bangalore news times

Hosur : Alleged safety lapses at an under-construction factory near SIPCOT in Hosur resulted in a major accident on Friday, November 6, leaving three workers dead and four others seriously injured. The incident took place at the premises of Balaji Gears, where construction workers were engaged in pouring concrete into a mould. The wooden centring supports suddenly collapsed, unable to withstand the load, bringing down the structure and burying several workers beneath the debris. The deceased were identified as Kumareshan (39), Michael (26) and Srinivasan (26). The injured were admitted to a private hospital for treatment. Emergency rescue operations were launched immediately. Cranes were deployed to remove the collapsed material and retrieve the bodies of the trapped workers. District Collector Dinesh and SP Anita visited the factory and reviewed the rescue operation. Preliminary inspection suggested that the structure lacked sufficient supporting pillars and the ne...

Bengaluru : In a major crackdown on alleged irregularities in property documentation, the Greater Bengaluru Authority has suspended two senior revenue officials for issuing illegal e-khatas to more than 100 flats by exploiting a special facility in its e-Aasthi software. Basavaraj Magi, in-charge revenue officer of Bengaluru East City Corporation, and Lokamatha D.S., in-charge revenue officer of Bengaluru West City Corporation, were placed under suspension following the discovery of violations in property records in the KR Puram and Kengeri zones. The alleged fraud involved misuse of a software provision designed to facilitate the transfer of properties sold through bank auctions under the SARFAESI Act. Banks can seize and auction properties of loan defaulters under the Act, and the software had a special facility to process such transactions based on valid sale certificates. Instead, the officials allegedly used ordinary sale deeds and other documents to approve e-kha...

Bengaluru : In a gruesome case of multiple murders, a cab driver allegedly killed seven members of his wife’s family, including a seven-year-old boy, following a prolonged domestic dispute. The accused, identified as Indushekhar, has been arrested by Rajajinagar police. The killings, believed to have taken place two days ago, came to light during an investigation into a missing-person complaint. The victims were identified as Rupavathi, her daughter Sunitha, sons Shivakumar and Shankar, daughters-in-law Divya and Nalini, and seven-year-old Puneeth. According to police sources, the accused allegedly attacked the victims with a grinding stone before disposing of their bodies at different locations. Indushekhar had married Sunitha around 20 years ago. Investigators suspect that he was unhappy with her continued relationship with her parental family. Frequent quarrels reportedly took place between the couple, with the accused allegedly resenting the support Sunitha received...

Bengaluru: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has urged private companies in Karnataka to ensure a fair share of employment for local candidates, saying that talented Kannadigas must get priority in recruitment without compromising merit-based selection. Addressing concerns over alleged discrimination against Kannadigas in private sector employment, particularly in information technology (IT) and biotech companies, Shivakumar said the state government wanted to resolve the issues through constructive engagement with employers. “There are plenty of talented Kannadigas in Karnataka. They must get the opportunities they deserve. I once again appeal to companies to ensure fair employment opportunities for local people,” he said. ‘Will not allow anyone to take law into their hands’ The Chief Minister said the government would support Kannadigas seeking legitimate employment opportunities but would not allow anyone to take the law into their hands. He warned tha...

Bengaluru : A man has been arrested in Bengaluru on charges of allegedly raping a woman from Jaipur whom he befriended at a pub in Koramangala. The accused, Sameer, was arrested by the Madiwala police and remanded to judicial custody. The incident reportedly began when the woman, who had come to Bengaluru from Rajasthan, visited a pub in Koramangala. According to her complaint, she asked Sameer for a lighter while trying to smoke. He used the opportunity to strike up a conversation and subsequently obtained her phone number. The accused allegedly stayed in touch with the woman and later invited her to a hotel in Madiwala. The two consumed alcohol in the hotel room, where Sameer allegedly sexually assaulted her after she became intoxicated, the complaint stated. The woman reportedly walked out of the hotel in the early hours and approached the Madiwala police . Based on her statement, the police registered a case and initiated action against the accused. Sameer was ...

Mysuru: Pramoda Devi Wadiyar has accused the Karnataka government of failing to implement a court order directing it to return Mysuru Palace to the royal family within 30 days. She also clarified that the Ambari and royal throne are private properties of the Wadiyar family. Addressing a press conference in Mysuru, she said the royal family’s private properties were not covered under the palace acquisition legislation. The list of such assets was submitted to the Union government in 1947 and approved by V P Menon in 1951, she said. Explaining the background of the palace dispute, Pramoda Devi said the government had agreed to maintain the palace after the death of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, when the family faced tax liabilities of over Rs 8 crore. However, the government allegedly failed to honour the agreement, following which the family approached the judiciary. Though the court ordered the palace to be returned within 30 days, the government had not complied with the di...

Bengaluru : A woman’s presence on professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn and social media sites such as Facebook cannot establish that she is financially independent, a Bengaluru sessions court has observed while granting her monthly maintenance of Rs 20,000. Judge Mohan Prabhu made the observation while disposing of appeals filed by an estranged husband and wife against a magistrate court’s maintenance order. The husband had opposed his wife’s demand for maintenance, claiming that she was educated and capable of earning. His lawyer submitted photographs and screenshots of her LinkedIn and Facebook profiles to support the contention that she was employed. Rejecting the argument, the sessions court said the husband had not produced sufficient evidence to establish the woman’s actual income. A social media profile or an assumption that she was employed could not prove that she had adequate financial resources to maintain herself and thei...