Posts

Karnataka: Special court orders inquiry into Kharge family trust

Image
Bengaluru: A Special Court for MPs and MLAs has ordered a preliminary inquiry into a private complaint alleging irregularities involving the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, in which AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, MP Radhakrishna and others have been named as respondents. The complaint was filed by the Lanchamukta Karnataka Nirmana Vedike, which alleged irregularities in the allotment of an industrial site to the trust and sought an investigation into its other transactions. The complainant had sought action under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Mallikarjun Kharge, his wife Radhabai, Radhakrishna, Rahul M Kharge, Priyank Kharge, Industries Minister MB Patil and officials of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board were named in the complaints. Court declines police investigation The court, in an order issued on August 11, directed that the allegations be examined. However, it declined to dir...

Karnataka bans gutka, pan masala for one year

Image
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has imposed a one-year statewide ban on the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of gutka and pan masala products containing tobacco and nicotine, citing the need to protect public health and promote a tobacco-free society. The decision comes amid intensified enforcement by the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department against substandard food products and businesses violating safety regulations. The department has been conducting inspections and raids across the state as part of its efforts to strengthen public health safeguards. The ban came into effect on August 10, following an official notification issued by the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department. The order has been issued under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, read with Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. The prohibition covers tobacco and nicotine-containing gutka and pan masala...

Officials clarify Prakash Raj’s name not deleted from voter list

Image
Bengaluru : Election officials have clarified that actor Prakash Raj’s name has not been deleted from the electoral roll, but has been marked as “shifted” after verification found that he was no longer residing at his registered address in Bengaluru. The clarification came after the actor posted a video on social media alleging that his name had been removed from the voter list during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. In a media statement, Jagadish G, Additional District Election Officer and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Commissioner, said Prakash Raj’s name was listed in Part No. 1 of the Shantinagar Assembly constituency at serial number 970 as on June 16, 2026, the date on which the electoral roll was frozen for SIR activities. 🚨 FACT CHECK: Prakash Raj’s Voter-Deletion Claim Falls Flat! Actor Prakash Raj alleged that his name was deleted from the electoral roll during the SIR exercise. But the official clarification from Bengaluru Central City Cor...

Bengaluru underpass work: Workers killed after soil collapses

Image
Bengaluru: Two workers were killed after a large quantity of soil collapsed on them during underpass construction work near the Dr Rajkumar Memorial in Bengaluru on Tuesday, August 11. The incident occurred within the limits of Nandini Layout police station, triggering a rescue operation involving police, fire and emergency personnel and local residents. The accident occurred at FTII Circle, where the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) is undertaking underpass construction work. Around 20 feet of earth had been excavated for the project. According to preliminary information, five workers were present at the site when the soil suddenly caved in while water was being pumped out from the excavated portion for RCC-related work. Three workers managed to escape after noticing the soil giving way. However, two workers were trapped under the debris. One of the trapped workers, identified as Parimal, 31, died at the spot. Another worker, Sonaram, 26, was rescued and rushed to...

Suspicion over illegal migrants triggers bus check in Mandya

Image
Mandya : A KSRTC bus travelling from Bengaluru to Madikeri was stopped at the Mandya bus stand on the night of Monday, August 10, after Hindu activists raised suspicion that some passengers could be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The bus was carrying around 30 passengers when members of a local Hindu organisation intercepted it and demanded verification of their identities and documents. The activists claimed that some of the passengers appeared to be Bangladeshi nationals who were allegedly residing in Karnataka without valid documents. Police and revenue officials, including the Mandya tahsildar , reached the bus stand after being alerted about the incident. The authorities checked the identity cards and other documents produced by the passengers. Preliminary verification indicated that the passengers were workers from Assam who were travelling to Kodagu to work in coffee plantations. Officials, however, decided to conduct a more detailed verification after some o...

Man dies while rescuing woman from toilet pit in Kodagu

Image
Madikeri : Two people died after being exposed to suspected toxic gas inside an old toilet pit in Hosathota village of Somwarpet taluk in Kodagu district on the evening of Monday, August 10. The deceased have been identified as Nithya, 46, and Janardhan, 43, both from the same village. According to preliminary information, Nithya had gone to a relative’s agricultural field to collect ginger for her household. While she was near the field, an old and unused toilet pit suddenly collapsed, causing her to fall into the pit. On seeing Nithya fall, Janardhan reportedly rushed to her aid and entered the pit in an attempt to rescue her. However, he was allegedly overcome by toxic gases accumulated inside the confined space. Both Nithya and Janardhan died at the spot, police said. The incident triggered panic among residents, who alerted the authorities. Personnel from the Somwarpet police station reached the village and inspected the spot. Police have registered a case and ...

Bengaluru: GBA sets Aug 15 deadline to clear vacant sites

Image
Bengaluru: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has launched a citywide drive to ensure vacant sites are kept clean and free from garbage, debris and vegetation. Owners of vacant properties have been given time until August 15 to complete the cleaning themselves. The campaign, being conducted ahead of Independence Day under the theme ‘Freedom from Garbage’, follows complaints and inspections revealing that several vacant plots have turned into dumping grounds. In many locations, unchecked growth of weeds and accumulated waste have also created unhygienic conditions. The GBA has reminded property owners that maintaining their vacant sites in a clean and sanitary condition is mandatory under the Solid Waste Management Bye-Laws. Waste cleared from the properties must be transported to designated disposal locations. If owners fail to clean their properties by August 15, GBA teams will remove the waste and clear the sites. However, the owners will be required to pay the cleani...