Siddaramaiah denies interfering in Mysuru DC 'abuse' case

Bengaluru, Jul 6: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said he has not interfered in the incident where Mysuru Deputy Commissioner C Shikha was reportedly abused by Congressman Marigowda.

In his reply to Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar, who raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah said that neither was Marigowda his close associate, nor had he restrained the police from recording Shikha's complaint, as claimed by Opposition parties. Shettar sought Siddaramaiah's explanation about the incident, given the fact that he too was in Mysuru at that time.

BJP MLA C T Ravi sought to know if Siddaramaiah had mounted “pressure” on Mysuru police not to register the complaint, as Marigowda was said to be his close aide.

Irked, Siddaramaiah shot back saying that Marigowda was not his “paramaapta” (close aide), and that he was just a Congress party worker.

Asking the BJP not to “politicise” the issue, Siddaramaiah also said the government had at no point interfered in such matters. “Shikha is a good officer and hence she has been retained in Mysuru for the last three years. I was in Mysuru on the day of the incident, but I only learnt about it later. The complaint has been lodged in Nazarbad police station and investigations are on,” he said.

Arrest Marigowda'

Opposition leader in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa on Tuesday demanded immediate arrest of Marigowda.

Eshwarappa said Marigowda has not been arrested even two days after the incident. The DC had lodged a police complaint, but the police are not taking any action.

This is because Marigowda is a close confidant of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Eshwarappa said. “Women officers are not safe under the Congress rule. The government is protecting goons,” he charged.

The Mysuru DC has told the media that Marigowda was facing charges of encroaching government land. The incident is a testimony to maladministration in the state, Eshwarappa said.

Earlier, Vimala Gowda (BJP) charged the government with inaction on the issue. When an IAS officer is subjected such humiliation, one can imagine the fate of the common man in the state, she added.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

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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