Shivakumar, Roshan Baig inducted into Karnataka ministry

January 1, 2014

Bangalore, Jan 1: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Wednesday expanded his cabinet, inducting party legislators D.K. Shivakumar and R. Roshan Baig. For over seven months, the chief minister resisted pressure from them to be made ministers as they face corruption charges.

While Shivakumar faces charges of illegal mining, Baig is accused of land grabbing.

Shivakumar and Baig were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj at his official residence, Raj Bhavan, in Bangalore city centre in the presence of Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G. Parameshwara and several ministers.

The two are six-time Karnataka assembly members, Shivakumar from Kanakapura in Ramanagaram district about 55 km from here, and Baig from Bangalore's Shivajinagar constituency which has a large Muslim and Tamil-speaking population.

With the inclusion of Shivakumar, a prominent leader of the Vokkaliga community, and Baig, the ministry strength goes up to 31, leaving three vacanices.

Karnataka can have a 34-member ministry, including the chief minister.

Though freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy, whom Siddaramaiah holds in high esteem, and several others had been opposing making the two ministers, Siddaramaiah has gone ahead as the Congress high command gave its nod to the move, in view of Lok Sabha elections in April-May and the influence Shivakumar and Baig have over their communities.

Shivakumar and Baig have denied the allegations against them, claiming that the charges were part of a "political conspiracy" to keep them out of the ministry.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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Mangaluru NRI returning from Saudi Arabia arrested over Instagram post

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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