Karnataka

A Bengaluru Special Court for Economic Offences on Wednesday reserved its decision on the bail plea of Kannada actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested in a gold smuggling case. The court is expected to pronounce its judgment on March 14. During the bail hearing, Senior Advocate Kiran Javali, representing Rao, argued that officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) failed to follow proper legal procedures during her arrest and interrogation. Javali contended that the arrest memo issued at the time did not explicitly state the "grounds of arrest," as required by the Supreme Court's guidelines in the DK Basu case. He further asserted that such procedural lapses justify the granting of bail, regardless of the gravity of the allegations. Opposing the bail plea, the DRI's legal team highlighted the seriousness of the charges against Rao, alleging her involvement in a significant gold smuggling operation. They argued that granting her bail could hinder the ongoing investiga

BJP state president highlighted that the state government is in a dire financial situation, leading to the closure of nine universities. He stressed that there are several pressing issues

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan requesting for implementation of price deficiency payment scheme under Market Intervention Scheme for red chillies in Karnataka. In the letter, he expressed deep concern for the lakhs of red chilli farmers in Karnataka, particularly in the Kalyana Karnataka region, who are facing an "unprecedented crisis" due to the drastic fall in market prices. The Chief Minister noted that the Government of India has approved the Price Deficiency Payment (PDP) scheme under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Red Chillies (Guntur Variety) in Andhra Pradesh, fixing the Minimum Intervention Price (MIP) at Rs 11,781 per quintal with coverage for up to 25 per cent of production. "While this is a welcome step, the distress faced by Karnataka's red chilli farmers remains unaddressed," he stated in the letter dated March 10. Siddaramaiah highlighted that in Karnataka, the cos

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, on Monday accused the Congress government of trying to divide Bengaluru with the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill -- which proposes up to seven municipal corporations in the city, as he also cautioned about non-Kannadigas becoming Mayors. Terming the bill as a "death knell" to the city that was founded by Kempegowda, a chieftain under the Vijayanagara empire, he said the Bill is against the 74th Amendment of the Constitution, as the power will be concentrated with the chief minister and not elected councils. The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024 (as introduced in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and as recommended by the joint select committee) was placed for the consideration of the Assembly by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the Minister in-charge for Bengaluru Development. In July last year, the Bill was referred to a joint select committee. The committee tabled its report in the ...

The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) on Sunday said Kannada actor Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, arrested for smuggling gold from Dubai, was allotted land to set up a steel plant by the previous government in February 2023. The board was reacting to reports that a company linked to the actor was allotted 12 acres of industrial land by the KIADB in 2023. Sensing that the case was taking a political turn, the office of Minister for Medium and Large Industries M B Patil shared the government's final notification issued on February 22, 2023, regarding the allocation of land to Ranya's firm Ksiroda India at the Sira Industrial Area in the Tumakuru district. The Congress came to power after defeating the BJP in the Karnataka Assembly polls in May 2023. The proceedings of the Karnataka government, shared by the minister's office, said, "Approval to the proposal of M/s Ksiroda India Private Limited to establish a unit for manufacture of 'steel products - TMT bars,

The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) has called for a mass gathering of IT sector employees on March 9 here demanding stricter enforcement of labor laws and a healthy work-life balance. With the protest, the union aims to address concerns over excessive working hours, lack of overtime compensation, and the expectation for employees to be available beyond official working hours. The gathering is being organised under the slogan "A Healthy Work-Life Balance is Every Employee's Right". In a statement, KITU stated on March 13, 2024, that a memorandum was submitted to the Labour Minister, alleging that IT/ITES companies are not compensating overtime wages and are extending work hours beyond statutory limits. The union urged the government to investigate actual working hours and overtime payments. "But even after one year of multiple meetings and protests, there has been no concrete effort from the Government to regulate the working hours by ensuring the strict ...

Describing the Karnataka Budget as a model for the country, State Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said it is good for "Brand Bengaluru," with several projects planned to address the city's traffic issues, including a tunnel road project. Shivakumar, who is also the Minister in charge of Bengaluru development, said that 700-800 km of new roads are being added to the city. "The budget is a model for the country. Other states will also take note of it. It is a good budget for Brand Bengaluru. It is not for us; it is for the benefit of the 1.40 crore population of the city. The tunnel road project will happen," Shivakumar said. Speaking to reporters, he said flyovers will be constructed to address traffic issues. Additionally, double-decker flyovers will be built, and new Metro projects will be taken up with 50 per cent contributions each from the city corporation and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). A network of 300 km of additional roads will also be

Two women, including a 27-year-old Israeli tourist, were allegedly gang-raped and assaulted while stargazing near Hampi, police said on Saturday. Three male tourists who were with the women were also assaulted and pushed into a canal and one of them was found dead, they added. No arrests have been made yet, but efforts are underway to apprehend the three identified suspects, the police said. The incident occurred around 11 pm on Thursday. After dinner, a 29-year-old homestay operator, along with the Israeli tourist and three male tourists, was sitting by the left bank of the Tungabhadra Canal near Sanapur Lake, playing the guitar, enjoying music, and stargazing, police said. Among the male tourists, one was from the United States, while the others were from Odisha and Maharashtra, police said. According to police, in her complaint, the homestay operator alleged that while they were stargazing and playing music, three men on a motorcycle approached them, asking where they could get

Karnataka Infrastructure Minister M B Patil on Friday said that three locations have been proposed for Bengaluru's second airport, and a proposal has been sent to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for approval. He stated that the three potential locations identified are two on Kanakapura Road near Harohalli and one on Kunigal Road in Nelamangala. "Bengaluru's second airport: Three locations proposed to CentreA bold step towards future-ready infrastructure. We have identified three potential locations for the city's second international airporttwo on Kanakapura Road near Harohalli and one on Kunigal Road in Nelamangala. A proposal has been sent to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for approval," Patil wrote on 'X'. He added that this is a crucial step towards strengthening Karnataka's infrastructure and future-proofing Bengaluru's global connectivity. Last month, the minister stated that the exclusivity clause or preference clause of Bengaluru International Airport at Devanaha

Company expresses concern about business growth in Karnataka where it has its headquarters

Ranya, the stepdaughter of DGP Rao, was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) upon arrival from Dubai on an Emirates flight on Monday night

Rs 5,500 cr Budget provision for ISPRL could be diverted to building SPR facilities or cater to fuel subsidies because India's storages are nearly full

In a crucial ruling, the Karnataka High Court has held that an insurance policy nominee does not have absolute rights over insurance benefits if the policyholder's legal heirs stake a claim. The court clarified that Section 39 of the Insurance Act, 1938, which governs nominations, does not override personal succession laws like the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. The judgment came in the case of Neelavva @ Neelamma vs Chandravva @ Chandrakala @ Hema and Others, where a dispute arose over the rightful claimants to an insurance payout. Justice Anant Ramanath Hegde ruled that a nominee can receive the insurance benefits only if the legal heirs do not claim them. If a legal heir asserts their right, the nominee's claim must yield to personal succession laws. The case involved a man who had named his mother as the sole nominee for two insurance policies before his marriage. After his marriage and the birth of his child, he did not update the nomination. Following his death in 2019, a legal .

Ravi Ganiga, a Cong K'taka MLA criticized actor Rashmika Mandanna for allegedly refusing to go to the Bengaluru International Film Festival. He accused her of 'disregarding' the Kannada language

After Congress' May 2023 win, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar vied for the CM's post. The party named Siddaramaiah as CM and convinced Shivakumar to be Deputy CM

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said he was a loyal Congress worker and anyone questioning his dedication to the party and the Gandhi family is in illusion. He also asserted that the party will come back to power in the 2028 Assembly polls. Shivakumar was reacting to speculation about his recent meeting with party central leaders in Delhi, and talks about in political circles, especially in the ruling party, about the chief minister change, later this year, under a "rotational chief minister" or "power-sharing" formula. "I have not put any condition on any one and there is no need to put any condition. I'm a Karyakarta, I work according to what the party tells me. Putting conditions or blackmailing is not in my blood. I'm a loyal Congress worker," Shivakumar said, in response to a question on speculation about his visit to Delhi and that he had apparently put some conditions on party leaders. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "If anyone, let them be from

This FSSAI action comes days after the Karnataka health department banned use of plastic in making idli in hotels and restaurants following an investigation

In view of bird flu cases being detected in three districts of Karnataka, the administration is carrying out mass culling, while ramping up its surveillance across the state, especially in districts bordering Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, officials said on Saturday. Avian influenza (AI), also known as bird flu, is a zoonotic viral disease that primarily affects poultry and may occasionally spillover to mammals, including humans and swine, they said. Cases of bird flu among poultry birds have been reported in Manvi taluk of Raichur, Chikkaballapur taluk of Chikkaballapur and Sandur taluk of Ballari districts, they said. However, no cases of bird flu in humans have been reported in the state so far, officials said. Ansar Ahmed, project director, integrated disease surveillance programme, told PTI that H5N1 was confirmed in the Regional Poultry Breeding and Training Centres of Kurekuppa, Ballari District and Chikkaballapur District at NIHSAD Lab, Bhopal on February 25. The matter was

Cement maker Dalmia Bharat on Friday announced to invest approximately Rs 3,520 crore in Maharashtra and Karnataka to add 6 MnTPA Cement Capacity. The company, through its subsidiaries, will establish a 3.6 MnTPA (million tonnes per annum) clinker unit and a 3 million tonnes per annum (MnTPA) grinding unit at its existing Belgaum plant in Karnataka. It will also set up a new greenfield split grinding unit with a capacity of 3 MnTPA in Pune, Maharashtra. "The capex will be funded through a combination of debt and internal accruals," the company said in a statement. With the expansion, Dalmia Bharat's total installed cement capacity will increase to 55.5 MnTPA, after considering the ongoing expansion of 2.9 MnT in Assam and Bihar. "These new units are expected to be commissioned by Q4 FY27," it said, adding that this increased capacity will primarily help to meet growing demand in Western India, along with existing regions. The Belgaum Grinding unit will cater to Southern Maharasht

Hailing the Karnataka government's decision to declare its lands in the Yelahanka taluk of Bengaluru Urban district as the Greater Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said the Siddaramaiah-led dispensation was demonstrating how economic growth, social development and ecological sustainability could go hand-in-hand. The Karnataka government on Monday notified 5,678 acres and 32 guntas of land in the Yelahanka taluk as the Greater Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve. The notification came after the state Cabinet last month decided to declare the grassland as a conservation reserve. Reacting to the development, former Union environment minister Ramesh said the Karnataka government had been attracting very many new investments since May 2023. It has also been implementing historic income support, food security and other guarantees, he added. "Now, it has taken a bold decision to finally declare about 5,700 acres of government