Kasargod land scam: Information Commissioner K Natarajan suspended

[email protected] (CD Network)
November 13, 2012

Natarajan

Kasargod, November 13: Karnataka and Kerala Governor HR Bhardwaj has suspended Kerala Information Commissioner K Natarajan for allegedly trying to intervene in the Kasargod land scam case involving former chief minister VS Achuthanandan.

The Governor passed the order to suspend Mr Natarajan, and has asked for a detailed inquiry to be conducted into the matter, said Kerala Home Minister.

Terming the incident as unfortunate, the state's Chief Information Commissioner Dr. Sibi Mathews said that the move would erode the people's trust in the institution. He also said that Mr Natarajan would challenge the suspension order in court although the latter himself refused to comment on the issue.

A statutory inquiry led by a Supreme Court judge will now look into the matter against the suspended Information Commissioner. If the inquiry proves misconduct on the part of Mr Natarajan, the Governor has the authority to remove the latter from office.

A report by the Home Ministry had earlier said that Mr Natarajan tried to repeatedly influence the probe against Mr Achuthanandan. Mr Natarajan was asking the Investigating Officer to absolve the former chief minister as a first accused in a case where he allegedly aided his relative in getting land illegally, the report said. The officer, VG Kunhan, suspected an attempt at sabotaging the inquiry and subsequently wrote a letter to his senior, attaching an audio recording of an alleged conversation between him and the Mr Natarajan in September. The report also stated that Mr Natarajan exceeded his brief and showed inappropriate behaviour, according to sources.

CPI(M) Politburo member MA Baby said there was no evidence till now to prove that Mr Nataratan initiated the conversation with the Investigating Officer at the behest of Mr Achuthanandan, who has maintained that he did not ask anybody to call on his behalf.

Mr Natarajan, said to be a close aide of Mr Achuthanandan, was appointed as the Information Commissioner during the latter's tenure as Chief Minister of Kerala. Oommen Chandy, the current chief minister, is said to have opposed Mr Natarajan's appointment.

Mr Achuthanandan is being investigated in the land scam case for using his influence as chief minister to allot land in Kasargod to one of his relative, TK Soman, 'unjustifiably'. The CPI(M) stalwart has slammed the allegations as fabricated and has said he has nothing to do with the audio records.

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News Network
April 29,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 29: Janata Dal-Secular leader and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday accused the central government of writing off loans of those who are facing charges of fraud.

In a series of tweets, Kumaraswamy slammed the central government.

"Really? At a time when the whole world is worried about unprecedented economic emergency, writing off Rs 68,000 crore loans of willful big fish defaulters became the best antidote to the economic crisis? And how is 50k cr package to mutual funds going to help the common man?" he tweeted.

In another tweet, Kumaraswamy said that "Billionaire scamsters like Vijay Mallya, Mehul Choksy, Sanjay Junjunwala seem to be very dear to this government".

"Na khaunga, na khane dunga" is yet another jumla unraveled. Billionaire scamsters like Vijay Malya, Mehul Choksy, Sanjay Junjunwala seem to be very dear to this government. The poor are dying by the roadside, farmers are desperate, the middle class is faced with economic doom.

The government has done little to help. But it writes off loans of those who are facing charges of fraud! What patriotism! What nationalism!" he tweeted.

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News Network
April 10,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 10: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, expressing his concern over the plight of stray animals struggling during lockdown, called upon people to feed the animals near their houses and provide them drinking water.

In a tweet he said "Due to scorching heat and Lockdown, cats, dogs and birds are suffering without water and food. In cities this situation much serious. So I appeal to people that people should see that dogs and birds their get food and water.

Please be kind and take some time off to feed stray animals and birds around your homes. Try providing them with water and leftovers so they're not parched and left hungry. Stray animals depend on wastes and leftovers from hotels and restaurants and have been hit by the Lockdown to check the spread of Corona virus.

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News Network
January 3,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 3: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday clarified that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him to consider all the demands made by his government.

"Prime Minister spoke to me personally and assured me of all help and suggested that I visit New Delhi and meet the concerned Ministers and apprise them about the state's problems and pending projects. He also directed me to prepare a detail report on this matter," Yediyurappa said in a statement.

He claimed that a section of media has misinterpreted his speech which was plain and honest towards the development of the state.

"A section of media has attached motive to my speech which was plain and honest in its content. Being in federal set up, there is nothing wrong with placing the facts before the Prime Minister and making submissions," the Chief Minister said.

"As a Chief Minister, I placed our state's problems and need for more funds for developmental activities. I pleaded before the Prime Minister for more funds to the relief work, the scientific and remunerative price for the farm produces, and special fund of Rs 50,000 crore for speeding up of on-going irrigation work. As it was farmers' meet, I felt it worthy and timely to plead the Prime Minister for more funds for all the developmental activities in the state," he said.

Asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a great visionary and his concern for the poor and farmers is unquestionable, he said: "When the whole world is appreciating his statesmanship and visionary zeal, it is in very bad taste for the media to attribute motives to my speech and relate it to the Prime Minister."

Yediyurappa requested media to show support to his government in the interest of the development of the state.

"I humbly request the electronic and print media not to misinterpret but support the government in the interest of the development of the state and interests of the people. I hope the media will respond to my request," he said.

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