1. #MeToo: FIR Filed Against Arjun Sarja’s Associate
Following a defamation case filed by actor Arjun Sarja against Sruthi Hariharan, the latter has filed a complaint against his close associate Prashanth Sambargi, for “intimidating her with threats to life”.
On Friday, the High Grounds police registered an FIR against Sambargi, based on a complaint by Hariharan.
Confirming the development, the police said Sambargi was booked under IPC sections 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication).
(Source: The Hindu)
2. ED Freezes Amnesty International India’s Bank Accounts
A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the office of Amnesty International India, the bank accounts of the human rights watchdog have been frozen.
In a statement released on Friday morning, Amnesty International India said their operations have always conformed to national regulations. “The Enforcement Directorate alleges that the transactions between Amnesty International Ltd and Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd are not legal. This is untrue. The money has been received in total compliance with the Companies Act and other laws,” read the statement.
According to the statement, around 1:30 pm on Thursday, ED officials locked the gates of the office and ordered the Amnesty India staff to remain in office, shut their laptops, and not use their mobile phones.
(Source: The Quint)
3. Will use Hydel Power to Overcome Power Shortage in Karnataka: CM Kumaraswamy
In spite of the shortage of coal that is affecting power production in the state, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy asserted that the state will not resort to load-shedding at any cost.
The CM revealed that the gap between demand and supply of electricity in the state is between 200 MW and 400 MW from 5 pm to 10 pm every day.
Reports had earlier suggested that load-shedding would be inevitable in the state.
On Thursday, however, Kumaraswamy was in a defiant mood while briefing reporters at the Vidhana Soudha, after he held a review meeting with power corporations and electricity supply companies.
(Source: The News Minute)
4. Cabinet to Decide on Metro Rail Connectivity to Airport
The state government has decided to place the issue of connecting the metro rail to Kempegowda International Airport before the cabinet in the next 15 days. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, on Friday held discussions with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), and said this would be done after finalising the cost, funding resource, and duration of the project.
However, the alignment is yet to be fixed. Last December, the state government had approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to extend the metro by 29.8 km from Nagawara to KIA via R K Hegde Nagar and Jakkur at an estimated cost of ₹5,950 crore. However, the BMRCL later found out that the alignment was very close to a petroleum pipeline. Officials are now contemplating running the metro via Hebbal. They will be submitting this alternative plan to the government.
(Source: The Hindu)
5. 'Honey Trap': Women Blackmail Trader for Rs 4L
A 51-year-old businessman filed a case against his employee for allegedly extorting Rs 4 lakh and further demanding Rs 5 lakh. A senior police officer said the victim, a resident of Rajajinagar and a wholesale vegetable merchant at RMC Yard , in his complaint said he hired Priyadarshini to manage accounts in 2016. Her sister Nadiya also used help her sister in the office work. Nadiya had borrowed some money from him.
When he demanded it back, she managed to take a video of him with her on her mobile phone and started blackmailing him. He approached the Basaveshwara Nagar police and filed an extortion complaint against her.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
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