Fans support jailed actor Darshan as his movie ‘Devil’ releases across Karnataka
Bengaluru: Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa’s much awaited movie ‘Devil’ had a blockbuster release on Thursday, with fans praising the movie, even as the actor remains behind bars at the Ballari Jail.
On Wednesday, Darshan reportedly messaged his fans to ensure the success of the movie. As the movie released at 6:30 am on Thursday, his fans, known to have been waiting to watch their star ‘back on screen’, thronged theatres and lauded the work.
The movie is expected to reach high levels of collection in the weekend as Darshan’s fans continue to lend support to ‘Devil’.
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The movie, directed by Prakash Veer, also stars Rachana Rai, Sharmila Mandre, Mahesh Manjrekar, Achyuth Kumar, Vinay Gowda and Shobharaj, among others.
Incidentally, this is the second occasion that a Darshan movie has released when the star is in jail, after the hit movie ‘Saarathi’ of 2011.
Darshan is among the 13 people accused of involvement in the alleged murder of Renukaswamy of Chitradurga.
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Have sanctioned 1,000 buses for next fiscal, says K'taka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday said the government has sanctioned procurement of 1,000 government buses in the next year’s budget.
According to him, in the current fiscal, 2,000 buses were sanctioned and many of them have already arrived.
Speaking in the Legislative Council, he alleged that the previous BJP government neither bought a single bus nor recruitment was done in the state transport department.
He was replying to BJP MLC Y M Satish’s request for buses for Ballari and Vijayanagara districts.
“From 2019 to 2023, not a single bus was purchased in the four corporations. Not even one bus. If buses are not purchased continuously for four years, what will happen to the organisation?” Reddy asked.
He recalled that the last time buses were procured and recruitments took place were in 2016, when he was the transport minister during the previous Congress government from 2013 to 2018.
“After we came to power (from 2013), we procured 6,080 new buses. Then last year, 2,000 buses were provided, and many of them have already arrived. This year too, 1,000 buses have been sanctioned in the budget,” Reddy told the House.
He noted that 9,000 people were recruited and 1,300 people were appointed on compassionate grounds during the Congress tenure.
The Minister added that around 2,000 to 2,500 buses have been refurbished.
“In total, 6,080 buses came in two years. Last year’s 2,000 buses, and now 1,000 more. Altogether, we have about 26,000 buses. Out of these, nearly one-third have been added in the last two-and-a-half years,” Reddy said.
Satish told the Minister that at least 100 red buses and about 20 Volvo buses are required for Ballari and Vijayanagara districts.
In response, Reddy said in 2022-23, 720 buses were given, and in 2024–25, 307 buses; in 2026, 140 buses—totalling 1,173 new buses were given to Kalyana Karnataka region.
There are around 4,000-odd buses in Kalyana Karnataka region, he said adding that another 400 buses have been tendered and funds have to be released.
“Additionally, 56 high-end buses—sleeper AC, non-sleeper AC, and Volvo buses—are also coming. Now, 400 buses are coming. Priority will be given to Ballari and Vijayanagara districts,” Reddy said.
