Counsel settles claims of 30% AI crash affected

March 19, 2011

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Mangalore, March 19: Ten months after the horrific Air India Express IX-812 crash which resulted in the death of 158 passengers, the legal counsel for Air India - Mulla & Mulla - Mumbai, has settled claims of 30% of the families affected by the accident.



Kapil Aseri, chief finance officer, Air India, said that till date a total of 52 cases have been settled for an overall amount of Rs 36.78 crore, including that of three of the eight survivors.



Advocate and solicitor Hoshang D Nanavati from Mulla & Mulla, told media persons that even though 52 cases have been settled, they have had discussions with many more families. "We were making good progress. Unfortunately, a writ petition filed in Kerala High Court claiming Rs 1 lakh Special Drawing Rights (SDR) was the minimum slowed the process. The case will come up for hearing on March 23," he said.



The Carriage by Air Act, 1972 serves as the legal regime governing passenger compensation in the event of air accidents in international carriage. Both damage on account of death and bodily injury are covered under the scope of the Convention.



Under this Act, which has been amended as per The Montreal Convention, a kin of each victim is entitled for up to Rs 1 lakh SDR which, as per the present exchange rates, is worth about USD 1.6 lakh.



Nanavati said the amount arrived at during the final settlement after counselling, was paid minus the interim amount already paid to victims' families. Air India paid interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of victims who were above 12 years and Rs 5 lakh for those below 12. Also, Rs 2 lakh was paid to the injured. The interim relief amounting to Rs 14.06 crore was paid within three weeks of the crash.



"We were able settle cases where that issue (Rs 1 lakh SDR) did not arise," said the legal counsel pointing out that from the settlement done so far, cases have been settled for more than Rs 1 lakh SDR (roughly Rs 71 lakh).



"We are waiting for the judgment in the case. Till it comes through, the parties are not willing to settle. Every time we held the meeting, the affected would say they would rather wait for the judgment and then decide," said Nanavati.



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coastaldigest.com news network
November 28,2025

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Udupi district transformed into a sea of saffron and celebration on Friday, November 28, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow swept through the coastal temple town. Thousands of residents lined the streets, turning the event into a vibrant public spectacle filled with cheers, flags, and festive energy.

The procession route—from the helipad to the historic Sri Krishna Math—was decked with buntings, saffron flags, and multilayered security barricades. One of the district’s largest-ever security deployments was put in place for the high-profile visit, with over 3,000 police personnel on duty. The arrangement included ten SPs, 27 DSPs, 49 inspectors, 127 sub-inspectors, 232 assistant sub-inspectors, 1,608 constables, and 39 women staff.

Six platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, six Quick Response Teams, bomb detection units, and dog squads were stationed across Udupi. Enhanced surveillance covered Adi Udupi, Bannanje bus stand, and the Sri Krishna Math parking zone, with combing operations carried out along the roadshow corridor.

At the 800-year-old Sri Krishna Math, preparations reached a ceremonial peak. Paryaya Puttige Math seer Sugunendra Teertha Swamiji said the Prime Minister would take part in the Laksha Kantha Geetha Parayana, a mass chanting of the Bhagavad Gita by one lakh devotees, and inaugurate the new Suvarna Teertha Mantapa.

“He will first offer floral tributes to saint-poet Kanakadasa and then unveil the golden covering over the Kanakana Kindi,” the seer said.

The Prime Minister will also receive a Poorna Kumbha welcome and have darshan of Lord Sri Krishna, Mukhyaprana Devaru, and the Suvarna Paduke. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister Bairathi Suresh, Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade, and seers from the Ashta Maths are expected to join the ceremony.

Ahead of his arrival, the Prime Minister posted on X that he felt “honoured” to attend the spiritually significant gathering. “This is a special occasion that brings together people from different sections of society for a recital of the Gita. This Matha has a very special significance in our cultural life,” he wrote, noting the institution’s long-standing legacy rooted in the teachings of Sri Madhvacharya.

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News Network
December 3,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 3: A group of Congress workers gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday to welcome AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, but the reception quickly turned into a display of support for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Venugopal arrived in the city to participate in the centenary commemoration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru. The event, organised by the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair, is being held on the university’s Konaje campus.

KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai and several party workers had assembled at the airport to receive Venugopal. However, the moment he stepped out, workers began raising slogans backing Shivakumar.

The university programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This show of support comes just a day after Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar would lead the government “when the high command decides.” The chief minister made the comment after a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence—another public display of camaraderie between the two leaders amid ongoing attempts by the party high command to downplay their leadership rivalry.

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News Network
November 22,2025

Mangaluru: Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H has warned of strict action against individuals spreading rumours and attempting to create insecurity within the Muslim community and fuel hatred between Hindus and Muslims through social media.

Referring to a recent social media post alleging that police personnel had entered a masjid premises to check whether beef was being cooked, the commissioner said miscreants were attempting to push their communal agenda. 

“A group of people, both from Mangaluru and abroad, are trying hard to spread rumours. For the past 10 days, they have been attempting to rake up old issues, highlight routine matters as controversies, or fabricate news altogether,” he said.

He reiterated that any such attempts to disturb communal harmony would invite legal action. “Cases will be registered and the accused will be brought to book,” he stated.

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