1. I-T Finds Rs 109-cr Undisclosed Income, Assets of Congress Netas
The noose tightened around senior Congress leaders G Parameshwara and RL Jalappa with Income Tax officers stating they have unearthed undisclosed income of Rs 100 crore, besides seizing Rs 9 crore in cash, in the raids on their education institutes in and around Bengaluru on Thursday and Friday, 10 and 11 October.
The sleuths claimed that a part of the unaccounted income was deployed in hawala transactions and the accused have parked money in bank accounts of their employees.
A joint statement issued by the Finance Ministry and the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Friday said, “Evidence reveals undisclosed income of around Rs 100 crore, considering the cash donations received for 185 seats averaging Rs 50 lakh to Rs 65 lakh per seat.”
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Under Opposition Fire, CM Offers Extra Flood Aid to Farmers
Cornered by the opposition over his government’s response to floods, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday, 11 October, announced additional financial aid of Rs 10,000 for every hectare of crop loss suffered by farmers during the deluge.
He made the statement while responding to a debate on flood relief in the Assembly. The additional aid, he said, would be borne by the state exchequer.
“This Rs 10,000 per hectare will be extra relief for every farmer who is eligible to receive compensation as per norms of the National Disaster Response Fund,” he said. The package covers all crops, including coffee and silk.
Yediyurappa said his government would also provide Rs 5 lakh to each family who lost their home or suffered property damage of over 75% in the floods.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. Kadri Gopalnath, Noted Saxophonist and Padma Shri Awardee, Passes Away
Padma Shri awardee and noted saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath breathed his last in the early hours of Friday, days after he was admitted to a Mangaluru private hospital. He was 69 and was hospitalised for age-related issues.
His last rites are slated to be held later in the day as one of his sons is in the Middle East.
Among other awards and accolades, he had won the Kendra Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award, Karnataka Kalashree and had played at the Jazz Festival in Prague, the Berlin Jazz Festival, the International Cervantino Festival in Mexico, the Music Hall Festival in Paris, the BBC Promenade concert in 1994 at London, among others.
(Source: The News Minute)
4. Tiger Remains Elusive, Dept to Take Help of Soligas
The operation to trap the killer tiger in Gundlupet talk drew a blank on its third day on Friday. The Forest Department has decided to seek the help of Soligas, who are adept at combing operations.
Additional cameras were installed at several places at Chowdahalli-Hundipura villages, on the periphery of the forest, to monitor the tiger’s movements. However, the tiger was not captured on any of them. Even the drone camera used by the department failed to capture any images of the big cat.
Bandipur Project Tiger Director T Balachandra said the department has decided to bring five Soliga men from Biligiri Rangana Betta to help them capture the tiger. More than 50 people, including veterinarians, department personnel, and six elephants were involved in the search for the tiger, that entailed following its pug marks.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
5. Resident Builds Illegal Bridges on Drain, FIR Lodged
The flooding of North Bengaluru following a breach in Doddabidarakallu Lake appears to have resulted in a crackdown on the encroachment of stormwater drains.
On Thursday, Basavaraja K Takkaliki, Assistant Executive Engineer (Stormwater Drain), BBMP, lodged a police complaint against a resident of Belmar Layout, Chokkasandra, for blocking a stormwater drain.
Police have registered an FIR which states that Suresh, a resident of Belmar Layout, illegally built two concrete bridges across the stormwater drain in his locality which abuts onto the Peenya Industrial Area. Suresh built the bridges without obtaining permission from the BBMP or the state government, according to the complaint.
(Source: Deccan Herald)