Govt eyes TV space with its own channel to promote its schemes

DHNS
September 6, 2017

Bengaluru, Sept 6: With elections around the corner, the state government has proposed to start its own television channel, called Gram Swaraj TV, to promote its schemes and programmes.

Anchored by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department, the channel will be started through a company called TR Media Entertainment Private Limited with an investment of Rs 10 crore and a monthly expenditure of Rs 1.5 crore.

DH accessed RDPR note sheets in which RDPR Minister H K Patil observed the need for the government to have its own television channel in order to make citizens aware of its schemes, besides highlighting the achievements of his own department.

The Abdul Nazir Sab State Institute of Rural Development (ANSSIRD) is already using satellite communication technology to reach out to television sets across 176 taluks. But, that was not enough, the minister noted. Curiously, Patil has suggested that the proposal be exempted under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act.

The idea was first mooted in August 2016 when the department wondered if the satellite communication facility at ANSSIRD can be converted into a TV channel. In November 2016, a committee comprising officials from Doordarshan, Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) and experts from the television sector submitted a report to the government on what needed to be done. Then, in March 2017, T R Media Entertainment enters the picture with a formal proposal of starting a TV channel. Apparently, the company has volunteered procure an uplinking and teleport licence (Rs 20 crore) on its own.

The financial estimates - Rs 10 crore for basic infrastructure of the TV channel and a monthly expense of Rs 1.5 crore - received approval from DIPR as being “reasonable.”

The RDPR department, in its proposal to the Finance Department, has argued that TR Media Entertainment was chosen because it has an experienced team that launched and operated several TV channels.

 The company was also a consultant for the BBC in South India, the department has claimed. “We have recently received the proposal and are looking into it,” Additional Chief Secretary (finance) ISN Prasad said.

In fact, it was in 2014 that then Information and Public Relations Minister R Roshan Baig wondered if the government could start its own channel to cover Legislature sessions on the lines of the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha TV.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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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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News Network
December 1,2025

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Udupi, Dec 1: A horrific case of alleged rape has unfolded in Udupi, where a worker from a Hindutva organisation, previously arrested and released on bail for harassing a young woman, is now accused of waylaying and sexually assaulting her.

The arrested individual has been identified as Pradeep Poojary (26), a member of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike's Nairkode unit in Perdur.

Poojary had allegedly been relentlessly harassing the young woman, pressuring her to marry him. When she bravely stood up to him and refused his demands, she filed a formal complaint at the Hiriyadka police station. He was subsequently arrested in that initial harassment case but was later granted bail.

According to police reports, driven by the same malicious grudge, Poojary allegedly intercepted the woman again on November 29. While she was walking through a deserted area, the accused is claimed to have threatened her by grabbing her neck. When she again refused to marry him, he allegedly proceeded to rape her.

The survivor immediately informed her family about the traumatic assault. Following this, her parents lodged a complaint at the Udupi women’s police station.

Police arrested Poojary again and produced him before the court. He has since been remanded to judicial custody.

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