Chemistry paper leak: PU dept director Pallavi Akurathi transferred

April 2, 2016

Bengaluru, Apr 2: The state government on Friday transferred Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) Director Pallavi Akurathi, a day after the II PU?Chemistry re-exam was cancelled due to question paper leak.

Akurathi
The 2009-batch IAS officer had taken charge in February. Transport Commissioner Rame Gowda has been given the additional charge as DPUE director, the post which he had held a few years ago. Akurathi has been posted as deputy secretary DPAR.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) intensified the probe into the question paper leak and questioned about 20 students and some officials of the DPUE.

Some students had got the question paper at least 15 hours before the start of the re-examination on March 31. They also shared it through WhatsApp.

A few of these students were questioned to ascertain if they knew anybody in the DPUE. Besides, the CID probing the “links” between some suspended officials and some top coaching centres, sources added.

“The CID questioned about 20 students on Saturday and may question some more. The team also questioned some of the DPUE officials who were suspended on Thursday. We need to question all 40 officials who have been suspended and the questioning will resume on Saturday,” DIG?(CID)?Sonia Narang told DH.

The investigators also suspect a larger conspiracy behind the leak. “There could be a plan to defame the DPUE?and Akurathi.?She initiated a slew of measures to ensure transparency in the department and examination processes. Some insiders could have masterminded the leak twice to target her,” sources said.

Students protest for 2nd day

Students protested outside the DPUE office for the second day on Friday against the Chemistry re-examination paper leak, DHNS reports. Students and parents raised slogans demanding Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar's resignation. Some ABVP activists got into a scuffle with the police. The protesters also tried to break a barricade and enter the DPUE?office. The police detained some protesters and bundled them into vans. Some protesters were also caned.

Initial probe has confirmed that Bengaluru is one of the three centres where the question paper was leaked and other two could be Tumkauru and Ballari.

The CID suspects the paper was leaked even before it was printed. Efforts are on to gather evidences against those who monitored the entire process of printing the question papers and transporting the bundles to strong rooms.

Narang said there has been a lot of progress in the investigation and what remains to be ascertained is the people who masterminded the leak.

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December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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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 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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