WhatsApp pics row: TV reporter, cameraman booked on Sait's complaint

November 12, 2016

Bengaluru, Nov 12: Police has booked a reporter and a cameraman of a news channel on a complaint by Minister Tanvir Sait, who was allegedly caught looking at girls pictures sent to him by someone on WhatsApp during at a public function.

The case was registered against the scribe and the cameraman, who had taken the controversial footage, even as Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said action will be taken against the Minister if an inquiry finds him guilty.

"A case has been registered against the district reporter and cameraman of a news channel based on the complaint by the Minister," Additional Superintendent of Police (Raichur) S B Patil said.

He said the case has been filed under IPC section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace).

Sait, who is the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, landed in a controversy on Thursday after video footage emerged showing him watching pictures of skimpily clad girls on his mobile on dais at a public function to mark Tipu Jayanti celebrations in Raichur district.

Responding to a question on the case being registered against journalists, Siddaramaiah said he was not aware of it. "I'm not aware of it... I will speak to him (Sait)," he said.

The Chief Minister today once again reiterated that he has sought a report, on the basis of which an inquiry will be conducted before taking any action. "I'm not defending anyone, what is important is whether the mistake has been committed or not. I don't want innocents to get punished, whoever it is, whichever party the person may belong to," Siddaramaih told reporters at Hubballi.

He said, "If Tanvir Sait has committed a mistake, it is a mistake. What I have said is let us get a report on that let us conduct an inquiry and if mistake is proved let us take action."

Asked who has been asked to submit a report, Siddaramaih said, "I will get report from Tanvir Sait, but I will get it inquired. Will not accept the report he submits as it is."

He also said Sait, who spoke to him, has claimed that he was only scrolling through messages received on WhatsApp and someone had posted the pictures there purposefully.

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RSS controlled media targeting Mulsims and trying to spoil their image.

good move, most of TV/ Camera and reporters in communal cancer filled coastel Karnataka working on behalf of RSS and BJP. If media did their job honestly, we can control most of these ugly killings in the name of religion.

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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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