1. Government Could put MLA Ganesh Back on Rowdy List: Home Minister
State home minister MB Patil on Wednesday, 23 January, said the government could put Congress MLA JN Ganesh back on the rowdy-sheeter list, if he is found guilty in the case pertaining to his alleged assault on colleague Anand Singh. Police have charged Ganesh with attempt to murder.
In his first press conference since he was made home minister, Patil said he has given police a free hand to act against Ganesh, who is still at large.
“Nobody is bigger than the law,” Patil said. “This is a heinous act and will not be tolerated by the party or the government. An FIR has been filed against Ganesh and the party has already suspended him.”
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Boat Tragedy: One More Body Recovered
Two days after a boat capsized off the Karwar coast, another body was recovered on Wednesday, 23 January. The search is on for one more person. Official sources said the body of Keerthi, 7, from Shiggavi was found near Belikeri and the Indian Coast Guards recovered it.
The death toll has now risen to 15.
The search continues for Sandeep, who has been missing since the boat capsized near Koormagad island on Monday, 21 January. Among those who lost their lives in the tragedy are nine persons from one family.
(Source: The Hindu)
3. Building Tilts, Three Families Evacuated
Three families were evacuated from a building early on Wednesday morning, 23 January, after it was noticed that the structure was tilting. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials said the three-storey building, situated in Chamundinagar near RT Nagar, is built on a 20x30 site.
“The building is at least 20 years old. It is home to three families. There was an old house in the neighbouring site, which had been demolished recently. Earth had been dug up to lay the foundation for a new building, which may have weakened this building,” officials said.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Why Develop Industrial Areas in Bengaluru, SC Asks Karnataka
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 23 January, asked the Karnataka government why it was bent upon developing industrial areas inside the city of Bengaluru, which was already facing shortage of water and other facilities like roads.
“The special economic zone is is not meant for cities. Why does the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board want to create industrial hub inside the city? Where are the roads,” a three-judge bench presided over by Justice AK Sikri asked Karnataka’s Advocate General Udaya Holla.
The court, however, indicated it would clarify that the task of fixing buffer zones can be left to policy-makers.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
5. Karnataka Minister Calls SP ‘Bloody Lady', Sparks a row
First it was a drunken brawl between Congress ministers at a resort. Now, a JD(S) minister has allegedly embarrassed the seven month-old coalition government. On Wednesday, 23 January, a video showing Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh allegedly behaving crudely with a woman IPS officer during the funeral of Siddaganga Mutt seer Shivakumara Swami was widely shared.
Eye-witnesses said Divya V Gopinath, Tumakuru superintendent of police, was reduced to tears after Mahesh abused her for not allowing him and two Cabinet colleagues Venkatrao Nadagouda and SR Srinivas to enter the building where the final rituals were being performed.
“Don’t you know, we are ministers, you bloody lady,” Mahesh reportedly shouted at the SP. The exchange is not clear in the video that has been shared online.
Mahesh, however, denied he abused the officer and refused to tender an apology. He said he only asked the SP why she was causing a nuisance at the funeral.
(Source: The Times of India)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)