1. Karnataka Bans Pillion Riders on Smaller Bikes
Karnataka on Monday banned pillion riders on two-wheelers of less than 100cc engine capacity to curb accidents, said an official.
"Any bike or scooter less than 100cc will not be permitted to have a pillion rider. This rule will be applicable to the newly registered vehicles," said Transport Commissioner B Dayananda.
The state transport department will also not register vehicles below 100cc engine with a pillion seat, said an official notification. "The department should not permit a pillion to travel on vehicles below 100cc, which would be in violation of the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989," it said.
(Source: Times of India)
2. Karnataka Assembly Polls Likely on 2 May
Elections to the Karnataka legislative assembly will be held in the first week of May 2018 and the tentative date of voting is 2 May, a Tuesday. Though no official announcement has been made to this effect by the Election Commission of India (ECI), sources told TOI on Monday the EC has written to the Karnataka chief secretary, seeking the government's response on the issue of conducting elections on 2 May.
Elections are likely to be held in a single phase as no other state in the country is poll-bound at that time, sources said. The previous assembly polls were held on 5 May in 2013 in a single phase, with 2,948 candidates in the fray. The state had witnessed 71.45% polling and the Congress had emerged victorious. Siddaramaiah had taken oath as CM on 13 May.
(Source: Times of India)
3. No Proof, Claims CBI as It Exits Mining Scam Cases
The Central Bureau of Investigation is quietly closing cases related to Karnataka’s multi-crore mining scam. It has ended its investigation, right at the preliminary inquiry stage, into illegal ore export from ports in Mangaluru, Goa, and Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
The illegal mining took place in Ballari district of Karnataka. In 2012, a minister estimated the loss to the exchequer to be a mind-boggling Rs 25,000 crore. The Karnataka government had entrusted the investigation to the CBI.
According to a Lokayukta report, 12.57 crore metric tonnes of Karnataka-origin iron ore were exported via ports in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka between 2006 and 2010 (April).
Ore exported from Goa was not counted in the report. Of the 12.57 crore MT, 2.98 crore MT was illegal, the report had stated. On the Supreme Court’s prompting, the CBI had filed chargesheets against mining companies linked to Janardhana Reddy, former BJP minister, and others.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
4. Funds Slashed, Soudha Diamond Jubilee Will Be a One-Day Affair
With chief minister Siddaramaiah slashing the budget from Rs 26.87 crore to Rs 10 crore, the diamond jubilee celebrations of Vidhana Soudha won't be an extravagant affair. The CM said it wouldn't be prudent to `splurge' in the name of celebrations."We wanted to showcase Vidhana Soudha as one of the splendid monuments in the world. We wanted to make it a grand affair, but are now forced to downplay the event as the budget proposed for the programme drew flak from the public," said a secretariat official.
In fact, the cut in budget not only forced the authorities to confine celebrations to one day as against two days planned earlier, but has forced cancellation of some programmes, including a music performance by Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej.
(Source: Times of India)
5. I-T Officials Raid KSPCB Chairman's Properties
The Income Tax officials searched the properties linked to Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) chairman, Lakshman on Tuesday. The officials searched an office on Church Street, houses in Sadashivanagar and Basaveshwaranagar, and the house of Lakshman’s secretary.
According to the I-T authorities, discrepancies were found in Lakshman’s income tax returns and, after being issued notices to appear before the authorities, the KSPCB chairman failed to show up. “The assessee did not come, so we decided to visit him,” remarked an I-T official.
During the searches on Tuesday, the tax authorities found some petty cash along with a lot of documents. The sleuths also got their hands on some important documents from the house of Lakshman’s secretary.
(Source: Bangalore Mirror)
6. Medico Ends Life; Parents Allege Ragging
A 20-year-old youth who had joined Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences less than a month ago allegedly committed suicide in his hostel room on Sunday evening.
Raghu had returned to the hostel around 4:30 pm on Sunday after a five-day Diwali vacation at his home in Shikaripur Taluk's Hosur village. He hanged himself in his room a couple of hours later, police said.
The first-year medical student's parents suspected foul play and accused his seniors of harassing him, leading to his suicide. The college dismissed the ragging charge and described the incident as unfortunate. A police officer told TOI Raghu was alone in his hostel room on Sunday evening and a friend met him for some time.
(Source: 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.)