After arrest of actress Anikha in Karnataka drug case, her husband arrested in Kerala drug case

News Network

September 6, 2020

Kochi, Sept 6: The husband of Kannada serial actress D Anikha, who was arrested in a Bengaluru drug case, and Okawo Collins, a Nigerian prisoner on trial in a Kochi drug case, are close friends, investigations have revealed.

Anikha’s husband, a Nigerian, has gone into hiding after her arrest. Although documents show his name to 'Rahman', the investigation team suspects it could be fake. The two Nigerians arrived in Goa in 2014.

On January 31, 2015, actor Shine Tom Chacko, Reshma Rangaswamy, Blessy Sylvester, Tinsey Babu and Sneha Babu were arrested during a night party at a private flat in Kadavanthara. Okawo was arrested on the basis of Reshma's statement.

He told the investigators that the drugs for the party were supplied by one Franco in Goa. However, Franco could not be found. The police felt that Franco was a fictional character created by Okawo to mislead the investigation. But, now, they suspect that Franco could be the husband of the arrested Anikha.

This could, in effect, mean that the drug racket uncovered in Bengaluru may have had connections with the Malayalam film industry since 2015, say officials in the investigation team.

Although Okawo Collins had revealed to the police that four newgen actors, two directors and two producers in Kochi were his clients, the investigation did not reach them.

Some of the filmmakers who are said to be in the friend circle of Kochi native Anoop Mohammad, who has been arrested in the Bengaluru drug case along with Anikha, were the ones named by Okawo, too, in 2015, the police said.

According to Rijesh Raveendran, an accomplice of Anoop who is also in police custody, he started dealing in drugs in 2015. He said he met Anoop at a music concert in Goa that year. Okawo had also told the police that it was during a music concert in Goa that Franco gave him the packets of cocaine to be delivered to Kochi.

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Respiratory illnesses rise in Karnataka’s capital as air quality deteriorates

News Network

February 5,2026

Bengaluru: As air quality continues to worsen across several parts of the city, hospitals in Bengaluru are reporting a steady rise in patients suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), health officials and doctors said.

Data from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) shows that 3,891 patients received treatment for respiratory ailments between April and November 2024. The figure rose to 4,187 during the same period in 2025.

Private hospitals, too, are witnessing a 10–15 per cent year-on-year increase in such cases.

While doctors caution that the rise cannot be attributed solely to air pollution, a significant number of patients are non-smokers with no prior history of respiratory disease.

“Nearly 70 per cent of the patients we see are non-smokers with no previous respiratory issues. When other causes are ruled out, air pollution emerges as the most likely factor,” said Dr Manjunath PH, consultant interventional pulmonologist at a hospital in Kengeri.

Doctors noted that patient footfall spikes during the winter months and around Deepavali, when air quality typically worsens.

“There is a clear correlation between poor air quality and the rise in cases. People commonly present with persistent cough, breathlessness and irritation of the respiratory tract, indicating the impact of polluted air on their health,” said Dr Sheetal Chaurasia, consultant in pulmonary medicine at a private hospital in Whitefield.

Dr Chaurasia added that respiratory tract infections are also on the rise.

“Poor air quality leads to chronic airway inflammation, making the airways more vulnerable to infections. We are seeing an increase in both upper and lower respiratory tract infections,” she said.

Patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions remain the worst affected.

“For those already diagnosed with respiratory illnesses, deteriorating air quality significantly worsens the condition. Both the frequency and severity of attacks increase sharply,” said Dr Vandana P, a pulmonologist at a hospital on Bannerghatta Road.

Doctors also flagged a worrying trend of rising respiratory problems among younger adults and children.

To reduce exposure, they advised people to wear masks while travelling on two-wheelers or autos and ensure adequate ventilation at home to minimise indoor air pollution.

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