BJP leader S A Ramdas attempts suicide over 'secret marriage'

February 12, 2014

S_A_Ramdas_suicide
Mysore, Feb 12: Karnataka's former BJP minister S.A. Ramdas late Tuesday attempted to commit suicide by hanging in a guesthouse in this city of palaces, about 150km from Bangalore.

"Ramdas is out of danger though under observation in a private hospital," a party source said early Wednesday.

According to unconfirmed reports, Ramdas, a 54-year-old bachelor, was upset after he learnt that a woman, who claimed that he married her recently, threatened to expose his relationship with audio and video evidence.

"We learnt from the guesthouse staff that Ramdas was rushed to Apollo hospital after he was founding hanging in the room where he checked in earlier in the day," the source said on the condition of anonymity.

 Earlier in the day, Premakumari, a second division clerk at the deputy commissioner's office in Tumkur, alleged at a press conference that Ramdas had “sexually and mentally harassed” her. Ramdas “used his authority as a minister to transfer her frequently”, she claimed.

Premakumari said she first met Ramdas in 2009 for a transfer from the assistant commissioner's office in Tarikere to the DC's office in Mysore. Ramdas then befriended her and they were in a relationship, she asserted.

Later, she was transfered to the HMT maternity hospital, Mysore on deputation, where she worked for three years. Thereafter, Premakumari said, she was transfered to the DC's office in Mysore by the end of 2012. “Within three months, Ramdas again transferred me to Tumkur. I refused to go there, as the education of my two children would have been affected,” she added.

At the press meet, Premakumari received a phone call which she said was that of Ramdas and put the phone on the loudspeaker. The caller said, “Don't do anything, or else I will consume poison and commit suicide.”

“Three months ago, Ramdas married me unofficially at his home. Now he should marry me openly and accept me as his wife,” she demanded. Premakumari said she had photographs, videos and mobile phone clippings to substantiate her allegations which would be produced before the media. She said would also make a complaint to the police.

Speaking to Deccan Herald over the phone, Ramdas confirmed that he knew the lady, saying she had approached him for a transfer. But he claimed she was “mentally unstable”. “I transfered her as per government procedure. Let her disclose any documents related to the matter,” he stated.

Ramdas, who held the medical education portfolio in the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, lost to the Congress candidate in the May 2013 state legislative assembly elections from the Krishnaraja constituency in the Old Mysore region.

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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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News Network
December 2,2025

Puttur: The long-cherished dream of a government medical college in Puttur has moved a decisive step closer to reality, with the Karnataka State Finance Department granting its official approval for the construction of a new 300-bed hospital.

Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai announced the crucial development to reporters on Monday, confirming that the official communication from the finance department was issued on November 27. This 300-bed facility is intended to be the cornerstone for the establishment of the government medical college, a project announced in the state budget.

Fast-Track Implementation

The MLA outlined an aggressive timeline for the project:

•    A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the hospital is expected to be ready within 45 days.

•    The tender process for the construction will be completed within two months.

Following the completion of the tender process, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the project.

"Setting up a medical college in Puttur is a historical decision by the Congress government in Karnataka," Rai stated. The project has an estimated budget allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the medical college.

Focus on Medical Education Department

The MLA highlighted a key strategic move: requesting the government to implement the hospital construction through the Medical Education Department instead of the Health and Family Welfare Department. This is intended to streamline the entire process of establishing the full medical college, ensuring the facilities—including labs, operation theatres, and other necessary infrastructure—adhere to the strict guidelines set by the Medical Council of India (MCI). The proposed site for the project is in Bannur.

Rai also took the opportunity to address political criticism, stating that the government has fulfilled its promise despite "apprehensions" and "mocking and criticising" from opposition parties who had failed to take similar initiatives when they were in power. "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has kept his word," he added.

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News Network
December 3,2025

arrival.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 3: A group of Congress workers gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday to welcome AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, but the reception quickly turned into a display of support for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Venugopal arrived in the city to participate in the centenary commemoration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru. The event, organised by the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair, is being held on the university’s Konaje campus.

KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai and several party workers had assembled at the airport to receive Venugopal. However, the moment he stepped out, workers began raising slogans backing Shivakumar.

The university programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This show of support comes just a day after Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar would lead the government “when the high command decides.” The chief minister made the comment after a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence—another public display of camaraderie between the two leaders amid ongoing attempts by the party high command to downplay their leadership rivalry.

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