1. ED Objects to DK Shivakumar's Bail Plea, Alleges He Will Influence Witnesses
The Enforcement Directorate on Monday filed objections to Congress leader and former Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar’s bail application at a special court in New Delhi. The ED stated that DK Shivakumar could influence witnesses and tamper with evidence if granted bail.
“'Investigation has revealed names of various persons and entities. Interrogation of these persons is necessary to take the case to its logical conclusion. If granted bail, there exists all likelihood that he will tamper with evidence and influence the witnesses,” the ED’s objection states.
The ED also maintained that DK Shivakumar was not cooperating with the probe despite alleged “evidence linking him with the crime” was put forth before him.
(Source: The News Minute)
2. Diaper Station at KIA Men’s Loo a hit Online
After a Maldivian passenger posted photos on Twitter of a baby diaper changing station inside the men’s washroom at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), many netizens have hailed the authorities’ move as the right one in breaking gender stereotypes.
“Saw this in Bangalore International airport men’s room,” read Maldivian national Ali Samhaan’s tweet on September 12 along with a picture of the diaper changing room.
Although the diaper changing facility at the airport has come under the limelight only recently, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL), operator of the KIA, pointed out that it has been in place for more than five years.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. BJP Keeps Elevated Corridor Project Alive, Citizens’ Groups Take Objection
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that opposed the elevated corridor project, while in Opposition, seems to be batting for it now in power, much to the chagrin of civic groups that have been vociferously protesting against it.
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, on Monday, ordered the scrapping of the tenders for the three packages in the first phase of the controversial elevated corridor project. However, he also directed Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar to prepare a realistic estimate and action plan for the project.
The state government-owned Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL) had floated tenders for the first phase of the 21.54-km project, estimated at Rs 6,855 crore, in Bengaluru
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Yediyurappa Picks District In-Charge Ministers, Retains B’luru
Twenty-five days after expanding his ministry, chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday appointed district ministers while retaining the much-sought after Bengaluru Urban.
With deputy chief minister CN Ashwath Narayan and revenue minister R Ashoka competing to manage Bengaluru Urban, Yediyurappa decided to keep it to avoid an escalation of their battle.
Ashoka has been upset at Narayan’s elevation as deputy chief minister and being projected as the future face of Vokkaligas in BJP, somthing which Ashoka has been strongly projecting all these years. Ashoka has been trying to be Bengaluru in-charge minister as losing this to Narayan would have been another political blow.
(Source: The Times of India)
5. ‘Act Swiftly on CBI’s Requests in IMA Case’
The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the State government to immediately consider the request by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had sought sanction from the State for prosecuting certain public servants in the criminal case relating to I-Monetary Advisory (IMA) Group of companies.
Also, the court directed the government to immediately act on the CBI’s request for authorising the agency to carry out the probe under the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act, 2004.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Mohammad Nawaz issued the direction after perusing a status report, submitted by Chief Investigation Officer of the Multidisciplinary Investigation Team of CBI probing the IMA case, in a sealed cover on the developments after it took over the investigation on 30 August.
(Source: The Hindu)
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