Karnataka Digital Economy Mission’s roadshow in Saudi Arabia to boost Mangaluru development

News Network
August 29, 2023

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Mangaluru, Aug 29: The Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) has planned to hold a road show in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Khobar on September 7, to showcase the potential of the Karnataka’s coastal belt, especially Mangaluru, to attract in IT/ ITES, back-end offices.

KDEM is an initiative of government of Karnataka designed to function as the knowledge bridge between the government and industry to accelerate growth and investments in the field of Information Technology sector in the state.

KDEM’s Beyond Bengaluru initiative is another step that seeks to maximise the economic potential of emerging cities or regions outside the state capital, by enabling their organic growth, and inviting investments for startups or enterprises.

Mukesh S, head, Mangaluru cluster, KDEM, said that the idea is to highlight advantages of a Tier-II city; invite companies to open their back-end offices to leverage significantly lesser hiring and operational costs and avail government subsidies and availability of co-working spaces. This will help us augment a startup eco-system to retain fresh talent and also higher talent, at a later stage, building a robust ecosystem, he said.

Mukesh noted that the current employment potential of the coast is 15,000 in the IT/ ITES, back-end offices and it is already saturated, resulting in flight of talent. 

“During the pandemic, close to two lakh people were working out of Mangaluru and Udupi, and even after it ended, at least 50,000 still prefer the WFH arrangement, indicating willingness on the part of the talent to stay here, if there are modest to moderate avenues of employment.

Vinod Pinto, president, CREDAI, Mangaluru Chapter, appreciating efforts of KDEM, said the initiative to attract the IT/ ITES back-end offices to the region will have a multiplier effect on real estate. 

“It will increase the commercial and real estate requirement; create more job opportunities and revenue for the local, state and central governments. The tourism and hospitality sector, which is also one of the verticals of real estate, will improve,” he said, requesting the government to relook and improve the incentives to IT industries, for them to move beyond Bengaluru.

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News Network
November 22,2025

The Karnataka government has announced a 50% rebate on pending traffic and transport fines. The discount is available from November 21 to December 12.

The rebate applies to all traffic e-challans and violation cases booked by the RTO between 1991–92 and 2019–20. Officials clarified that the offer is not applicable to pending tax dues and is restricted only to traffic-violation fines.

Across Karnataka, more than 4 lakh RTO cases remain pending, including those involving transport vehicles. While thousands of vehicle owners have already cleared their dues, the department expects to generate substantial revenue through this limited-period rebate.

How to Pay and Avail the Discount

There are three ways to check and pay your pending fines:

1. Through Mobile Apps
Available on both Play Store and App Store:
•    Karnataka State Police (KSP) app
•    KarnatakaOne app
•    ASTraM app

Steps:
•    Enter your vehicle number in any of the above apps
•    Verify the photo/details of your vehicle
•    Pay the fine with the 50% discount applied

2. Visit a Traffic Police Station

You can pay your pending fine at any nearby traffic police station.

3. Visit the Traffic Management Centre (TMC)

•    Location: First Floor, Infantry Road, near Indian Express, Bengaluru

Transport Commissioner Yogeesh A M said, “We don't issue e-challans, so there's no online payment system.”

The department estimates ₹52 crore in pending RTO fines up to March 2020. “With the 50% rebate, we expect to collect around ₹25 crore if all dues are cleared,” he added.

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News Network
December 1,2025

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Udupi, Dec 1: A horrific case of alleged rape has unfolded in Udupi, where a worker from a Hindutva organisation, previously arrested and released on bail for harassing a young woman, is now accused of waylaying and sexually assaulting her.

The arrested individual has been identified as Pradeep Poojary (26), a member of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike's Nairkode unit in Perdur.

Poojary had allegedly been relentlessly harassing the young woman, pressuring her to marry him. When she bravely stood up to him and refused his demands, she filed a formal complaint at the Hiriyadka police station. He was subsequently arrested in that initial harassment case but was later granted bail.

According to police reports, driven by the same malicious grudge, Poojary allegedly intercepted the woman again on November 29. While she was walking through a deserted area, the accused is claimed to have threatened her by grabbing her neck. When she again refused to marry him, he allegedly proceeded to rape her.

The survivor immediately informed her family about the traumatic assault. Following this, her parents lodged a complaint at the Udupi women’s police station.

Police arrested Poojary again and produced him before the court. He has since been remanded to judicial custody.

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News Network
November 21,2025

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Udupi: The Malpe Police have arrested two men from Uttar Pradesh for allegedly sharing classified information related to Indian Navy vessels with individuals in Pakistan, posing a serious threat to national security.

According to a complaint filed by the CEO of Udupi Cochin Shipyard, Malpe—an institution under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways—the prime accused, Rohit (29), was working as an insulator through subcontractor M/S Shushma Marine Pvt Ltd. He had earlier served at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, Kerala, where naval ships are under construction.

Udupi SP Hariram Shankar said the accused had unlawfully shared, via WhatsApp, confidential identification numbers of Navy-related ships and other classified details while working in Kerala, allegedly for illegal gains.

After joining the Malpe shipyard unit, Rohit reportedly continued collecting sensitive information through a friend in Kochi and circulated it to unauthorised individuals, violating national security protocols and potentially endangering India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity.

Based on the complaint, Malpe Police registered a case under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

A police team led by Karkala Subdivision Assistant Superintendent of Police Harsha Priyamvada—along with PSI Anil Kumar D, ASI Harish, and PC Ravi Jadhav—conducted the investigation and arrested the two accused, identified as Rohit (29) and Santri (37), both residents of Sultanpur district, Uttar Pradesh.

The duo was produced before the court, which remanded them in judicial custody till December 3. Further investigation is in progress.

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