Mangaluru: AAP activists expose water-meter tampering racket

February 12, 2015

Mangaluru, Feb 12: The activists of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Mangaluru have exposed a water-meter tampering racket through a sting operation in the city with the help of media persons.

The AAP activist Dr Deepak D'Souza, who is also a professor of forensic medicine, video captured tampering of a water meter by a Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) billing agent at a construction site at Bendur second cross in the city.

AAP activists Walter Menezes and Engineer Rajendra Kumar, and local journalist Naveen Menezes were also part of the operation. They hid inside the house to stand as witness for the entire tampering episode.

The video footage released by the activists shows an MCC certified water meter reader tampering water meter without damaging its seal.

According to Dr Deepak MCC was duped for Rs 15,000 last time (Sep 2014; bill of about Rs 6,000 instead of Rs 21,000) when he tampered the same water-meter (1000 sq feet construction site) when construction was going on at snails speed.

He said that the video not only reveals that the water-meters are tamperable, but also reveals that MCC is losing crores of rupees in this racket.

The video names four types of people, i.e., the water-meter-readers, the builders, the computer section of MCC and the JE of MCC.

The city unit of AAP has expressed suspicions that the racket of water-meters-tampering might have its roots inside Mangaluru City Corporation.

AAP appeal

The AAP has urged the MCC Commissioner to suspend the services of the pertaining contractor with immediate effect pending a thorough investigation by the suitable authorities.

It also urged the MCC to look into the performance of the contractor to establish the loss suffered by the MCC through this nefarious activity. The MCC must file FIR against those who involved in tampering racket and time bound investigations must unearth every minute details of this racket, it said.

Technical review of all the existing meters, their status (tampered or not tampered), if required, should to be replaced with immediate effect, it said.

The AAP has also exhorted on the citizens of Mangaluru to carry out similar sting operations by using cell phone cameras. AAP can be contacted for gadgets or assistance. Citizens can reach AAP-DK on this number 0824-2424677

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NRI from Udupi wins Rs 50 crore in Abu Dhabi’s big ticket draw

News Network

February 4,2026

An Indian resident who won the Dh20 million (approximately Rs 50 crore) jackpot in Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw has told of his joy at sharing his life-changing fortune with a friend.

Shanthanu Shettigar, a shop manager in Muscat, regularly buys tickets for the monthly grand prize draw with one of his closest friends – and the pair won on February 3.

Mr Shettigar, 33, who is from Udyavar in Udupi district of the southern state of Karnataka and has lived in the Omani capital for eight years, said he was left speechless after learning of his success.

“When I first moved to Muscat, many of my colleagues were purchasing Big Ticket, which encouraged me to give it a try,” he said.

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“Like most people, I receive a lot of spam calls, and I was fully absorbed in my work as well. I knew the live draw was taking place tonight, but I never imagined my name would be announced,” he said.

“When I realised it was real and that I had won, I was honestly speechless. It still hasn’t fully sunk in, but I’m extremely happy.”

Mr Shettigar is not sure how he will spend his share of the money, but encouraged others to take part.

“This win was completely unexpected, so I want to take some time to think things through before deciding what to do next,” he said.

“I would definitely encourage others to participate with Big Ticket, whether with family or friends – you never know when your moment might come.”

The Big Ticket was established in 1992 with an initial first prize of Dh1 million. It is one of the most popular monthly raffles in the UAE.

It has transformed the lives of many people across the Emirates and beyond.

Entry to the Big Ticket Millionaire is Dh500. Tickets can be bought online or at counters at Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport.

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