Controversy erupts over land allotment to trust linked to Cong Prez Mallikarjun Kharge's son
Bengaluru: A fresh controversy has emerged in Karnataka after BJP MP Lahar Singh Siroya accused the state government of misusing power in the allocation of land to a trust chaired by Rahul Kharge, son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The allegations center around the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board’s (KIADB) decision to allot five acres in the Hitech Defence and Aerospace Park near Bengaluru to the Siddhartha Vihara Education Trust, which is chaired by Rahul Kharge.
In a social media post on Sunday, Siroya questioned the allotment, describing it as "misuse of power, nepotism, and conflict of interest." He further inquired how the state’s Industries Minister, MB Patil, consented to the allocation in March, suggesting potential favoritism in the decision.
Responding to these allegations, Minister Patil strongly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the allotment was made in accordance with KIADB norms. He clarified that the land was intended for the establishment of a research and development (R&D) center, adding that the process was transparent and based on recommendations from the state-level single-window committee.
Patil also pointed out that similar land allocations were made during the previous BJP government, including a controversial decision to allot 116 acres of land to RSS-run Chanakya University for Rs 50 crore—a deal that Patil claims resulted in a loss of Rs 137 crore to the state exchequer. He argued that the current administration has introduced a more transparent system for such allocations, with approvals now requiring endorsement by a competent committee.
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PWD, Google Maps officials booked in Bareilly bridge death case
Budaun (UP), Nov 25: Police here have booked officials of the Public Works Department and Google Maps in connection with the death of three men whose car rolled over an under-construction bridge while following directions on the navigation app, an officer on Monday said.
The car fell into the Ramganga river from a partially constructed bridge in Dataganj Police Station area early Sunday.
Nitin and Ajit, aged 30, both brothers from Farrukhabad district, and Amit, 40, from Mainpuri district, were on their way from Noida to Faridpur in Bareilly to attend a wedding.
According to police, the driver was led by Google Maps into taking the unsafe route.
The incident took place on the Bareilly-Budaun border.
Dataganj Police Station SHO Gaurav Bishnoi said an FIR on charges of laxity in duty and others was filed against four engineers of the PWD, along with some unknown people.
The regional officer of Google Map has also been brought under the scope of investigation. His name is yet to be included in the FIR.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of Google in a statement said, "Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. We're working closely with the authorities and providing our support to investigate the issue."
On Sunday, Faridpur Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam said, "Earlier this year, floods caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse onto the river, but this change had not been updated in the system."
He said the bridge had no safety barriers or warning signs on the approach.
