Karnataka spent Rs 7.89 crore on ministers' travel; Sorake, Chinchansur, UTK, Rai toppers

[email protected] (CD Network)
July 30, 2015

Bengaluru, Jul 30: In last two years, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his ministerial colleagues have spent a total of Rs 7.89 crore on travel allowance.

toppers

According to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by an activist from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), the State government has spent Rs 13.8 crore on salary and allowances of the 30 ministers, excluding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Except for travel allowance, information pertaining to expenditure incurred on the chief minister’s salary and other allowances has not been made available to the Right to Information activist.

According Bheemappa Gundappa Gadada, the activist who obtained the information, some of the ministers have claimed travel allowance at Rs 20 to Rs 30 per km though luxury cars are available for hire at a cheaper rate of Rs 15 per km.

Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake has claimed the highest pay of Rs 79.42 lakh, including Rs 56.62 lakh as travel allowance in the last two years.

Vinay Kumar Sorake is followed by Textiles Minister Baburao Chinchansur with an amount of Rs 76.29 lakh, including Rs 44.63 lakh as travel allowance and Health Minister U T Khader with Rs 74.09 lakh, including Rs 54.42 lakh for travel. Dakshina Kannada district in charge minister B Ramanath Rai has claimed 51.44 lakh travel allowance in two years.

Interestingly, the travel allowance claimed by Chief minister is about Rs 36 lakh during this period. Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad has received the least pay of Rs 22.96 lakh as travel allowance.

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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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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

•    Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

•    STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

•    Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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