Siddu's govt is equally corrupt, says Santosh Hegde

January 17, 2014

Santosh_Hedge
Bangalore, Jan 17: The current Siddaramaiah government is as corrupt as the previous Yeddyurappa government, former Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde, said on Thursday.

“Though the Congress government pledged to be different whey they assumed charge, this, however, did not materialise. This government is not corruption-free. I do not see any difference between this and the previous government,” he said.

Briefing reporters on the sidelines of the launch of a patient safety handbook at Vikram Hospital, he said: “Who said this government is corruption-free? They had promised they would take action against the corrupt. But it has not happened.”

On allegations of corruption against D K Shivakumar and R Roshan Baig and activist S R Hiremath's attempts to produce documentary evidence, Justice Hegde said, “He (Hiremath) is doing the right thing. They have become ministers. As far as pending proceedings before the court are concerned, law will take its course.”

Stating that the Aam Admi Party has given hope to people, he observed that earlier there were two or three parties who thought themselves to be invincible. With AAP's promises, there is hope among people that they will be able to connect with the government. However, AAP would have to keep their assurances. If not, it will be a dent on democracy itself. People will not believe anyone. He said he was sure AAP would try to solve the initial problems the party was facing.

According to Hedge, Lokayukta would need more authority to function efficiently. Yet, Karnataka Lokayukta Act is among the best in the country.

“The corrupt officials are caught hold of and produced before court. Initiating criminal proceedings against corrupt officials becomes a problem as the sanction of concerned official is required. This is not how it should be. The court should be allowed to do it instead of vesting the responsibility with officials,” he noted.

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

•    Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

•    STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

•    Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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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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