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Udupi, Oct 27: The Udupi district police have apprehended a woman accused of orchestrating a massive financial fraud, cheating two individuals out of over Rs 1.45 crore by falsely promising a government subsidy loan under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).

The arrested woman, identified as Kaushalya, was taken into custody by the Brahmavar police following a complaint filed by Saritha Lewis, a resident of Herady, Brahmavar taluk.

The Modus Operandi

According to the complaint, Saritha Lewis (39) was introduced to the accused, Kaushalya, in November 2023. Despite initial reservations, Kaushalya allegedly convinced Lewis that she possessed the necessary influence and connections to facilitate a substantial PMEGP subsidy loan.

To gain trust and continue the deception, Kaushalya allegedly impersonated a bank official over the phone during conversations with the victims.

Over time, Kaushalya demanded large sums of money in multiple installments under various pretexts related to the loan's processing. Believing the promises, Lewis transferred a total of Rs 80,72,000 in cash and bank transfers.

In a similar fashion, Kaushalya targeted Lewis's relative, Anjaline D’Silva, collecting an additional Rs 65,00,000 for the same promised PMEGP loan.

The total amount swindled from the two victims collectively amounts to Rs 1,45,72,000, which was collected for a promised PMEGP subsidy loan of Rs 4 crore.

Network of Receivers Under Scanner

The money was reportedly routed through a chain of individuals, with the transfers made to Kaushalya’s own account as well as to her husband, Sandesh, and others identified as Prakash, Ashish Shetty, Rajendra Byndoor, Geeta, Harini, Navya, Kumar, Malathi, Praveen, Hariprasad, Nagaraj, and Bharati Singh.

The Brahmavar police have registered a case and initiated a thorough investigation to uncover the full extent of the fraud and the role of the other individuals involved in receiving the funds. The accused, Kaushalya, remains in police custody as the probe continues. 

Hyderabad: Former Indian cricket captain and senior Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin was sworn in as a minister in the Telangana cabinet on Friday. Governor Jishnu Dev Verma administered the oath of office at Raj Bhavan this morning.

Azharuddin’s induction fills a long-pending vacancy and marks the first Muslim representation in the current Congress-led cabinet.

The move has, however, drawn political reactions. The Opposition has termed it an electoral strategy ahead of the November 11 bypoll in the Jubilee Hills constituency, which has nearly 30% Muslim voters.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) objected to the timing, claiming that the appointment violates the Model Code of Conduct. BJP leaders wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer, alleging that inducting a minister who had recently sought a ticket from the same constituency amounts to an attempt to influence voters.

Defending the decision, Telangana Congress chief Mahesh Goud said the government was merely fulfilling its commitment to social justice and minority inclusion.

“The Congress had promised cabinet representation for minorities. Even in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, governments always included a minority face. We are simply correcting a long-overdue imbalance,” he said.

Azharuddin, who is not yet a member of either the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council, has been nominated to the Council under the Governor’s quota. However, the nomination is still awaiting the Governor’s approval. He must secure membership in the legislature within six months to continue as a minister.

Taking a dig at the BJP, Goud pointed out that the party had once appointed a Rajasthan election candidate as minister who later lost to the Congress in the polls.

Bengaluru, Oct 31: Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC), in collaboration with the Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA), Knowledge Partner — Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), and Country Partner — Germany, is set to host the inaugural Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025 from November 4–6 at The Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru. The summit aims to position Karnataka as a global hub for workforce innovation and skilling excellence.

The event will be inaugurated on November 4 by Shri Siddaramaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, in the august presence of Shri D. K. Shivakumar, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, and Dr. Sharanaprakash R. Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood, and Medical Education, Government of Karnataka.

Special invitees include The Hon. Muhammad Reza Cassam Uteem, Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations, Republic of Mauritius; H.E. Dr. Philipp Ackermann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to India; and Mr. Ashutosh Gupta, Managing Director – India and Asia Pacific, Coursera, along with other distinguished dignitaries.

The theme for this year’s summit — “Workforce 2030: Scale, Systems, Synergy” — underscores the focus on expanding opportunities at scale, strengthening systems for quality and relevance, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.

The summit will host 3,000+ attendees, including policymakers, corporate leaders, academic experts, and innovators; 100+ speakers, including ministers, global leaders, and academic pioneers; and 50+ exhibitors and partners.

Notable speakers include Mr. Subroto Bagchi (Co-founder, Mindtree; Former Chairman, Odisha Skill Development Authority), Mr. Ravi Venkatesan (Chairman, Global Energy Alliance; Former Chairman, Microsoft India & Bank of Baroda), Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari (IAS, Former Secretary, Government of India), Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam (CEO, NITI Aayog), Mr. Naveen Narayanan (Global Head – HR, Biocon Biologics), Ms. Saraswathi Ramachandra (MD & Country Head, Lightcast.io), Gi Soon Song (Director, South Asia, Asian Development Bank), and Mish Eastman (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Vocational Education, RMIT University, Australia), among others.

An exclusive ministerial panel is scheduled for November 5, on the plenary stage, titled “Convergence of Education, Skills & Industry for a Trillion USD Economy by 2032.” The session will feature key ministers from the Government of Karnataka —

Dr. Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil, M. B. Patil, Priyank Kharge, and Dr. M. C. Sudhakar — and will be moderated by Madan Padaki, Managing Trustee, Head Held High Foundation. The discussion will focus on aligning education, skilling, and industrial priorities to accelerate India’s journey toward a trillion-dollar economy through innovation, employability, and sustainable growth.

The summit welcomes participation from diverse sectors including Aerospace & Defence, AgriTech, Automotive, Real Estate, Banking & Finance, Education, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Media, Retail, Software, Telecommunications, and Hospitality. It aims to establish Karnataka as a global skilling hub, fostering collaboration to build a future-ready workforce.

Delegates will have opportunities to explore emerging skilling innovations, network with leaders, participate in live showcases and policy dialogues, and discover new career and partnership avenues.

Key highlights include:

•    Skillathon 2025, a national innovation challenge for college students to design creative solutions for the future of work.
•    Kaushalya Karnataka Awards, recognizing excellence in corporate and institutional skilling practices.
•    Skill Expo Pavilion, showcasing the latest training technologies and EdTech solutions.
•    Karnataka Vaibhava, a grand cultural showcase celebrating the state’s rich heritage and traditions.

The summit will also feature masterclasses, policy roundtables, deep-dive sessions, and a Youth Zone connecting students and professionals with career opportunities. Focus areas include:

• Fresh ideas in skilling
• Inclusive skilling for women, youth, and gig workers
• Global skills for international employability
• Preparing for the future — AI, green jobs, and digital transformation

Dr. Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood and Medical Education, said:

“The Bengaluru Skill Summit reflects Karnataka’s determination to lead India into the next era of workforce development. Our priority is to build a skilling framework that is inclusive, industry-aligned, and globally benchmarked — empowering young people to shape the future economy as skilled professionals, innovators, and entrepreneurs.”

Echoing this vision, Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan, Chairperson, LabourNet Services India Pvt. Ltd. and Trustee, Sambhav Foundation, added: “The intent of the Bengaluru Skill Summit is to bring together innovations in technology and people development to explore how skill-building can truly translate into employability and meaningful employment for young people.”

Participants are invited to join this transformative movement shaping India’s future workforce, from November 4–6, 2025, at The Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru.

For registration and details, visit www.bengaluruskillsummit.com