Amit Shah in Bengal today, to attend ISKCON event in Mayapur

Bengaluru, July 17 (IANS) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) investigation into a recruitment scam has revealed that the Congress MLA K.Y. Nanjegowda representing Malur assembly seat is the kingpin. The ED sleuths have also attached movable and immovable properties of MLA Gowda and other accused worth Rs 1.32 crore in connection with the case.

The ED in its official statement on Thursday stated: “Bengaluru Zonal Office on July 16 has issued Provisional Attachment Order attaching immovable and moveable properties of Malur Congress MLA K. Y. Nanjegowda and others worth Rs 1.32 crore in a money laundering case related to Kolar-Chikkaballapura District Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd, (KOMUL) recruitment scam, 2023.”

K.Y. Nanjegowda emerged as the principal architect of the scam, leveraging his role as Chairman of KOMUL, to control the overall recruitment, the ED said.

The ED has filed a money laundering case against Malur Congress MLA Nanjegowda and others based on the material collected during investigation and search carried out in relation to a land grant scam in Malur Taluk under his chairmanship under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The ED has also made a reference in this regard to Lokayukta Police and filed a complaint before Special Court for Trial of MP/MLA Cases in its efforts to register the said scam.

The ED investigation revealed that the recruitment process held by KOMUL for the year 2023, which consisted of written exam and interview was manipulated in lieu of money and/or recommendation of political persons.

The recruitment committee led by K Y Nanjegowda, MLA and Chairman of KOMUL along with K.N. Gopala Murthy, Managing Director in KOMUL, conspired with other Directors in KOMUL and hatched a plan which resulted into favoring of certain less meritorious candidates and deprivation of the deserving candidates, the statement said.

Further, the evidence found and seized during search action in the form of parallel OMR sheets (original and tampered), WhatsApp messages received from the politicians recommending certain candidates and forwarded by Nanjegowda and other directors to the staff of KOMUL, the ED said.

Further, procedural lapses observed in the entire recruitment process at the level of KOMUL and the Mangalore University indicating efforts to hide the irregularity in the process, admission by the directors and staff of KOMUL, Registrar Mangalore University, Nagendra Prasad and certain candidates who were accommodated in the examination, has unearthed a mega scam in the recruitment to (KOMUL) 2023, the ED stated.

As per the evidence gathered during search action, a sum of Rs 1.56 crore was generated as Proceeds of Crime by manipulating the recruitment process both during the written exam and interview stages, in lieu of monetary benefit accepted from the candidates assuring them their selection in KOMUL recruitment, 2023, the ED said.

Statements and evidence indicate that he played a leading role in fixing the number of “reserved” seats, orchestrating how bribes would be collected, and directing the manipulation of written exam OMR sheets and interview scores to ensure recommended or paying candidates were selected thereby he has illegally enriched himself to the tune of Rs 80 lakh out of the total proceeds of Rs.1.56 crore, the ED stated.

–IANS

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Jaipur, March 6 (IANS) Under the direction of Ajmer Range DIG, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the Bijaynagar rape-blackmail case in Rajasthan.

The team will be led by Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) Nem Singh and includes Additional SP Bhupendra Sharma, Masuda CO (Circle Officer) Sajjan Singh, CI (Circle inspector) Vidya Meena, Bijaynagar Police Station Officer Karan Singh, and SI Parul Yadav.

Additional SP Nem Singh stated that the SIT was formed late on Wednesday night to handle the case.

“Our team will visit the crime scene, examine the case details, and address any gaps in the investigation. We will thoroughly analyze the evidence and ensure a comprehensive probe,” he said.

Singh further elaborated that the team consists of the Additional SP of Beawar, Masuda CO, two police station officers, and a sub-inspector. “We will speak with the victims and their families, review the case files, and fill in any investigative gaps,” he added.

Bijaynagar police have arrested one more accused in the case, taking the total to 14. The station in charge, Karan Singh, confirmed that Aman alias Aman Mansuri, a resident of Taaron Ka Kheda, Bijaynagar, has been taken into custody.

Investigations revealed that Aman befriended schoolgirls and facilitated their meetings with the accused.

The police are interrogating him for further leads in the case.

So far, Bijaynagar police have arrested 11 people in connection with three separate cases and detained three minors.

Of the arrested individuals, 10 have been sent to jail, while the three minors have been placed in a juvenile home.

The case was first reported on February 15, when a minor girl filed a complaint at the Bijaynagar police station. Subsequently, another minor registered a similar case.

Later, the father of three girls also lodged a report, alleging that minor girls from private schools were being raped and blackmailed using obscene photos and videos.

The victims were allegedly being forced to recite Kalma, observe fast, and convert their religion.

Massive protests were staged across Ajmer, demanding strict action against the accused.

The police have registered cases under the POCSO Act and other relevant sections and have launched a thorough investigation.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, Feb 5 (IANS) Responding to criticism by the BJP against the Congress-led government over the Metro fare hike, Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday said that the issue does not fall under the jurisdiction of the state government and that no proposal in this regard has been received by him so far.

Reacting to the BJP’s criticism of the state government, Shivakumar said party leaders should raise the issue with their own Union ministers and questioned whether they were capable of doing so.

Clarifying whether the Metro fare hike is decided by the state or the Centre, he said the matter does not come under the state government’s purview.

“The committee is headed by a Union government secretary. Though there are four representatives from the state, the final decision rests with the Centre,” he said.

Responding to MPs Tejasvi Surya and P.C. Mohan’s claim that the state government could change committee members to regulate fares, Shivakumar questioned how such a change was possible and said they should first get approval to appoint a Karnataka representative as committee chairperson.

He added that the Centre contributes only 12–13 per cent to Metro projects and that an agreement had earlier been signed for the committee to be headed by a central official.

Asked whether the state government had given its consent for the Metro fare hike, he said the issue does not concern the state government and there was no discussion with them.

“Since there was no discussion, it was not placed before the Cabinet or the Chief Minister,” he said.

On whether Bengaluru Metro fares are expensive compared to other cities, he said he would compare fares with those cities.

On a possible water tariff hike, he said there is no discussion on the issue at present.

On ward reservation for Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections, he said the process would be carried out by the concerned committee and does not fall under his purview.

When asked about statements by MLAs and Satish Jarkiholi that the high command should resolve power-sharing issues soon, he declined to comment, saying it was not the time for political discussion.

On reports of MLAs being sent abroad or to Goa, he said he was unaware of any such move and had not been involved in such discussions.

Asked about his travel plans to Delhi, he said he would be visiting Mangaluru on Friday, Raichur the next day and then Gadag, adding that official travel schedules would be released by the secretariat.

On whether he expected to be called to Delhi, as suggested by some high command leaders, he said he would inform the media if and when he goes.

When asked about the Upper Krishna Project, he said the Cabinet has already taken a decision and that all projects he has decided to implement would be brought to the final stage within the next two-and-a-half years.

He said he does not make empty promises and that historic decisions have been taken for Karnataka and Bengaluru, with visible changes expected in the next two to three years.

On a possible Cabinet reshuffle, he said the question should be addressed to the Chief Minister.

He further stated, “We plan to complete the first phase of the Bengaluru Business Corridor project within the next one-and-a-half years.”

On the absence of central budgetary support for tunnel roads and Bengaluru, he said the Centre has not provided any assistance.

“Tunnel road projects are based on the build-operate model, with the government contributing only 40 per cent, and project developers will have to take the risk,” he said.

Shivakumar also said that the Deputy Head of Mission of Denmark, Martin Petersen, and the High Commissioner of South Africa met him on Thursday and expressed interest in starting industries in Karnataka and Bengaluru.

They showed interest in investing in education, technology, innovation and tourism sectors and met him to strengthen ties.

He assured them of all necessary support from the state government and noted that Bengaluru is the only city in India, apart from Delhi, where Denmark has an office.

–IANS

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