Karnataka BJP demands CBI probe into recovery of huge amounts of cash during I-T raids
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka BJP on Tuesday staged a demonstration here demanding a CBI investigation into the recovery of huge amounts of cash in the recent I-T raids in Karnataka and some other states.
The BJP had also held protests in Karnataka on Monday targeting the Congress government linking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar with alleged corruption in the backdrop of the I-T raids.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes said on Monday that the Income Tax Department has seized Rs 94 crore in cash as well as gold, diamond jewellery worth Rs eight crore and 30 luxury watches following raids on government contractors and real estate developers in Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi.
In Karnataka, the I-T sleuths seized about Rs 42 crore in cash from a contractor and his son, sources in the department said.
"We are seeing that the Congress is working with a single agenda to loot, collect money and send it to other poll-bound states," alleged former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who led the party leaders at the demonstration at the Freedom Park here.
The party leaders raised slogans against the Congress government, Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and the party's central leadership.
Speaking to reporters, Sadananda Gowda alleged that "the loot that is happening in Karnataka has never happened anywhere in the country".
He said the Congress had initially said it will not release funds to the contractors for pending bills, only to build pressure on them to pay (bribes) them.
"Karnataka is like an ATM for the assembly elections in five states. An investigation by the I-T will not suffice. Those unseen hands behind it should also be brought to the fore. A CBI probe must be ordered to expose those who are behind the loot," Gowda said.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
