Another Mangaluru resident loses ₹13 lakh in online trading scam after joining WhatsApp group

News Network
February 6, 2025

Mangaluru: A man has reportedly lost ₹13 lakh after falling victim to an online trading scam. The incident began on December 14, 2023, when he received a WhatsApp message adding him to a group named "VIP3 Global Securities Official Stock Community."

The message introduced Ajay Garg as the director and CEO of SMC Group, claiming he was participating in an international stock returns competition and urging members to vote for him. The group also provided stock market investment guidance and encouraged users to open an SMC Global Securities Trading Account to access IPO stocks.

Upon inquiring in the group, the complainant was contacted by an individual claiming to be an international customer service representative at SMC Global Securities. This person, later identified as Vandana Bharti from the Institutional Brokerage, claimed she could secure high-value IPO stock allotments. The complainant was instructed to download the SMC Global Securities Trading App using a specific link, which promised 30 days of free VIP trading advice and stock market insights. He registered on the app using his PAN and mobile number and began applying for IPO stocks.

Initially, the complainant was allotted ₹15,000 worth of IPO stocks from Dam Capital Advisers Limited. The scammers claimed that ₹5,000 was covered by the company, requiring him to pay only ₹10,000, which he transferred on December 25. Soon after, he was allotted ₹1.4 lakh worth of IPO stocks from Anya Polytech & Fertilisers and was pressured to pay immediately. On December 31, he transferred the amount.

The scammers continued assigning higher-value IPO stocks, eventually allotting ₹9.9 lakh worth of stocks from Standard Glass Lining Technology Limited. When the complainant expressed an inability to pay, he was pressured into taking a ₹9 lakh loan via a mobile lending service.

On January 20, he attempted to withdraw ₹1 lakh from the SMC Global Securities Trading App to check if funds could be recovered. The withdrawal was processed successfully the same day, reinforcing his trust in the platform. However, subsequent attempts to withdraw funds were unsuccessful, and the complainant realized he had been defrauded.

Authorities are investigating the incident and cautioning the public to be vigilant against such fraudulent schemes.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
November 26,2025

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Bengaluru, Nov 26: Karnataka is taking its first concrete steps towards lifting a three-decade-old ban on student elections in colleges and universities. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced Wednesday that the state government will form a small committee to study the reintroduction of campus polls, a practice halted in 1989 following incidents of violence.

Speaking at a 'Constitution Day' event organised by the Karnataka Congress, Mr. Shivakumar underscored the move's aim: nurturing new political leadership from the grassroots.

"Recently, (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to me and Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) asking us to think about restarting student elections," Shivakumar stated. "I'm announcing today that we'll form a small committee and seek a report on this."

Student elections were banned in Karnataka in 1989, largely due to concerns over violence and the infiltration of political party affiliates into campus life. The ban effectively extinguished vibrant student bodies and the pipeline of young leaders they often produced.

Mr. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, said that former student leaders will be consulted to "study the pros and cons" of the re-introduction.

Acknowledging the history of the ban, he added, "There were many criminal activities taking place back then. We’ll see how we can conduct (student) elections by regulating such criminal activities."

The Deputy CM reminisced about his own journey, which began on campus. He recalled his political activism at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College leading to his first Assembly ticket in 1985 at the age of 23. "That's how student leadership was at the time. Such leadership has gone today. College elections have stopped," he lamented, adding that for many, college elections were "like a big movement" where leaders were forged.

The move, driven by the Congress high command's push to cultivate young talent, will face scrutiny from academics and university authorities who have, in the past, expressed concern that the return of polls could disrupt the peaceful academic environment and turn campuses into political battlegrounds.

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News Network
November 22,2025

Udupi, Nov 22: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has officially confirmed Narendra Modi’s visit to Udupi on November 28 and shared his detailed schedule with the Karnataka chief secretary.

According to the itinerary, the Prime Minister will land at Mangaluru International Airport from Delhi at 11:05 am and depart for Udupi by helicopter at 11:10 am. He is expected to arrive at the Adi Udupi helipad at 11:35 am.

The earlier plan for a roadshow has been cancelled. Instead, PM Modi will proceed directly to Sri Krishna Math at 12 pm, where he will have darshan of Sri Krishna and address participants of the Laksha Kanta Geetha Gayana event.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to depart from the Adi Udupi helipad at 1:35 pm, returning to Mangaluru Airport before leaving for Goa at 2 pm.

The state administration has been directed to make all necessary arrangements for the visit.

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