanner following the murder of a 32-year-old man, who had eloped with former’s 18-year-old niece her two months ago.

Manu R, who was a rowdy-sheeter, was found brutally murdered in Tumakuru district on Tuesday morning. He had posted several videos on social media days before his murder, alleging that his life was under threat.

A resident of Kamakshipalya in Bengaluru, Manu was working as a driver for Guli Basava alias Basavaraju C, who is the brother of MLA Gopalaiah. Two months ago, Manu eloped with Basavarju’s daughter, Pallavi, and later married her. On Tuesday, his body was discovered lying in a pool of blood at Jatti Agrahara village near Koratagere in Tumakuru district by a few villagers who then alerted the police.

"He may have been killed at night. It appeared he was attacked with lethal weapons, including machetes, at the spot where the body was found," a police officer said.

Police said that Manu and Pallavi had eloped on October 22, 2018, and that Manu may have “paid the price" for daring to marry the MLA’s niece against the family's wishes. The cops had registered a missing person complaint for Pallavi on October 25, based on Basavaraju’s complaint, and later found out that Manu had also disappeared on the same day.

Since the last couple of weeks, Manu had posted videos on social media, alleging that he feared for his life and that he faced threats from Basavaraju and his son Kiran.

He also claimed that the cops were trying to hunt him down to arrest him for allegedly kidnapping Pallavi, however, he clarified that Pallavi had come with him of her own accord. He claimed that the cops were following Kiran’s order, though he later retracted the claim. 

Meanwhile, a police probe is underway in the murder case and the Tumakuru police have formed a special team to arrest the culprits.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

•    Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

•    State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

•    Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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