Raghupathi Bhat accused of accepting kickbacks from Tebma Shipyard

February 11, 2012

Udupi, February 11: Udupi Block Congress President Pramod Madhwaraj on Saturday accused Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat of receiving Rs 10 lakhs as a kickback from the controversial Tebma Shipyard.

Speaking to media persons Pramod said that like his mentor and former chief minister BS Yedyurappa, Bhat too received the money through the Pariwar Samudaya Trust, by cheque. Producing the copies of the bank statement of both Tebma Shipyard and the Pariwar Samudaya Trust, in support of his allegations, Pramod showed the transfer of Rs 3 lakhs, Rs 3.5 lakhs and Rs 3.5 lakhs to the Trust on Feb 28, 2008, Mar 4, 2008 and Mar 7 respectively from Tebma to MLA Bhat's Trust.

As Bhat is a beneficiary of the Tebma Shipyard his protests against the Shipyard and lip sympathy to the fishermen were all an eyewash, Pramod said.

It is to be noted here that Pramod had accused Bhat of benefiting to the tune of crores of rupees from the government sponsored Rave Party as he is one of the partners in hosting the party. In return Bhat accused Pramod of withdrawing from the protest against Nagarjuna power plant half a way, as he was offered a kickback.

Replying to Bhat allegationst him, Pramod said as he was the highest taxpayer in the district with well-established enterprises in his name, he need not beg before others. As BJP is ruling the state, they were free to conduct any inquiry against him on the issue and they should not miss this opportunity to inquire, he said.

“Sadananda Gowda, as an MP opposed Nagarjuna and as the CM he is supporting it. District in-charge minister Dr VS Acharya had opposed the project when he was not in power and supported it when in ruling. Likewise MLA Raghupathi Bhat when in opposition opposed it and now supporting it. Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon, has been changing his stand every now and then. If all those BJP leaders take up a protest against Nagarjuna he would surely join the agitation”, Pramod challenged.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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