Riot accused BJP MLA, who claimed to be a graduate, in fact failed class X twice!

[email protected] (CD Network)
July 20, 2015

Meerut, Jul 20: BJP MLA Sangeet Som, accused of making inflammatory speeches and uploading a fake video that sparked communal violence in Muzaffarnagar in 2013, has found himself in a fresh controversy.

A complaint has been lodged with the Meerut district magistrate Pankaj Yadav against Sangeet Som for allegedly submitting fake degree documents in his affidavit to the Election Commission.

sangeetsom
The disclosure comes close on the heels of a statement by state PWD minister Shivpal Yadav last month that an investigation was underway against an MLA for fake degrees. However, Yadav had refused to disclose MLA’s name or party.

Now, it has emerged that the complainant Devendra Mukhiya, a resident of Bishrakh village in Noida, had submitted the complaint last month alleging that Sardhana MLA Sangeet Som had declared himself a graduate in his affidavit during the 2009 Lok Sabha election which he contested from Muzaffarnagar. However, in the affidavit submitted before the 2012 Assembly elections, he declared himself intermediate pass.

To establish his claim, Mukhia has attached what he claims is a certificate from the Principal of the K K Jain Inter College, Khatauli, stating that Som failed his high school exam in 1993 and took a transfer certificate from the school the same year.

The district magistrate has ordered an inquiry in this regard. “The inquiry in this connection has been completed and I have sent a report to the government,” said Yadav.

Vehemently denying the allegations, the BJP MLA said, "Everything was investigated earlier and I was cleared in 2012. This man, Devendra Mukhiya, is a history-sheeter in Noida and it is his job to blackmail politicians. He is the relative of an SP leader and this is an attempt to frame me. It is true that I failed in class X but I completed my schooling from KK Inter College as a private (correspondence) student afterwards. I enrolled in KK Degree College in correspondence but left after my first year. All my documents are in place and I can prove I have done nothing wrong."

The MLA's claim, however, was countered by the principal of KK Inter College, RK Pundir, who revealed, "Sangeet Som attended this school and failed class X twice, once in 1993 and then again in 1994. On July 10, 1994, he obtained a transfer certificate (TC) and left the school. He finished class X as a private student in 1995. He had no relation with the school after that. He must have passed classes XI and XII from another school because I only have his records till class X."

In the meanwhile, Mukhiya has threatened Som with a defamation suit if he fails to produce proof of his allegations that he blackmails politicians. "If he fails to do so, I will file a case of defamation against him. I am being targeted."

Som, an accused in a Muzaffarnagar riots case, was also jailed in connection with the case. The NDA government recently provided him Z plus security despite protests from Opposition leaders including those from the ruling Samajwadi Party in the state.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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