ATUL CHATURVEDI BANGALORE

WE DON’T SELL CARS TO SWAMIJIS

2010-01-28T20:59:00.002+05:30

Article published on May 14, 2009

WE DON’T SELL CARS TO SWAMIJIS

That’s how a sales executive at a car showroom on Queen’s Road allegedly fobbed off Neelam Maharaj who wanted to buy a white Maruti Swift. The outraged swamiji has now complained to the governor

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Appearances can be deceptive, but try saying that to a salesman. Especially a car salesman. For them, the first impression is often the only impression, something that a swamiji, not unduly bothered about how he looked, learnt to his deep chagrin.
On Tuesday evening at a car showroom on Queen’s Road, P Neelam Reddy Maharaj, a swamiji belonging to the Reddy Samaja, who went to purchase a brand new Maruti Swift car, was treated shabbily by a sales executive and had to bear the ignominy of being labelled a ‘fraud’. Not one to give up so easily, on Wednesday Maharaj went to Raj Bhavan to complain to Governor Rameshwar Thakur about the humiliation meted out to him.
“I hail from Bemkhad village in Bidar district. I have formed a Suvarana Vishwa Bharat Ashram in Bidar and I wanted a white colour Swift for swamijis of our communities to move around. Wanting to pick up one such car, I visited Pratham Motors showroom, but the response I got was not great,” Maharaj told Bangalore Mirror.
LEADS TO TIFF
Maharaj sports a thick beard and wears a garish turban, not something that might inspire immediate trust in polite society. At the showroom, Suresh R, a salesman, attended to him and briefed him about the various car models that were available. Maharaj, however, wanted a white petrol car, a model that was not available then in the showroom. “I told them I am ready to pay up to Rs 15 lakh, I also told them that the car needed to be modified to suit my taste.”
“But they were not convinced. At one point, the sales executive lost his cool,” Maharaj said. In the argument that broke out, the executive snapped: “You people are frauds, you print fake currency notes. We don’t sell cars to swamijis.”
COMPLAINT TO GUV
That comment irked Maharaj. He protested, but to no avail. On Wednesday morning, Maharaj reached Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor, but was not allowed inside by security personnel. Later, he was asked to give a representation to the Governor’s office, which he did. “It was ridiculous that the salesman refused to entertain my demand and called me a fraud. Do I look like a fraud? Or don’t I have the right to purchase a car? Now I want justice and I have approached the Governor to intervene in the matter,” Maharaj said. The complaint has left Raj Bhavan officials perplexed. “This is the first time that I am seeing a person with such a grievance. I don’t know how to react,” said a security official.
SALESMAN’S VERSION
Bangalore Mirror tried ascertaining the authenticity of Maharaj’s claim by calling up sales executive Suresh whose visiting card was with Maharaj. Suresh admitted that Maharaj had come to the showroom on Tuesday evening, but did not appear to be serious about making a purchase. “He enquired with me about the availability of various models. I gave him all the details and he went away. He didn’t even ask me about the white colour car and there was no issue of calling him a fraud. If a white colour car is available, we give it or else a customer has to wait for three weeks for delivery,” Suresh said. He added that the showroom does not discriminate among buyers on the basis of their appearance.

One more death on this techie’s head

2010-01-28T20:56:00.001+05:30

The Interpol officials who are investigating into the murders, at the Civil Court Complex. (Inset) The murdered techie, Rajesh Artham

One more death on this techie’s head

Twin-murder accused orchestrates his escape from Belgaum hospital, killing a guard in the process

SAMEER RANJAN BAKSHI & ATUL CHATURVEDI

Atechie who is the prime accused in two murder cases and is wanted by Interpol escaped from the state police for the second time, this time from the district hospital in Belgaum. Nagendra Reddy, who was recently shifted from Bangalore to Belgaum after pleading with the authorities that his life was at risk in Bangalore central jail, injured his right hand with a sharp implement. He wasrushed to the Belgaum district hospital for treatment, from where he made good his escape.
Since the past three days, he had been sharing the prison cell in the hospital with three other prisoners. On Sunday, when two of the constables guarding the cell went for lunch, a stranger came up and asked the lone constable there for permission to see Reddy. The constable, Chandrakanth Shankar Kamble, turned him down. As if on cue, Reddy got into a heated altercation with the other inmates, forcing Kamble to open the cell door. Reddy took the opportunity to attack him with a sharp weapon and escaped alongwith the stranger. Kamble, 35, a resident of Chikkodi, died of the injuries inflicted on him.
Meanwhile, three Interpol officers, unaware of the situation, moved the Fast Track Court VI of Bangalore. Magistrate Muragod ordered the city police and the jail authorities to produce Reddy before the court on May 16. Reddy is the prime accused in the murder of two techies in the UK and Bangalore.
Reddy, a native of Hyderabad, allegedly killed his friend Radha Krishna (30) in London over a monetary dispute. He then wrapped the body in a carpet and dumped it in a bathroom. He allegedly killed Rajesh Artham (27) in Bangalore with the help of an accomplice, Ramana. They cut up the victim’s body and burned the separate parts at the at the JJ Nagar burial ground. Reddy was arrested by the Bangalore police on Jan 18, 2005. He was in jail for one and half years before making his first prison break.
(With inputs from Manjunath Sharma)

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2010-01-24T17:50:00.000+05:30

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BOWRING FUELS FAVOURITISM

2009-04-24T09:58:00.001+05:30

BOWRING FUELS FAVOURITISM

A coterie in Bowring Institute is trying to ensure that the highly lucrative petrol bunk next door is retained by its current leasee for a ridiculously low rent. They have even forged a letter from the CM’s office to this effect

ATUL CHATURVEDI & DEBI PRASAD SARANGI

Bowring Institute, which started as a forum for intellectual and moral enhancement of Bangaloreans 141 years ago, seems to have become a breeding ground of corruption, factionalism, nepotism and various illegal activities. So much so that even fake letters from the chief minister’s office are being displayed to give out multi-crore contracts. The latest incident, where malfeasance is suspected, is that pertaining to the leasing out of a petrol bunk adjacent to it on the posh St Marks Road (near Koshys). The nearly-15,000 sq ft plot on which the bunk (Bowring Service Station) is located had been leased out by the Institute to a dealer of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) a few years ago. The bunk has been doing solid business as it located in the central part of the city and it also has liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dispensers.
But the bunk became the cynosure of all eyes when the lease agreement with the IOC dealer ended on February 23 this year. Apart from the present IOC dealers, there were two others —- Ramya Outdoor Ads and Dars Automobiles Private Limited —- who showed interest in taking the plot on lease for a period of 30 years.

THE BIDDERS

The IOC offered to renew the lease-agreement with a revised offer: The company would pay lease rentals of Rs 1 lakh per month and the term would be 30 years. The company stated that the lease amount will be increased after every five years at 10 per cent and the cost of registration and stamp duty would be borne by it.
But the offer made by others are far more revenue generating. Ramya Outdoors agreed to pay Rs 1.25 crore as non-refundable deposit, an advance of Rs 50 lakh and a monthly rent of Rs 2.5 lakh. The company also stated that it was open for further negotiations. On the other hand, Dars Automobiles offered to pay a non-refundable deposit of Rs 1.5 crore, a refundable deposit of Rs 25 lakh and a monthly rent of Rs 2.5 lakh.

TWIST IN THE TALE

The offers received were screened by the Institute’s management committee and slated for discussion in the meeting that was held on April 16. The issue was on the meeting agenda and it was quite sure that the highest bidder would walk away with the lease agreement. But the situation changed moments before the meeting commenced. A letter from the chief minister’s office was faxed to the Institute’s secretary directing him to accept IOC’s offer of Rs 1 lakh rent per month. A copy of the letter has been accessed by Bangalore Mirror. The letter was reportedly signed by A Lokesha, an officer on special duty to the CM. “Displaying the letter, the head honchos of the club silenced everyone stating that they have no other option than to continue with IOC as pressure was being mounted by the political top brass,” a club member said. But the members started suspecting foul play once they read the document closely.
“The letter was dated March 31, but it came on April 16 and that too a few hours before the crucial meeting. Moreover, the language was definitely not that of the state government,” the member said. Though the members tried to clarify it with the management committee, they only got evasive replies. “When the current rentals for 15,000 sq ft plot on St Mark’s Road is Rs 3 lakh, how can the CM’s office order the Club to accept the Rs 1 lakh offer,” the member asked. LETTER FORGED
Taking off from there, Bangalore Mirror decided to investigate. After ascertaining that an officer named Lokesha was working in the CM’s office, we confronted him with a copy of the letter purportedly sent by him to the Institute’s secretary. He was shell-shocked! After examining the fax copy which was with Bangalore Mirror, Lokesha said: “This is a fake letter, I have not issued anything to this effect. Someone in Bowring Institute has illegally used my letter head and my signature, but the content is not mine. Further, the font size of the text does not tally with the ones used by the CM’s office. We only write letters only after we get directions from CM, otherwise we do not issue letters.”
He added: “I am not the authority to give a letter to anyone. In fact, apart from educational institutions we don’t write letters in English. We prefer Kannada letters. But to communicate outside Karnataka, we write in English.”
CM’S OFFICE

REFUTES

Moreover, every letter sent from the CM’s office has a unique number. He said: “It is a true forgery done by Bowring Institute. On March 31, the CM’s office had written letters only to five persons. Records reveals that we have not written a single letter to Bowring Institute in March or the previous months.”
This is the first time in his 12 years of service that Lokesha has seen someone else misusing his name and letterhead. “It might have happened in past too, but now it has came to my notice. I will take this seriously, some vested interest groups cannot be using my position to further their interests.” Acting on the tip-off from Bangalore Mirror, Lokesha lodged a complaint with the High Grounds police requesting them to investigate the forgery.

SCENT OF A SCAM

The fax copy and the subsequent denial by Lokesha has left the 4,000-plus members (including 2,243 permanent members) shellshocked over the way the club is being run. “Why should someone send a fake fax and how can the management committee accept it without asing questions,” is the question that is nagging everyone. A member, who tried to reconstruct the sequence of events, explained: “It could be a huge scam here. Someone inside the club could have been handin-glove with outsiders who usually undervalue property to reap huge benefits. There are kickbacks involved.”
The issue is likely to be discussed in the special general body meeting of the club convened on Friday. When contacted for an official reaction, Suneel Adiga, a management committee member, said: “We did get a letter on April 16 from the CM’s office with the name and signature of an officer. I have no idea about the officer lodging a complaint with the police.”

ALLEGATIONS GALORE

This is not the first time that questions regarding financial misappropriation are being asked in Bowring Institute: In fact, a few months ago, one of the managing committee members of the club had complained to Governor Rameshwar Thakur and the state government about embezzlement of funds, immoral activities inside the club and illegal memberships. Based on the complaint, the state government ordered an inquiry into the club’s finances. Officials of the cooperation department were directed to investigate:

• Siphoning off funds to the tune of Rs 11.5 lakh in construction of toilets

• Incurring of extra expenditure of Rs 42.66 on renovation of health club

• Spending of Rs 20.99 lakh on purchase of equipment for health club

• Misappropriation of Rs 15.30 lakh for renovation of kitchen and pub

• An expenditure of Rs 9.06 lakh incurred on installation of EPBAX

• Misuse of Rs 2.71 lakh with regard to purchase of children’s equipment

• Misuse of Rs 40 lakh regarding renovation of swimming pool, Rs 11.59 lakh on renovation of coffee shop

• Siphoning off Rs 12 lakh for implementation of smartcard system

• Misuse of Rs 8.50 lakh regarding laying of granite in the verandah

• Misappropriation of Rs 15.43 lakh on works pertaining to squash court, Rs 21.45 lakh on water-roofing, Rs 25 lakh on laying of roads

• Misuse of funds earmarked for painting of tennis court and Rs 12 lakh collected from sale of tickets for New Year bash

• Illegally postponing the annual general body meeting

2009-04-19T19:42:00.000+05:30

SHOE-WARY GOVT DRAWS LAKSHMAN REKHA

2009-04-19T19:35:00.001+05:30

SHOE-WARY GOVT DRAWS LAKSHMAN REKHA

State government asks top police chiefs to ensure crowds don’t get too close the dais when political leaders are addressing rallies

ATUL CHATURVEDI

With ‘shoeing’ replacing ‘booing’ as a form of protest, the police are taking no chances and ensuring ‘footloose’ crowds don’t get too close to the dais at meetings addressed by political leaders.
The BJP government has asked DG & IG Ajai Kumar Singh and Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari to take steps to ensure those attending rallies maintain a safe distance from the dais.

NOT TOO CLOSE

The government has asked top cops to ‘take care’ of VVIP leaders travelling in different parts of the state. “No party workers should come within 100 metres from the dais,” sources said. They said the incharge police officers will be held responsible in case of any ugly incidents.
Such security preparations were evident on Friday when Congress youth general secretary Rahul Gandhi attended a public meeting at Basavanagudi. An officer in charge of security said, “Ever since Rahul Gandhi’s Bangalore tour was finalised, the state government has told us to take extra steps to prevent party workers from coming close to the dais.”

COPS IN MUFTI

More officers in uniform as well as those in mufti were deployed to keep an eye on those attending the meeting. For security reasons, the meeting was videographed.
The police had used steel barricades to keep the party workers from within 100 metres of the dais.

MEDIA COVER-ED

There were three ‘shoeing’ incidents in the last two weeks, one involving a journalist. The police have tightened security in the media camp too.
Around 200 media professionals have been covering meetings of L K Advani, Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and others. Additional police personnel in mufti have been deployed in these camps, apart from an inspector, three SIs and constables in uniform.
An officer said similar steps will be taken when Advani will address a public meeting at Basavanagudi on Monday.

ASHOK’S FAST FOR ANANTH’S WIN

2009-04-19T19:32:00.001+05:30

ASHOK’S FAST FOR ANANTH’S WIN

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Politicians perform poojas and homas to win elections. And some observe fast. But transport minister R Ashok’s fast is of a different kind. He is off rice as well as non-veg food to ensure Ananth Kumar will win from the Bangalore South.
Ashok believes this will ensure Ananth will emerge victorious for the fifth time in succession. “My aim is to make sure Ananth wins. So I have stopped eating rice,” said Ashok, who has been off rice for the past one month.
FASTING GLORY
Ashok’s confidence stems from the fact that he had observed a similar ‘fast’ during the previous elections too. He told Bangalore Mirror, “This isn’t the first time that I have stopped eating rice. In the last three assembly polls, I performed the same ritual and reaped benefits.”
He said keeping off rice helps him remain active. “Rice is heavy and it makes one sleepy during the camaign. Avoiding rice keeps me fit,” said Ashok. His menu comprises tandoori roti, vegetables, green salad and juice.

THE PL0T UNCOVERED (COVER PAGE STORY)

2009-04-15T18:03:00.001+05:30

THE PL0T UNCOVERED

2009-04-15T17:59:00.004+05:30

THE PL0T UNCOVERED

Intelligence sources say the naxals are planning a major strike against top leaders ahead of the polls. The security agencies are taking no chances and have beefed up security for the chief minister, the home minister and other prominent leaders

ATUL CHATURVEDI & ADITI SONI

The mere sight of the seized cache of explosives would have been enough to scare the pants off strong men. Around 255 kg of ammonium nitrate, 178 gelatin sticks, 66 detonators and 100 metres of fuse wire — there was enough explosive power here to bring down multi-storeyed buildings and snuff out hundreds of lives at one go. The horrific naxal plot was foiled in the nick of time last week, but had an immediate and inevitable fall-out: a thick security blanket has been thrown around chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, home minister V S Acharya, former CMs Dharam Singh and H D Kumaraswamy KPCC chief R V Deshpande and BJP chief D V Sadananda Gowda who will be braving the rising mercury and the bumpy rides in the run-up to the general elections. “More than the threat from terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba and HuJI, the threat from naxals is quite high in the runup to the Lok Sabha polls and the targets were high-profile politicos. There have been intelligence inputs that the naxals will strike in a big way to create a fear psychosis among the people and prevent them from taking part in the democratic process,” a senior police officer told Bangalore Mirror.

“We have been tracking the movements of naxals and the inputs suggested a naxal strike against some of the state’s top politicians,” the officer said.
Subsequently, the number of armed personnel guarding VVIPs has been increased.The police do not want to take any chances because leaders like Sonia Gandhi, L K Advani and Rahul Gandhi will be touring the state ahead of the elections.

Sources in the chief minister’s office said, “More measures have been taken to strengthen security for VVIPs in the state. The inner and outer security rings of these VVIPs have been strengthened, and will be further beefed up when they tour other parts of the state.” The sources refused to be more specific for obvious reasons, but said, “Each of these leaders will have more than two dozen armed escorts. This apart, policemen in mufti will deployed to look out for suspicious characters and to sanitise the places the VVIPs visit for explosives.” The convoys of the chief minister and the home minister will now have two more armed escort vehicles.
QUARRY LINK
The state government decided to go on a security overdrive after the Chikmagalur police led by superintendent of police Nagaraj and Koppa Dy SP Abdul Ahad nabbed an explosives handler, Nazir, and seized a cache of explosives. Nazir, who is reportedly close to naxal supporter G Venkatesh, used to work in quarries and supply gelatin sticks and detonators to naxals in the Malnad region. Recently, the naxals had conducted a dry run in Mattahalli by carrying out blasts.
“It is in the backdrop of the intelligence inputs about the naxal plans to strike, the seizure of explosives and the heavy movement of politicians across the state that the decision to upgrade security was taken,” sources said.
MAJOR PLOT
Forensic experts have confirmed the police’s fears. Commenting on the quantity of explosives seized, an expert said, “High-intensity bombs can be made out of this raw material. Normally, one gelatin stick, five kg of ammonium nitrate and one detonator are enough to bring down a two-storeyed building and kill nearly 100 people. The very fact that so many kilograms of ammonium nitrate and so many gelatin sticks have been procured by them points to their planning something big, something disastrous.”
Another police officer said, “This time they are more frustrated and angry as the police recently released a list of naxals and put a prize on each one’s head. There are naxals, including women, who carry a Rs 5 lakh prize on their heads. They fear the people will not be scared of them unless they unleash terror. That is why the threat is high.”
Not just in the Udupi-Chikmagalur region, the police have also beefed up security for politicians in the naxal-affected districts in Andhra Pradesh.
NAXAL THREAT Intelligence inputs hint at a possible Naxal strike in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. Desperate to disrupt polls, Naxals go on an explosives procuring spree. FARMHOUSE RAID Cops raid farmhouses in Chikmagalur district, arrest an explosives handler and seize huge quantities of ammonium nitrate and detonators. The seized explosives are capable of causing large-scale destruction. SECURITY TIGHTENED Security tightened for Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Home Minister V S Acharya, former CMs N Dharam Singh and H D Kumaraswamy, KPCC president R V Deshpande and BJP state president D V Sadananda Gowda. Escort vehicles in these VVIPs convoy to be doubled along with armed personnel.

Cover invisible: Dharam, HDK
While the government claims that it has upgraded security for top politicians in the backdrop of threats from Naxals and other terror outfits, the opposition suspects foul play. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, former chief minister N Dharam Singh alleged that the security cover provided to him was porous, despite the fact that anti-Naxal strikes were high in the state during his chief ministership.“The security network around me was tight earlier as there were a lot of armed guards around me. But now the government has taken it back. I have only one gunman now. I don’t know what security upgradation they are talking about,” Singh said. Same is the case with former chief minister and JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy. His aides, who have been touring various parts of the state along with him, maintain that there has been no visible change in the security cover provided to him.

IT’S TIME TO ‘LAY DOWN’ ARMS

2009-04-15T17:57:00.001+05:30

IT’S TIME TO ‘LAY DOWN’ ARMS

In view of polls, gun owners will surrender their weapons which is a must

Starting Wednesday, gun owners in Bangalore will be deprived of arms for over a month. With the city going to polls on April 23, Deputy Commissioner G N Nayak has asked gun owners to deposit the same at jurisdictional police stations.
Depositing arms is mandatory during polls and owners can get them back later. The order exempts Union and state government departments, public and private firms, former and serving military officers, police and paramilitary officers.
LICENSED GUNS
There are 15,908 licensed guns in the city, including single and double barrel guns (8,340), pistols and revolvers (5,384), rifles (1,004) and double barrel muzzle-loading guns (1,180).
DCP (administration) N Shivaprasad said, “Most applicants cite self-defence and protection of crops as main reasons for procuring arms. Those applying for self-defence prefer short firearms like pistol and revolver, while single barrel or double barrel guns are the choice for crop protection. Sports shooters apply for range shooting and they go for short and long barrel guns.”
ZIG-ZAG TREND
In 2005, 303 gun licenses were issued, the number came down to 184 in 2006. However, the number shot up to 332 in 2007 and again dipped to 192 in 2008. Sashidhar Ullagaddimath, owner of S R Ullagaddimath Arms and Ammunition, KR Market, said, “The issue of licenses came down in 2008 due to stringent rules by the issuing authority. Moreover, waiting period for guns is also long for dealers. If you place an order today, you will get the gun only after two years.”
TOUGH RULES
Getting a gun licence can be a Herculean task. Says Shivaprasad, “Licence is issued for any Indian-made short and long barrel guns with minimum 10 rounds of bullets. The number of bullets varies for those applying under sports quota. Licence is not issued for prohibited bores like AK-47 and sten gun. We thoroughly check the genuineness of the applicant and the reason for procuring the gun.”

Nimbalkar’s wife under scanner

2009-04-14T20:10:00.001+05:30

Nimbalkar’s wife under scanner

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Tainted IPS officer Hemant Nimbalkar’s problems are apparently not over. Lok Ayukta sleuths who had raided his Kolhapur house are now investigating his wife Dr Anjali’s bank accounts. Justice Hegde said, “The investigations have revealed that his property is worth Rs 1.30 crore.” Dutta said, “We are investigating Anjali’s bank transactions. Demand drafts ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh from State Bank of India’s Bellary branch have been credited to her Kolhapur bank account. We are also verifying her other bank accounts.”
The sleuths had earlier raided two flats worth Rs 76 lakh in Mumbai’s Dadar area in Anjali’s name. His property at Marine Drive and the Pune Gymkhana are also under the scanner.

‘TAKE OVER CLUB’

Justice Hegde said, “Money from Anjali’s account was used for construction of the Police Gymkhana Club in Bellary when Nimbalkar was Bellary SP. A total of Rs 4.3 crore had been spent on the club’s construction without permission from the state government. However, the club claims that the then chief minister, home minister and DG&IG were its chief patrons. Among the donors, Nimbalkar has given Rs 5,000, Congress MP Anil Lad Rs 99,000, the Bellary police Rs 96 lakh and the public Rs 1.86 crore. We will be writing to the state government to take over the club.”

CITY PROPERTY

The investigations revealed that Nimbalkar owns property worth Rs 19 lakh in the Arkavati Layout in Bangalore. Apart from this, he owns 6 acres and 6 guntas of land in the name of Milind Shellar on the Belgaum-Dharwad highway.

PLEA TO CANCEL COP’S BAIL
Lok Ayukta sleuths will soon appeal for the cancellation of bail granted to suspended Upparpet Inspector M R Mudhavi. ADGP Dutta said, “We will be moving the court seeking cancellation of bail as the accused is trying to threaten complainant Suresh.” Meanwhile, Chikpet ACP M K Solabheswarappa, who is investigating the alleged kidnapping, said, “As I am busy with poll duties, I will present the report after the first phase of the LS polls.” Complainant Suresh, who is facing a petty case, submitted a written complaint to Dutta on Monday alleging Mudhavi’s hand in the kidnap of his friend Ramchandra.

Lok Ayukta has its nose to the wheel

2009-04-14T20:07:00.001+05:30

Lok Ayukta has its nose to the wheel

1,757 cases disposed of since Jan; 105 traps and 18 raids effected; 132 officials caught red-handed

Despite the legal constraints it faces, the Lok Ayukta remains committed to its c a m p a i g n against corrupt public servants. Presenting a 100-day report card to media persons on Monday, Lok Ayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde said the office’s sleuths had disposed of 1,757 cases since January. “We have received 924 complaints this year alone, of which 98 have been disposed of,” he said.
An indication of the backlog
of cases is that the office is still investigating 18,744 pending cases. “Till April 9, 105 traps and 18 raids were effected as a result of which 132 officials were caught red-handed, including KGF MLA Y Sampangi. Bangalore city topped the list with four raids. Among the departments, revenue stood first with 31 cases booked against 33 officials, followed by the police with 25 officials caught redhanded and 15 cases registered,” Justice Hegde said, adding that the Lok Ayukta is in the process of filing chargesheets against 98 officials.

SHOE SAVVY!

In a lighter vein, Justice Hegde asked media persons to remove their footwear before entering the venue of the press conference. Some journalists took his remark literally and asked that a board be placed outside the hall asking that footwear be left outside. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror later, Justice Hegde said, “It was a joking remark and I thoroughly enjoyed it.You never know what could happen after the incident where a shoe was thrown at Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.”

Probe ordered into trap case

2009-04-13T17:25:00.001+05:30

Probe ordered into trap case

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) B Shivkumar has ordered an inquiry into the alleged kidnap of Suresh, a whistleblower, by the Upparpet police. A petty case was foisted on Suresh for helping the Lok Ayukta police to trap Upparpet inspector M R Mudhavi while taking bribe. (“Trapped for expose” - BM, April 11).
Shivkumar told Bangalore Mirror, “I have asked Chikpet ACP MK Solabheswarappa to investigate and submit the report. Action will be taken if cops are found guilty.”

GUILTY ARRESTED

Meanwhile, Upparpet police said they filed a petty case against Suresh for illegally pasting posters in Majestic area. A police official on condition of anonymity, said, “Detaining Ramachandra was part of our duty and there was nothing wrong. Suresh had pasted posters claiming that he had trapped suspended inspector Mudhavi. However, the mobile number printed was not of Suresh but of his friend Ramachandra. Hence, to spill the beans, we had to make calls in the guise of courier boys. As Ramachandra came to the spot, we took him to a lodge. Once Suresh was traced, we freed Ramachandra.”

Malbari feels safe in jail

2009-04-13T12:42:00.001+05:30

Malbari feels safe in jail

Shaken by his lawyer’s death but not afraid of being killed, the arrested gangster says jail is the safest place

ATUL CHATURVEDI

After living in the midst of bloodshed and having ducked bullets from both the police and his rival gangs for over a decade, arrested gangster Rashid Malbari now says jail is the safest place to stay alive.
Although shaken by the murder of his advocate Naushad Kasim and media reports about threats to his life, Malbari on Saturday allayed fears of being killed. An undaunted Malbari told the jail authorities, “I don’t feel tense even though I know that my advocate has been killed. I am safe here in Mangalore jail.”
It was on Thursday – the same day he had asked the court to send Malbari to judicial custody – that Kasim was killed by unknown men who were said to be associates of overseas don Ravi Pujari. There were rumours that Pujari’s men may attack Malbari in the Mangalore jail premises. Sensing the threat, jail authorities have tightened security in and around the jail premises.
Sources in Mangalore jail told Bangalore Mirror, “Malbari came to know about the killing of his advocate Kasim through the newspapers. But he is not afraid.”

TIGHT SECURITY

Meanwhile, two armed police constables are escorting Malbari even inside the jail. Malbari has been kept in a cell where he has three other jail mates. He has been kept away from Hindu gangsters. Sources also revealed that none of Ravi Pujari’s associates are in Mangalore jail and Bananje Raja, a Pujari associate, has already been shifted to Mysore jail.

PLANS TO SHIFT MALBARI

“We are planning to shift him to Bangalore Central Jail or Mysore jail. A decision will be taken by senior officers in Bangalore as they don’t want to take any chances with Malbari’s life,” an officer in the jail said.

LAWYER TO FIGHT FOR MALBARI

Not all are afraid of being killed. A senior criminal advocate and Naushad Kasim’s senior, 85-year-old Purushotham Pujari, said that he would fight for Malbari. “I will fight for him. It’s the right given to me by the Constitution and no one can stop me. I don’t fear for my life. Kasim was my junior and it will be a tribute to him if I continue to fight the case.” Asked whether he doesn’t fear Ravi Pujari, Purushotham Pujari said, “Why should I fear Ravi Pujari. Let him kill me. If Ravi Pujari is arrested in future and no one takes up his case, I will fight for him also.”

Man stabs talaq-seeking wife

2009-04-13T12:38:00.002+05:30

Man stabs talaq-seeking wife

He wounds sister-in-law and himself too

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Asmall tiff turned into a divorce-seeking battle and subsequently led to abrutal attack in broad daylight at DJ Halli police station limits on Sunday. When homemaker Aasma Kosar (21) demanded ‘talaq’ (divorce) from her husband Sohail (35), little did she imagine that it would result in a savage attack by Sohail on both Aasma and her sister Tasmiya Shabbir (26).
After attacking them, Sohail stabbed himself. All three are in a critical condition.
Police said Sohail of Hennur married Aasma two years ago. After an argument over a petty issue, Aasma left him and went to her mother’s house in DJ Halli where she had been staying for the past six months. Aasma’s family members refused to Sohail’s pleas to send her back. As Sohail was jobless, one of the friends of Aasma’s brother Zabiulla had given him a job of wood carving.
Police said Aasma had asked for a talaq, and Sohail had refused to grant it.

SOHAIL’S COMPLAINT

Sohail lodged a complaint with Hennur police station on April 8 stating that his wife Aasma was kidnapped by her family members.
A week ago, Sohail had visited Aasma’s house, where he misbehaved with Tasmiya. He was reprimanded and sent back to his house. On Sunday, members of both families held a meeting to settle issues. But the differences could not be resolved and that was when Sohail attacked Tasmiya and Aasma with a knife. Later, he locked himself up in a room and stabbed himself. Police who broke the door and took him to Bowring hospital. His wife and sister-in-law were initially admitted to Victoria hospital. Tasmiya, who has a wound in her left leg, needs vascular surgery and she has been shifted to Mahaveer Jain hospital.

Candidate, driver all in one

2009-04-12T12:11:00.000+05:30

Candidate, driver all in one

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Political leaders move around in droves. But this man believes in campaigning solo. His team includes him and his Maruti van. And, he is the driver as well as poll manager.
Zaffer Mohiuddin, the Independent candidate from Bangalore North, begins his day by first choosing the area. “I fill fuel worth Rs 500 worth in the tank, buy eatables worth Rs 300 and set out on my journey. I park my vehicle and meet people.”

HARD TO BELIEVE

He said people find it hard to believe him when he seeks votes. “At times, I have to introduce myself more than 10 times to convince them. But I am sure they will get convinced of my candidature,” he said. Mohiuddin’s target is the youth. “There are eight engineering colleges in the city. I know students personally as I give guest lectures. I hope to get votes from the student community.”
At times, his friends help Mohiuddin in the campaign.

EX-IAF MAN

He is not afraid of losing. “Contesting is more important than winning. But I will give my best,” said Mohiuddin, who was a deputy architect in Indian Air Force from 1992 to 1997.
He also had a brief stint in acting. He had performed as a friend of Mithaiwala (the role played by Ananth Nag) in Shankar Nag’s ‘Malgudi Days’.

2009-04-11T19:45:00.001+05:30

TRAPPED FOR EXPOSÉ (COVER PAGE STORY)

2009-04-11T19:37:00.001+05:30

TRAPPED FOR EXPOSÉ

POLICE MANIPULATION Suresh helps the Lok Ayukta catch police inspector Mudhavi red-handed for bribery Cops from Upparpet police station force Suresh’s friend Ramachandra to plant ganja in his residence so that they can implicate him in a false case When Ramachandra refuses, they use him as a bait to lure Suresh Once in their custody, the cops threaten Suresh and foist a petty case

ATUL CHATURVEDI

It’s sheer infamy. Policemen are supposed to protect innocent people and deter wrongdoers, but here is another instance of the Bangalore police protecting wrongdoers and leaning heavily on innocent folk. A week after former DCP (South) S Ravi had allegedly kidnapped a Tamil Nadu-based businessman to fix a property deal, Upparpet police were found coercing a whistleblower who had helped Lok Ayukta in red-handedly nabbing a corrupt cop. Suresh, who had played a key role in the arrest of Upparpet police inspector M R Mudhavi, and his friend Ramachandra were severely harassed by the cops, and a petty case was foisted on the former.

After the Lok Ayukta raid and the subsequent suspension of Mudhavi, his colleagues decided to retaliate against Suresh. Suffering for blowing the whistle

They used his friend Ramachandra as a bait. In a complaint lodged by Ramachandra with DCP (West) B Shivakumar, he said, “Upparpet police station PSI Kallappa Karath called me on my mobile at 11.30 am on Tuesday. He did not introduce himself as a policeman but said he was a courier boy and wanted to deliver a parcel.” Ramachandra said he would meet the ‘courier boy’ at Tirumala Kalyana Mantap near Lagerre road. However, when he reached the spot, there was no one.

COPS TURN COURIER BOYS

In his complaint, Ramachandra further alleges that Karath again called him to meet at Pooja Kalyana Mantap, Kamakshipalya. He also received another call from Chandru, a police constable of Kamakshipalya, to enquire whether he had received a parcel sent by his boss. When Ramachandra denied receiving any such parcel, Chandru, who too was speaking under the guise of a ‘courier boy’, told the former to meet him at Pavitra Paradise near Basaveshwara Nagar.

“As per his instructions, I figured out Chandru who was waiting for me on a ‘Cheetah’ bike. Finally, at 2 PM, I met Chandru and Karath at Basaveshwaranagar,” Ramachandra told Bangalore Mirror. “From there Karath and Chandru took me to Kamakshipalya police station and enquired about Suresh. Karath said he needed a favour from Suresh as some people were blackmailing him,” he added. However, Ramachandra did not want to reveal Suresh’s address. Meanwhile at 4 pm, constables Srinivas Shetty, Vijay and Venkatesh came to Kamakshipalya police station.

DRAMA BEGINS

Ramachandra alleges that there was no respite for him thereafter. “From Kamakshipalya, the cops took me in a private vehicle to Shantala Silk Road near Upparpet police station. Karath once again asked me to reveal details of Suresh. However, when I refused, he took me to Swarna Deluxe near Kapali theatre without entering any details. They forcefully kept me in a room the whole night. Karath also said that he had procured call details of Suresh and asked me as to why Suresh had called me up for two minutes on the day when Mudhavi was caught. I replied that Suresh wanted to merely know whether television channels were carrying the news of the Lok Ayukta trap,” Ramachandra said.

Srinivas Shetty and Venkatesh, along with two other constables, watched over Ramachandra the whole night in the lodge, taking turns. Another PSI of Upparpet police station, Prakash Reddy came and enquired about Suresh. We will give you weed and you have to plant it in either Sureshs residence or office and we will pay you Rs 50,000 for the work,” the cops told Ramachandra. By coincidence, Suresh phoned me around that time. The cops forced me to switch on the speaker before allowing me take the call. Suresh asked Ramachandra to meet him at his office on Wednesday at 10.30 am.

The next day, the cops went along with Ramachandra, but in a different vehicle. They then took Suresh and Ramchandra with them to a police chowki in Kempe Gowda bus stand. It was 1 pm when constable Vijay came and threatened to book Ramchandra in a fake case if he dared to reveal anything that had happened in the past 24 hours.

SURESH NOT DETERRED

The police booked a petty case against Suresh and freed him the same evening. “I was threatened by the police to withdraw the case against Mudhavi or else face stern action,” Suresh said. “It was intolerable. These cops have done a lot of things which I never expected. They kidnapped my friend and booked a fake case against me. I have lodged a complaint with DCP (west) B Shivkumar and will see to it that the cops who misbehaved with me and Ramchandra are punished, he added. Throughout, the cops were in touch with some unidentified caller and they were briefing him about all the activities,” Suresh said.

POLICE DENY IT

I have received a petition from Suresh and Ramchandra complaining against two PSIs along with constables of Upparpet police station. It also claimed the alleged kidnapping of Ramchandra and of booking a false petty case against Suresh. I am going through it. If the cops are found guilty, necessary action will be taken against them,” DCP (West) B Shivkumar said.

On his part, Kallappa Karath denied everything, saying, “It is just a fortnight since I have taken charge. I had never seen either Suresh and Ramachandra, except two days ago when Suresh was brought in for a petty offence.” However, Karath was not ready to answer further queries stating that he was busy driving and could not take a call.

Community school scheme rescheduled

2009-04-11T19:36:00.000+05:30

Community school scheme rescheduled

ATUL CHATURVEDI

The Department of Public Instruction may reschedule Samudayaatta Shaale (community school) as the dates of this programme clashed with the Election Commission’s three-day training programme for teachers on the election process.
The community school programme was scheduled on April 8 for primary schools and April 9 for high schools. The EC’s three-day training programme was supposed to start from April 8. This had left many teachers confused. Commissioner for Public Instruction G Kumar Naik said he will check the dates of both the programmes and accordingly reschedule the community school as election-related work must be given preference.
In the community school programme, free uniforms and textbooks are distributed to primary, middle and high school students. Students from standards one to nine will be given performance results for academics and cocurricular activities.
But rescheduling the community school programme hasn’t put to rest the confusion of teachers who will take part in SSLC evaluation, which starts from April 11. Karnataka State Urdu SDMC Federation General Secretary Aslam Khan, who is also a teacher, said, “SSLC evaluation is starting on April 11 and we are in a dilemma whether we should attend election duty or SSLC evaluation.”

Tejaswini dreams of DKS’ support

2009-04-07T10:15:00.001+05:30

But sources close to the KPCC working president say she has not even called him on the phone after she got the Congress poll ticket from Bangalore Rural

Tejaswini dreams of DKS’ support

ATUL CHATURVEDI

When Tejaswini Gowda got the Congress ticket to contest from Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency she won a major battle in the long cold war between her and her former mentor and KPCC Working President D K Shivakumar. With the ticket in her hand, she’s now trying to patch up with him by claiming that he’s agreed to campaign for her. But there’s no change in the vibes coming from Shivakumar’s camp.
Tejaswini told Bangalore Mirror, “I don’t have any ego like DK has. We were not fighting. I was fighting for my rights. I have digested the fact that we both must work together for victory. He also has to digest that fact. We both work for the same party. Soon he will be campaigning for me. The specifics will be decided according to his availability.”
She also claimed that she had spoken to Shivakumar and asked him to spare his time to campaign for her. But sources close to Shivakumar said she has neither called him nor met him. In fact, they alleged that she did not even try to contact him after she got the ticket.
Shivakumar, also known as DKS, played a vital role in bringing Tejaswani into politics. She
had a dream political debut in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls by defeating former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda by a huge margin. After the initial dosti, ties between her and Shivakumar began to turn sour.
Tejaswini said, Shivakumar is my leader and it all depends on him, how he plans a strategy to ensure for my win. He is the KPCC working president and he will plan on how to defeat other candidates in the fray. I am confident of winning the election and I have faith that he will make all possible arrangements for me.”

VOKKALIGA CONTEST

Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency is not new for Tejaswini, Kumaraswamy and Yogeshwar. But all three of them are Vokkaliga candidates, which makes the battle only tougher. Kumaraswamy became an MP in 1999 from this constituency, then known as Kanakpura constituency. He has a good network in this region.
“My fight is not only against former chief minister H D Kumarasway but also against BJP candidate C P Yogeshwar, who recently quit the Congress and joined BJP. We have to work a bit hard as Yogeshwar left the party,” she said.

‘I have no rivals‘

2009-04-07T10:10:00.002+05:30

Bangalore North candidate Jaffer Sharief says he wants to win to complete the works he started in his tenure as MP

‘I have no rivals‘

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Congress veteran and former union minister C K Jaffer Sharief is all set to fight a tough battle in Bangalore North Lok Sabha constituency. He is contesting against money-bag R Surendra Babu from the JD(S) and his one-time political friend D B Chandregowda from the BJP.
In fact, Sharief intended to contest from Bangalore Central. But he was denied ticket and had to settle down for Bangalore North. Here, he is counting on Muslim, Christian and SC/ST vote banks, who add up to 29 per cent of the voters. Having lost the previous election, he is desperate to stage a comeback. Bangalore Mirror caught up with during his campaigning. Excerpts of the interview:

How important is this election for you?
This election is very important for me. Last time I was defeated with a small margin. I want to win because some of works, which I started in my tenure, are pending and have to be completed. People told me that after I lost the last election, the works I started stopped. More work must be done in some of the slum areas and backward regions of the constituency.

How have you kept in touch with your voters?
I am not doing anything new to be in touch with my voters. I have always been in touch with the people of my constituency.

How is your grandson canvassing for you? Did you give him any tips to target young voters?
Rehman Sharief (grandson) is young and he is working in his own style. He is young and he will obviously be targeting youth voters. It will be good for him to get some experience of public life from the ground level. If he has to grow on his own, he has to create everything on his own. I have not given any special directions to him. I am confident he will make sure that I win in this election.

What is the action plan?
I have a good relations with all my workers, supporters and I am sure they will work for me. If I have to win, the role of workers is very important. Soon I will be filing nominations after discussing with all my supporters.

Who is your rival in elections?
I don't have any rivals in elections. People know me personally and they will vote for me. It is a fight between the good governance of Congress and the Hindutva-thinking of BJP. D B Chandre Gowda is a good friend of mine and I don't think he is a rival. He has done a mistake by joining BJP. He has enjoyed all posts in the Congress from speaker to law minister and he will know his mistake after election result is out.

Do you think BJP has issue to fight elections?
I don't think so, because BJP has always fought elections on Hindutva. They should stop fighting elections on communal and religious issues. They should fight on development and policy matters.

Now Mutalik wants protection

2009-04-07T10:06:00.001+05:30

Sri Rama Sene founder Pramod Mutalik has turned desperate following the arrest of gangster Rashid Malabari, an aide of underworld operators Chota Shakeel and Dawood Ibrahim

Now Mutalik wants protection

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Two months ago, he went around town describing himself as protector of Indian culture. But today, he is seeking protection for himself.
Call it heights of irony. Sri Rama Sene founder Pramod Mutalik has appealed to the state government to give him police protection, saying he is facing a threat to his life from terror outfits. He has turned desperate following the arrest of gangster Rashid Malabari, an aide of underworld operators Chota Shakeel and Dawood Ibrahim, in Mangalore recently.

SCARED OF LeT TOO

Following the gangster’s arrest, there were reports in a section of the media about how the Lashkar-e-Toiba planned to eliminate several leaders propagating the Hindutva ideology.
In this background, Mutalik wrote a letter to the Director General and Inspector General of Police Ajay Kumar Singh requesting protection. However, a decision on the nature of security to be provided to him is yet to be taken.
On Monday, Mutalik’s men met the DGP in Bangalore and sought to know the status of the request. Sources said, “A communication from the home department is awaited.” A key operator in the D-Company, Malabari has been accused of attacking Dawood Ibrahim’s rival Chhota Rajan in Bangkok in 2000.
Mutalik told Bangalore Mirror: “It is known to everyone that I was in the hit list of underworld. It is the duty of the government to provide me foolproof security. But as of now, no police officer or BJP minister has even made a courtesy call to me asking me if I need any help. They don’t contact me to ask me about my tour plans or daily routine. It shows how irresponsible the BJP government is towards its citizens.”
He added: “I have received threats in the past too and this is not the new for me. But this time, it is quite serious. But I will not stop working towards Hinduism.”
When contacted, state home minister V S Acharya said, “I don’t know what is the progress in Mutalik’s case. But it is the responsibility of the DGP to provide him security. There is a committee of officers including senior cadre officers in the administration and in the police department and they will take a decision on this issue.”

MUTALIK ARRESTED IN MYSORE
MYSORE:
Pramod Mutalik was taken into preventive custody when he tried to visit the riot-hit Kyathamaranahalli in Mysore on Monday. The police, who had information about Mutalik’s plans to visit Kyathamaranahalli, took him into custody as soon as he alighted from his car at the Circle near the office of the Superintendent of Police.
There were heated arguments between Mutalik and the police officer who insisted on taking Mutalik into custody though he agreed not to visit Kyathamaranahalli.
The police took Mutalik to Saraswathipuram police station in their van.

Ambarish acting pricey?

2009-04-05T09:35:00.001+05:30

Ambarish acting pricey?

The actor-turned-politician seems to be making unreasonable demands on Congress for contesting elections from Mandya

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Will he, won’t he? That is the question nagging the Congress supporters in Mandya as the party high command plays the cards close to its chest on fielding actorturned-politician M H Ambarish in the constituency, considered the Vokkaliga heartland.
Even as suspense continues, rumour mills are afloat that the delay is because Ambarish has two conditions to the high command for contesting the elections: One, a plum portfolio in the cabinet if the UPA returns to power. Second, funding his poll campaign.

JDS STRONGHOLD

According to political grapevine, Ambarish has demanded that the party headhonchos support him to the tune of Rs 15 crore. For the Congress, Mandya is a crucial seat as defeat here would only result in BJP’s growth in the Old Mysore region, which is incidentally the JDS stronghold.
“The BJP and the JDS are trying to wrest the seat from the Congress, which has been represented by Ambarish. The Congress leaders, though disappointed by Ambarish’s performance in the Manmohan Singh cabinet, feels he still has a strong fan-following in the constituency,” Congress sources said. “Aware of this, Ambarish is trying to exploit the situation,” they said.

BJP FEELERS

For Ambarish too, financial support is badly needed given the fact that his supporters consider him a money-bag. That is precisely why he responded to the feelers sent by the BJP sometime ago, sources added. However, the Congress has continued to keep him in the loop and is likely to declare his candidature in the next couple of days.

DENIES ALLEGATIONS

When contacted by Bangalore Mirror, Ambarish spiked allegations that he’s demanding crores of rupees to contest. “Who will finance such a huge amount for me? I have also not asked for any major cabinet post. It all depends on the future and who knows what the future holds? I have not yet planned my campaign. It will be decided in the next two days,” he said. When asked about other Vokkaliga candidates in the fray in his constituency, he said, “Who is the better Vokkaliga among all the candidates will be decided once the election results are out.”

Ananth behind Somanna’s exit

2009-04-05T09:31:00.001+05:30

Ananth behind Somanna’s exit

BJP candidate from Bangalore South, aware of the Congressman’s popularity, wanted to rope him in immediately to deal a blow to Krishna Byre Gowda

ATUL CHATURVEDI

The resignation of Govindraj Nagar MLA Somanna from Congress was orchestrated by none other than BJP’s national secretary and MP candidate from Bangalore South, Ananth Kumar. Somanna is formally joining the saffron party on April 8.
Somanna’s sudden decision came soon after Youth Congress president Krishna Byre Gowda was declared as candidate contesting against Kumar.
BJP sources said, “There were no plans to immediately induct Somanna into the BJP. It was Kumar who had expressed the urgency. The decision was taken on Friday and he was inducted on Saturday.”
“Kumar didn’t want to take chances as Somanna has a strong following in his constituency. As a Congressman, he might have been forced to campaign for Byre Gowda, which could have affected Kumar. This was why Somanna was immediately roped in,” said the sources.
Only last week, Dr Arun and Naveen, Somanna’s sons, joined the BJP. Sources close to Somanna said the latter will be campaigning for Kumar. The BJP is also said to have promised to field Dr Arun from Govindraj Nagar constituency, while Somanna is expected to be made city mayor following BBMP polls due in August. Dr Arun, however, told Bangalore Mirror, “I have no such plans to contest, but my father may contest from the same assembly constituency on a BJP ticket.”

Fearing arrest, Nimbalkar seeks advance bail

2009-04-04T15:07:00.002+05:30

Fearing arrest, Nimbalkar seeks advance bail

ATUL CHATURVEDI

After being ‘ensnared’ by the Lok Ayukta, IPS officer Hemant Nimbalkar, fearing arrest, has applied for anticipatory bail. Belgaum’s principal district sessions judge Vishwanath Angadi has postponed hearing on his appeal to Monday.
On April 1, advocate R R Goraware filed an anticipatory bail application on behalf of Nimbalkar. Justice Angadi asked Lok Ayukta advocate and public prosecutor Vijaykumar Gunjal if he had objection to Nimbalkar being granted bail. According to sources, Gunjal objected and asked the judge to not grant him bail. On Friday, Justice Angadi reserved his judgment on the bail plea. Nimbalkar had feared that Lok Ayukta sleuths might arrest him.

ROWDY NEXUS

Lok Ayukta sources told Bangalore Mirror, “Nimbalkar had developed relations with some rowdies in Belgaum while serving as SP for more than four years. Some rowdies are in Belgaum’s Hindalga central jail and they used to meet him everyday at his office as well as residence. Lok Ayukta sleuths have decided to interrogate these rowdies. He has maintained close relations with a drug peddler and later he himself arrested him.”

INFO FLOOD

It is nearly 20 days since Nimbalkar’s houses were raided in Belgaum, Kolhapur and Mumbai. Yet, the flow of information has not stopped. Earlier information used to be passed on through telephones. Now, they also come via SMSes and faxes. Senior Lok Ayukta sleuths will soon tour various parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka to trace his properties.

Property worth Rs 6 cr seized

2009-04-04T15:05:00.000+05:30

Property worth Rs 6 cr seized

Lok Ayukta conducted simultaneous raids in Bangalore, Gulbarga, Gadag and Shimoga

BANGALORE MIRROR BUREAU

Lok Ayukta sleuths have done it again. This time they conducted raids on five officers, including two officers from Bangalore, on Friday. The officers are Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) AE Marthandappa, RFO Shimoga Abdul Azeez, Bangalore South ZP joint engineer B S Hanumantha Gowda, Gadag APMC assistant director Puttaraju and Gulbarga Corporation FDA Hanumanthappa Lengati.
Here are the sketches of a few of them:

Abdul Azeez, RFO Shimoga
Legitimate income - Rs 38 lakh Property recovered - worth Rs 75 lakh

• 5.11 acres farm in KAPU containing
1,000 arecanut trees - Rs 14.75 lakh

• Two acres of land in KAPU - Rs 2.82 lakh

B S Hanumantha Gowda, Bangalore south ZP JE
Legitimate income - Rs 25 lakh Property recovered - worth Rs 74 lakh

• House in Poornapragna Nagar, Bangalore in wife’s name- Rs 30 lakh

• 22.35 acres of land in Bettanagere village, Bidadi Hobli in wife’s name-Rs 19 lakh

• 16.28 acres of land at Borehalli, Bidadi Hobli - Rs 1.15 lakh

Puttaraju, AD, APMC, Gadag

Legitimate income - Rs 45 lakh Property recovered - worth Rs 1.51 crore

• One duplex house built in 40/60 site in Kuvempu Nagar in wife’s name - Rs 50 lakh

• Two storied house in Kuvempu Nagar in wife’s name - Rs 25 lakh

• A site in Kuvempu Nagar in wife’s name - Rs 10 lakh

BBMP’s own crorepati

2009-04-04T15:04:00.001+05:30

BBMP’s own crorepati

Lok Ayukta sleuths expose an assistant engineer who is a money lender and owns assets worth crores

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Money lenders are everywhere. But here is one with a difference. He is a government officer who also lends money to his colleagues and neighbours as a on the security of postdated cheques.
The ‘side business’ of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) assistant engineer Marthandappa was brought to light by Lok Ayukta sleuths who raided his premises early morning on Friday and recovered cheques for Rs 64 lakh from his possession.
Marthandappa is also a crorepati. The sleuths have already recovered property worth Rs 1.20 crore and the balance in his three bank accounts is yet to be verified.
Additional director general of police Rupak Kumar Dutta said, “It was surprising to find that Marthandappa, who is just an assistant engineer, has lent Rs 64 lakh. He used to take promising notes from the borrowers. We have recovered all the promising notes and Rs 64 lakh worth of cheques. We are verifying all documents to find clues about his borrowers.”
According to records, Marthandappa joined service as a joint engineer in 1987 in the Public Works Department (PWD). His legitimate income is Rs 35 lakhs, but he owns three sites each measuring 30/40 at Koppala in his wife’s name. He also owns a house worth Rs 40 lakhs in Bhagirathi Layout near Kengeri Satellite Town on the Outer Ring Road. It was built in 2007. Dutta said he also owns two cars worth Rs 7.4 lakh in benami names, two-two wheeler worth Rs 40,000.
His fortunes include 20 acres of land in Davangere in his mother’s and brother’s name worth Rs 4.59 lakh, a site in Davangere worth Rs 70,000.
Sleuths have also seized Rs 1.20 lakhs cash 278 grams of gold and 1075 grams silver.

‘Surviving’ on mid-day meal

2009-04-04T15:03:00.002+05:30

‘Surviving’ on mid-day meal

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Karnataka government prestigious mid-day meal scheme has made a crorepati out of Hanumanthappa Lengati, FDA of Gulbarga Corporation.
Lengati joined service as SDA in 1985 and was promoted as the FDA on Dec 1, 2004. For the last 20 years, he
has been working on deputation in Gulbarga city Corporation. Sources informed Bangalore Mirror that Lengati never went to the corporation office, as he has hired a person for this.
Lok Ayukta sleuths interrogated Hanumanthappa Mardi, a teacher by profession, who is hired by Lengati to perform his duties. When contacted, Jagdish, Corporation Commissioner, refused to comment on the Lok Ayukta raids. He defended Lengati saying his work is only for five days in a month. Sources say Lengati is known for making money and is popularly called Raju. They also
claimed that he had illicit relations with more than 200 women.
PROPERTY RECOVERED
Lok Ayukta sleuths have recovered property worth Rs 1.77 crore from him. He owns a residential building in his wife’s name worth Rs 25 lakh, another in his mother’s name worth Rs 35 lakh.

2009-04-03T20:44:00.001+05:30

Sangliana does an Obama

Drawing inspiration from American president, the former state police chief plans to replicate Obama’s policies here

ATUL CHATURVEDI

American President Barack Obama has found an elite politician-follower in Namma Bengaluru. Bangalore Central Congress candidate H T Sangliana admits he had adopted some positive political strategies that Obama had adopted during presidential campaign.
Sangliana, after crossing over to the Congress from BJP a few months ago, had met Obama on February 5 and had breakfast with him.
The former state police chief has decided to replicate Obama’s policies that made the Democrat a favourite among voters. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror on Thursday, he said: “Meeting Obama was a good experience and I have learnt a lot from his policies. I have gone through his election campaigns and was attracted to the term ‘Liberalism’, which he used in his campaigns. India also follows liberalism in terms of religious harmony.”
Like Obama, who views America as a country of Christians, Hindus, Muslims and non-believers, Sangliana too wants to see India as a nation of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and Parsees. “I was impressed by this and I will use these tactics in my election campaign,” he said.

BAIG SUPPORT

Backing Sangliana’s decision, former minister and MLA Roshan Baig said, “It gives us great pleasure that Sangliana is the only Indian invited by Obama for breakfast. It’s a great honour for every Indian and the Congress Party.”

AMAR-AKBAR-ANTHONY

Sangliana’s 13-point agenda gives priority to ‘Hello Neighbour’, a group he describes as a “bonding between Amar-Akbar-Anthony”, for communal harmony. This group will fight crime and promote inter-faith and inter-caste dialogue. Apart from this, protection will be provided to all holy places and the right to pray in any belief.
He wants to support Lok Ayukta and seeks automatic sanction to prosecute booked government servants. He said, “My constituency will be protected with quality disaster management and safety techniques and zero tolerance for terrorism. Power supply will be provided 24/7 and importance will be given to sanitation, traffic management, low-cost housing, public safety, health and transparent administration.”

Veteran Krishna gives way for young Krishna

2009-04-03T20:42:00.001+05:30

Veteran Krishna gives way for young Krishna

With ex-CM S M Krishna refusing to enter poll fray, Congress decides to field Youth Congress chief Krishna Byre Gowda to take on Ananth Kumar in Bangalore South

ATUL CHATURVEDI

With battle-hardened S M Krishna opting out of the Bangalore South poll race, Congress chose to field Youth Congress president Byre Gowda, the young face of the century-old party.
The Congress, which played its cards close to its chest, sprang a surprise on Ananth Kumar, who had no inkling he would be up against an US-returned professional armed with a Masters degree in international relations.
“We wanted former chief minister S M Krishna to contest and wrest this seat, which has become a BJP stronghold since 1996, but that did not happen. The next best option was to woo the young, educated and matured voters through Krishna Byre Gowda,” a senior Congress leader said.
Krishna Byre Gowda, an MLA from Byatarayanapura constituency, in the city, hails from the Vokkaliga community. He is likely to file his nomination papers on Friday.
With his entry, the poll dynamics in the constituency will get a new twist. Kumar, who had relied on the Brahmin votebank, now has to prevent K E Radhakrishna (JDS) and Capt Gopinath (Independent) from cutting into his vote-pie.
“If Krishna Byre Gowda manages to consolidate the Vokkaliga and the minority votes in the constituency, then things could get tough for Kumar,” the Congress leader said.
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Krishna Byre Gowda said: “Kumar has won four times from here, but the situation has changed following delimitation. It will be a tough battle. I’ll work for a surefire victory.”
He plans to focus more on the youth. “Youngsters are being liked by everybody today. They should come forward and take responsibility in politics. I will motivate youngsters,” he added.
Krishna Byre Gowda shot into limelight when he escorted Rahul Gandhi during the ‘Discover India’ rally undertaken by the national leader last year. He personally drove Rahul through the remote areas of Karnataka and the bonding culminated in him being identified as one of the bright prospects for the party.
According to Congress sources, Rahul personally favoured a ticket for Krishna Byre Gowda in the polls.
But he has many hurdles to overcome. While Krishna Byre Gowda is a newcomer, Kumar is a known face. Like the former himself admitted: “The political journey has been a fast one for me - from the US to Vemagal to Byatarayanapura and now to Bangalore South.”
Party sources said top national leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, will campaign in this constituency.

Axe on 224 BDA sites

2009-04-03T20:38:00.000+05:30

Axe on 224 BDA sites

Probe finds that 171 of the sites were sanctioned by then BDA commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda without the knowledge of the screening committee

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 08:24:38 PM

The long-awaited report on BDA’s ‘alternative site’ scam, submitted recently to the state government, has recommended cancellation of 224 out of 4,409 site allotments. The government had ordered the the probe in July last year.

The scam came to light when M K Shankaralinge Gowda was the BDA commissioner. According to the report, a copy of which is available with Bangalore Mirror, the then commissioner had sanctioned 171 site allotments without the knowledge of the screening committee. According to annexure C-5 of the report, the move flouted the norm that any site allotted under the scheme has to pass through the screening committee.

Norms flouted

The report, obtained by RTI activist B M Shivakumar, states that around 800 alternative sites were allotted by BDA in violation of the prescribed norms. In July last year, M P Nadagouda, B R Gurudev, R V Venkatesh, Basavaraj Horatti and S M Anand raised the matter in the legislative council. The government subsequently ordered an inquiry and the report was submitted recently to current BDA commissioner Siddaiah.

Prime locations

The investigating committee headed by M B Mallikarjuna Swamy, superintendent of police, BDA, probed the allotments of 4,409 sites and recommended the cancellation of 224 of them, including one allotted to a sitting Congress MLA from the city.

Majority of the sites allotted under the scheme are located in HSR 6th Sector and 4th Sector, East of NGEF, OMBR Layout, HRBR 1st Block and 3rd Block, Nagarbhavi 1st Stage, Banashankari 2nd Stage and 6th Stage, and Chandra Layout. An assistant executive engineer and an assistant engineer were found guilty by the investigative team.

According to Nadagouda, the beneficiaries had obtained sites from BDA at a nominal price and had sold them for crores, especially the ones along the Hosur-Sarjapur road. “Many high-level officials are also involved in the scam. I will raise the matter during the next session and demand stringent action against the guilty officials,” he said.

RTI activist Shivakumar said the scam could not take place without the involvement of senior officials. Expressing doubts about the report’s estimation of Rs 150-crore loss to BDA, he said the civic organisation’s former Deputy Secretary Narasimha Murthy had, in a separate report on five irregular allotments under the same scheme, stated that they were worth Rs 22.50 crore. “We will soon meet legislative council chairman Veeranna Mattikatti regarding this,” he added.

Probe roadblocks

According to a member of the investigative team, the probe is not yet complete. “We have tried our level best to trace all sites. However, a few remained out of our purview during the course of the investigation,” he said.

Another report gathers dust

BDA’s former Deputy Secretary-1, Narasimha Murthy, submitted a separate report in August 2008, pointing to the involvement of BDA’s former Secretary, assistant executive engineers and junior engineers. Murthy put the loss to BDA from just five irregular allotments at Rs 22.50 crore. Till date, no action has been taken on his report

IPS officer’s trail still hot

2009-03-21T12:34:00.002+05:30

IPS officer’s trail still hot

Lok Ayukta sleuths get information via SMSes saying he has properties in various parts of Karnataka & M’rashtra

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Three days after the raids at IPS officer Hemant Nimbalkar’s houses in Belgaum, Kolhapur and Mumbai, Lok Ayukta sleuths have got new information about his properties in various parts of Maharashtra, including Pune and other parts of Mumbai.
Lok Ayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde told Bangalore Mirror, “After raiding his houses in B e l g a u m , Kolhapur and Mumbai, we are getting more calls from informers about his p r o p e r t i e s and many callers have now started sending SMSes too. We are trying to locate his properties. As per our information, this officer has property not only in Maharashtra but also in Bangalore. We are trying to get all possible information from informers.”
Meanwhile, the appliances in Mumbai flat, which is in the name of his wife Dr Anjali Nimbalkar, are said to be worth Rs 5 lakh. The house has six ACs and all the furniture was bought newly. Sleuths have recorded statements of neighbours and others.

PROPERTY IN PUNE

Justice Hegde said Nimbalkar had huge plots of land near Race Club, Pune and Marine Drive in Mumbai. “When he was the Bellary SP, he had bought land in Dr Anjali’s name. He has immovable property and sites in some parts of Bangalore too.”

BENAMI PROPERTY

Hegde said Nimbalkar had invested in two major apartments in Belgaum. But the sleuths couldn’t find his name in the property. The Lok Ayukta officials also failed to connect other documents and enough material pertaining to him with those of his associates in Belgaum, he said.
Sources in Kolhapur said the sleuths have found gold ornaments worth Rs 1.55 lakh and silver worth Rs 32,000 and solid cash amounting to Rs 41,000.

SCRIBES UNDER SCANNER

Sources close to Lok Ayukta said informers have revealed some vital information about Nimbalkar’s friends in Belgaum. It is said Nimbalkar was closely associated with some journalists and he has purchased lands in their names also.

Lok Ayukta’s Mumbai mission fails

2009-03-21T12:26:00.002+05:30

Lok Ayukta’s Mumbai mission fails

Sleuths unable to establish that IPS officer Nimbalkar owned properties worth crores of rupees

ATUL CHATURVEDI

IPS officer and Anti-Terrorist Squad SP Hemant Nimbalkar got a respite on Thursday when the Lok Ayukta sleuths failed to find his properties in Mumbai.
The sleuths, who returned to Bangalore the same day, checked Nimbalkar’s two flats in Yashraj Cooperative Housing Society, plot no 178 on Sir Balachandra Marg, Dadar East.
His wife Dr Anjali, who returned to her home in Mumbai on Wednesday night, was shocked to see the sleuths. “She was initially non-cooperative. However after speaking to her husband over the phone, she allowed us to investigate,” said the sleuths.

FLATS GIFTED

Interestingly, Dr Anjali revealed the flat nos 701 and 702 were in her name and they were gifted to Nimbalkar by her father.
The sleuths, however, could not find anything significant in the Mumbai flat. Besides, there was not a single vehicle in the apartment that belonged to either Nimbalkar or his wife.
Matunga police station inspector Sunil Laxmanrao Deshmukh said, “Lok Ayukta sleuths have not contacted us nor sought any help from us. We don’t have any information about their Wednesday’s raid. They might have taken help from Mumbai’s anti-corruption sleuths.”
Lok Ayukta ADGP R K Dutta said, “We could not get much in the Mumbai house. Now, we are searching for properties he has created using benami names.”

UNCONFIRMED INFO: LOK AYUKTA

Lok Ayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde said he had received calls from Mumbai, Delhi and Belgaum saying Nimbalkar had amassed wealth worth Rs 250 crore.
He said, “This fact was mentioned at the press conference. This fact was not discovered by the Lok Ayukta police who received this information over the telephone. Its veracity has to be checked. Therefore, as per the search report of Lok Ayukta, the police officer’s assets are valued at Rs 76 lakh only.”

HAVE TO FACE IT: NIMBALKAR

Bangalore Mirror spoke to Hemant Nimbalkar over telephone.This is what he had to say. Question: Your comments on Wednesday’s raid by Lok Ayukta sleuths.
Answer: It’s the action taken by the government and I have to face it.
Q: As Belgaum SP, you had arrested some SIMI activists and busted some smuggling rackets. Are these forces behind the raid?
A: I do not want to comment on this.
Q. There are reports that claim you own properties in Belgaum and some parts of Maharashtra. A. I don’t know.

AS APPEARED IN 'MUMBAI MIRROR' ON 19/03/2009 ON COVER PAGE

2009-03-19T18:58:00.002+05:30

CM'S COP KIN IS WORTH RS 250 CR

IS officer related to CM by marriage seems to be worth as much as any heavyweight politician

ATUL CHATURVEDI

In a first of its kind raid the Karnataka Lok Ayukta used its extraordinary power to raid the homes of a close relative of Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan on Wednesday. IPS officer Hemanth Madhukar Nimbalkar who is related to Chavan by marriage, is also superintendent of police in the Karnataka Anti-Terror Squad. In a day-long joint operation with the Maharashtra Police, Lok Ayukta sleuths raided Nimbalkar’s homes in Mumbai, Belgaum and Kolhapur. According to investigators the IPS officer is worth an estimated Rs 250 crore.
Lok Ayukta Justice Santosh Hegde told this reporter, “We have information that he has property and income worth Rs 250 crore, which we are ascertaining and which will be recovered and revealed in the next eight days.” Nimbalkar has been a shrewd investor. Most of the properties that he owned were not registered in his name, but in the name of his wife Dr Anjali who is at present pursuing post-graduation in Medical Sciences in Mumbai and who is the daughter of Ashok Chavan’s nephew.
Nimbalkar who was in Kolhapur at the time of the raids told sleuths that the Kolhapur property is an ancestral one. In addition he has two acres of prime land near Kataguli village near Desur Golf Club in Belgaum, two flats in Mumbai’s Yashraj Sah Co-op Housing Society in Hindu colony and he has a considerable share in a newly-constructed shopping mall called ‘Nucleus’ at Belgaum, said Additional Director General of Police (Lok Ayukta) R K Dutta.
Investigators are also waiting to speak to Nimbalkar’s wife for more details but she was unavailable on Wednesday as she was busy with her examinations. According to sleuths they are also investigating Nimbalkar’s interest in mining and transport companies in Karnataka.

RAIDED AND THE MONIES ARE STILL BEING COUNTED...

2009-03-19T18:55:00.001+05:30

RAIDED AND THE MONIES ARE STILL BEING COUNTED...

IPS officer Hemanth Madhukar Nimbalkar, a relative of Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan, seems to be worth more than any heavyweight politician in Karnataka. Preliminary findings by the Lok Ayukta after raids on his residences in Belgaum, Kolhapur and Mumbai reveal that he could have amassed huge assets, suspected to be around Rs 250 crore

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Behind his kadak image, Hemanth Nimbalkar, a 1998 batch IPS officer, appears to have been indulging in daylight dacoity. It’s a moot point, but one worth pondering: Who is more anti-national and dangerous to state and society, the SIMI militants and dreaded criminals whom he ‘encountered’ and despatched with such patriotic machismo, or Nimbalkar himself, whose actions make a travesty of the apellation ‘government servant’?
On Wednesday, the Lok Ayukta snagged several big fish but Nimbalkar beats them all because of the quantum of corruption involved, and the sensitivity of the post he currently occupies as a senior officer of Karnataka’s nodal Anti Terrorist Squad. The Lok Ayukta sleuths, clearly sensing that they had stumbled on something humungous, conducted simultaneous raids on his residences at Belgaum, Kolhapur and Mumbai.

SCRATCHING THE SURFACE

The sleuths on Wednesday recovered property worth Rs 76 lakh, including title deeds of two acres of prime land near Katagali village near Desur Golf Club in Belgaum. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Lok Ayukta Justice Santosh Hegde said: “We have information that he is worth around Rs 250 crore, we are ascertaining it. In the next eight days we will get a clear picture. He has been a shrewd investigator all through his career and knows how to handle the situation. Most of the properties that he owned were not registered in his name, but in the name of his wife Dr Anjali, who is currently pursuing post-graduation in Medical Sciences in Mumbai.”

A LOK AYUKTA FIRST

Considered to be a first in the history of Lok Ayukta, the sleuths took permission from Belgaum Magistrate (Special Judge) to conduct raids at Kolhapur and Mumbai with help from Maharashtra Police. Sources in Lok Ayukta informed Bangalore Mirror that Nimbalkar who was at his Kolhapur residence when the raid was conducted was interrogated there.

CONNECTED TO MAHA CM

Nimbalkar, who was not given any post after he rebuffed the government’s order to take over as Superintendent of Police of Mandya district, is politically well-connected. He’s a close relative of Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and is married to Dr Anjali, daughter of Chavan’s nephew.
He had reportedly gone on leave after he was transferred recently from the post of Superintendent of Police, Mandya district to DG office, informed an officer.
Nimbalkar claimed that his property located in Kolhapur was ancestral property. But Lok Ayukta sleuths said, “It was a three-storied building and was renovated recently by spending several lakhs. We are verifying the documents that we have seized at his residence.”

FLATS IN MUMBAI

According to Justice Hegde, Nimbalkar owns two flats in Mumbai’s Yashraj Sah Co-op Housing Society and Plot No 178 at the Hindu colony on Sir Balachandra Marg in Dadar East. The flats, nos. 701 and 702, are in the name of his wife Dr Anjali and costs around Rs 75 lakh. We are waiting her to comeback home as she was not available at the time of raid.

ASSOCIATES UNDER SCANNER

Additional Director General of Police (Lok Ayukta) R K Dutta said, We are investigating the possible role of his partners in various businesses. Owner of PVG Roadlines Prasanna Ghatge, Dilip Chindak, Giridhar Chindak, Bakul Joshi and Arun Killekar were also taken into custody for interrogation. Sources revealed that Nimbalkar has a considerable share in the newly built swanky shopping mall ‘Nucleus’ at Belgaum, constructed by by Arun Killekar. His other associate Ghotge is involved in roadlines business and is also into mining at Hospet in Bellary district.

3rd top cop in Lok Ayukta net

2009-03-19T18:41:00.001+05:30

3rd top cop in Lok Ayukta net

M Hemant Nimbalkar is the third IPS officer to come under the scanner of Lok Ayukta after DIG Forest Cell M C Narayana Gowda and Chamrajnagar SP Srikantappa. Srikantappa was caught accepting a bribe and Narayan Gowda’s house was raided recently

FROM JOURNO TO IPS

Nimbalkar is an IPS officer of 1998 batch. He passed Civil Services Examinations in 1997 and started his police career as additional SP at Tiptur. Later, he worked with CoD and as SP of Dharwad, Bellary, Belgaum, Chikmagalur and Mandya districts. Recently, he was transferred and was awaiting posting. It is said that DG and IGP Ajai Kumar Singh had asked him to look after the state’s anti-terror cell.
Nimbalkar hails from Nimbal village of Indi taluk in Bijapur district. He worked as sub-editor for a popular Marathi daily of Maharashtra before joining the IPS. He shot to fame during his stint in Bellary when he nabbed the kidnapper of a businessman from Andhra Pradesh.

HIGHLIGHTS AS BELGAUM SP

During Nimbalkar’s stint as Belgaum SP from July 2004 to July 2008, he arrested six SIMI activists for suspected terror activities. Notorious gangster Praveen Shintre was eliminated in an encounter. He also arrested Akash Desai, a big hashish dealer in Belgaum district.

POLICE LAND CONVERTED TO GYMKHANA CLUB

Justice Santosh Hegde said, Nimbalkar played a key role in converting police land into a gymkhana club in Bellary with the help of local businessmen during his tenure as SP in Bellary. This meant cops were deprived of the facility and were not allowed inside the club.

DIDN’T REPORT TO MANDYA

Nimbalkar was transferred to Mandya from Chikmaglur district around six months back. However, he did not go to Mandya citing back pain. Instead, he reported to DG’s office in Bangalore where he shared the chambers with another IPS officer, according to sources.

NIMBALKAR’S ASSETS

Lok Ayukta puts his assets at Rs 250 cr, says will recover them in 8 days
Legitimate income
Rs 25 lakh
Property recovered worth
Rs 76 lakh (Two flats in Dadar East, Mumbai, worth Rs 75 lakh; and two acres of land in Belgaum worth Rs 1 lakh)

THE SMALL FISH!

L H HANUMANTHAPPA, Agriculture Officer, Lingasugur

Legitimate income - Rs 24 lakh Property - Rs 1.47 crore One site at Chanakyapuri layout, Nagavara - Rs 54,000 4 sites at Daddi colony,Raichur - Rs 75 lakh Flat at Azadnagar, Raichur (in wife’s name) - Rs 4.40 lakh Farm house at Hanumanahala village in Gangavathi taluk - Rs 5 lakh Five acres of land at Hanumanahala (in wife’s name) - Rs 30,000 Five acres of land at Hanumanahala in his son’s name - Rs 30,000 One acre 15 guntas of land in Raichur colony - Rs 1.50 lakh Four sites in Venkatachar colony, Gangavathi town - Rs 3.20 lakh 1375 sq ft site at Vijayanagar, Bangalore - Rs 31 lakh 14 sites at Lingasugur - Rs 2.12 lakh Four acres seven guntas of land at Gundur (in son’s name) - Rs 5 lakh Five acres five guntas of land in Gangavathi taluk (in son’s name) - Rs2.5 lakh Five acres five guntas of land in Gangavathi taluk (in wife’s name) - Rs2.5 lakh Four acres two guntas of land in Huli Hyder village (in wife’s name) - Rs 2 lakh One tractor - Rs 4 Lakh One Kinetic Honda - Rs 50,000 One Indica car - Rs 3.5 Lakh One ambassador car - Rs 1 Lakh Gold 240 gms - Rs 2.4 Lakh Silver four kgs - Rs 62,000 Total - Rs 1,47,38,000

M LAKSHMAN, ASST Commissioner, BBMP

Legitimate income - Rs 45 lakh Property - Rs 1.32 crore Cash - Rs 33,000 Gold 352 gms - Rs 4.57 Lakh Silver 1076 gms - Rs 23,672 Addition of two floors to house at Banshankari - Rs 20 Lakh House in Banshankari (in wife’s name) Rs 20 Lakh House under construction in Kumaraswamy layout - Rs 25 Lakh Commercial building in Jayanagar - Rs 60,00,000 Site at Kanakpura road - Rs 1 Lakh Four bank accounts - to be verified

CHELUVE GOWDA, EE, PWD, Mandya

Legitimate income - Rs 45 lakh Property - Rs 71.65 Lakh Two houses at Mandya - Rs 50 Lakh Site in Mysore - Rs 55,000 14 guntas of land in Mandya - Rs 60,000 Poultry farm in Mandya - Rs 18 Lakh 16-acre mango garden in Mandya - value to be estimated Cash - Rs 50,000 Gold 200 gms - Rs 2,00,000 Locker at Syndicate bank, Mandya to be opened

M HEMANTH NIMBALKAR, IPS Officer

Legitimate income Rs 25 lakh Property - Rs 76 lakh Two flats in Dadar East, Mumbai - Rs 75 Lakh Two acres of land in Belgaum - Rs 1 Lakh Veer Shetty Legitimate income - Rs 25 lakh Property - Rs 92 lakh House in Bidar - Rs 50 lakh Two houses in Bhalki - Rs 20 lakh Site in Bidar - Rs 2.50 Lakh 12 acres of agricultural land at Bhalki - Rs 10 Lakh Tractor - Rs 2 Lakh Two motorcycles - Rs 50,000 Household articles - Rs 7 Lakh

Road gets facelift after 45 years

2009-03-19T18:32:00.001+05:30

Road gets facelift after 45 years

Their demand for a decent road fell on deaf ears for four decades. Now, the residents of a Kengeri Satellite Town layout have cause for cheer as the one-km stretch has been relaid by BDA

ATUL CHATURVEDI

The 45-year-long wait of the residents of Sri Ram Layout of Kengeri Satellite Town has finally borne fruit as a crucial one-km stretch connecting the locality the Mysore road has finally been relaid by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).
The residents have thanked BDA commissioner S Siddaiah for giving the green signal for this long-pending work. RTI activist and local resident of Kengeri Satellite Town resident B Shivkumar, who is credited with a key role in the matter, said, “None of the earlier BDA commissioners seemed interested. Six months ago, we approached BDA commissioner Siddaiah. He gave his okay, and the new road has made commuting a pleasure.”
Venkatesh, a resident, said, “We have faced many problems, especially in the rainy season, as the road was neither repaired nor relaid. Many commuters have in fact suffered injuries while negotiating this road. We are happy that BDA has finally relaid the road. Children and senior citizens in particular will now be able to walk in comfort on this stretch.”

LONG DELAY

According to BDA, the long delay was on account of contractors not showing any interest in the work. Assistant executive engineer (Kengeri) Ramlinge Gowda told Bangalore Mirror, “We had called tenders four times, but no contractor approached us. Last month, a contract was awarded to a contractor and he has completed the job.”
Elaborating on the relaying exercise, he said, “We have metalled the entire stretch. A layer of 25 mm semi-dense bitumen was laid as also two layers of 100 mm ‘jelly’ before the asphalting. The total cost was Rs 10.40 lakh.”

BWSSB GOT ACTIVE!

Typical of the conflicting schedules of different agencies, BWSSB started digging the road to lay CI pipes even as the road work was under way. According to some residents, BWSSB wanted to replace the PVC lines with CI pipes. “We told the BDA officials to let BWSSB finish its work before completing the relaying of the road. As a result, work on the road took 15 days longer to complete. We have waited 45 years and God knows what will happen if the new road is dug up once again.”

A sting that stung

2009-03-19T18:30:00.000+05:30

A sting that stung

2009-03-19T18:28:00.001+05:30

A sting that stung

Blow-by-blow account of how Lok Ayukta trapped two policemen from Upparpet Police Station while accepting a bribe

ATUL CHATURVEDI & SAMEER RANJAN BAKSHI

In tracking the corrupt, Lok Ayukta sleuths have now to go that extra mile as in the case of Upparpet inspector M R Mudhavi and his subordinate Srinivas Murthy, who were booked for accepting Rs 30,000 for granting a permit to run a gaming parlour.
“It was like a sting operation. It took eight days for us to arrest the inspector and the constable concerned. It was a tough case and we had to do a lot of video recording,” a Lok Ayukta official, who was part of the team that nabbed the duo last week, told Bangalore Mirror. Incidentally, Upparpet is one of the most lucrative police stations in the city.

THE DEAL

The game started rolling on March 3 in front of the police station, where S Suresh of V V Puram approached Murthy for a permit to run a gaming shop at Prabhat Complex on K G Road. Murthy demanded Rs 50,000 for the permit, saying his boss Mudhavi would take the lion’s share of Rs 40,000 with the rest going to him.
Suresh refused to pay that amount and convinced Murthy to settle for Rs 30,000. Murthy agreed and said Rs 25,000 would go to Mudhavi while he kept the rest.
On March 5, Mudhavi called Suresh to Gandhinagar to settle the deal. The negotiation took place in the police jeep near the National Market. Mudhavi agreed to Rs 30,000 and wanted the transaction to be completed on March 9.

THE TRAP

Meanwhile, Suresh lodged a complaint with Lok Ayukta and a trap was laid. The Lok Ayukta provided him with some witnesses to accompany him to the police station. Seeing Suresh, Mudhavi escorted him to the station gate and pointed towards the mobile shop owner Kiran Raj and said, “I will not take the cash, pay it to Kiran.”
Murthy took Kiran to a nearby parked car and asked him to collect the money from Suresh. He also directed him to give his share of Rs 5,000 immediately. As both sat inside the car for the transaction, Lok Ayukta sleuths stepped in and arrested both on the spot.

Bribing outsourced!

2009-03-19T18:26:00.002+05:30

Bribing outsourced!

A vigilant Lok Ayukta has forced officials of various departments to come up with novel strategies to accept bribes

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Where there’s a will, there has to be a way, seems to be the dictum of corrupt officials, who are finding new and imaginative ways to beat traps set by a vigilant Lok Ayukta, led by Justice N Santhosh Hegde.
While some take the pains to travel to neighbouring states to accept bribes, others have outsourced the job to sundry henchmen, ranging from the corner shopwallah to close relatives.
Not surprisingly, Lok Ayukta is not amused. Says Lok Ayukta Additional Director General of Police R K Dutta, “It is getting difficult to trap such officers as they constantly keep changing their modus operandi. These days they have become smarter and so we have to do a lot of groundwork while trailing the corrupt.”
The Lok Ayukta trapped 68 officials in the last three months. In a majority of these cases, the sleuths of Lok Ayukta had to resort to unconventional methods to net the corrupt. Here are a few of the bribe strategies followed by various departments:

THE POLICE

These usual suspects, always in the public glare, have been quick learners. Till recently, police officers used to collect bribes through their constables. But not anymore. They have outsourced the job. The recently caught Upparpet police inspector M R Mudhavi reportedly used the mobile phone shop in front of the police station as a collection centre.
Another traffic police inspector and his team in the central part of the city turned a garage into their ‘mamool’ collection point. Some have stopped demanding bribes verbally in the fear of being recorded and use signals instead. Still others move around and strike deals in safe areas.
The not so lucky, meanwhile, can turn desperate.
Last month, a constable from Commercial Street police ran away when he was cornered by Lok Ayukta sleuths. In another incident, Gangammanagudi police station writer escaped on a motorcycle.

REVENUE DEPARTMENT

Not to be left behind, the revenue department has come up with their own bunch of tricks to beat Lok Ayukta. Meera Nagraj, a second division clerk who worked in Bangalore South taluk, was found to have engaged another lady to accept bribes on her behalf. In another incident, Shivashankar, a second division surveyor of Bangalore North taluk, gave that job to his nephew. Both of them were arrested for accepting Rs 50,000 as bribe.

TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT

According to Lok Ayukta, this is another department in the clutch of corruption. The modus operandi used by officials here is a variant of others. They have engaged touts to deliver bribes at their homes or at some convenient spot. Many also hand over bribes to their drivers immediately, who have the task of shipping it out safely. “While attention would be on the officer, his driver would have walked away with the cash,” sources said.

BBMP

The biggest corporation in the state has worked out a different strategy for collection. Here the subordinates collect the bribe and distribute the same among superior officers.
Recently Rudrawadi, assistant director (town planning), who was arrested by Lok Ayukta was found to have engaged his subordinate for collecting bribes. He was arrested while accepting Rs 1.5 lakh.

IPL polled out

2009-03-19T18:19:00.005+05:30

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IPL polled out

Royal Challengers Bangalore, who were hoping to prove in IPL 2 that they are as much studs as stars, seem to have run into date problems. Home Minister V S Acharya and Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari categorically stated that adequate security can be provided only for select matches due to the upcoming general elections

Atul Chaturvedi & Suchith Kidiyoor

Posted On Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 11:10:18 AM

So it’s official: Polls take precedence over cricket. Forget the small matter that an entire nation, and cities like cricket-crazy Bangalore in particular, could hardly contain itself in anticipation of IPL’s second season. Of course, the politicians were only being predictable, choosing as they always do the line of least resistance.

This is what Karnataka Home Minister V S Acharya said: “The coming Lok Sabha elections are our priority and not cricket. We cannot be providing security to both polls and cricket at the same time. Only after the elections will be able to provide security to the matches.”

Common sense and a simple matter of logistics could have prompted a different decision. Consider this: Just a little over 1,500 cops are what is required as security blanket for a cricket match to be played in the city. Is it asking too much to deploy this number when the total police force in the state stands at 89,292 personnel?

The home minister’s statement was followed by the release of a letter written by City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari to Bangalore-based liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s Royal Challengers Bangalore team, categorically denying security to IPL matches till May 3.

The letter stated: “We will not be in a position to give security for any IPL matches until May 3 in view of our commitments regarding general elections being held to the Lok Sabha in Karnataka on April 23 and 30. We are also not in a position to provide security for IPL matches from May 15 to 18 (both days inclusive), in view of the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections.”

NO CONSENSUS

Earlier, representatives of Royal Challengers (which is owned by the UB Group) had held discussions with the Commissioner about the matches that were supposed to be played on April 14, 19, 23 and May 3, 7, 15 and 19 in the city. But with the announcement of Lok Sabha polls, the original schedule had to be junked. Another round of discussion was held with Bidari recently, but there was no consensus on the new dates. While the Royal Challengers team insisted that matches start in the first fortnight of April, Bidari opposed it citing security issues.

Instead, he agreed to provide security to seven matches to be played on May 4, 7, 10, 11 14, 19 and 20. These dates were actually suggested by the Royal Challengers themselves, police sources said. When contacted, UB Group spokesperson Prakash Mirpuri refused to comment on the issue.

But what has baffled the city’s cricket fans is the hyper-cautious stand adopted by the police. “These Twenty20 cricket matches are played for just a few hours, it is quite sad to know that our police, who claim to be the best in the country, cannot provide security,” Rohit Kumar, a cricket player and resident of Vijayanagar said. A former cop too concurred with him stating that it is not a difficult task, given a little foresight and planning, to provide the necessary security cover. The government, however, seems unwilling to take chances. With the threat perception being high, the question of divided attention does not arise, top government officials said.

NO CHOICE BUT ACCEPT“
The dates will have to be changed with RCB’s home matches to be played after May 4. And RCB would like to play all home games on home turf in Bangalore.”
RCB CEO Brijesh Patel

“Security or no security, whether beefed up or not beefed up, when bad time comes it comes on a horse back. But on the other hand, precautionary measures have to be taken.” Syed Kirmani

“Security comes first and cricket comes next. Since the IPL has clashed with the general election dates, to provide security to both is extremely tough. After the attack on Sri Lankan players we should not take any risk.”
Dodda Ganesh

Mallya's Roadblock

2009-03-19T18:17:00.001+05:30

Mallya's Roadblock

Vittal Mallya Road is a nightmare for motorists, but the UB Group which has committed itself to maintaining the road is doing nothing about it

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Friday, March 13, 2009 at 01:06:40 AM

The Vittal Mallya Road that Mallya was supposed to rebuild is in pathetic condition and will continue to remain so for at least 10 months. (left) Bangalore Mirror had carried a report on this earlier

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya shelled out over Rs 9 crore from his own pocket to bring Mahatma Gandhi’s memorabilia back to India, but his generosity apparently doesn’t extend to his own backyard in Bangalore: The Vittal Mallya Road that he was supposed to rebuild is in pathetic condition and will continue to remain so for at least 10 months. Mallya, who made Vittal Mallya Road so high profile by building the swanky UB City on it, has deferred plans of sprucing up the road because of cost reasons. He prefers to wait till all major construction flanking the road are over.

Sources in the UB Group said it was financially not prudent to spend on the road at this juncture. “A lot of trucks carrying construction material ply in this area, damaging the road. We thought it is better to wait till the construction work is over as laying a world-class road is definitely a costly affair.”

PASSING THE BUCK

Billed by the city’s real-estate analysts as the “most-happening place in future”, Vittal Mallya Road is in the central part of the city and connects Tiffany Square with Lavelle Road and St Marks Road. It went out of shape when work commenced on the multi-crore UB City project which houses over two-dozen corporate offices and provides selling space to over 40 international brands. Though the residents and the road-users have on several occasions demanded that the road be repaired, nothing has been done. While the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) maintained that the road is to be developed by the UB Group as it agreed to do so, the latter had countered that some clearances were pending from the BBMP.

A spokesperson of UB Group said: “Vittal Mallya road, in front of UB CITY, was beautified by the UB Group 20 years ago and the UB Group has maintained it, at its cost, ever since. We have only recently received approval from BBMP for rebuilding the road, at our cost, and we immediately commissioned our architect and a traffic consultant to design the road. We are awaiting the completion of major civil works in the neighbouring JW Marriott hotel (not being developed by the UB Group) before rebuilding the road. If Vittal Mallya Road is commissioned before the JW Marriott hotel is completed, it can damage the road.”

THANK GOD, NO TOLL

The moot point is when will the construction work on the hotel end? Though the project manager of JW Marriott maintained that the seven-star hotel is slated to ready by this December, those at the construction site felt that it could be delayed much beyond that. Meanwhile, ordinary Bangaloreans moving around in the central business district will have to grind their teeth and submit themselves to a bone-jarring ride whenever they negotiate this stretch.

But what comes as a relief is the fact that the road, when developed, will not be a toll-road. The UB Group spokesperson added: “Vittal Mallya road belongs to the BBMP and the citizens of Bangalore. Therefore, there is no question of the UB Group levying any toll for those who want to use the road. The rebuilding of Vittal Mallya Road is yet another contribution by the UB Group to Bengaluru.”

They came, dug and vanished!

2009-03-19T18:15:00.001+05:30

They came, dug and vanished!

Atul Chaturvedi and Suchith Kidiyoor

Posted On Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 01:05:20 AM

It has been four months now since the residents of Ramamurthy Nagar near K R Puram have seen a BMTC bus in their area. Reason: There is no space. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) have dug up Ramamurthy Nagar main road to lay drinking water pipes and BMTC’s ordinary buses have stopped plying there. As a result, the residents are forced to put up with the dust and walk long distances to catch buses to reach other parts of the city.

“These people just came one day, dug the pits and they just didn’t come after that. The road, which was a narrow one, was not relaid. While the BWSSB claims that it is Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) job to rebuild the road, the latter has turned a deaf ear to the issue,” the residents said while recounting how the BMTC decided to pull off its regular fleet from plying on the road.

After the project has been undertaken by the BWSSB, only three to four BMTC buses are plying on this road. Commuters are left with no option other than taking an auto to reach their destination. “Do you think people can afford to pay Rs 40 to Rs 50 daily? Even if we are ready, the auto drivers from K R Puram and Ring Road refuse to come the moment we say we want to go to Ramamurthy Nagar,” says Basavraj.

People who rush home after their work have a different story to say. “As there are no buses plying after 6, we have have to walk either from K R Puram or Ring Road. Many people have left their houses here. It is ok with men, but what about working women? Do those officials think that it is safe for women to walk at night nearly two to three kilometres daily?,” Raghuram asked.

Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, an official who maintained anonymity said, “BWSSB already finished the work from police station circle to ITI colony. Now it is the duty of the BBMP to undertake asphalting work.”

“Please walk from police station circle to ITI colony where they have ended up the work, you can see many pits which are not attended yet. There are no words of caution or any barricade,” reacts a walker when this reporter visited the area.

The shop keepers also chipped in with their difficulties. Syed Jilani says, “In sunny days, it is unbearable to withstand the blowing dust from the road. They have not shown even the minimum courtesy to sprinkle water, we have pleaded many a times. At last all shop keepers decided to hire water tanks to sprinkle the water. We collected little money from each shops and sprinkled water in the morning and evening,”

When this reporter spoke to some auto drivers, they said, “We had gone for a strike but it had not made any effect on the officials. How can we ply on this muddy field? Apart from tjhis there are traffic jams and there is no traffic police to ease the traffic.”

K V Shivprasad, president of Bangalore Citizens Welfare Forum, said, “We have approached the MLA of the region with regard to asphalting and drainage work in Ramamurthy Nagar. He assured that within a week, the officials concerned will start the work. If they fail to deliver the promise we will protest.” It is learnt that the concerned department has not cleared the tender yet. When Bangalore Mirror enquired, an Assistant Executive Engineer of the BBMP said that the tenders have been cleared and the work will be completed shortly.

AS APPEARED IN "MUMBAI MIRROR"

2009-03-19T13:22:00.001+05:30

CM's COP KIN IS WORTH RS 250 CR

IPS officer related to CM by marriage seems to be worth as much as any heavyweight politician

ATUL CHATURVEDI

In a first of its kind raid the Karnataka Lok Ayukta used its extraordinary power to raid the homes of a close relative of Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan on Wednesday. IPS officer Hemanth Madhukar Nimbalkar who is related to Chavan by marriage, is also superintendent of police in the Karnataka Anti-Terror Squad. In a day-long joint operation with the Maharashtra Police, Lok Ayukta sleuths raided Nimbalkar’s homes in Mumbai, Belgaum and Kolhapur. According to investigators the IPS officer is worth an estimated Rs 250 crore.
Lok Ayukta Justice Santosh Hegde told this reporter, “We have information that he has property and income worth Rs 250 crore, which we are ascertaining and which will be recovered and revealed in the next eight days.” Nimbalkar has been a shrewd investor. Most of the properties that he owned were not registered in his name, but in the name of his wife Dr Anjali who is at present pursuing post-graduation in Medical Sciences in Mumbai and who is the daughter of Ashok Chavan’s nephew.
Nimbalkar who was in Kolhapur at the time of the raids told sleuths that the Kolhapur property is an ancestral one. In addition he has two acres of prime land near Kataguli village near Desur Golf Club in Belgaum, two flats in Mumbai’s Yashraj Sah Co-op Housing Society in Hindu colony and he has a considerable share in a newly-constructed shopping mall called ‘Nucleus’ at Belgaum, said Additional Director General of Police (Lok Ayukta) R K Dutta.
Investigators are also waiting to speak to Nimbalkar’s wife for more details but she was unavailable on Wednesday as she was busy with her examinations. According to sleuths they are also investigating Nimbalkar’s interest in mining and transport companies in Karnataka.

Bumpy ride in CM’s neighbourhood

2009-03-07T18:25:00.001+05:30

Bumpy ride in CM’s neighbourhood

Residents say the pothole-ridden roads, poor drainage system and no provision for garbage disposal have dampened their spirit of having a high-profile neighbour

Sameer Ranjan Bakshi & Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Thursday, March 05, 2009 at 12:18:03 AM

pothole-ridden roads

While Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has decided to splurge on Bangalore’s roads, his neighbours in RMV Layout continue to crib. Reason: All roads in this posh area are full of potholes except for the one that leads to the CM’s personal residence.

“We have lodged several complaints, but in vain. We continue to put up with bumpy rides,” said one of the residents, adding that it dampened their happiness of having a high-profile neighbour.

Residents said Bala Anjaneya Temple Street, which is just 100 metres from the CM’s residence, has not been repaired for the last 10 ears.

Mehboob Ali, a 78-year-old resident of the locality and a former PWD official, said, “Auto drivers refuse to come here because of the bad state of the road.”

K S Anusuya, a housewife who has been living there for last 25 years, said, “I do not know when the road was last repaired, since it was constructed 25 years ago.” She said local MLA Ashwath Narayan had three months ago assured the residents that he would do the needful to get the road repaired.

Drains in a mess

Another resident, Shyamala Devi, said, “We have heard that funds for its repair have been sanctioned. But the work is yet to begin. Many old people walk along the street in the morning and evening. Recently, one woman fell down and suffered a fractured limb. Even the drainage system needs repair. Water enters my house during the rainy season.”

Potholes galore

The 4th and 5th cross roads, which run parallel to the road leading to the CM’s residence, are infested with potholes.

T S Ganesh said, “I have been living here for four years now. These bumpy rides irritate me every day.” He said the bumpy ride begins just 30 metres away from the CM’s residence.

Like most of the people, even the CM has failed to see his back and the brazen BBMP, which invariably fails to provide civic amenities, is not bothered about the condition of these roads.

Bangalore Mirror tried to contact MLA Ashwathnarayan, but in vain. BBMP assistant engineer Keshavmurthy said, “The corporation has sanctioned Rs 99.5 lakh for the purpose. Asphalting will begin shortly.”

The open landfill, where garbage of the area is being dumped, is only a stone’s throw from the CM’s residence. BBMP commissioner S Subramanya said, “ The road and garbage disposal work near the RMV 2nd stage will start soon.”

In the light
I do not know when the road was last repaired, since it was constructed 25 years ago. Local MLA Ashwathnarayan had assured us relief three months ago
K S Anusuya, a housewife

Auto drivers refuse to come here because of the bad state of the road
Mehboob Ali, a septuagenarian

I have been living here for four years now. These bumpy rides irritate me every day. Like most of the people, even the CM has failed to see his back
T S Ganesh, a resident

We have heard that funds for its repair have been sanctioned. But the work is yet to begin
Shyamala Devi, another housewife

Trashed!

2009-03-07T18:07:00.002+05:30

Trashed!

Door-to-door solid waste collection is meant to be free within BBMP limits. But in various localities in the city, garbage contractors have introduced tariff cards of their own for fees to be collected every month from each house

Atul Chaturvedi & Sameer Ranjan Bakshi
Posted On Wednesday, March 04, 2009 at 12:05:04 AM

A fee card that the contractors give residents to mask their illegal collection

Every morning you leave the garbage outside your house. A trash collector picks it up, segregates it and dumps it at a point from where garbage trucks transport it to landfills or dumping yards outside the city. The concerned contractor submits bills for garbage collection to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and gets his service charges. This is how it should normally work.

But the ground reality couldn’t be more different. In various localities in the city, on a monthly or weekly basis, contractors collect anywhere between Rs 10 and Rs 60 from each household. Given the fact there are around 10 lakh properties in the city, the trash collectors collectively make money that runs into crores of rupees every month. Bangalore Mirror decided to investigate and here are some of the shocking facts:

Take the case of Mahadevpura. The garbage contractor here collects Rs 60 every month from every house. He does it systematically, even handing out a fee-card to each house to record monthly payments. The card, ironically, is issued in the name of Mahadevpura City Municipal Corporation (CMC), which ceased to exist after it became part of the BBMP three years ago! Prakash, a software company employee and resident of Doddanakundi in this area, said: “I know it is plain extortion but do I have a choice?”

In Dasarahalli and adjoining areas off Tumkur Road, the garbage contractors have issued notebooks to each household.

The notebook serves as an entry-book for the collectors. In a majority of the areas that are newly added to the BBMP this problem is rampant. In some places, collections are done on a weekly basis. “If you don’t pay, your trash is not lifted,” said Ravindra Raju, a resident of Jaraganahalli off Kanakapura Road.

PAY OR ELSE...

Garbage collectors at work at Chandra Layout. If residents don’t oblige them with their monthly mamool the waste remains uncollected

That does not mean the old areas of Bangalore are bereft of such extortion. In Rama Mandir area in Rajajinagar (ward number 22), a few politicians who are eying the BBMP elections, are now in control of the garbage clearance programme.

In fact, a former corporator has gone a step ahead here and come up with his own tariff card: Rs 10 per month for houses, Rs 200-300 for fast-food joints and Rs 500 for hotels. If anyone refuses to pay, the punishment is simple: Garbage is strewn in front of their house.

The residents of the area, mostly middle-class families, claim that they have been paying the amount since the door-to-door collection programme was launched in 2001 under the ‘Swachcha Bangalore initiative. Though many complaints have been made to BBMP authorities, including the West Zone Deputy Commissioner, no action has been taken against the collectors. Residents here alleged that junior level BBMP officials were part of this racket.

In places like Sanjaynagar, the residents are at the mercy of the trash-collectors. V Sathyamurthy, President of Sanjaynagar Residents Welfare Association said: “The door to door collection of garbage in this area has come to a naught. It has never worked well here. The absence of regular collection and removal of bins had made residents throw garbage packets into roadside drains.”

BBMP’S PROMISE

The BBMP, meanwhile, is contemplating implementation of the municipal waste management cess that it had proposed sometime ago. “That would allow the BBMP itself to collect the cess,” an officer said, pointing out that the civic agency pays over Rs 150 crore annually to garbage contractors. On the issue of illegal collection, BBMP Commissioner Dr S Subramanya said: “If anyone is being forced to pay money, they can approach me directly and strict action will be taken against garbage contractors.”

DIRT MATTERS

1. About 3,500 metric tons of solid waste is generated in the city everyday

2. By 2013, solid waste is expected to touch 5,200 metric tons per day

3. Expenditure on solid waste management was Rs 172 crore in 2008-09

4. The expenditure is expected to touch Rs 257 crore this year

5. Garbage mafia comprising contractors and officials makes crores of rupees by extorting anywhere between Rs 10
and 60 from denizens

Comment (3 Comments Received)
Even if you excuse the extortion by contractors/pour karmikas.. now from past 2 months, the poura karmikas have started to burn the waste in almost all localities.. This burning results in fumes which are poisonous as they burn dry leaves, plastic, etc. at one go. Also, in almost all parks, you can see early morning walkers walking with their nose closed as even parks are being polluted by burning of dry leaves. Who is responsible for this? Nobody knows. If you ask poura karmikas they hide under the shelter of illitercy. There is no contractor or supervisor visible any where. If you complain to the ward office, they show their innocent ignorance. God save this city. . ..
subramanya, mksubramanya@gmail.com Dated : Saturday, March 07, 200911:06 AM

Yes, not only turning a blind eye but also by being partners in such ill gotten wealth. The housewives are the harried lot and citizens are paying up with helplessness. We are paying taxes for services not being rendered by service providers. All systems have literally ‘gone to dogs’ and are full of corrupt practices. Most of the officials behave as if they have not had a square meal for more than a weak and keep stretching their corrupt hands for any kind of service to public. People should protest. Consider this suggestion: Housewives, when you are ready with your garbage, take a walk and dump the packet inside the compound of the ward office of BBMP in your locality since it will avoid the poura karmikas coming to your door step and your having to pay money eventhough they are supposed to collect it as their duty and without charging. But please do not dump your garbage packet in front of somebody’s house or at the street corner, it will be a very bad act of uncivilized behavior.
LALITHA KUMARI M S, lulkum@yahoo.com Dated : Wednesday, March 04, 200907:03 PM

Illegal collection of charges other than what is collected while collecting property tax tantamounts to misuse of authority,and therfore such unauthorised collection should be stopped forthwith and the corporators must be made liable for such unauthorised collection and issue of receipts,otherwise the same will be brought to the notice of the chief minister possitively. Who authorised the garbage collectors to collect the money and who gave him the receipt book to him. If no action is taken immediately it is presumed that the BBMP is indirectly involved in this transaction.
B S Raghavendra Rao., bsrrao@gmail.com Dated : Wednesday, March 04, 200901:26 PM

Work or be sacked, they told him

2009-03-07T18:03:00.001+05:30

Work or be sacked, they told him

Ashok worked, only to get an eye injury when mud caved in at JP Nagar underpass site

Praveen Kumar & Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Tuesday, March 03, 2009 at 12:01:10 AM

Work or you will be sacked — was the ultimatum his bosses gave 24-year-old Ashok.

Having no choice, he worked. Only to be injured when a part of the underpass construction site where he was working caved in at J P Nagar Fifth Phase on Monday.

Given a tough task Ashok, hailing from Davanagere, was given the task of digging a 12-feet deep trench around 9 am on
Monday to lay a pipe at the construction site. Fearing that the dug-up mud might fall on him during the work, Ashok had begged the contractors to take precautionary measures.

According to sources, K Manohar, DGM, Engineering Project India Ltd, Mohan Yadav, Engineer, Kumaraswamy, the writer and Naidu, the contractor of the project abused Ashok.

Gowdappa (42), father of Ashok who has filed a complaint against Manohar, Yadav, Kumaraswamy and Naidu at J P Nagar police station, has told the police that his son would not have been hurt if he had been given safety gadgets. Around
2.45 pm, the mud caved in and Ashok was struck inside till he was rescued by the other labourers.

Sustaining injuries to his left eye, Ashok was rushed to a nearby hospital. Following the complaint by Gowdappa, the police have registered a case under IPC 337 - Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others - against the four.

‘We are not responsible’

Reacting to the mishap, BBMP officials said it was in no way connected to BBMP as the work was outsourced to a contractor. “Though it was an accident, the authorities concerned should have provided all safety measures. The contractor has to pay compensation to the victim as per labour laws,” an official from BBMP said.

MADE FOR SCREAMING AND SHOUTING

2009-02-25T10:03:00.003+05:30

MADE FOR SCREAMING AND SHOUTING

SAS, proclaimed by the government and BBMP in their ruling wisdom as the best possible formula for paying property tax, seems designed to torture citizens as their form-filling woes continue

ATUL CHATURVEDI

After all that official noise about a peoplefriendly system of property tax collection, the problems faced by conscientious house owners show no signs of disappearing.
BBMP made a grand flourish in the media about starting the property tax collection from Feb 10, but those much-hyped SAS (self-assessment scheme) booklets and forms continue to be in short supply. Worse, the so-called help centres seem to be that in name alone.
“I took two days’ leave from my office for the purpose. But the help centre was unable to provide me with the required form then, and my leave went waste. Now, officials at the help centre are creating new problems. They say we have filed our forms incorrectly and will have to do the exercise afresh, but they are not even guiding us in the matter,” said B S Manohar, a resident of Sanjay Nagar.
BLAME GAME
The officials blame the government printing press for the delay in distributing forms and booklets. U A Vasanth Rao, Deputy Commissioner (Resources), said, “Booklets and forms were delayed by the government printing press. Now, the problem is solved and forms are available, including forms in Kannada.”
A staffer at a Shivaji Nagar help centre said, “We are just selling the forms. We don’t have enough people to help each and every person fill up the forms. The queues are large and we are just collecting the cheques.”
The scene is repeated at the designated centres in Jayamahal, Rajaji Nagar, Malleswaram, Jayanagar and other core city areas. House owners are being told to fill up the forms on their own, as a result of which applications are frequently incomplete and citizens have to repeat the process of buying a form.
One applicant, Purushottam, said, “We are not used to filling such forms. As there is no help forthcoming, many of us end up filling in wrong information. Hence, many residents are forced to stand in queues two to three times to buy forms and fill them all over again.”

FORMS IN BLACK

A black market in forms and booklets has also emerged. At several centres, the form priced at Rs 5 is being sold for as high as Rs 20.
An official in the revenue department said, “We have received some complaints from citizens and are trying to sort things out. Another set of officers has been told to keep an eye on help centres. Strict action will be taken against staff who are not helping out applicants.”

ZONE CONFUSION

Meanwhile, the confusion over zones continues. Gopal, a resident of T Dasarahalli, said, “Ours is a newly added area of BBMP. When I click the BBMP website to choose the zone, it does not give any information on our area. Even the officials here are not responding. We are at our wits’ end.

”
‘TRAINING’
SESSION

BBMP will hold an interactive session with Resident Welfare Associations on Feb 25, from 10 am to 12.30 pm, at Gyan Jyothi Urban Health Training Institute, 16th Cross, Malleswaram (near Chowdaiah Hall). The interactive session is meant to answer queries on how to fill application forms and other related issues. BBMP has started collecting property tax since Feb 10.

TAKE ALONG THE PATIENCE OF JOB
There’s no escape from paying your property tax, but some common sense measures can help make the exercise less agonising
RENUKA PHADNIS

The property tax muddle doesn’t look like ending anytime soon. Adding to the confusion over the forms to be filled by different categories of house owners and the difficulty in negotiating the ‘self-assessment’ application form, the queues outside the designated centres seem to ebb and flow like the tides themselves.
If everyone in the queue before you has filled up his/her form with cent per cent correctness — something that is highly improbable — it should take no more than five minutes per person. The reality, of course, is that there are bound to be numerous queries/partially filled forms, so you will have to steel yourself for a long wait.
Here are some tips that can help you keep your cool as you go through the process under the city’s hot February sun:
PRECAUTIONS

• Take at least half a day off from work.

• Steer clear of lunch hour — the counters are closed from 12 noon to 2 pm.

• Take along water and something to munch, especially if you are a senior citizen.

• Mentally brace yourself for arguments at the counter, snaking queues and queue breakers.

• Carry along your mobile phone — you will find its calculator useful.

• Take along fivers for the form priced at Rs 5 instead of getting into arguments for change.
HAZARDS

• Be ready to spend half a day in the queue if your form is not correctly filled. You may not spot the ‘error’, but you will most certainly be told to get back to the tail of the queue — the counter staff may not oblige by going through your form and telling you in one shot where the corrections are required.

• There is no sample filled-up form in front of the counter. True, the forms are different for different categories of house owners. But at least the columns that are common to all could be filled up and put up at the counter.

• At one collection point, it was noticed that the person who accepts the forms is also the one who explains how to fill them up. It is entirely possible that those engaged in this exercise will want to enter the room — the queue be damned.
PREPARATION

• Try to fill up as much as possible of the form before going to the counter.

• Keep the dimensions and other details of your house — like built-up area, open area, year of construction — at hand. You will need them in filling the form.

• Keep a measuring tape and calculator handy.

• If you live in an apartment, your apartment association would have sent you a sample filled-up form. That could help reduce the hassle involved.

• If you are paying the tax amount by cheque, do NOT fill the cheque in advance. If your calculation is not correct, you may have to issue another cheque. Note the amount you have to pay and ask the counter person whether you should round off the amount.
SELF HELP

• If you are calculating your tax on your own, check the Property Tax Calculator at http://www.bmponline.org/ and http://www.bmponline.org /propertytax/properttaxdetail2.asp

• Many FAQs are answered at http://www.bmponline.org/propertytax/H and%20Book/frequentl y % 2 0 a s k e d % 2 0 q u e s - tions.pdf

• If you have more questions, see the handbook online at http://www.bmponline.org /propertytax/hand%20boo k.shtml
FINIS
Give yourself a mental hug if the queue moves quickly, your form is accepted at the first go and — as the icing on the cake — you get a receipt for payment too.

Citizens bleed water board

2009-02-25T09:59:00.003+05:30

Citizens bleed water board

Bangaloreans owe Rs 246 crore in dues to BWSSB

NIRANJAN KAGGERE

The BWSSB seems to be the punching bag for citizens who accuse the board of erratic supply of potable water. However, not many are aware they owe a whopping Rs 246.47 crore to the board. This amount is due to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board in the form of pending bills.
The matter came to light when Shantinagar MLA N A Harris sought details on BWSSB’s revenues in the legislative assembly.
Replying to his question, minister Katta Subramanya Naidu said: “The board earns Rs 37 crore every month through levy of tax on the water supplied to consumers. Up to January 2009, the board had dues of Rs 246.47 crore.” Asked if the confusion over mode of payment of bills has led to the problem, he said there is no link between dues and mode of payment.
COLOSSAL LOSS
The BWSSB supplies 870 million litres of potable water within BBMP limits every day.
While the board is trying its best to quench the growing thirst of the city with the available resources, it is also incurring a loss due to illegal water connections and leakage through pipelines. On an average the board incurs a loss of 32 to 36 per cent every day due to leakage in pipes and illegal water connections. Regular customers have been consuming 52 per cent of the supplied water and 16 per cent supplied through public taps, Naidu said.

PLUGGING LOSS

In a bid to plug this loss, the government has come up with some measures.
These include use of rubber rings to solder the pipelines, phased replacement of pipes older than 30 years with funding from Japanese bank, setting up of a 24X7 task force to monitor water leakage and switching from GI pipes to foodgrade Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE) pipes.

INTEREST WAIVER

Katta also said the government plans to collect water dues in instalments from slum-dwellers. It is also considering waiving interest on their bills.

BIA A GUZZLER

The Bangalore International Airport (BIA) at Devanahalli, while catering to 7.93 million passengers every year, appears to be a huge guzzler! The BWSSB everyday supplies on an average nine lakh litres of water to the airport.
WATER FACTS
Amount of potable water supplied within BBMP: 870 m litres per day Revenue collected by BWSSB: Rs 37 crore per month Daily loss due to leakage, illegal connections: 36 per cent Consumption of water by regular customers: 52 per cent Consumption of water through public tap systems: 16 per cent

‘My men should’ve hit chaddi-senders’

2009-02-24T14:27:00.002+05:30

‘My men should’ve hit chaddi-senders’

Sri Rama Sene chief also plans to sue girls who sent pink chaddis to his organisation

Atul Chaturvedi in Belgaum
Posted On Tuesday, February 24, 2009

If you think Sri Rama Sene is silent after receiving 1,800 pink chaddis, you are wrong. The extreme right wing outfit is now planning legal suits against those who sent the chaddis. Pramod Mutalik has backed his activist who threatened Mumbai girls who had sent them chaddis.

He told Bangalore Mirror, “Those women (who sent chaddis) are shameless. Some girls had even stooped to such a level that they had sent us panties! I am sorry to say that my men just threatened those girls. I wish they had hit them. Everyone has a right to speak in a democratic country. Instead of countering us in a platform, they have resorted to cheap tactics like sending chaddis.”

“Just one per cent of the women are opposing our ideology while the others are supporting us. More than eight organisations have come forward to take necessary action against the chaddi-senders,” Mutalik claimed.

Defamation suit

Mutalik said, “We are seriously considering a legal action against the women. Meenakshi Kulkarni, a senior advocate from Dharwad, is studying the issue. We have already procured the addresses of those who sent us the chaddis, including the ‘chaddi-promoter’ Nisha Susan. In the next couple of days, we will file a defamation suit against them.”

‘I’M SORRY’

For the first time, after his men attacked the women in Mangalore pub, Mutalik tendered his apology. “My men should not have taken law into their hands and manhandled the pub-goers. Instead, they should have convinced them not to promote pub culture,” he said.

“The women in the state are completely safe. I assure everyone that Mangalore-type incidents will not recur. If any woman is harassed, they can contact us and we will provide them complete security. I have directed Durga Sene (women’s wing of Rashtriya Hindu Sene) chief Manchaleshwari Naik to tour the state and disseminate this information,” Mutalik said.

NO TO PUB CULTURE

Meanwhile, Mutalik reiterated his stance on pub culture. “Come what may, I will oppose pub culture. Around 99 per cent of the women in the state also share the same feelings. To convince the rest one per cent who support pub culture, Durga Sene will visit the taluks and tell them not to go to pubs. We will be establishing our shakhas in Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and West Bengal,” he said.

Reacting to State Human Rights’ Council’s suggestion of rooting out the Sene, he said, “We are not the lone ones to take up such issues. A few pan-Kannada organisations and farmers’ organisations too have taken up the issue in the recent past.”

Nrupatunga Road gets another subway

2009-02-24T14:26:00.001+05:30

Nrupatunga Road gets another subway

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has started its work on the ambitious 24-hour pedestrian subway project near St Martha’s hospital on Nrupatunga Road since Saturday night

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Monday, February 23, 2009

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has started its work on the ambitious 24-hour pedestrian subway project near St Martha’s hospital on Nrupatunga Road since Saturday night. Now the question is whether it is necessary to have another subway when there is already one near the Police Headquarters.

But according to the BBMP officials, it is necessary. “Our plan is to make Nrupatunga Road free from pedestrian crossing. Moreover, the subway near St Martha’s hospital was necessary for the people who visit the hospital regularly. The current subway is being built using 13 precast elements. It is due to be completed in 24 hours. The work was estimated in the 2008 budget. If needed, more subways will be constructed on this road for the pedestrians. We have also asked the traffic police for viable traffic diversions. The work will be completed by Sunday night and the traffic will be normal on this road from Monday,” BBMP Chief Engineer K S Krishna Reddy said.

Mumbai ATS question Rama Sene state secy

2009-02-24T14:24:00.001+05:30

Mumbai ATS question Rama Sene state secy

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) probing the Malegaon blast case on Saturday interrogated Vilas Pawar, State Secretary of Sri Rama Sene (SRS), in Belgaum

Atul Chaturvedi in Belgaum
Posted On Saturday, February 21, 2009

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) probing the Malegaon blast case on Saturday interrogated Vilas Pawar, State Secretary of Sri Rama Sene (SRS), in Belgaum.

ATS suspects him of having a role in the Malegaon blast conspiracy as he had attended several meetings in different parts of the country along with the other accused in the case. Police suspect that Pawar may have met Purohit in the past.

Recently, ATS had interrogated Pramod Mutalik, chief of Rashtriya Hindu Sene in Mangalore. Pawar was called by Sonia Narang, SP of Belgaum, on Saturday morning.

The ATS members interrogated him in her office located at old Pune-Bangalore road. Later in the evening, he was released. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror , Pawar said, “I don’t have any role in the Malegoan blast. I have cooperated with the ATS and answered all their queries. They asked me about Col Purohit and I told them that I had never met him and that I had heard about him only after he was arrested.”

Ragvendra Auradhkar, IG North range, conformed Pawar’s version and said, “The ATS approached the local police and asked us for permission to question Vilas Pawar. He was questioned for a day and released in the evening.”

Spend more to secure Bangalore

2009-02-24T13:56:00.001+05:30

Spend more to secure Bangalore

With the economy showing no signs of revival and the Union budget not making their lives any better, the denizens are looking at Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to perform a ‘miracle’ in his budget on Friday. Bangalore Mirror gives an insight into their expectations

Bangalore Mirror

Posted On Friday, February 20, 2009

CITY IS POWER-LESS

Rohit Tiwari, a resident of Indiranagar and marketing manager, Western Union (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maldives), feels Bangalore should be a better and a cheaper place to live in. His wishlists includes better power supply, good infrastructure and cheaper groceries. “For the last few days, we have been facing a severe shortage of power supply. Bangalore being an IT hub, it should have sufficient power,” he says.

As his job involves travelling, Tiwari wants the government to prevail upon the Bangalore International Airport to waive the user development fee. His family’s investments too have come down due to the slowdown. He and his wife Ekta jointly invested Rs 60,000 each in two major mutual funds in June. Now, their price has reduced to less than one-fourth. Ekta said, “Earlier, we use to see movies once in a week at multiplexes. That is not possible now. The market ‘crash’ has hit us badly.”

Now, the family is eagerly awaiting the budget.

‘EXIT’ ENTRY TAX

The budget should make a provision for a single window agency for each sector of infrastructure for speedy implementation, Sajjan Raj Mehta, president of Karnataka Hosiery and Garment Association.. He feels the entry tax should be abolished on petrol and diesel.

His wife Pramila Mehta says entertainment tax must be cut from the present 40 per cent to 15 per cent. That way, families can watch more films, which are a stressbuster. She also wants the government to encourage rainwater harvesting by earmarking funds for the same.

FAMILY WISHLIST

1. Reduction of entertainment tax from 40 pc to 15 pc
2. Funds for rainwater harvesting
3. Cheaper cooking gas
4. Reduction of tax and duties on groceries, fuel, electricity

SHAKEN BUDGET

We used to spend Rs 12,000 every month for her family of eight. That was only till October last. Though she spends the same amount still, it has become difficult to manage. “It has become more of a ‘dal chawal’ routine in the family. Earlier, we used to have chicken once in a week. Now, it has reduced to twice a month,” says Smitha.

She feels prices of commodities should be reduced to the extent that people do not think twice before purchasing groceries. Today the price of rice is twice than what it used to be. Something has to be done about it, she says.

Her husband, Jagadish Kumar, a businessman, feels enough has been done for VIPs. According to him, lessons should be learnt from the Mumbai attack and provisions made for safety of the common man. “A special provision should be made for security of Bangalore,” he felt.

Smitha Kumar, a HR consultant with People Source Consulting,

Sops to cops, please...

Students are concerned about safety. “We want the police to be armed with modern equipment and ensure protection for everyone,” said the final year BA students of St Joseph’s College.

“We are still defending our state and city with outdated weapons. We need the latest weapons to fight terrorism,” said Arun Dev. “More incentives should be given to the police personnel. They take bribes as they cannot afford to run their families with meagre salaries. If incentives are given, the level of corruption will also come down,” he felt.

Fellow student Sneha N felt training of police is another area that needs more fund infusion. “The police still don’t know how to use sophisticated gadgets. They need to be trained well,” she said.

Their friends, Lester and Viswas, said budgetary allocation should be increased for rural education and mechanisation of rural farming. Besides reduction in petrol prices, Lester wants the price of bus passes kept constant.

On infrastructure, the students said we need proper garbage dump yards. “Our city still lacks a dumping site,” said Aaron.
For Arun, developing places like Mysore and Belgaum is high on his priority. “Developing our own city is not enough. Mysore and Belgaum too are important cities as more companies are coming up there. We need to invest in infrastructure in those cities,” he says.

They also want better roads and lower petrol prices.

COLLEGIANS’ WISHLIST

1. Invest in law and order
2. Invest in rural education
3. More funds for industry infrastructure
4. Invest in more buses for the common man
5. An IIT in Bangalore

(Inputs from Atul Chaturvedi, Shashwathi Bhanukumar and Aditi Soni)

MLA’s Rs 40 lakh bash

2009-02-24T13:52:00.000+05:30

MLA’s Rs 40 lakh bash

A whopping sum of Rs 40 lakh is what Govindarajnagar MLA V Somanna spent for a two-hour function organised on Tuesday evening to mark the launch of some development works in Vijayanagar and adjoining areas

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 01:01:19 AM

A whopping sum of Rs 40 lakh is what Govindarajnagar MLA V Somanna spent for a two-hour function organised on Tuesday evening to mark the launch of some development works in Vijayanagar and adjoining areas.

Flanked by chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and Bangalore South MP Ananth Kumar, Somanna looked more like a BJP leader than a Congressman. Political circles described the event as a prelude to Somanna’s formal entry into the BJP.

It was organised on a grand scale at the MRCR Ground where a multi-crore sports complex is supposed to come up. The three-acre plot was covered with red-carpets. “We put carpets to prevent dust from rising,” an aide of Somanna said while pointing out that more than 5,000 people attended the event.

Of the Rs 40 lakh spent, nearly Rs 10 lakh was used on publicity material for the event. There were five huge TV screens placed at the venue, one screen was placed atop a building. The event was also marked by fireworks worth over Rs 1 lakh.

To entertain the residents, an orchestra troupe was engaged and there was a dollu kunitha performance too. About the meeting, Ananth Kumar said: “Before I left for Bangalore from Delhi, our senior leader L K Advani asked me why I was rushing back.

I told him I cannot afford to miss this programme.”

Where are the night beat cops?

2009-02-24T13:44:00.001+05:30

Where are the night beat cops?

Does night patrolling by cops actually happen? That is the question exercising the minds of fearful residents of R T Nagar following the murders of a former IISc scientist, his wife and their son

Atul Chaturvedi

Several R T Nagar residents, who did not want to identified, told Bangalore Mirror on Tuesday that police surveillance in their localities was quite low, especially at night.

Though constables on night patrol are supposed to make entries in the point books that are placed at vantage points in any given area, monitoring the process is another matter. (A point book is a record of the time and date when a constable patrols the area).

In fact, this was starkly evident in the area where Prof P L Sachdev’s house is located. Bangalore Mirror scanned the area for the point books and learnt that there are three point books within 250 metres of Sachdev’s residence. While one point book is at HDFC Bank just 50 metres from Sachdev’s house, the other two are placed in ATMs of Axis Bank and Bank of India. What comes as a shocker is that none of these point books was signed by the constables on Saturday night or Sunday.

While the point book kept at the HDFC ATM centre was last updated at 1:50 am on Feb 9, the book kept in the Axis Bank ATM centre was last signed in August last year. A security guard working at the Axis ATM said, “I have done the maximum number of night shifts and haven’t seen a constable patrolling the area. Four months ago I saw a constable signing the book and since then none of them has returned to do so.” A thick layer of dust has begun to gather on the point book.

Another security guard working at the HDFC centre said, “It was shocking when I heard that the Sachdevs were murdered. Since last week, no constable has visited the centre to sign the book. We hardly see them patrol at night. The last time the police came here was on Feb 8 midnight.”

R T Nagar police sub-inspector Siddalingaiah said, “We have eight beats in our police station limits and police constables regularly visit all the centres given to them. Now, it has to be verified whether the constables visited the three centres near Sachdev’s house.”

E-beat system a flop

The Government of India had sanctioned implementation of the electronic beat system in March 2003 to replace the existing manual beat system in urban areas. The system was installed in 123 police stations at a cost of Rs 1.14 crore through an IT firm. However, the system could not be utilised effectively due to frequent breakdowns. Besides, the company that supplied the system wound up operations during 2005-06. Consequently, the police department continued with the existing manual beat system.

The state government told the Centre in Oct 2007 that the maintenance of the system would be entrusted to another company. The Centre is yet to respond in this regard.

Black lock could unravel mystery

2009-02-24T13:40:00.001+05:30

Black lock could unravel mystery

A family friend who finds the lock on the door for the first time suspects something fishy about it

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Chanchal Arora, who is in her late fifties, shivered with fear when she got a call on Monday afternoon. For, the man at the other end said, “I am a cop. Three persons have been murdered in this house.”

It did not take her long to realise the worst had befallen her family friends: The Sachdevs had been murdered.
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Chanchal said: “I was trying to get in touch with them since Sunday but in vain. Now, I see them dead.”

A housewife and a resident of Yelahanka, Chanchal and the Sachdevs have been friends for several decades. She used to visit them often. The last time she spoke to them was on Saturday. Chanchal said: “Rita had complained of bodyache and I suggested some medication and left.”

She also said she had called Rita on Valentine’s Day, and she sounded tense and worried about Anurag.

Like any other childhood friend, Chanchal followed it up with phone calls to Rita on Sunday morning but in vain. “I decided to visit them and came to the house but there was no response. What shocked me was a black lock hung on the main door. I had not seen it before. The family members always used the lock fitted on the door,” she said.

She left the house but did not stop calling the Sachdevs. She called even on Monday. It was only at 2:30 pm that she learnt about the murder.

Chanchal suspects the servants who have been missing since Sunday. “When I went to the house, I found the black lock but couldn’t find the servants - Deepak and Suchitra - who had joined some 45 days ago,” she said.

Her suspicion stems from the odd behaviour of Deepak, who had been sent by Sachdevs to her house to do household work. “Before employing him, I asked him for his photograph. He walked out saying he would return. He never came back.”
Even on Sunday, Chanchal called Suchitra but her phone was switched off.

Based on the information provided by Chanchal, police suspect the servants killed the Sachdevs and escaped by locking the door from outside.

“We are working on the lock angle too. We will question Sachdev’s adopted son on the kind of lock the family used when it went out,” a police officer said.

Dons of love

2009-02-24T13:32:00.000+05:30

Dons of love

These two men took on the Sri Rama Sene to ensure the love birds of the city enjoyed Valentine’s Day without fear

Atul Chaturvedi and Suchith Kidiyoor
Posted On Sunday, February 15, 2009

Pretty Good Pretty Good Pretty Good Pretty Good Pretty Good

When the chatteratti dared not to stomp the streets to take on Mutalik and his self-styled moral brigade, this duo did. Not only did they slam the moral police publicly, but also promised protection to those struck by Cupid on Valentine’s Day.

Meet Agni Sridhar and Muthappa Rai, the two men who were at one point of time key players in Bangalore’s underworld.

Sridhar and Rai had warned the Sri Rama Sene activists of a fitting reply if they disturbed the city’s love-birds. Sridhar, who now is the editor of Kannada tabloid Agni, is also the person on whose life the recent Kannada superhit movie ‘Aaa Dinagalu’ (which is about Bangalore’s underworld) is based upon. Rai is currently the head of Jaya Karnataka, a social service organisation.

Both had crossed swords in the past, but this time they chose to fight hooligans who were threatening fun-loving and peaceful Bangaloreans by posing as moral police. Their warnings to Mutalik’s ilk, in fact, came much before the police acted.

On Saturday, men of both Sridhar and Rai’s groups positioned themselves in different parts of the city to help the police in cracking down against mischief-mongers. “We are happy that not a single Bangalorean was troubled on Valentine’s Day,” Sridhar told Bangalore Mirror after staging a day-long demonstration on M G Road to express solidarity with lovers. Sridhar, who rallied like-minded people under the banner of ‘Youth Freedom Forum’, put up posters announcing ‘V-day is youth day. Celebrate it without fear. V R with U’. Giving out his mobile number for lovers who seek protection, Sridhar said: “Cultural terrorism should be countered, we cannot allow some people to attack everybody’s freedom. It is only the mentally-retarded people who try to kill other’s happiness, today’s peaceful celebration of Valentine’s day is an answer to Mutalik as there was not a single distress call.”

Agni Sridhar
Rai’s Jaya Karnataka had a different strategy to keep the denizens’ confidence level high. He had formed teams of 25-30 people each and had deployed them at vantage points in the city to keep tabs on mischief-mongers. “Around 500 of our activists had positioned themselves at places where youngsters meet to exchange Valentine’s greetings. Our mission was clear: Catch those who attack these youngsters and hand them over to the police. We did not want a tense atmosphere in the city,” Jaya Karnataka’s Bangalore Unit president Jeevithesh Shetty said. Rai’s men were at Forum Mall, Garuda Mall, M G Road, Commercial Street, Jayanagar 4th Block, J P Nagar and other areas. This apart, about 5,000 autorickshaw drivers owing allegiance to Jaya Karnataka were also directed to ensure that lovers are protected.

A senior police officer, who has been witness to the duo’s entry into the underworld and their subsequent exit, said: “Such things can happen only in Bangalore. If it was any other city, people would have exploited the fear to their advantage by increasing it, but here are two men who are trying to douse the fire.”

Dear Shetry,

Please dont forget your birth place Mangalore also needs protection.Please do something!!!
Seethram Shetty, seetha@gmail.com Dated : Sunday, February 15, 200903:19 PM

Sene attacks V-Day

2009-02-24T13:26:00.000+05:30

Sene attacks V-Day

Call centre staffers beaten up, computers damaged

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Saturday, February 14, 2009

Sri Rama Sene (SRS) struck in Belgaum by ransacking a Valentine’s Day party on Saturday evening. Till evening, as there was tight security, the SRS activists kept a low profile.

However, at 7.15 pm, they struck to ransack Katwa Infotech Institute, a BPO call centre in Jyoti Tower located at Karbar Galli Cross and damaged all the computer systems. More than 70 people were participating in the V-day revelry and five
were injured.

SP Sonia Narang and other senior officials rushed to spot, but the activists ran away. According to police, “Katwa Infotech had organised a Valentine’s Day party for its staff and all of them were celebrating. Suddenly, the Sene activists ransacked the premises and beat up some of the staff members. The injured have been shifted to district hospital.”

Sonia Narang said, “Some 20 Sene activists beat up the staff members. The Sene activists took local media along with them and we have seized the video filmed by them. It will be shown to staff members of Katwa and the culprits will be identified. Soon they will be arrested.”

Earlier, SRS activists under the leadership of Vilas Pawar, chief of the Sene’s Belgaum district wing took out a bike rally in the city asking the youth not to participate in Valentine’s Day.

Bullet train for Bangalore?

2009-02-24T13:21:00.002+05:30

Bullet train for Bangalore?

Lalu Yadav promises six bullet trains for the country, including one on Chennai-Bangalore-Ernakulam route

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Saturday, February 14, 2009

First, Bangalore got an international airport. Next came the Namma Metro. It could now even get a bullet train. The Railway Board has come up with a plan to conduct a feasibility study of having a bullet train between Chennai, Bangalore and Ernakulam.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has promised six bullet trains in his interim railway budget, one of which would run on this route. In countries like Japan, Germany and France, passenger trains travel at speeds of 300-350 km per hour.

In his previous budget speech, Yadav had announced that based on requirement, pre-feasibility studies would be conducted for running bullet trains in various regions of the country. He wants the first report to be prepared for the Delhi-Patna route.

Kuldeep Chaturvedi, general manager, South Western Railway told Bangalore Mirror, “After the feasibility report is prepared, the board will go ahead and invite expression of interest. Laying the track for a bullet train is a long process. We also have to look at the land acquisition process.”

Scant regard, says CM

Chief Minister B S Yedurappa had asked for two trains for his constituency but has got none. “Though we had told the Centre that we would bear 50 per cent of project costs, railway projects announced for the state are scant. The step-motherly treatment meted out to the state since the last four years has continued well into this year,” he said.

Comment (1 Comments Received)
We hope CM will push for a speed railway line upto new international airport which will help the business comunity and common people.
VARUGHESE MATHEW, mathew910kw@yahoo.com Dated : Saturday, February 14, 200910:54 AM

Work begins on BBMP’s CBSE school

2009-02-24T13:10:00.001+05:30

Work begins on BBMP’s CBSE school

Encroachers vacated; nursery classes may begin by June at Srirampuram

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Saturday, February 14, 2009

Finally, some good news for those who have been been waiting for the first Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) CBSE school.

After remaining on paper for two years, work on the project commenced and the school is expected to be functional this June as the BBMP has cleared encroachers who had taken over the land. The school will come up on Srirampuram 5th Main Road in Rajajinagar assembly constituency.

“The land has been reclaimed and the encroachers vacated, it is a shot in the arm for us as the long-pending proposal of a school based on CBSE syllabus is taking concrete shape,” a BBMP official said. The foundation stone for the building was laid by law minister Suresh Kumar.

The BBMP has earmarked Rs 3.46 crore for the construction of school and of this, Rs 41.20 lakh will be spent in the first phase for the construction of ground floor. The project was first announced in BBMP’s maiden budget and Rs 25 lakh was allocated, but the cost has been revised now.

Bhaysham Nagar BJP Unit president Venkatesh said, “The model school was scheduled to start functioning from 2007, but it did not. Some local residents encroached the land where the old school was. After the intervention of Suresh Kumar, the land was recovered and work has commenced.”

Another resident Ravi Kumar said, “Earlier, there were around 12 classrooms in the building where families too stayed. Some of them had even rented out the rooms. It was a big task to vacate the class rooms. After taking police help, the BBMP officials demolished the old building.” He added, ”We would like to see that the children from this locality make use of the opportunity to ensure quality education for urban poor, in collaboration with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.”

Nursery from June

After the stone-laying ceremony, Suresh Kumar said, “I have directed the BBMP officials to complete ground floor work by May as the classes for nursery can commence from June. Children from this school should reach as high as they can. For quality education, the teaching staff will be provided by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.”

N Ramanujam, president, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, said, “The Bill Gates Foundation has come forward to provide computer education for the children. Local residents should ensure their children benefit from it.”

Mutalik not trying his pink chaddis

2009-02-24T13:06:00.001+05:30

Mutalik not trying his pink chaddis

The courier service says Pramod Mutalik seems to have changed his address as no one is accepting chaddi consignment

Atul Chaturvedi & Aditi Soni
Posted On Friday, February 13, 2009

What is Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Mutalik doing with his pink chaddis? Seems like he has changed his address to avoid being overwhelmed with pink underwear. Nisha Susan, the brain behind the Pink Chaddi campaign, told Bangalore Mirror that the courier agency had informed her that Mutalik had changed his address.

‘I won't accept chaddis’

But Mutalik defended himself by saying that he is not a terrorist that he change his address. He told Bangalore Mirror from Hubli, Mutalik, "I need not change my official address. I am not a terrorist. I love my country and I don't fear pink chaddis. In fact I haven't received any delivery of chaddis through courier or personally. If at all I get some chaddis, then I will surely reject them."

And his pink saree campaign is on track. He said, "Sri Ram Sene has got tremendous response from all parts of the state and women are coming forward to deliver pink sarees. I have succeeded. I wanted to protest against Valentine's Day and I am following the democratic way." Manchaleshwai Nayak, state convener of Sri Ram Sene's Mahila wing, said, "As of now, we have collected more than 300 sarees and will present them to girls who will be found roaming with boys on the streets of Bangalore.“

Chaddi donors rising

The popularity of the Pink Chaddi campaign has now touched foreign shores. No wonder more than 21 thousand people globally have registered on the Facebook site "We have been bombarded with phone calls and registrations from past few days. It's good to see how people from Hyderabad, Amritsar and Chennai have been sending chaddis to Bangalore collection points. Same is the response from UK, Canada and other countries. The best part was when Canadian media approached us asking more about this campaign," Benson Isaac, an active participant of the campaign.

The chaddi collection points have been shut down in Bangalore. Chaddi donors have been asked to send chaddis on their own to Mutalik's address, given on the site."We started getting too many chaddis and it became little difficult for us to manage the entire thing. So we sent all that we received and the rest, we asked people to send it on their own," said Nisha Susan.

'Bring on pink sarees'

Though Mutalik is refusing his pink chaddis, the Pink Chaddi team has appreciated his pink sarees. "We have heard that Muthalik has decided to send pink sarees 'with love' in response (to pink chaddis). We greatly appreciate this and hope he continues to choose similar non-violent methods to get his point across, just as we have chosen to be non-violent and loving in response to the brutality of the attacks on lovers and women in Mangalore and other parts of Karnataka. We will gladly wear the pink sarees," said the Pink Chaddi team.

Comment (1 Comments Received)
A letter published in Bangalore mirror about nudity,by A Rahim,is disgusting.. 1.His points about Krishna were not true. Sri Krishna steals the clothes of the bathing Gopikas, just to warn them not to bath nude in pond for possible dangers of lust by onlookers. Krishna did this to warn them not to be nude in public places. After all he is god why should he climb tree to see them nude when Krishna claims whole universe is created by him. And even 16,000 girls marrying him is portrayed in wrong way.These girls ask him to accept them as wives, so that no one would marry them in future because of under prison from Kamsa. If Krishna becomes their husband , atleast they will lead a respectful life and no man will dare to look these single women for their desires for the fear of Lord Krishna. And even statues of nude women on the walls of the temples depict devotees not to be illusioned attaracted by the outer world(Statues of nude women). If one has to see God, forget nudity and others(Outside world)and come inside a see me(God).It is the only way to attain salvation.

Harish , harishsowkur@rediffmail.com Dated : Friday, February 13, 200907:11 AM

Udyan Express has a close brush with Jaipur Express

2009-02-24T12:40:00.000+05:30

Udyan Express has a close brush with Jaipur Express

Miraculous escape for over 1,500 near city railway station

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Friday, February 13, 2009

Around 1,500 passengers of the Mysore-Jaipur express had a miraculous escape on Thursday afternoon when the Udyan Express derailed and brushed the train near city railway station. According to railway officials, “Three coaches of Bangalore-Mumbai Udyan Express got derailed and fell on the Mysore-Jaipur Express which was moving on the next track at 2.20 pm.

The accident took place just 100 meters away from the city railway station. The incident took place as Udyan Express was coming to the maintenance line from platform number four after shunting. Railway traffic was disrupted for sometime and
was restored by 6 pm.”

“As Udyan was totally empty, there was no casualty. But there were some passengers in the Mysore-Jaipur Express.

However, we do not have any report about casualties from that train either”, said Akhil Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager.

Miraculous escape

Shivamma, a housewife who was in Jaipur Express, said, “I was sitting on the left side and was relaxing when a train coming from the other side hit it. We fell down from our seats and did not know what was happening and the bogie started tilting towards the left side”.

R Venkatesh, an employee of Food Corporation of India (FCI), said, “Along with 14 others, I was going to Hyderabad. As we were just making ourselves free after boarding the train (S6), suddenly a train from the opposite direction brushed our bogie. We all panicked for a moment. It is God’s grace that everyone is safe and no major casualty occurred. God has saved us”. Meanwhile, a few others who had rushed to the railway station after the news broke about the derailment complained of no help desk for assistance.

Non-signalling led to derailment

The non-signalling at the Bangalore city railway station was the reason for the derailment of Udyan Express and subsequent brush with the Jaipur Express. The preliminary report reveals that it is the responsibility of the station supervisor and others to look after when the process is non-signalled. Divisional Railway Manager Akhil Agarwal has ordered an inquiry into the episode.

According to South Western Railway sources, “There was no signal as the maintenance work was on. In this situation, the movement of trains was made non-signal, which is handled by supervisor and other down-level workers. They have to keep an eye on the movement of other trains, which they have failed to do.”

Later, Agarwal said, “The Udyan Express comes at 9 am from Mumbai and it was in the shunting process. A weaker signal has made the entire process non-signalled. The Jaipur Express moving from Mysore was on an adjacent line and was hit by Udyan Express. Now the entire matter is under investigation.”

However, the Jaipur Express left for its destination from Yelahanka in late evening. Among other trains affected, Prashanti Express and Brindavan Express were diverted from Yeshwanthpur, while Kolar Passenger was terminated from Byappanhalli. Apart from these, two incoming trains were terminated at Cantonment railway station.

KSRTC help

After the derailment, the major problem was to arrange transport for passengers from other destinations leaving from Bangalore city railway station. Agarwal said, “We approached KSRTC. Nearly seven buses were utilised and 500 passengers moving towards Kurla, Mumbai, Guwahati and other destination were left at Cantonment and Yeshwanthpur railway stations.”

Bhelpuri wala takes Bidari to court

2009-02-11T17:34:00.003+05:30

Bhelpuri wala takes Bidari to court

City police chief in a mess. Named accused no.4 in a property case, thanks to a goof-up by his juniors

ATUL CHATURVEDI

If a junior makes a mistake, it is the senior who has to pay the price. That’s precisely the predicament of senior police officer and Bangalore city police commissioner Shankar M Bidari. He has been made an accused in a property-related case!
The Sixth Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) H K Jagadish has directed the Ulsoorgate police to register a complaint against three policemen including Bidari and three private persons in connection with a cheating case filed by Anjaiah Shetty, a bhelpuri seller and resident of Cubbonpet. This is the first time in recent years that a city police chief has been named an accused.
It all started when Shetty occupied the premises of businessmen Chandmal Pukraj Jain in Nagarathpet on a monthly rent of Rs 2,300 in March 2008. Within three months, the property owner reportedly increased the rent to Rs 3,000 and subsequently to Rs 10,000. When Shetty protested, the premises were reportedly sealed by the owner. Following this, Shetty approached the jurisdictional Ulsoorgate police and charged the owner’s family with having tresspassed into the premises that he had occupied. But the police sub-inspector Ravi and assistant commissioner of police P S Gachinakatti did not act, Shetty alleged. Instead, he was forcibly evicted. He approached the city police commissioner, but in vain.
Angered, Shetty filed a case in the court which in turn ordered the Ulsoor police to register a case against the property owner and the police.
Shetty’s advocate Veerappa said, “The ACP and PSI anyway failed to deliver justice to Shetty. But even Bidari failed to help him. So we have made Bidari an accused as well. Now he is accused No 4 and the owner and his sons are accused nos 1, 2 and 3. The ACP and PSI are accused nos 5 and 6 respectively. The Ulsoorgate police have to file an FIR and investigate the case and submit a report to the metropolitan magistrate.”
When contacted, Bidari said, “I have been holding Janata Darshans to solve people’s problems. So far 600 cases have been solved. I will go through Shetty’s case after I get a copy of the court order and then react. An FIR against me is not something bizarre. Anyone can file an FIR against anyone in our country.” WITH INPUTS FROM MANJUNATH SHARMA

‘Pink saree’ is Sene’s answer to ‘Chaddi’

2009-02-11T17:31:00.002+05:30

‘Pink saree’ is Sene’s answer
to ‘Chaddi’
ATUL CHATURVEDI

You send us pink chaddis, we will distribute pink sarees to lovers” — this is how Sri Rama Sene has decided to counter those in favour of Valentine’s Day celebrations.
A day after bloggers resolved to collect and send dirt-cheap pink chaddis in order to ridicule the Sene for playing the moral police, the latter’s chief Pramod Mutalik retorted: “Our culture does not speak about gifting chaddis, we will decently give sarees and bhagina (a floral-and-fruit offering).”
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror over phone from Belgaum on Tuesday, Mutalik said, “Let all those who plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day to be prepared to receive a gift from our side. My men in Bangalore city will keep a vigil eye on the activities of boys and girls and they will be presenting ‘Bhagina’ and a pink saree to them.”

FIRM ON MANGALSUTRA

He is firm about his stand to perform the marriages of couples found on Valentine’s Day. His men will be roaming in groups in search of courting couples. He said, “First my men will catch them and they will contact the family members of the girl and boy. If both are together with the approval of their family members, we don’t have any objection. Otherwise, we will hand over them to the local police and a Bhagina along with pink saree will be given to them.”
Reacting strongly to the plan to send pink chaddis, he said, “This shows the bad culture of Valentine’s Day. This is a low level campaign and it will be opposed by the Sene.”

Colleges ban Cupid on Feb 14

Most principals in Bangalore are okay with students celebrating Valentine’s Day outside the campus

SRIDHAR VIVAN & GAYATRI NAIR

If you thought you could escape the wrath of moral police by quietly celebrating Valentine's Day on your college campus, it's time to think of plan B. Most colleges in Bangalore are gearing up to ban the celebration of this day. Others have okayed exchange of pleasantries on this day but are against public display of affection (PDA).

NO V-DAY

Savita Ramamurthy, CMR college principal says, "No (Valentine's Day) celebrations will be entertained inside the college. We will ensure that classes will be as usual. I don't want any disruptions during the class hours. If youngsters want to celebrate outside (the college) then that's their personal life and I cannot be held responsible." Cambridge college principal H Maheshappa adds, "Definitely, no Valentine's Day inside the campus. If they want to celebrate, let them very well do it outside. But nothing to be done inside the premises of the college. There is strict discipline in the college and I don't want anything to dilute that."
"No we don't encourage such celebrations. For the past 17 years nothing has been done and it will not be encouraged now. If they want to go out and party then that's their personal life. I don't have anything against that, but nothing in the campus," says Chennaraj Jain, Chairman of Jain Group of Institutions.
Vivekananda degree college principal M Govindaiah says, "As you know, Valentine's Day is not part of academics. Hence, there is no chance of allowing such activities." Echoing similar notion, Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya college principal Byrappa says, "Allowing Valentine's Day may lead to other problems. We don't want to take that risk and hence campus is not the place for cupids on Saturday."

NO KISS OR HUG

However, some colleges have said that they have no issues with exchange of pleasantries by students on Valentine's Day. But they don't want students to utilise this opportunity to kiss or hug. "All this hue and cry about Valentine's Day not being our culture does not really hold good for me. I just have one advice for my girls, that they should not cross the lines of decency. They should not wear clothes that will make them uncomfortable or anything like that," says B C Bhagyalakshmi, principal of Maharani science college.
G Prabhukumar, principal of Acharya college says, "If children want to celebrate then let them. I don't see anything wrong in it, but of course they have to be within their limits. Hugging, kissing will not be tolerated in the academic institution."
"If the youngsters want to exchange pleasantries I am not against it. But I am against them bunking classes or indulging in acts that will be uncomfortable to the college. Classes will continue normally... Exchange of cards and everything (can happen) during break or free periods," says Rana Pratap Reddy, principal of Reva college.

LOVE IS BETTER THAN HATE

"Nowadays girls are more mature and are focused on career. They are capable enough to take care of themselves and in such situations they will not do anything wrong. Even we wish on Valentine's Day. So what's the big deal all about? After all, this expression of love is much better than the expression of hate shown by the Sri Rama Sene," says Sister Genevieve, secretary of Karnataka Region Commission for Education and a Syndicate member of Bangalore University.

Pink saree is answer to chaddis

2009-02-11T17:28:00.002+05:30

AS IT APPEARED IN MUMBAI MIRROR

Pink saree is answer to chaddis
ATUL CHATURVEDI

BANGALORE: A day after bloggers resolved to collect and send dirt-cheap pink chaddis to ridicule the Sri Ram Sena’s moral policing, its chief Pramod Muthalik on Tuesday said, “Our culture does not speak about gifting chaddis. We will decently give sarees and bhagina (a floral-and-fruit offering).”
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror over phone from Belgaum, he said, “My men will be keeping a vigil on boys and girls. Let those who will be celebrating Valentine’s Day be prepared to receive a gift from our side. Celebrating VDay is not in Hindu culture. I don't oppose lovers, but there is a process to love someone. If you really love someone, then marry him. This is not happening and that is why I oppose it. I wanted to create awareness against V-Day and I have succeeded. It's left to the people to follow Indian culture, rather than a foreign one.”

CURBS IN COLLEGES

For youth who thought could escape the wrath of the moral police by quietly celebrating Valentine's Day in their college campus, it’s time to think of plan B.
Most colleges are gearing up to ban the celebrations. Some have okayed exchange of pleasantries but are against public display of affection.
CMR College principal Savita Ramamurthy said, “No celebrations inside the college. If youngsters want to celebrate outside, that's their personal life and I cannot be held responsible.” Cambridge College principal H Maheshappa said, “No celebrations inside campus. If they want to celebrate, do it outside.”
— SRIDHAR VIVAN & GAYATRI NAIR

MORAL COPS BEAT UP GIRL

2009-02-11T17:14:00.002+05:30

MORAL COPS BEAT UP GIRL

Kerala MLA’s daughter dragged out of bus in Mangalore and thrashed for travelling with a boy from another community
SWAROOPA UNNI & ATUL CHATURVEDI

In another instance of moral policing in Mangalore, on Friday, a gang of four assaulted Manjeshwar (in Kerala) MLA CH Kunhambu’s daughter Shruthi and a Muslim boy accompanying her.
Shruthi, a II PU student of St Aloysius College in Mangalore, was travelling from Manjeshwar along with her classmate’s brother Shabib.
The gang intercepted the bus near Pumpwell Circle, pulled them out and took them in an autorickshaw. En route, they realised Shruthi was an MLA’s daughter and left her near Naguri.
A R Infant, ADGP (Law and Order), said the culprits will soon be nabbed.

SRI RAMA SENE
DID IT: CPM MLA
My daughter Shruti left Kasargod at 4 pm along with her friend,a Muslim boy. As the bus neared Mangalore, some goondas got inside and assaulted my daughter and her friend.They were taken in an autorickshaw and were kept in their custody for more than an hour. The goondas blamed my daughter, a Hindu, for talking to her Muslim friend.This was done by Sri Rama Sene, Bajrang Dal and BJP.

NOT WE: MUTALIK AND ATTAVAR
I condemn the incident and I also deny the role of Sri Rama Sene in the incident. I have spoken to our Sene activists in Mangalore and confirmed that none of them are part of the incident. Some miscreants have put the blame on Sene to tarnish our image.There is no connection between the incident and the Sene.

INVESTIGATIONS ON: ACHARYA
I received a call from the Kerala IG informing me that Manjeshwar MLA C H Kunhambu daughter’s Shruthi was missing on Friday evening. Now I am in Mumbai and will be leaving to Nagpur to attend the National Executive meeting. I do not know much about the incident and do not want to comment. However, I have directed the police to take action against the offenders.

SEX & DRUGS LED TO PUB ATTACK: MUTALIK

2009-02-11T16:51:00.004+05:30

SEX & DRUGS LED TO PUB ATTACK: MUTALIK

Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Mutalik opened a new can of worms when on Thursday he claimed that his men had attacked the Mangalore pub Amnesia because there was a drug-mafia and sex-mafia operating on the highways between Mangalore and Bangalore, and Mangalore and Mumbai. He also alleged that a blue film was about to be shot inside the pub. “A few (women) were even ready to shoot blue films inside the pub. We did not want the world to see this face of our women,” Mutalik told Niranjan Kaggere

‘Valentine’s Day is not our culture’

Q : You could have reported to the police or government about obscenity in pubs, but was it necessary to attack the pub?

A : This is what the media has forgotten. We did not directly attack the pub. It is only after the authorities concerned failed to take action over the obscenity and misbehaviour despite our requests, we launched an attack. There is a drugmafia and sex-mafia operating from Mangalore to Mumbai, Mangalore to Goa, Mangalore to Bangalore. A few were even ready to shoot blue films inside the pub. We were hesitant to show this face of our women to the world, and the media conveniently ran after the few girls who after having a few drinks fled the premises when we entered. Some of the parents of beaten up girls personally called me and thanked for saving their daughters as none of them till then knew about their kids’ habits.

Q : After the pub incident, Home Minister V S Acharya said that the Sene must have gone to the pub for extortion but when the pub owners refused you attacked the pub.

A : I condemn this statement. If he has any proof that we were indulging in extortion, let him present it in public. “Hum aise dhande ka kaam nahi karenge” (We don’t do such things).

Q : Alcoholism is not confined to particular gender. But you seem to be targeting only women?

A : We are totally against alcoholism. There are traditions in Kodagu (Coorg) where parents and children sit together and drink. But why do you have to come to the streets to drink and misbehave in an obscene manner. In fact, we have been telling the government that having banned arrack, now ban ‘foreign’ liquor too. The liquor lobby is behind all these incidents.

Q : Union Minister Renuka Chowdhury said that you are not married and do not know what to do. Would you like to comment?

A : A minister holding such a responsible post should not have commented in this manner. She is in charge of a ministry which takes care of women and children and she should have thought before making such statements. I would not like to comment on this.

Q : Why is Sri Ram Sene against Valentine’s Day?

A : Celebrating Valentine’s Day is not our culture. Love does not come by deciding over a date. Be it Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Women’s Day. The DAY-culture is not our culture and these celebrations come with vested interests of the west.

Q : What are you trying to achieve by banning these celebrations and why only Valentine’s Day?

A : The very celebration of these events will lead to a bad tradition. By creating awareness we are safeguarding our boys and girls. This would pervert our boys and girls. The celebrations will lead to misuse of women who are our sisters and mothers. During last year’s celebrations, 38 girls committed suicide in Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. It is not just Valentine’s Day we are against but all celebrations having a western touch, including New Year.

Q : What will be your modus operandi to oppose the celebrations?

A : We will approach the governor, chief minister and home minister and submit a memorandum seeking a ban on these celebrations. We will also approach the commissioner of police to help us in this regard. Moreover, all colleges, hostels, hotels and greeting card stalls will be requested not to support the celebrations. On February 14, our volunteers carrying ‘mangalsutra’ and accompanied by archaks (priests) will go around the parks and hotels. If anybody is caught ‘celebrating’ love they will be taken to nearby temples for marriage.

Q : Is your Sri Rama Sene supported by BJP? Who funds your activities?

A : Supporting our actions is left to their discretion. We do not get funding from anybody. When I was in jail and during my tours across the state many police officers, doctors and people like you (media) have supported me and said that I have been doing good work. Persons like these fund our activities.

5 SENE TEAMS TO PROWL IN CITY

While the entire world will be busy celebrating Valentine’s Day on Feb 14, IT city will be patrolled by teams of Sri Rama Sene activists scouting for courting couples in order to marry them off. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Pramod Mutalik said,“We will have five different teams, each team comprising 25 to 30 volunteers and one archak, which will patrol the city.The teams will carry mangalsutras and rakhi bands with them. If the couples are willing to marry, we will marry them off. If they decline, we will make them tie rakhis.”

Home minister warns Sri Rama Sene

Barely a few hours after Sri Rama Sene founder Pramod Mutalik’s statement that his men would ‘marry off’ couples who were caught on Feb 14, State Home Minister V S Acharya warned of serious action against the Sene.
Acharya said, “They are unnecessarily taking the law into their own hands. If they take law into their hands, the law will take its own course.” He said that the preliminary investigations pointed to the involvement of some Congress leaders. Acharya also claimed that a Congress leader who is a Sene activist has been found absconding since the incident.

And Mutalik promises a migraine

2009-02-11T16:49:00.001+05:30

And Mutalik promises a migraine
BANGALORE MIRROR BUREAU
Pramod Mutalik and his rabid crew are now aiming to make their next big splash in Bangalore. On Wednesday afternoon, the Sri Rama Sene chief convened a meeting in the city to chalk out an action plan to oppose Valentine’s Day celebrations. The meeting was attended by 29 top functionaries of his outfit.
Mutalik’s contention was: “Love in India is continuous and sacred, it is not expressed in public. It is not something that is done for a few hours or a single day. Valentine’s Day is nothing but an expression of love for a couple of hours and it is an offshoot of western culture. This day is normally misused by the youth.”
Vasanth Kumar Bhavani, the Sene’s Bangalore president, spoke to Bangalore Mirror, spewing the usual gibberish about how traditional Indian mores are under siege, but refused to divulge details about his organisation’s specific plans in the run-up to VDay. The meeting was held at around 1.30 pm at Shivaleela Nursing Home in Uttarahalli.
Mutalik’s men were behind the Mangalore pub attack on Jan 24. The incident had sparked nation wide outrage, even as pundits, the public and concerned citizens groups spoke about an incipient talibanisation of the country.
Mutalik himself was arrested for a ‘defamatory speech’ in 2003 but was let off on bail on Monday. The belated arrest pointed to the typical ad hocism of our state machinery, while his subsequent release showed how our legal system often is worse than a sieve.
Following his release, Mutalik had warned that his party would not allow V-Day at any cost. “We have 1,700 shakhas and all of them will be geared up to stop Valentine’s Day revelries,” he had said. Bangaloreans, determined not to go back to being Neanderthals are, on their part, gearing up to call Mutalik’s bluff.

Lok Ayukta cracks whip on illegal sand mining

2009-02-05T16:46:00.002+05:30

Lok Ayukta cracks whip on illegal sand mining

Sleuths arrest three persons from Karahally, seize vehicles loaded with sand, besides heavy machinery used for mining

BANGALORE MIRROR BUREAU

After bureaucrats, cops and a legislator, it’s now turn of illegal miners. Lok Ayukta sleuths on Wednesday conducted raids in Karhalli area and arrested two truck owners and a driver involved in illegal sand mining and transportation. They also seized 18 sandladen trucks, five loaded tractors, five JCB machines and 34 high pressure pumps.
Illegal sand mining is rampant at Chicknagarhalli, Kohalli, Mayasandra, Telgiri, Nisranahalli, Byadarahalli and Goodrich near Devanahalli highway.

HEAT ON BABUS

After the arrest, Lok Ayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde said he would grill all department officials concerned for ignoring his earlier orders, directing them to take necessary action to put an end to the illegal practice which is a threat to natural resources.
Hegde said, “We had informed departmental heads about the sand mining and transportation, but no action has been taken. We have been receiving regular complaints from the local residents. So our sleuths conducted the raid and arrested three persons.”

UNHOLY NEXUS

Hegde said, “Officials of departments like Revenue, Mines and Geology, Power and Police are hand-in-glove with the illegal miners. The police department alone gets Rs 1,000 for passing one truckload of sand. My sleuths will interrogate the heads of all these departments at the local level to find why necessary action was not taken against these sand miners.”

Whistleblower gets 24-hr ultimatum

2009-02-04T17:42:00.003+05:30

Whistleblower gets 24-hr ultimatum

Complainant threatened with dire consequences if he proceeds with the case; kin thrashed at home town

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Aday after the expose, the heat is turning on the w h i s t l e b l o w e r. Hussain Mueen Farook, the KGF scrap dealer who helped Lok Ayukta sleuths catch MLA Y Sampangi redhanded taking bribe on Thursday, said he has been receiving numerous threatening calls, asking him to withdraw the case.
Farook, who stays in Bangalore and has ancestral property in KGF, said, “I received a threatening call at 10 pm on Thursday. It came from an unknown number, which was not displaying on the screen. The caller gave me a 24-hour deadline to withdraw the complaint and threatened to kill me if I failed to do so.”

KIN ATTACKED

Meanwhile, Farook’s relatives were attacked in KGF soon after the legislator was trapped. “My rivals Ilias, Nayaaz and Khana Fayaz attacked my cousin Nadeem and other two female members of my family. Nadeem has been admitted to the KGF government hospital,” Farook said.

ATTACKERS FREE

Farook also alleged that on Jan 3, in Kurbanhalli near KGF, a hand grenade was lobbed at his car, when he was returning to Bangalore. “My car was damaged and I lodged a complaint with the local police. Instead of arresting the culprits, police are protecting them. The culprits are hand-in-glove with the cops and roam around in police jeeps,” he said.

ILLEGAL GOLD

Farook said he has proof that Sampangi and his followers are involved in finding illegal gold in the KGF premises. “All documents will be produced before the media shortly”, he said.
“They are masters of making fake documents of properties with the help of municipality officers. I am not the only victim of their dubious activities. But I have raised my voice against it and now my life is under threat. I don’t have any faith in the local police, as all the officers are involved in the scam. A fortnight ago, I went with my father and met the DGP and informed him about the illegal activities going on in KGF. I have also given a written complaint,” he said.
“I did not lodge any complaint with the local police because I don’t trust them. It was only after the then SP of Kolar Venkatesh intervened that the local police registered my complaints against Ilias, Nayaaz and Khana Fayaz. Later, he was transferred,” he said.

PAL FIRST, NORMS NEXT

2009-02-04T17:37:00.001+05:30

PAL FIRST, NORMS NEXT

Fortunately for MLA Renukacharya and MLC Veeraiah, the Lok Ayukta does not want to pull them up for trespass

SUCHITH KIDIYOOR

BJP MLA Renukacharya and MLC D S Veeraiah would have landed in trouble if Lok Ayukta Justice N Santhosh Hegde wanted to take action against them for trespassing into his office premises along with their supporters to ‘rescue’ their party MLA Y Sampangi.
Sources said, “The elected representatives, who are also lawmakers of the land, have broken all ethics and norms they must follow by entering the office of Lok Ayukta, where the accused as well as the crores of rupees worth of illegitimate wealth seized in raids are kept. Besides, they also had heated arguments with Lok Ayukta police and obstructed the public servants from discharging their duty.”
Justice N Santhosh Hegde said, “Lok Ayukta is a legally declared investigative agency. They created chaos on the premises when an accused man and illegitimate wealth were in its custody.”
Sources said, “The leaders misbehaved with Lok Ayukta officials and demanded that MLA Y Sampangi be granted bail on the premises itself.”
Justice Hedge, however, refused to file a complaint against the duo. “Registering a case against these MLAs would sidetrack the main issue of corruption. We do not want that to happen, our focus would be the corruption case involving a pubic servant.”

Sampangi’s custody extended till Feb 3

2009-02-04T17:33:00.001+05:30

Sampangi’s custody extended till Feb 3

BANGALORE MIRROR BUREAU

It seems nothing is going Y Sampangi’s way. The court on Friday denied him the bail that he sought on medical grounds. Extending his remand till Feb 3, the court has asked him to personally appear before it whenever he is called, no matter in which condition he is.
Sampangi failed to appear in court on Friday, as he was admitted to Jayadeva Hospital of Cardiology following chest pain. On behalf of the legislator, advocate Shyamsundar appeared in court and submitted the bail petition citing poor health.
Shettar, special judge of the 23rd additional court, didn’t entertain his arguments and said, “I don’t want any clarifications. I will not give him bail till he appears in front of the court. Let him be in any condition, he has to appear before court. Till then he has to be in judicial custody.”
Police had cordoned off the court room and refused entry to anyone except advocates and litigants.
Arguing on behalf of Lok Ayukta, advocate Y R Jagdish objected to Sarangi’s bail application. He will be presenting the necessary documents to substantiate his objections.

We want justice, victim’s relatives tell hit-and-run driver’s lawyers

2009-02-04T17:27:00.001+05:30

We want justice, victim’s relatives tell hit-and-run driver’s lawyers

Relatives of Kempe Gowda, one of those who came under the wheels of a speeding car in Indiranagar, urged the driver’s lawyers not to plead his case

S ESHWAR

The hit-and-run case that sent shockwaves across the city on Saturday morning when four persons, including three senior citizens, were mowed down on 100 Feet Road in Indiranagar by a black Honda Accord witnessed a curious turn on Tuesday when relatives of Kempe Gowda, one of the victims, pleaded with the lawyers not to bail out the driver of the killer car.
Gowda, Dr R Penathur, Siddaiah and a cyclist, Radhakrishna, were killed by the speeding car.

COURT DRAMA

There was high drama at the Metropolitan Magistrate, Traffic, Second Court on Nrupathunga Road in the afternoon when Karthik Somaiah, the private company executive who was behind the wheel of the car, was produced before the magistrate. Even before Somaiah’s lawyers could enter the court hall to seek bail for their client, Gowda’s relatives rushed up to them.
Gowda’s youngest son Prakash caught up with Karthik’s lawyers M T Nanaiah and R M D R Chavan and, literally in tears, said, “Sirs, my father was killed under his car. We know you will argue that your client is not guilty, but the reality is that we have been wronged. Please ensure that justice is delivered to us.”
Caught off-guard, Nanaiah tried to calm down Prakash and the other relatives, saying, “Please don’t worry, the law will take its course. We will see what happens.” At this juncture, one of Kempe Gowda’s grandsons, Manjunath, intervened to say, “If my grandfather has to rest in peace, the killer driver has to be punished.” Nanaiah countered by saying he was doing his duty and assured them that he would get good compensation for their family. Later, speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Manjunath said, “Sir, we too have money. We will pay them double the amount of compensation that they will get us, but can they get my grandfather back?”

REMANDED TILL FEB 9

V Srinivas Murthy, ACP (Traffic-East) said Somaiah was remanded to judicial custody till Feb 9. While Karthik’s lawyers told the court he was not driving under the influence of alcohol, the traffic police maintained medical tests had indicated traces of alcohol in his blood.
Earlier, Somaiah was subjected to heckling by people who had gathered in thecourt premises. As some media persons were taking photographs of him sittingin the police vehicle that had brought him to the court, some people tauntingly asked him whether he had cooked up his version of the accident.

PAY PROPERTY TAX BY MARCH 31, GET 5% DISCOUNT

2009-02-04T16:59:00.002+05:30

PAY PROPERTY TAX BY MARCH 31, GET 5% DISCOUNT

BBMP to start tax collection from Feb 10 through 370 centres across the city

The Self Assessment Scheme (SAS) is back to attack your pockets. The only sop is: you will get a 5 per cent discount if you pay your property tax by March 31.
BBMP Commissioner Dr S Subramanya has made it clear that officials will start collecting property tax under 2000 SAS from February 10. The BBMP expects to collect property tax worth Rs 550 crore every year.
Speaking to mediapersons on Monday, Subramanya said property tax would be collected through ‘help centres’ established by BBMP. There will be a help centre for every 4,000 properties. Booklets (priced at Rs 10 per copy) on the reclassification of properties will be out in a week and will be made available at all revenue and ward offices. “This is the first time we will be collecting property taxes since BBMP came into existence. A number of new properties have to be registered. Therefore, only the BBMP help centres will collect property taxes this year,” said I Ramakanth, DC Revenue, High Value Assessment Cell.
Subramanya said, “In all the 150 wards in BBMP, we have planned to establish 370 help centers. Nearly 70 help centres are functioning and remaining centers will start working by this weekend. Almost 150 surveyors have surveyed properties in Bangalore. This year property tax will be collected through these centers and from next year it will collected through Bangalore One and e-transfers. Property tax forms will be available on BBMP’s website for downloading.”

Old SAS for commercial properties

Subramanya said some corrections have been made with regard to commercial properties. He said, “There was a 20 per cent hike in commercial property tax in 2006. That has been relaxed now following a decision taken in the recent legislature session in Belgaum. Commercial property holders have to pay their taxes under the old SAS format.”

CONCESSION FOR POOR

Subramanya said, “There is concession for houses declared as slum and that are less than 300 sq ft. The rate fixed is Rs 80 per sq ft plus cess. With regard to old properties, a special category has been added to cover only such houses which are made of RCC, Madras Terrace with the flooring made only of cement or red oxide. For posh villas and apartments in newly added zones, the zonal rates will apply.” The BBMP had said that 15 per cent of the properties will be randomly checked using Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. But GIS mapping of city has not been completed (only north Bangalore has been mapped in the last four years), the Palike will liaison with the National Informatics Centre to access the properties. Google Earth will also act as the base reference to check the accuracy of the information filed.

WHAT APARTMENT HAS TO DO?

He said that apartment or flat owner or occupier, apartment association, society; persons who administer the common facility like manager office, club house, swimming pool, canteen health club, gym for the residents of the apartment must pay property tax for the built area at the rates prescribed for owner occupied status for the respective zones. The built area excludes security cabin, pump house and electrical room. Apart from this, paying guests accommodations are classified under category I to III as the case may be, and the rates prescribed for such use of building shall be those applicable to tenanted status of the respective zones.”

SIX EASY STEPS TO CALCULATE YOUR PROPERTY

F erty irst check falls. For the each zone zone under the which unit your area prop value - is mentioned.Then using the following six steps you can easily arrive at the property tax payable for residential property.

• Built up area x unit area value x 10 months = Total1 (T1)

• T1 - applicable depreciation T2 (taxable annual value)

• T2 x tax rate = T3

• T3 x 24% = T4 (Cess)

• T3+T4 = T5 (Total tax)

• T5 x 5% = T6 (Rebate for early payment)

• T5 T6 = T7 (Net property tax payable) Similar steps with a little variation are used for calculating tax for non-residential properties.

PROPERTY TAX CAN BE PAID IN TWO WAYS

• In one installment within 60 days from the date of notification

• In two installments, the first installment by May 30 and the second by September 30 each year

• For the current year 2008-09, the rules provide payment in one lump sum within 60 days from the notification; or two installments, the first falling due within 60 days, and the second installment by March 31, 2009. If the tax for the full year is paid within 30 days from the date of notification, the tax payer can avail a rebate of 5 per cent

Discount offer:

• If the tax for the full year is paid within 30 days from the date of notification,the tax payer gets a rebate of 5 per cent

Meanwhile, for CM’s things-to-do list, a thought: Tackle graft

2009-01-30T15:20:00.003+05:30

Meanwhile, for CM’s things-to-do list, a thought: Tackle graft

In a shameful first, a sitting MLA from the BJP was caught red-handed by Lok Ayukta sleuths for accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from a scrap dealer at Kolar Gold Fields to settle a property dispute

ATUL CHATURVEDI & SUCHITH KIDIYOOR

It has happened for the first time in the state’s history: A sitting MLA has been caught red-handed while accepting a bribe. What is unusual about the episode is that the whistleblower in the case is an ordinary voter from the MLA’s constituency.
It was 1:15 pm on Thursday when Y Sampangi, BJP MLA from Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), fell into the Lok Ayukta dragnet while receiving Rs 50,000 in cash and a cheque for Rs 4.50 lakh as a bribe in his room (No 263) at the Legislators’ Home, where several of our elected netas reside. The turn of events was so sudden that there was a shell-shocked expression on the MLA’s face.
It was only when the Lok Ayukta sleuths reminded him that he was a public servant and that he was not supposed to accept a bribe that Sampangi came back to his senses. The sleuths recovered currency notes that had his fingerprints on them and he was booked under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He was remanded to a day’s judicial custody and packed off to the Parappana Agrahara central prison.
The corruption tale tumbled out when a scrap dealer from KGF’s Andersonpet, Hussain Mueen Farook, approached the Lok Ayukta and alleged that Sampangi was demanding money from him to settle a land dispute. Prior to this, Farook had approached the KGF police seeking help in reclaiming the land, the ownership of which was challenged by some other persons. Farook alleged that the police, instead of helping him, had colluded with the MLA and harassed him for money.
After hearing his story, Lok Ayukta Justice N Santhosh Hedge directed his men to lay a trap. Accordingly, the sleuths smeared currency notes and the cheque with phenolphthalein powder (which is used to obtain fingerprints) and handed the bribe amount over to Farook, to be given to the MLA. When Farook called Sampangi and asked where he was to hand over the cash, the latter told him to come to his room at 1 pm. Accordingly, Farook went there followed by undercover sleuths.
On receiving the cash, Sampangi called up the KGF police and instructed them not to harass Farook. But before he could pocket the amount, the Lok Ayukta sleuths rushed in and nabbed him. The sleuths questioned him till 3:45 pm in his room and later took him to the Lok Ayukta office, where he was again questioned for three hours before being produced before a special judge. Cases have also been booked against circle inspector Lakshmaiah and sub-inspector Pasha of KGF’s Andersonpet police station.
Speaking to reporters later, Justice Hegde said, “We have communicated to the Assembly Speaker’s office about the MLA being trapped.” Though this is the first case of an elected representative being trapped, Justice Hedge did not make a show of it. Instead, in measured tones, he appealed to the public thus: “If anybody has any information about corruption by elected representatives, please inform us. We will definitely take action.”

• Complainant tells Lok Ayukta KGF MLA that
Y Sampangi was demanding a bribe of Rs 5 lakh
to settle a land dispute

• Sleuths set a trap and nab the legislator
while he is accepting the bribe amount at
his room in Legislators’ Home

• Sampangi is grilled for
several hours and then
sent to the Central Prison

V S Acharya, home minister
I don’t know have the complete details... I have heard about it. I have to go through the law before commenting on what transpired. But the incident has dented our party’s image. We will observe how the events unfold and react accordingly.

D H Shankarmurthy, former minister and vice chairman, State Planning Board
Whoever has committed the mistake, they have to be punished.

Jagadish Shettar, Speaker, Karnataka Legislative Assembly
I am outside Bangalore. I will be coming in the evening and will go through the reports. Meanwhile, I have asked the law department to go through the rules and procedures. I have heard that the Lok Ayukta has given a copy of its report to my office. I have to go through it.This is the first time such an incident has taken place in the state.Without consulting the law department, I do not want to comment on the course of action. I will talk to the chief minister.

D K Shivakumar, state working president, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee
All the MLAs should hang their heads in shame over the incident in which the BJP MLA was caught red-handed. The BJP should own moral responsibility as it has encouraged such a culture. In fact, every official posting was auctioned. Today, the BJP has converted the Legislators’ Home into a place where shady deals are struck. This incident has insulted the entire legislators’ fraternity.

H D Deve Gowda, former Prime Minister and JDS supremo
I congratulate the Lok Ayukta.They should have acted when the BJP conducted Operation Lotus, through which they bought over MLAs from other parties.The incident has exposed the cheap politics of the BJP and people should understand what kind of governance this government gives.The incident has left an indelible mark on the basic principles of democracy.

OFFICER WHO NAILED MLA
IPS officer Madhukar K Shetty made history on Thursday when he led the team of sleuths that caught MLA Sampangi while he was accepting bribe. When Bangalore Mirror spoke to him, he just said: “I just did my job. It is my duty to protect the interests of the citizens.”
Before becoming the SP of Lok Ayukta investigation wing, Shetty had served in Bangalore as deputy commissioner (traffic-east). But he made news when he volunteered to be part of the Anti-Veerappan operations. He had also declined to accept cash rewards announced by the state government after the brigand’s death. He told his wellwishers: “I joined the police force to serve and that was part of my duty.”
He was also the talk of the police circles when he volunteered to be part of the Anti-Naxal Force.
He passed the civil services exam in 1998 and joined service on Nov 20, 1999. Hailing from Udupi district, he has served in various districts and was also sent abroad for a special training.

SAMPANGI ON TAPE
A mobile phone equipped with voice-recording facility turned out to be the clincher for the Lok Ayukta sleuths who trapped MLA Sampangi. According to Lok Ayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde, whistleblower Farook had recorded all the conversations he had with the MLA on his mobile phone before tipping off the sleuths.
“It is a crucial piece of evidence,” Justice Hegde said.

A manipulator & opportunist

NIRANJAN KAGGERE
From a small-time real estate player to a legislator, the career graph of BJP MLA from KGF reserved constituency, Yellappa Sampangi, is marked by twists and turns. He manipulated every situation and his party leaders on many occasions and rose to prominence.
Hailing from a dalit community in Hongasandra in Bangalore, the 37-yearold’s political career is known for his alleged hooliganism rather than development activities. Starting from his days as founder president of a local organisation, controversies followed him even after he entered the portals of Vidhana Soudha.

TIMELY ENTRY

It was during B S Yeddyurappa’s tenure as deputy chief minister that Sampangi shot into limelight. While Yeddyurappa drew flak from his political rivals for reportedly ordering the removal of Dr Ambedkar’s portrait from his chamber, Sampangi jumped into the ring by supporting him. In return, he bagged the BJP ticket to contest from KGF, where the political scene was dominated by Tamil Nadu-based parties.

POWER CORRUPTS

Elected as MLA at 37, Sampangi could have used his power to win the trust of the people. But he chose to tread a different path. His true character came to light when he, along with his supporters, attacked a teacher at Sumathi Jain High School in KGF, for not supporting his candidature during elections. Sampangi also took on the lower rank officials at the gram panchayat level during the government’s ambitious Janaspandana programme. Sources said he instigated people against the officials.
Later, targeting KGF SP H S Venkatesh for not inviting him for the citizens’ meet, Sampangi and his supporters, vandalised his office. Stating that he was facing a threat to his life, he demanded two gunmen and the liberty to appoint his own men for the post. Further, he gave Rs 2 lakh to the police department to celebrate the 100 days of the BJP government. When the SP refused to meet his demands, Sampangi used his political clout to transfer Venkatesh.
INPUTS FROM KRISHNAMURTHY
IN KGF

BIG-10 ROADS EVER GREEN

2009-01-27T15:00:00.003+05:30

BIG-10 ROADS EVER GREEN

ABIDe moots signal-free and junction-free roads on 10 arterial roads for smoother traffic flow

ATUL CHATURVEDI

Just imagine driving in Bangalore without being at the mercy of red, amber or green. Well, the Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure and Development Task Force (ABIDe) has come out with a blueprint for signal-free traffic on 10 arterial roads, with just ‘U’ and ‘T’ turns in the city.
Ashwin Mahesh and Lead India winner R K Mishra have prepared this report titled ‘Road, Traffic Management and Transportation’.
The report recommends junction elimination to reduce travel time on these ‘Big-10’ arterial roads.
These roads are: Tumkur Road, Hosur Road, Bannergatta Road, Kanakapura Road, Mysore Road, Bellary Road, Magadi Road, Sarjapur Road, Old Madras Road and HAL Airport Road. These roads will be surveyed and a scientific solution suggested for junction redesign or removal.

PRE-EMPTIVE U-TURNS

At all ‘T’ junctions on these 10 roads, underpasses will be provided. U-turns will be made pre-emptive on these roads so that motorists can take a U-turn before the intersections.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, convener of ABIDe Task force, told Bangalore Mirror, “These recommendations will be put before the public and their suggestions given preference. Compared to other cities, Bangalore is lagging behind in development. However, we hope that the Metro, once commissioned, will be a viable alternative for city transport. I request people to bear with the current problems due to the ongoing works as we prepare for a better tomorrow.”

6-LANE ROADS

The report has also recommended to the government conversion of Big-10 roads into six lanes. Bus bays and footpaths will be made a must on these roads.
The 10 roads to be converted into six-lane roads and next to major towns are: Whitefield, Yelahanka, Kengeri, Hoskote, Sarjapura, Hosur and Nelamangala.

LANE DISCIPLINE

• Road and transport planning to be part of any township spatial planning, with specifications to be standardised.

• Road All arterial roads and public transport corridors to be planned with setback and green ribbon on each side.

• Road Corner plots in new layouts and those along roads of 60 feet width or more should be retained by the government to allow bell-mouthing, roundabouts, clover-leafing and other choices in the future.

• Satellite Town Ring Road, when developed, should be signal-free and junction-free.The Peripheral Ring Road should also be signal-free and junction-free.

• ORR to be signal-free.

• Service roads along ORR to be completed in all respects.

• Bus bays/shelters/footpaths to be made a must.

• Bus lanes to be marked all along ORR.

• All Big-10 roads’ intersections with ORR to be made junction-free

• Upkeep of ORR to be of same standard as that of Airport Road.

• Need for elevated ORR on the median to augment capacity and provide for BRTS to be assessed after it is made signal-free.

KEEPING TRACK

• All Metro stations should have a provision for simultaneous arrival and departure of 4-5 buses integrated into their design. It should not be necessary to leave the Metro premises to board a bus. Covered walkways to bus stops from stations should be provided.

• Metro shall be responsible for providing protected pedestrian access to all stations from within 500 meters of the station or nearest large junction.

• This pedestrian infrastructure should be integrated with Metro station design, look and feel. The work should be started right away to boost the public image of Metro, given the hardship caused by Metro construction.

• Metro stations should have parking for sufficient number of cycles, two-wheelers, autorickshaws, taxis and four-wheelers. Terminal stations shall have ‘park and ride’ facilities sufficient to accommodate demand.

• Metro expansion from Byappanahalli to IPTL/EPIP to be considered in the first phase to improve financial viability.

CIVIC ROLE

• BBMP must develop parking facilities (surface or multi-storey) on its empty land parcels in the city using its resources. It could be outsourced to private operators on a revenue-sharing basis.

• Current building bye-laws to be amended to provide for adequate parking facilities in line with contemporary lifestyle and vehicle usage patterns for all office, residential and commercial buildings.

• No public parking should be linked to a commercial complex or mall. The current proposal of developing parking capacity in conjunction with real estate development

ABIDE’S ARTERIAL ROADS

TUMKUR ROAD

Hesaraghatta Road Jalahalli Cross Yeshwantpur RS Tumkur Road flyover Yeshwantpur Circle New BEL Road CNR Rao Circle BEL Road

MAGADI ROAD

Pete Mariappa Circle Kamakshipalya Dr Rajkumar Road Magadi Road at west of Chord Rd

BELLARY ROAD

Bagalur Main Road Kogilu Cross Kodigehalli Jn Yelahanka Jn Mehkri Circle

SARJAPUR ROAD

Sector 5 Lake Road Jakkasandra I Main Road Jakkasandra VII Main Road Krupanidhi College Indian Institute of Astrophysics Mphasis / HPCL

OLD MADRAS ROAD

Kaggadasapura Road

BANNERGHATTA ROAD

Gottigere Hulimavu Arakere Gate IIMB South Jn / Samrat Layout IIMB North Jn / Bilekahalli Devarchikkanahalli Road Jn BTM 29th Main - Mantri Elite II BTM 29th Main - Mantri Elite Sarakki Jn Jayadeva Hospital / BTM flyover Jayanagar 9th Block 39th Cross Sagar Apollo / Tilaknagar MICO Jn / Pukhraj Layout Marble Market

NGEF

Suranjan Das Road OMR Indiranagar 80 Ft Road Byappanahalli Road Indiranagar 100 Ft Road Jn Indiranagar BDA Jn Jayalakshmi Ammal temple Philips Jn

MYSORE ROAD

Bangalore University Rajarajeswari Nagar

HAL AIRPORT ROAD

Varthur Kodi Kundalahalli Road Doddanekundi Road Yamlur Jn Namjoshi Rd Suranjan Das Road Wind Tunnel Road Manipal Hospital Domlur flyover Domlur Bus Stand Command Hospital Agaram Junction Trinity Junction

KANAKAPURA ROAD

Khoday Breweries/ Vasanthpura Road

HOSUR ROAD

Jail Junction Novell Jn / Kudlu Road Begur Road Madivala Police Station Koramangala 17th Main Mphasis / Marigowda Rd Raheja Arcade / Forum Adugodi Jn Anepalya Rd Jn St Patrick’s Cemetery Langford Road CMP Gate Fatima Bakery Vellara Junction ORR junctions, including those on big 10 roads Banashankari Bus Stand Chord Road Jn Nayandanahalli Jn ORR at Kengeri Vokkaligara College ORR at Magadi Road Goruguntepalya Hebbal flyover Nagavara Jn Ramamurthy Nagar ORR on OMR KR Puram Railway Station Doddenakundi Jn Marathahalli ORR Agara Kere JD Mara Jn / Mandovi Motors Silk Board Jayadeva Hospital/ BTM flyover Family Mart Kadabisanahalli Bellandur Jn ORR Iblur Jn Hennur Main Road Kuvempu Circle Kuvempu Nagar NCERT Kathriguppe Road Deve Gowda Petrol Bunk Subramanyapura Main Road Puttenahalli JP Nagar 24th Main Road East End Circle Udupi Garden BTM 29th Main Road

Club may expel Karthik

2009-01-26T17:27:00.003+05:30

Club may expel Karthik

Kodanda Rama Reddy, one of the victims of Saturday’s hit-and -run incident, is keen on the drunken driver’s ouster from Indiranagar Club

by ATUL CHATURVEDI

First, he lost control over himself while on a drinking binge. Then, he lost control over the steering wheel and fatally knocked down four pedestrians. Now, he is all set to lose his favourite hangout.
Karthik Somaiah, the private company executive who ploughed his black Honda Accord into four people on 100 Feet Road in Indiranagar on Saturday morning, is likely to be stripped of his membership at the Indiranagar Club. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, an officebearer of the club said: “We are contemplating Karthik’s removal from the club. If any of the members lodge a formal complaint, we will terminate his membership. It is quite sad to know that he consumed liquor at the club before going out and mowing down innocent people.”

VICTIM’S IRE

What complicates matters for Karthik is the stand taken by Kodanda Rama Reddy, the 62-year-old retired college principal and the lone survivor of the crash, to nail him. Though doctors at Manipal Hospital are working hard to comfort him, Reddy’s anger level over Karthik’s reckless driving has not reduced. Incidentally, Reddy is also a member of the Indiranagar Club.
“People like Karthik should not be made members. I will suggest to the club’s secretary seeking termination of his membership,” an angry Reddy said and added that he would give a written complaint after he is discharged from the hospital. Reddy’s contention is that people who have scant respect for the people on the streets should be stripped of all benefits. “What is the point in giving membership to people who are not responsible citizens. His callousness has cost four lives,” Reddy added.
Meanwhile, sources in the club said: “We are serious about sacking him, he has brought disrepute to the club.” But others said that since the crime had been committed outside the club, they are exploring how to go about the terminating his membership.

...and his driving licence too

by M K ASHOKA

Demon driver Karthik K Somaiah is all set to lose his driving licence. The city police have recommended its cancellation in the backdrop of the death of four elderly citizens who were mowed down by his vehicle on Saturday.
Previously, Nikhil G Talvade’s driving licence was withdrawn after he killed three employees of General Post Office (GPO) near the head office on Raj Bhavan Road while driving his car in March 2007.
The Dharwad RTO had cancelled the DL after city police recommended the withdrawal.

2009-01-25T17:24:00.000+05:30

Dead and gone - The Victims

2009-01-25T17:07:00.001+05:30

Dead and gone - The Victims

Siddaiah

Dead and gone - The Victims

2009-01-25T17:06:00.001+05:30

Dead and gone - The Victims

Radhakrishnan

Dead and gone - The Victims

2009-01-25T17:05:00.002+05:30

Dead and gone - The Victims

Kempe Gowda

Dead and gone - The Victims

2009-01-25T17:02:00.002+05:30

Dead and gone - The Victims

Dr Ramanath Penathur

Demon driver: Karthik Somaiah

2009-01-25T17:00:00.002+05:30

Demon driver: Karthik Somaiah

Speeding car mows down four

2009-01-25T16:54:00.003+05:30

Speeding car mows down four

Just a day after we launched a campaign against hit-and-run drivers, a horrific incident occurs, to remind us of how vulnerable we are on our roads

Atul Chaturvedi & Praveen Kumar
Posted On Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 04:52:14 PM

Killer Car Honda Accord
How it Happened:
1) Karthik K Somaiah and friends enter a club in Indiranagar to party at 7:30 pm on Friday. He consumes liquor and later drives to drop his girlfriend.

2) He drives back home in the early hours of Saturday. His speeding Honda Accord reaches Dhoopanahalli on 100 Feet Road at 6:15 am.

3) The car first knocks down morning walker Kodanda Rama Reddy, a retired principal. He suffers injuries, but survives.

4) Next, the car hits cyclist Radhakrishnan who is crossing the divider. He is killed on the spot.

5) The killer car doesn’t stop there, but swerves left and runs over three elderly citizens who are out for their morning walk. All the three are killed and the vehicle hits the pavement.

6) Passers-by pull Karthik out of the car and thrash him. But he escapes in an autorickshaw.

7) Ten minutes later, a traffic cop passing that way stops and alerts the control room. An ambulance is summoned and the injured man is shifted to hospital.

8) Police launch a manhunt for Karthik, who in the meantime gets in touch with his family and manages to engage a team of lawyers.

9) At 5:30 pm, Karthik surrenders before the police and claims that he lost control over the wheel while avoiding the cyclist. His lawyers say Karthik had not consumed liquor.

10) However, the police subject him to medical tests and find traces of alcohol in his blood.

11) Karthik is produced before the magistrate and remanded in judicial custody till Jan 27.

Demon driver had nine pegs before he hit the road

Nine-and-a-half pegs of whiskey! That’s what it took 29-year-old private company executive Karthik K Somaiah, who had partied the night away, to mow down four persons, including three senior citizens, in the posh Indiranagar area on Saturday morning.

The impact of the accident was such that the victims were thrown off the ground by about 20-30 feet. The cool dude from Coorg then fled the scene in a huff. But when Karthik surrendered before the police later in the evening, he claimed that he had lost control of his Black Honda Accord while trying to avoid a cyclist.

His victims have been identified as Siddaiah (69), a resident of BDA complex and a civil defence officer; Dr Ramanath Penathur (65), a retired physician of the ESI Hospital and a resident of Indiranagar II Stage; Kempe Gowda (76), a retired contractor and a resident of Indiranagar II Stage; and Radha Krishna (45), the cyclist and a mason, residing at 15th main, II cross, Dhoopanahalli. Kodanda Rama Reddy (62), a retired government college principal and resident of HAL II Stage, was injured in the accident.

In denial mode

While Karthik denied driving under the influence of alcohol to the media when he surrendered 12 hours after the incident, V Srinivas Murthy, ACP (Traffic-East), said he had already confessed to the same. He had consumed whiskey and beer and was going back to his house in Domlur from a friend’s house in Koramangala when the accident happened due to poor visibility, according to his confession. But when we made informal inquiries as to where Karthik was before ploughing his car into morning walkers, what emerged was spine-chilling.

Friday night fever

On Friday night, Karthik apparently had gone to a prominent Indiranagar club for a binge party along with his friends. Speaking to us on condition of anonymity, a employee at the club said, “This guy parties every night. As usual, he came to the club on Friday at 7:30 pm along with his girlfriend. The two were later joined by his friends Sharath and Rajesh. All of them consumed liquor and Karthik was having great fun.” Incidentally, Karthik has described himself on the social networking site Orkut as a lively party animal with a love for speed and booze.

He had applied for a membership at the club a year ago on his father’s behalf. K M Somaiah, his father and chief officer of a Mumbai-based shipping company, was already a member. “He visits the club on a daily basis, with at least five to six friends. Normally, he has six to seven pegs and he is the last to leave the premises. But two good things about him are that he does not create a nuisance after getting high on alcohol and he tips us liberally,” the employee said.

Bottoms up

On Friday night too, he had consumed seven pegs. As he had crossed the credit limit of Rs 16,000 per month offered by the club, his friend Sharath had to sign the bill. Sharath and Rajesh left Karthik and the girl at 9:30 pm.

“As the last order is taken at 10:30 pm, Karthik was asked if he needed anything else. He said he wanted two-and-a-half pegs packed for consuming outside. Later, the security guards came and asked the two to leave,” the employee added. The girl too had consumed 250 ml of Bacardi Breezer. Subsequently, Karthik is said to have gone to the girl’s place and the accident occurred when he was returning home in the wee hours.

Case booked under IPC 304A

The Indiranagar Traffic Police have registered a case under IPC 304A against the driver. The DCP said that the car driver escaping after the incident amounts to hit-and-run. IPC 304A (Causing death by negligence): Whoever causes the death of any person by committing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

A tragedy unfolds

6.15 am: On Saturday morning speeding in his Honda Accord, Karthik K Somaiah reaches 100 Feet Road near Dhoopanahalli in Indiranagar via Koramangala.

6.15 am: He knocks down Kodandarama Reddy, a retired principal who is walking on the road just beside the pavement, causing him severe injuries.

6.16 am: Unable to control the vehicle, Karthik rams Radhakrishna, who happens to be crossing the road divider on 100 Feet Road with a cycle. Radhakrishna is killed on the spot.

6.17 am: Karthik swerves to the extreme left and knocks down three elderly citizens, killing all of them on the spot, even as the car climbs the pavement.

6.20 am: People gather at the spot, bash up Karthik. As they try to help the victims, he manages to free himself and escapes in an autorickshaw

6.30 am: Manjunath, a sub-inspector attached to Indiranagar Traffic station, happens to come to the spot.

6.45 am: Ambulance arrives and takes Kodandarama Reddy to hospital.

Evening 5.30: pm Karthik surrenders to police and claims he knocked down the pedestrians in an attempt to save the life of the cyclist. Police rubbish his claim.

The cat and mouse game begins...

I ran away as I feared being killed by passers-by: Driver Karthik

The accident occurred near the flyover when I was returning home after dropping a friend. At the junction near the flyover, I spotted the cyclist on the wrong side of the road and I swerved the car to the left to avoid hitting him. But I lost control and hit others. Nothing was intentional. Immediately after the accident, passers-by caught me and started assaulting me for having killed the people. I was very scared and ran away from the spot to avoid being killed. I have now surrendered.

That’s rubbish, there were traces of alcohol in him: Praveen Sood, Addl Commissioner (Traffic)

Karthik surrendered before the police 12 hours after he caused the accident. We immediately subjected him to alcohol and chemical tests. During the tests, it was confirmed that there were traces of alcohol in his blood. We produced him before the court and are investigating the case.

Road visibility was low, my client was not drunk: R M D R Chavan, Karthik’s Advocate

My client was trying to avoid hitting the cyclist who was coming in the wrong direction when the accident occurred. So we will not be plead guilty to the charges made by the police. According to the information I have from my client, he was not under the influence of alcohol. He was a bit tired and secondly, the visibility on the road was low.

A fatal renovation

2009-01-25T16:53:00.000+05:30

A fatal renovation

The joggers who died in Saturday’s accident may have taken to the road as a park close by was being rebuilt

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 09:56:07 AM

Indiranagar has about 26 parks, but it needs some more if you go by Bruhat Baagalore Mahanagar Palike’s (BBMP) diktat that has called for a park every 500 m.

However, the park near Saturday’s fatal accident, which claimed the lives of three joggers and a cyclist, on 100 Feet Road is under renovation.

The renovation work going on at the park, located between 16th E and 16th F, may have forced the joggers on to the road, according to a few residents. The work is already 15 days old, and BBMP expects it to be over in another 10 days.

C Noronha, former vice president of HAL IInd Stage Resident Welfare Association, said, “BBMP has started the renovation work and it will be completed shortly.”

Another resident and member of Indiranagar Club said, “We don’t have any problems regarding parks. We have sufficient number of parks. if someone wants to walk on the roads they should think twice before doing the same.”

City has 841 gardens

BBMP has over 841 gardens within its limits and most of them are in the south zone. It has 180 gardens followed by east zone with 155. West zone has 149 gardens. A Narayanaswamy, Chief Horticulture Officer, said, “BBMP has already developed 513 gardens in the city and it has taken work for 328 more. We have concentrated gardens, which are in the newly-added areas. There are 26 parks in Indiranagar area and most of them are developed. Some parks are under renovation and work on them will be completed soon.”

A park every 500 meters

The BBMP rule book says that that there should be a park every 500 meter. However, the unscientific and haphazard growth of the city has not given scope for more parks. A BBMP official also said that most of the parks were concentrated in core areas. Some regions have been given more importance for developing parks and work will start soon in these areas. The Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act also says that it is the duty of BBMP to develop and renovate parks in the city.

Pay-n-Park off

2009-01-24T21:25:00.001+05:30

Pay-n-Park off

High Court lifts stay on BBMP order scrapping deal with contractor, asks him to stop collecting parking fees

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 10:21:56 AM

At last there is good news for motorists seeking parking space on Bangalore’s busy roads. The High Court vacated its stay on BBMP’s order withdrawing the pay and park system and asked the contractor to stop collecting parking fees immediately.

On Jan 2 the pay and park system was introduced in the city. But BBMP Additional Commissioner (East) Puttaswamy withdrew the system after widespread public outcry. However, contractor G Subramanaya of Iswarya Associates, who was authorised by the BBMP to run the pay and park system, approached the High Court on the same day seeking a stay against the withdrawal of the system by BBMP.

Stay order

On Jan 13, High Court Judge Ravi Malimath stayed the withdrawal of the pay and park system by BBMP, thereby allowing the contractor to collect parking fee. Armed with the stay order, the contractor started collecting parking fees on St Marks Road, Lavelle Road and Cross Roads, M G Road, Krishna Temple Road (Indiranagar), Brunton Road, from Kidskemp to Richmond Road, Ali Askar Road, from Jyoti Nivas to 5th main Road, and Millers Road.

However, the BBMP filed an interlocutory application seeking to vacate the High Court’s stay order. During the court hearing on Friday, BBMP advocates told the court that the order issued by the assistant revenue officer (ARO) was not final as he did not have any power to pass such orders. They told the court that the Council had passed a resolution in 2005 not to introduce the pay and park system.

the challenge

Senior BBMP advocate Ashok Haranahalli said, “The ARO is not the competitive officer to pass an order and it (his order permitting collection of parking fee) is a violation of Transparency Act. Any work order which crosses Rs 1 lakh has to be tendered and the same was not done in this case. Hence the contract is not valid.”

BBMP lawyers also said that Iswarya Associates had sought permission to collect parking fee on a piece of paper. It had to go through the tendering process before permission could be granted.

‘Return my deposit’

Realising that he cannot collect parking fee from Saturday, the contractor asked the High Court about the fate of the money he had deposited with the BBMP while securing permission to collect parking fee. He asked for the Rs 1.75 lakh he had deposited with the BBMP to be returned to him.

The court asked him to submit an application in this regard but steered clear of making any promises. “We will see, first you file an application.”

3 cops in Acharya’s line of fire

2009-01-24T21:16:00.001+05:30

3 cops in Acharya’s line of fire

Home minister seeks suspension of officials for not showing favour to leaders from Udupi region in a land transaction

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Friday, January 23, 2009 at 01:40:41 PM

Two police officers of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and an inspector face an “uncertain future” as they declined to show favour to a BJP legislator and a Congress leader in a land transaction.

Home minister Dr V S Acharya recommended suspension of these officers after the politicians, who hail from Udupi region (Acharya’s native place), complained to him against these officials. On receiving instructions from the home minister, state police headquarters prepared the ‘suspension file’ of K Ajjanna, N Narasimhaiah, both ACPs, and inspector T Ranganna.

SUSPENSION PENDING

When the orders were about to be issued on Tuesday evening, it was brought to the notice of Police Commissioner Shankar M Bidari, who opposed it saying his officers have done no wrong. Following this, the suspension file has been kept pending.

The background: A man had prime land in Nagavara area and a title deed which clearly said his family is the owner since 1906. Another person created fake documents for the same plot and sold it to Kundapur BJP MLA Haldi Srinivas Shetty. Congress leader Ravi Shankar Shetty had played a key role in this transaction with the BJP legislator.

IRKED BY REFUSAL

These leaders had approached Ajjanna when he was in charge of KR Puram police station to help them secure the property. Ajjanna had refused saying it was a civil dispute and the other party had original documents. Then, Ajjanna was transferred. After that, they approached Ajjanna’s successor, Narasimhaiah and KG Halli inspector T Ranganna seeking a similar favour. They too refused.

HOME PRESSURE

Subsequently, pressure mounted on them from the home minister’s office. The original owner, who was a local BJP leader, with the backing of Yelahanka legislator S R Vishwanath, brought pressure on the police.

The police also booked a case against the BJP MLA’s men when they tried torecover the land through force. An irked BJP MLA and the Congress leader complained to the home minister, who directed the state police chief to initiate action against the three police officers.

Bidari, however, took objection to taking a severe action like suspension without a preliminary inquiry.

Additional Commissioner of Police M R Poojar, who went through the charges against the police officers, too felt suspension was not required in the case. “There was no fault on the part of policemen,” he felt.

The police headquarters, however, is also in a fix following Bidari’s objection to the call for suspension.

SAS takes load off owners

2009-01-24T21:14:00.002+05:30

SAS takes load off owners

Govt withdraws 20 pc hike proposed by cabinet panel; 2000 SAS to be basis for new tax regime

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Friday, January 23, 2009 at 01:37:17 PM

The SAS saga has a happy ending. The government has withdrawn the 20 per cent hike that the cabinet sub-committee had proposed in the unit area value of self assessment scheme.

The Bill passed on Thursday at the Belgaum session has clearly indicated the residents need not pay taxes with a 20 per cent hike. The tax structure will be based on the SAS introduced in 2000. The cabinet sub-committee headed by transport minister R Ashok had recommended a 20 per cent hike in tax, which was opposed by residents as well as Congress MLAs. The revised Bill, which was tabled on Wednesday in the Assembly and was passed on Thursday, has withdrawn this hike.

Ashok said, “The cabinet sub-committee had recommended a 20 per cent hike in tax under the unit area value. But we have withdrawn that decision. Now, residents have to pay tax as per the old rates.”

Different taxes

At the time of merger of seven CMCs, one TMC and 110 villages with then BMP on Jan 1, 2007, the BMP was collecting property tax on the basis of annual rental value under the SAS. While the CMCs and the TMC were collecting tax under Capital Value System (CVS) under the Karnataka Municipalities Act, villages were collecting tax under Panchayat Raj Act.
Following the merger, a need was felt for a uniform property tax regime.

Now, BBMP will collect taxes based on unit area value. The new Bill envisages insertion of Section 108A titled ‘Levy and Calculation of Property Tax in respect of BBMP. The Act moots collection of tax from all buildings or vacant lands or both situated within the BBMP, every year.

BBMP commissioner Dr S Subramanya said, “We have asked the people to file their objections. A final notification will be issued soon.”

A senior BBMP official in the revenue department said different rates could be fixed for different areas or streets by classifying them into zones. The unit area value constitutes an average rate of expected returns from the property per sq ft per month determined by the BBMP commissioner.

This is based on the average market rate determined through mass appraisal method or real estate market information or any other reliable source or a combination of sources he may consider sufficient and reasonable.

Tax levy, calculation

The property tax shall not be less than 20 per cent and not more than 25 per cent of the taxable annual value of a building, vacant land or both. The annual value of the property shall be calculated by multiplying the corresponding unit area value with the total built-up area of a building, vacant land or both for ten months, minus depreciation at such rate.

Concession for slums

The Bill provides for fixing a lumpsum amount as annual tax irrespective of zonal classifications in respect of built-up area less than 300 sqft in a slum and also for an area used as parking area in a non-residential building.

Unauthorised buildings

The Bill empowers the BBMP to collect property tax from every building, vacant land or both which have come up in an unauthorised layout or in a revenue land or from a building occupied without occupancy certificate. However, the property collected from such properties should be maintained in a separate register. The collection of tax does not confer any right to regularise violations committed.

Self-occupied buildings

Property tax payable shall be reduced by 50 per cent in respect of a self- occupied building used for residential purpose and such class of self- occupied non-residential as may be notified by the state government. The tax could be paid in two equal instalments before May 30 and November 29 of each financial year or in a single instalment. As for 2008-09, the first instalment of tax should be paid within 60 days of the commencement of this Act. The tax payers will get a 5 per cent rebate on tax if the tax is paid within one month.

Penalty for evasion

The Bill also has a clause for action against incorrect or under-assessment of the property, resulting in evasion of property tax. If the tax reassessed is more than 5 per cent of the tax remitted, the evaded tax shall be payable together with a penalty not less than twice the tax so evaded along with interest for the difference in tax paid and payable calculated at 24 per cent per annum.

The owner or occupant can file his objections, if any, against the penalty to the commissioner or the authorised officer within 30 days. The property tax shall be liable for revision once in three years by enhancing 15 per cent commencing from financial year 2008-09.

The new scheme has been evolved on the mass appraisal system of properties. The city has been classified into six zones based on the property valuation done by the department of Revenue (Registration). Further, the properties have been classified based on cost of construction value at current market rate. The per sqft per month rates applicable are related to the zone and class of building.

Melting pot

2009-01-24T21:13:00.000+05:30

Melting pot
Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 01:16:23 AM

Jayanagar is one of the first planned residential areas in India and till some decades ago had the distinction of being one of the largest such areas in Asia. It is surrounded by Basavanagudi, JP Nagar, Banashankari 2nd stage, Gurappanapalya, Sadduguntepalya and BTM Layout. It is also close to the Lalbagh Botanical Garden. Jayanagar comprises 10 blocks.

Blocks III and IV are largely commercial hubs, while the rest are mostly residential.

Since the early 1990s, Jayanagar has seen an influx of people from many parts of India, making it a truly cosmopolitan suburb. Among its many features are a number of temples, the Jayanagar Shopping Complex in IV Block next to the bus station, and IV Main Road (also known as Nanda Road) which is actually a boulevard running north to south from South End Circle to 44th Cross in V Block for almost two km, with well-maintained parks on either side. Jayanagar IV Block is well-known for its shopping, restaurants and fast food outlets.

The residents are mainly upper middle-class.Jayanagar falls in the south zone of the police department.

Pay & lose scheme

2009-01-20T19:29:00.002+05:30

Pay & lose scheme

The pay and park system, which has made a re-entry in ‘select’ places, is citizen-unfriendly. We checked out to find a shocking outcome. While the contractor earns Rs 12.82 lakh a month from nine roads on an average, the BBMP gets just Rs 1.75 lakh

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Monday, January 19, 2009 at 05:14:48 PM

The pay and parking system introduced on nine roads in the city on Jan 2 has too many loose ends. While senior BBMP officials try to escape by saying their juniors did not consult them before awarding the contract to a private contractor, records obtained by Bangalore Mirror indicate tenders were awarded at the behest of an additional commissioner, two ministers and others.

Before awarding this tender, the BBMP had given permission to three others to run a similar scheme on Kamaraj Road, Main Guard Road, Dispensary Road and below high-tension lines in Koramangala in December 2008.

PULLING STRINGS

After receiving a ‘recommendation’ letter from labour minister B N Bachche Gowda, BBMP’s additional commissioner (east) Puttaswamy directed his juniors to award the pay and park contract on Kamaraj Road, Main Guard Road and Dispensary Road (all located near Commercial Street) to physically handicapped persons identified as Kavitha and Linge Gowda and Koramangala contract to G Subramanya Shetty, an ex-serviceman.

Accordingly, the tender was awarded. Based on this model, the tender for nine streets were awarded to an ex-serviceman, G Subramanya of Iswarya Associates, on Jan 2. Interestingly, urban development minister S Suresh Kumar had issued the recommendation letter in favour of Subramanya, who said he “needs the contract of nine streets for his livelihood”.

Based on this letter, Puttaswamy directed his assistant, Jagadish, to prepare the file. After the latter prepared it, Puttaswamy signed the order on Jan 2. When Subramanya’s men started collecting parking fee from that day, there was a huge public outcry against the system which was abolished during Congress rule, in 2005.

PASSING THE BUCK

Puttaswamy withdrew the order and passed the blame on Jagadish. He even got Jagadish suspended saying he had misled him. But Jagadish had sent a letter to the BBMP commissioner on Jan 7 stating he had been made a scapegoat by Puttaswamy. Jagadish defended his stand by furnishing documentary evidence which shows Puttaswamy’s role and the ministers’ involvement in the tender process. Jagadish sent another letter to BBMP commissioner on Jan 16 saying Puttaswamy had awarded pay and park contract to two physically handicapped persons in December. This will make it difficult for Puttaswamy to say Jagadish had misled him.

NO BIDDING

The parking contracts on all these roads have been awarded to private parties without a bidding.

The government had planned to introduce automated parking on these roads. When they invited tenders from trader bodies to run the system like on Brigade Road, there were no bidders.

In the absence of bidders, the BBMP cancelled the tenders and wrote to the government seeking permission for inviting fresh tenders. Pending this, the BBMP selected individuals and granted them permission to run the parking system.

Maha ex-minister held for defying ban on MES rally

2009-01-17T20:37:00.001+05:30

Maha ex-minister held for defying ban on MES rally

N D Patil’s arrest on Karnataka soil comes 22 years after Sharad Pawar’s detention

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Friday, January 16, 2009 at 09:40:04 PM

Police arresting former Maharashtra minister N D Patil and senior MES leader Deepak Dalvi in Belgaum on Friday
Police arrested more than 150 persons including former Maharashtra co-operation minister N D Patil for trying to hold Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti’s rally Maha Melava in Belgaum on Friday. The state government had banned the rally on Wednesday night.

This is the first time in 22 years that a Maharashtra minister has been arrested on Karnataka soil in connection with the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute. The MES was organising this rally to demand the merger of Belgaum district with Maharashtra. Others arrested included senior MES leader Deepak Dalvi and former Belgaum mayor Vijay More. Later they were released.

Police also arrested 79 members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Praveen Shetty faction) as they tried to unveil the Kannada flag on Belgaum City Corporation. The faction’s president Praveen Shetty was also among those arrested. They were later released.

In 1986, the protesting Maharashtra political heavy weights Sharad Pawar, Suresh Kalmadi and Chagan Bhujbal were arrested in Belgaum as a preventive measure.

After parking row, the scam

2009-01-16T17:35:00.002+05:30

After parking row, the scam

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Friday, January 16, 2009 at 01:06:20 AM

Is BBMP being taken for a ride by the contractor it appointed to operate the pay-and-park system on key roads in the city? On the face of it, it would seem so. The civic body gets a revenue of Rs 2 lakh every month from the Brigade Road Shops and Establishments Association for a stretch where 85 cars can be parked. In contrast, it receives Rs 1.75 lakh from the contractor who has been given the collection rights for nine important roads, among them M G Road, St Mark’s Road and Lavelle Road. The nine roads taken together have parking space for 2,000 cars.

Voicing his suspicions of a scam, Ramkumar, an Indiranagar resident, said, “Rs 2 lakh comes from a half-kilometre stretch and Rs 1.75 lakh from nine streets which are spread across more than 10 km. Who allowed this at the cost of the common man?” Another motorist remarked, “The parking fee — Rs 10 per hour — is the same on Brigade Road and the other roads. But Brigade Road has automated parking and 13 security guards to monitor the system and ensure that no vehicle is stolen. The other roads do not have these facilities; in fact, the contractor issues a receipt which says he is not responsible for vehicle thefts.”

Commenting on the issue, a BBMP official said, “When we signed an MoU with Brigade Road Shops and Establishments Association to set up a metered parking system, they agreed to give us 50 per cent of the revenues and utilise the rest for maintenance and upgradation of the road. They were allowed to collect Rs 10 an hour. Whereas with the contractor, we have agreed to take Rs 1.75 lakh as our share of revenue from him every month. He is collecting, per hour, Rs 10 from car and Rs 2 from bikes.” The contractor has engaged 88 persons to collect parking fees on these nine roads.

Hit by controversy

During Governor’s rule in the state, BBMP had proposed the introduction of pay-and-park on the lines of the Brigade Road model at 37 other roads. There were few takers for the scheme from trade associations. Later, G Subramanya, managing partner of Ishwarya Associates, made a representation stating that he was an ex-army man and intended to run the pay-and-park system on nine roads. Purportedly on the basis of a letter recommending his case by urban development minister S Suresh Kumar, the civic body issued an order in his favour.

According to a retired BBMP engineer, the civic body had not insisted on an automated parking system or revenue-sharing for these roads, and this had gone in the contractor’s favour. Following a public outcry, BBMP cancelled the contract but the contractor went to the high court and obtained a stay order.

When contacted, BBMP Additional Commissioner (East) Puttaswamy admitted that there was “something wrong” with the agreement arrived at with the contractor. “That is why we cancelled it. He has gone to court and obtained a stay. We are scrutinising the documents given to us by the contractor and will try to convince the court to rule in our favour,” he said.

Pay and park Roads
St Mark’s Road
Lavelle Road and its cross road
M G Road
Krishna Temple Road (Indiranagar)
Brunton Road
Kids Kemp to Richmond Road
Ali Askar Road
5th Main to Jyothi Nivas College
Off Miller’s Road

Speaker okays wife’s mien point

2009-01-16T17:26:00.002+05:30

Speaker okays wife’s mien point

Speaker Jagdish Shettar has decided to permanently rid himself of his beard after his wife persuaded him during a trip to China that a shaven face made him look a whole lot smarter

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Friday, January 16, 2009 at 01:05:39 AM

Shettar with a new look, along with his wife, on board a flight
A woman can be behind a man’s makeover too, not just his success. It took a glowing compliment from his wife for Jagdish Shettar, the State’s Speaker, to summon the confidence to finally rid himself of facial hair.

For 15 years Shettar has never been without a beard, and the grunge look has been an enduring part of his public image.
The transformation happened quite accidentally when he and his wife were on a trip to China.

“I used to have a lot of pimples on my face and because of that I had not shaven all these years. Now the pimples have gone and that made me shave. I have kept a light moustache and often shave every second day. My wife was the first to
compliment me after she saw me clean shaven. I was very happy; she told me that I look very smart. Now I have taken a decision that I will not keep a beard but will keep a light moustache,” Shettar told Bangalore Mirror.

Wife’s advice

“I insisted that he remain clean shaven. It suits his personality and he looks very smart. We were touring China and other countries in November and there he didn’t find any barber to shape his beard and moustache. I told him to shave which he did not agree to initially but later agreed. In fact, I was telling him to have a shave since long, but he always refused and used to tell me that he has a problem with pimples,” said his wife Shilpa.

Perhaps the salon story was a happy circumstance and it was the wife’s persuasion that really did the trick.

ACTING OFFER

Originally from Bagalkot, Shettar hadn’t shaved since his college days and continued to maintain a trimmed beard even after he became a minister in the Kumaraswamy government. Incidentally, his new look has got him offers to act in Sandalwood. “I got a proposal to act in one scene of a Kannada movie. I was invited for a clap for a movie produced by a person from North Karnataka. I refused because the dignity of my post doesn’t allow me. If I were just a minister, then it could have been different.”

“After returning from abroad, he is having shaving regularly. I have told him not to have a beard and he is obeying my orders. My only regret is, why did he have to wait so long,” Shilpa revealed.

MES rally: Belgaum cops arrest ex-MLA, 2 others

2009-01-16T16:42:00.003+05:30

MES rally: Belgaum cops arrest ex-MLA, 2 others

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 09:48:41 PM

On the eve of the joint session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly starts in Belgaum, Belgaum police have arrested three MES members including former MLA Manohar Kinyekar as a preventive measure. The other two arrested persons are Taluk MES president Ningoji Huddar and former Taluka Panchayat member S L Chougle.

The State government has denied permission to Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi (MES) to hold a rally on Friday.The MES had planned to organise this event to press for its longstanding demand of merging Belgaum district with Maharashtra.
Sources in Belgaum said that the arrested trio had gone on hunger strike inside Hindalga jail. They had not consumed even water since their arrest on Wednesday night. The trio will be in judicial custody till Jan 26. Section 144 has been clamped in the city as a preventive measure.

Leaders not coming

Meanwhile top leaders from Maharashtra have refused to attend the MES rally, with Karnataka denying permission. Leaders including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chagan Bhujbal, Home Minister Jayant Patil and Opposition Leader Ramdas Kadam will not go to Belgaum.

ABIDE public meet put off again

2009-01-15T16:10:00.001+05:30

ABIDE public meet put off again
Bangalore Mirror Bureau
Posted On Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 01:15:02 AM

The public consultation meet convened by the Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure and Development (ABIDE) scheduled for Jan 18 has been put off once again, courtesy the Belgaum session. Sources close to ABIDE convenor and Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrashekar said the meet had to be deferred as the ministers and officials will be busy attending the session. Hence, a new date has to be fixed.

Shelved due to polls

The meeting was earlier scheduled for December, but had to be postponed due to the Assembly by-polls. It was to act as a platform for residents to voice their opinions on infrastructure projects, governance, transport, security and urban poverty related issues.

When time wasn’t right to collect parking fee

2009-01-15T16:09:00.003+05:30

When time wasn’t right to collect parking fee

Even though the High Court allowed it, the Pay and Park contractor did not want to tempt fate

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 01:14:49 AM

Since it was Rahu Kala from 12 noon to 1.30 pm, the contractor and his men waited until it was over and issued the first ticket only at 1.40 pm
Spurred by his strong faith in the stars, the Pay and Park contractor waited till ‘Rahu Kala’ was over for collecting the parking fee on M G Road and other surrounding roads on Wednesday.

The order of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) additional commissioner (East) Puttaswamy to cancel the collection of parking fees on 10 roads had been stayed by the High Court on Tuesday. Still, G Subramanya, managing partner of Ishwarya Associates of K R Puram, chose to wait to collect parking fees from motorists till the afternoon on Wednesday.

The first ticket was issued only at 1.40 pm on M G Road. As for the other areas like Brunton Road and from Kidskemp to Richmond Road, Subramanya said, “I will start collecting parking fees from all the roads from Thursday. We were
not prepared for the collection as we did not expect a stay order. In fact, Wednesday being the day of festival, all of us were busy in the event, we couldn’t start collecting fees from morning.” He said, “Since it was Rahu Kala from 12 noon to 1.30 pm, we waited until it was over and issued the first ticket at 1.40 pm.”

“Collection at all 10 roads will start tomorrow.”

Motorists okay with fees

As for the motorists, many don’t oppose the collection. Deepesh Korvu of Vasanth Nagar said, “We don’t mind it as someone is looking after our vehicle when it is parked.” But they didn’t like the fees collected for four-wheelers. “They should charge Rs 5 for one hour, rather than charging Rs 10.”

A drama

Former Mayor P R Ramesh, “This is a drama between bureacrats and politicians. The first mistake made by BBMP is that they have illegally issued a contract. The second mistake was by the Commissioner. He immediately withdrew the contract. He could have served a notice, but he did not. The commissioner is involved in the drama and that made the contractor go to the High Court.”

Fruit vendors in dire straits

2009-01-15T16:07:00.002+05:30

Fruit vendors in dire straits

For 60 years, they were selling their wares here. With the BBMP walling off this place, these footpath vendors are left in the lurch

Atul Chaturvedi
Posted On Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 01:14:39 AM

BBMP claims the property belongs to it
For the past 60 years, I have been selling fruits near the City Market circle. My son died 11 years ago. I don’t have a home. Now, they want me to move,” says a tearful Manohari, a 70-year-old woman. She is among the 60-odd hawkers who were selling fruits at an open area near the City Market circle. Now, the BBMP officials have asked them to vacate the place.

No alternative
“The officials have not provided an alternative location to us to sell the fruits and now it is very difficult to survive,” says Manohari.

The hawkers were originally selling fruits on the footpaths. In 1991, the traffic police told them to move and the BBMP put railings on the footpaths.

The hawkers went to the High Court and in 1998, it ordered the BBMP to provide licences and alternative locations for
selling fruits. Meanwhile, the BBMP leased its 10,000 sq ft property to Hotel Prakash in 2001. After the lease ended, the property was demolished and since then, the hawkers have been selling fruits in these premises.

Now, the BBMP has thrown out the hawkers and erected a wall round the area.

House-cum-shop

Madhu, son of Manohari, died in 1997. He and his mother were selling pomegranate. Now Manohari sells sweet lime. She doesn’t have her own house and lives in the same premises where she sells the fruits. More than 25 others stay overnight at the same place. She said, “I don’t have any one and I have to look after myself. I have been here for the last 60 years and that is how I earn my livelihood. BBMP has taken steps to seize the open location where I sell fruits. Who will give us justice?”

BBMP GROUSE
BBMP’s Assistant Executive engineer (Projects) Venkatesh said the BBMP has received many complaints from the shop owners that illegal activities go on in the area in the nights.

“The fruit sellers don’t even clean the premises though they use our property. The property belongs to the BBMP and there is no dispute with anyone.”

But Rizwan Pasha, a hawker, says BBMP has not obeyed the High Court order. “They have not taken any steps to provide licences and an alternative location. We have approached MLA Zameer Ahmed. Still no action has been taken.”
“The BBMP has blocked the road and put up a wall. Now we can’t go to KR Market. People have to take a detour to reach the market. Officers should visit the place and look into the common man’s problem,” said Mohammad Asif, a fruit merchant.