Inspectors accused in mining scam still working in Lokayukta: CM

July 24, 2013

Inspectors_accusedBangalore, Jul 24: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said two police officers who are facing corruption charges in illegal mining cases are still working in the Lokayukta.

Disclosing this in the Legislative Assembly while replying to Mallikarjuna S Khuba (JD-S), the chief minister said police inspectors Nagaraj M Madalli and M Dharmendra, who had earlier worked in Bellary district, are facing the allegations of receiving bribe from mining scam accused Kharadapudi Mahesh of Hospet.

Nagaraj who is said to have received bribe while he was in the Hadagali police station, is now inspector at the Bagalkot Lokayukta office. Dharmendra, who had earlier worked at Bellary’s Hagari police station, is now inspector at Mysore Lokayukta office.

In a report submitted to the House, Siddaramaiah has also stated that IPS officer Sonia Narang too is facing allegations of encouraging illegal mining. Now she is commandant, first battalion, KSRP, Bangalore. He said that the government was considering action against her.

The Lokayukta, in his report, had stated that 787 officers including 191 police officers were party to the illegal mining. It has already been reported that IPS officers M N Nagaraj and Eshwarachandra Sagar are facing charges. For the first time, Narang’s name has been made public in this regard.

Action delayed

The chief minister admitted that there has been a delay in taking action against officials who colluded with those who were into illegal mining. But he hastened to add that his government was not responsible for it. The final report reached the government two years ago on August 27. But, there has been a delay in taking action against the guilty officials. A committee will be constituted to decide the course of action to be taken, after the conclusion of the legislature session.

He said that notices have been issued to the 198 officers who are facing bribery charges. The CID is probing five officers, while the Lokayukta has been investigating 98 others. The committee headed by police officer V S D’Souza has been able to identify 97 police personnel who had allegedly encouraged illegality. But, it has not been able to identify 94 personnel.

Replying to Eshwara Khandre (Cong), Siddaramaiah said that as per the Indian Bureau of Mines’ report of 2010, the state has 9,959 million tonnes of iron ore deposit. In the last three years, 7.65 crore tonnes of ore has been extracted and the royalty earned by the state was Rs 1,519.68 crore.

Special court may try cases

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured the Assembly that the government would consider the suggestion to set up a fast track court to try illegal mining cases.

Mallikarjuna Khuba (JD-S) and Basavaraj Rayareddy (Cong) pressured the chief minister to set up a special court. Siddaramaiah, who was not categorical in his reply, just said he would look into the suggestion.

He said the State has suffered a loss of Rs 16,000 crore due to illegal ore export. In addition, the tax evasion was Rs 2,000 crore. The government would try to recover the losses, he added.

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News Network
January 31,2020

New Delhi, Jan 31: Chief Economic Adviser K V Subramanian on Friday said India's GDP is expected to grow at 6-6.5 per cent next fiscal as the economic slowdown has bottomed out.

As per the first advance estimates released by the National Statistical Organisation (NSO), the country's economic growth is likely to hit an 11-year low of 5 per cent in the current fiscal ending March 2020.

The Economic Survey 2019-20, prepared by a team lead by Subramanian, has projected the GDP to expand in the range of 6-6.5 per cent during 2020-21.

The Indian economy has hit the bottom and it will see an uptick from here, he said in a media briefing post the Economic Survey.

Amidst a weak environment for global manufacturing, trade and demand, the Indian economy slowed down with GDP growth moderating to 4.8 per cent in the first half of 2019-20, lower than 6.2 per cent in H2 of 2018-19.

Based on NSO's first advance estimates of GDP growth for 2019-20 at 5 per cent, an uptick in GDP growth is expected in the second half of the fiscal, it said.

According to it, the uptick in second half of 2019-20 would be mainly due to ten positive factors like picking up of Nifty India Consumption Index for the first time this year, an upbeat secondary market, higher FDI flows, build-up of demand pressure, positive outlook for rural consumption, rebound of industrial activity, steady improvement in manufacturing, growth in merchandise exports, higher build-up of foreign exchange reserves and positive growth rate of GST revenue collection.

The survey also emphasised that merger of public sector banks may increase the financial strength of the merged entities, lower the risk aversion and result in lowering of lending rates.

Further, as the implementation of GST further settles down, the increased unification of the domestic market may reduce business costs and facilitate fresh investment.

Reforms in land and labour market may further reduce business costs, said the survey, presented a day before Sitharaman's Union Budget 2020-21.

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News Network
March 29,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 29: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday expressed his concern over the ''non-cooperation from the Karnataka Government in removing the roadblocks erected by them in the roads bordering Malapuram district''.

Addressing a press conference at the Government Secretariat, the Chief Minister said, "Karnataka has not heeded to our request to remove the roadblocks. I have been trying to contact their Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa but not able to reach him."

"We have briefed the Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and he has offered to resolve the issue. Our Chief Secretary has also briefed the Central Cabinet Secretary and we expect a resolution soon," he added.

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Agencies
July 14,2020

Mumbai, Jul 14: Bhima Koregaon case accused Varavara Rao was admitted to JJ Hospital in Mumbai on Monday night.

Rao who is in Taloja proson was rushed to the hospital following complaint of dizziness.

Rao was arrested in November 2018 along with five others, for alleged links with Naxals and for inciting the violence.

On January 1, 2018, the violence at Bhima Koregaon village in Pune district left one dead and several others injured including 10 policemen.

Violence erupted after some people, reportedly with saffron flags, pelted stones at cars heading towards the village for the commemoration of 200 years of Bhima-Koregaon war on New Year's Day.

The police had filed 58 cases against 162 people.

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