Mangaluru: Cong leader's car damaged by miscreants in Ullal

New Delhi, Jul 22: Sir Philip Barton visited Bengaluru on Tuesday in the first of the series of virtual regional visits as the UK's new High Commissioner and called Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, business leaders, and startup community to pitch for new momentum in the already strong UK-Karnataka relationship.

During his virtual call, High Commissioner Barton got a 'real' taste of Bengaluru through a traditional Masala Dosa delivered to his residence in Delhi along with authentic south Indian filter coffee, which he relished over a chat with historian and commentator Ramachandra Guha. They discussed the unique UK-India "living bridge" across culture and cuisine, history and heritage, and sports and science.

Both Yeddyurappa and the British envoy restated their commitment to working together on the immediate challenges of Covid-19 and beyond.

Barton subsequently 'traveled' to Electronics City, where he met with a range of key business leaders to discuss deepening the UK-India tech partnership and opportunities for global investors in the UK.

Barton also met with a group of entrepreneurs, business founders and innovators, who were part of the first GoGlobal UK cohort to explore the dynamic UK market considered one of the best ecosystems for startups in the world. 

They had earlier attended a week-long boot-camp in London and Manchester in December 2019 that helped them bolster their business skills, build links with UK's thriving digital sector, and paved the way for future partnerships.

"I am delighted to make my first regional virtual visit to Bengaluru, the technology hub of India. My visit comes at a difficult time for everyone. So it is also a time when the excellent collaboration between the UK and Karnataka across technology and healthcare could not be important," Barton said.

"Making the most of those close links, and drawing on the great energy, innovation and entrepreneurship that Karnataka is famous for, will be central to ensuring we all recover from Covid-19 stronger than ever," he added.

Mangaluru, Jun 19: Mohammad Haneef Guddemane, a cattle trader, who was thrashed by the miscreants of Bajrang Dal while legally transporting cattle last weekend, today appeared before media and demanded appropriate action against the assailants.

The attack took place on June 14 at Urwa in the city when he was transporting four buffalos along with all necessary documents. The attack was also captured on a CCTV camp. 

The victim, who addressed a press conference today, said that it was not the first time he is transporting cattle as into animal and husbandry for years. 

“I had bought 10 she-buffaloes on June 13 from Ranennur and obtained certificate from the local government veterinary doctor after which the animals were brought to my village,” said Haneef, who is a resident of Jokatte on the outskirts of the city. 

He said that he was transporting four out of the ten she buffaloes he had bought to the slaughterhouse at Mangaluru on June 14 when a gang of around 15 members which intercepted his vehicles near Urwa police station dragged him out of the vehicle, rained abusive words at him, made blasphemous remarks about his religion, and hit him with a helmet besides kicking him. 

He said that three of the assailants were armed with sabre, iron rod and wooden sticks. 

"They also tied me to the vehicle and assaulted. They also attacked me with their arms but I escaped. Their plan was to kill me. Fortunately, the police reached the spot and the assailants escaped. However, they thoroughly damaged my vehicle and robbed Rs 7,800 I had with me. I got treated at Highland Hospital in the city," he stated.

Expressing shock over the soft corner approach of the police towards the assailants, he said that only six of around 15 attackers were booked by the police. 

“All the accused were let off by the police after registering petty cases. Ironically, the police had not recorded my statement. On the day of attack, they had asked me to sign on a paper. It contained the complaint written by themselves. Hence, on June 17 I visited the Urwa police station and recorded my statement,” he said.

He said that even though he has all the documents pertaining to the cattle that he had purchased, the police had registered false cattle theft charge against him. 

Former city mayor K Ashraf, Hyder, bother of the victim and Shamsuddin, Jokatte gram panchayat vice president were present at the press meet.

Also Read: Mangaluru: Bajrang Dal men thrash cattle trader after waylaying buffalo-laden vehicle

Bengaluru, Jun 26: Karnataka's Commercial Taxes Department has sealed off an undeclared warehouse with imported goods worth Rs 4 crore in Bengaluru and found 60 GST registrations linked to a Chinese national from Wuhan.

The tax department officials found 25,446 China-made electronic and fast-moving consumer goods worth Rs 4 crore stored in the warehouse which was not declared to the tax authorities.

Commissioner of Commercial Taxes MS Srikar said in a statement that the officers noticed that one person from Wuhan City, China, got the premises in Bengaluru on lease.

They also found that about 60 registrations (both central and state jurisdictions) under the GST Act, in the name of a number of persons for online trading of imported China-made goods, had a single address which was vacant.

Most of the registrations were found irregular in the filing of returns and payment of tax. Majority of the firms either filed nil returns or were non-filers. The registration data showed that one business was registered in 2017-18, 43 in 2018-19, 14 in 2019-20 and two in 2020-21. Most of the 60 firms were private limited companies and 24 persons were interchangeably directors in 58 firms.

At the time of raid, neither the lessee, the Chinese national, nor any of the other 59 registered taxable persons were available at the business premises and no one came forward to participate in the proceedings in spite of providing sufficient time.

It is learnt that the Chinese national is operating the business from Wuhan City since January 2020 with the assistance of some of his agents/employees in Bengaluru.

It has also been learnt that multiple registrations are being taken for a better rating on e-commerce platforms, Srikar said.

The raids were led by Nitesh K Patil, Additional Commissioner, Enforcement, South Zone.
The Commercial Taxes Department is closely watching the genuineness of newly registered persons and conducting post-registration verification visits.

Any registration taken with mala fide intention of evading taxes will be dealt with seriously, the Commissioner said.