Rs 21,000 cr Mundra drug haul accused escapes from police custody in Punjab
Bhuj, Feb 18: An accused in the case related to the seizure of 2,988 kg of heroin at Mundra port in Gujarat in 2021 escaped from police custody in Punjab, where he was taken for a court appearance in another case, police said on Sunday.
Jobanjit Singh Sandhu, who was taken from the Bhuj jail in Kutch to appear before a court in Amritsar in another case, escaped on Saturday, Kutch (West) Superintendent of Police Mahendra Bagadiya said.
"He was being brought back from Amritsar when he managed to escape from the clutches of the Gujarat police. A search operation has been launched with the help of local police, and efforts are on to capture him," the official said.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized around 2,988 kg of heroin worth around Rs 21,000 crore from the containers at Mundra port in Kutch in September 2021.
The consignment was imported by a trading company registered in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, as semi-processed talc stones.The narcotic substance was stated to be of Afghanistan origin and was shipped from Bandar Abbas Port in Iran to Mundra Port.
The DRI conducted searches in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, Gandhidham, and Mandvi in Gujarat, and several persons, including owners of Aashi Trading Company M Sudhakar and his wife G Durga Purna Vaishali were arrested.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) later took over the probe and booked the accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) apart from the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
As per the supplementary chargesheet filed by the probe agency in May 2023, 42 persons and seven firms have been booked.
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Karnataka offers extensive incentives in its proposed IT policy
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka has proposed a new Information Technology Policy for 2025–2030, offering extensive financial and non-financial incentives aimed at accelerating investments, strengthening innovation and expanding the state's tech footprint beyond Bengaluru.
The Karnataka Cabinet gave its nod to the policy 2025–2030 with an outlay of Rs 445.50 crore on Thursday after the Finance Department accorded its approval.
The policy introduces 16 incentives across five enabler categories, nine of which are entirely new, with a distinctive push to support companies setting up or expanding in emerging cities.
Alongside financial support, the government is also offering labour-law relaxations, round-the-clock operational permissions and industry-ready human capital programmes to make Karnataka a globally competitive 'AI-native' destination.
According to the policy, units located outside Bengaluru will gain access to a wide suite of benefits, including research and development and IP creation incentives, internship reimbursements, talent relocation support and recruitment assistance.
The benefits also include EPF reimbursement, faculty development support, rental assistance, certification subsidies, electricity tariff rebates, property tax reimbursement, telecom infrastructure support, and assistance for events and conferences.
Bengaluru Urban will receive a focused set of six research and development and talent-oriented incentives, while Indian Global Capability Centres (GCCs) operating in the state will be brought under the incentive net.
Incentive caps and eligibility thresholds have been raised, and the policy prioritises growth-focused investments for both new and expanding units.
Beyond incentives, the government focuses on infrastructure and innovation interventions.
A flagship proposal in the policy is the creation of Techniverse -- integrated, technology-enabled enclaves developed through a public-private partnership model inside future Global Innovation Districts.
These campuses will offer plug-and-play facilities, artificial intelligence and machine learning and cybersecurity labs, advanced testbeds, experience centres, and disaster-resistant command centres.
There will also be a Statewide Digital Hub Grid and a Global Test Bed Infrastructure Network, linking public and private research and development, and innovation facilities across Karnataka.
The government has proposed a Women Global Tech Missions Fellowship for 1,000 mid-career women technologists, an IT Talent Return Programme to absorb experienced professionals returning from abroad, and broad-based skill and faculty development reimbursements.
Shared corporate transport routes in Bengaluru and tier-two cities will be designed with Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation and other transport entities to support worker mobility.
The government said the policy is the outcome of an extensive research and consultation process involving TCS, Infosys, Wipro, IBM, HCL, Tech Mahindra, Cognizant, HP, Google, Accenture and NASSCOM, along with sector experts and stakeholder groups.
It estimates an outlay of Rs 967.12 crore over five years, comprising Rs 754.62 crore for incentives and Rs 212.50 crore for interventions such as Techniverse campuses, digital grid development, global outreach missions and talent programmes.
