Cash Seizure in Police Vehicle in Hassan, Karnataka BJP Seeks ECI for Independent Probe

Agencies
May 9, 2019

New Delhi, May 9: A Karnataka BJP delegation Thursday approached the Election Commission requesting an independent probe into the alleged role of police officers in carrying Rs 1.2 lakh in a government vehicle in the Hassan constituency a day before polling in the state.

The delegation, comprising BJP national general secretary Muralidhar Rao, party's state general secretary Aravind Limbavali and MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, informed the ECI that it does not have "faith and trust" in the investigation being carried out by the state police department.

"It is a serious complaint. The money was seized on April 17 from a police vehicle in Holenarsipura, Hassan constituency a day before the first phase of election. This is a serious incident," Rao told reporters after meeting the ECI.

The delegation demanded an independent inquiry in the matter instead of an investigation by the state police department.

"We have given a memorandum and the EC has agreed with our arguments and assured of coming out with a positive decision at the earliest," Rao said.

He also hoped the ECI would take steps to initiate an effective investigation by an independent agency, preferably by a team of such officers with unimpeachable integrity and reputation from outside Karnataka.

In the memorandum, the state BJP informed that Rs 1.2 lakh in cash was seized from a vehicle owned by the Bengaluru Police a day before the election on April 18 in Holenarsipura in Hassan constituency, from where JDS chief and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's grandson was contesting.

"There are strong reservations about the impartiality and fairness in the investigation by the Karnataka state police. No purpose would be served in continuing with the investigation by the state police as any such investigation would be a mere eye-wash exercise," the party said.

The BJP also requested the ECI to collate and assess all such information regarding election-related malpractices of unlawful usage of state machinery and unaccounted money in the state and seek a thorough, independent and effective investigation into the matter.

"The unlawful use of state machinery to transport sizeable amount of unaccounted money during elections forms only the tip of the iceberg of what could possibly be the biggest and almost detrimental instance of constitutional subterfuge," it added.

The state BJP said it had to approach the ECI as the Karnataka CEO did not take any action despite the complaint.

The saffron party's state unit has so far filed as many as 272 complaints before the Karnataka Chief Election Officer (CEO) It is for the first time, the party has brought this matter to the ECI.

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Agencies
January 26,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 26: Sister Lucy Kalappura, one of the nuns who protested against rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, on Saturday claimed that she is being targeted at the convent and not being provided food.

Sister Lucy was dismissed from Franciscan Clarist congregation for supporting sisters protesting against the Bishop.

"I am being targeted at the convent and not being provided food. When I asked the reason, I was told I have been dismissed from the convent and they are not responsible for feeding me," said Sister Lucy while speaking to the reporters.

She has alleged that all this began after the release of her autobiography "Karthavinte Namathil" which means 'In the name of God'. In her book she had alleged sexual misconduct among priests and nuns.

"They prepare food and after having it they lock it in the cupboard. When I asked the reason behind this, they told me that I have been dismissed," said Sister Lucy.

"Now I am managing it all by myself with egg and tapioca that grows in the convent compound. Earlier they used to keep the leftover lunch and I used to adjust with that, but after my book was released, they started to lock the food in the cupboard," she added.

Sister Lucy also claimed that she had filed three complaints with the police on August 19, August 20 and on December 13. They had taken her statement but no action was taken.

"If the police would have taken some action against the convent authorities, they would not have behaved this way. An FIR was registered based on the three complaints but no action was taken. This gives them more power to act against me. I have drafted a letter to the Chief Minister to raise my complaint," said Sister Lucy.

Bishop Mulakkal, a senior member of the Roman Catholic clergy in India, was arrested in 2018 following allegations by a nun that he repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted her at Kuravilangad convent between 2014 and 2016, a charge that he denies.

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News Network
July 7,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 7: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday held a meeting with a team of officials from the Union Health Ministry in Bengaluru in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

The team of Union Health Ministry officials praised the state's COVID-19 management measures.

Arti Ahuja, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health, EMR director Ravindran met the Chief Minister during a two-day visit to the state. The team praised the State Government's efforts to gather information and identify co-morbid figures for the control of COVID-19.

During the meeting, it was discussed that in the following days, priority should be given to prevent death from COVID-19 and to provide adequate treatment for symptomatic infections.

In addition, Central team officials suggested that the COVID-19 guidelines should be followed in containment zones.

Officials informed about the steps being taken to treat COVID infected people in the state and stated that the High Flow Oxygen System is being implemented in all district hospitals and taluk hospitals in the state.  The process will be completed by August 15.

Health Minister B. Sriramulu, Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar, Chief Secretary to Government Vijayabhaskar and other senior officials were present during the meeting.

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News Network
January 26,2020

Udupi, Jan 26: The late seer of Pejawar Mutt Vishwesha Tirtha Swami has been posthumously honoured with Padma Vibhushan for his contribution to spiritualism.

The seer, who passed away in December last, was known as a Hindu reformist spiritual leader.

He was also among the religious heads to be in the forefront of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and was a vocal proponent for the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya.

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