Karnataka Cabinet approves new space, IT policy and LEAP
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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved the Karnataka Space Technology Policy, Information Technology Policy and Local Economic Accelerator Programme (LEAP).
Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said approval has been accorded for Karnataka Space Technology Policy 2025-30.
Considering economic opportunities, the potential to enhance overall scientific temperament in the State, and challenges faced by the sector, the policy will have five strategic pillars -- skill development initiatives, investment incentives, infrastructure creation, innovation, and adoption and awareness, he said.
The government has resolved to implement the ‘Karnataka Information Technology Policy 2025–2030’ with an estimated budget of Rs 445.5 crore over five years, as concurred by the Finance Department.
The new policy aims to promote emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Quantum Computing, Green-IT, and advanced Cybersecurity.
“The policy aims to seamlessly integrate AI with the State’s already robust IT sector, making Karnataka a global AI hub, thereby unlocking new economic opportunities, promoting innovation, and improving public service delivery,” the minister said.
Patil explained that the policy emphasises balanced growth by nurturing clusters in emerging cities like Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Tumakuru, Kalaburagi, and Shivamogga.
Further, under the Local Economic Accelerator Programme (LEAP), the Cabinet decided to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Defence Technology and Industry at a total budget of Rs 18.00 crore over five years, and to designate Dhaarati Foundation, IIT Dharwad, as the implementation partner for establishment and operation of the CoE; informed the Minister for Law and Tourism.
A grant of Rs 200.00 crore has been provided in the current financial year for the LEAP Programme, which aims to generate five lakh new jobs across the State, according to Patil.
Innovation ecosystems will be developed in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Udupi-Manipal, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, and Kalaburagi.
The life-cycle approach will be followed for setting up incubators, accelerators, Centres of Excellence, and Global Technology Centres (GTCs).
A corpus fund of Rs 100.00 crore for DeepTech development and a Fund of Funds (FoF) of Rs 300.00 crore will be established. Six CoEs will be set up outside Bengaluru, the Minister added.
Besides, a decision was taken to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Quantum Artificial Intelligence and Computing at IIIT Dharwad under LEAP, at an outlay of Rs 18 crore over five years, and to designate IIIT Dharwad’s Research Park Foundation as the implementation partner.
A grant of Rs 200 crore has been allotted in the current financial year for LEAP, which aims to generate five lakh new jobs across the State.
The same set of initiatives—development of innovation ecosystems in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Udupi-Manipal, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, and Kalaburagi; establishment of incubators, accelerators, CoEs, and GTCs; a Rs 100 crore corpus for DeepTech, Rs 300 crore Fund of Funds, and six CoEs outside Bengaluru—will be undertaken, the Minister said.
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Illegal betting case: ED attaches ₹177 crore assets linked to Congress MLA K.C. Veerendra
Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday said it has attached assets worth ₹177.3 crore belonging to Congress MLA K.C. Veerendra, also known as ‘Puppy’, and his associates in connection with an illegal online betting and gambling case, Deccan Herald reported.
According to the ED, the attached properties include immovable assets such as agricultural land and residential sites, along with other movable assets. The agency said these assets are believed to be proceeds of crime generated through illegal online betting and gambling activities.
The ED claimed that its investigation uncovered that Veerendra and his associates were the masterminds behind a nationwide illegal online betting network operating with the same modus operandi.
“The investigation has established that the accused generated substantial proceeds of crime by cheating the public through online betting and impersonation scams. In the scheme, unsuspecting players were induced to stake money on rigged illegal gaming websites, which functioned like online casinos. Their deposits, running into crores of rupees, were collected through payment gateways into designated payment aggregator accounts,” Deccan Herald quoted the agency as saying.
“The victims were initially shown fake winnings to build trust and were later blocked from withdrawing money. The investigation revealed the use of hundreds of mule accounts and multiple payment gateways for laundering the proceeds of crime,” the agency said.
Earlier, the ED carried out search and seizure operations at more than 60 locations across several states, during which large quantities of cash, gold bullion, gold and silver jewellery, vehicles, digital devices and incriminating documents were seized.
The ED also arrested Veerendra under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and a prosecution complaint has been filed before the Special PMLA court. Based on the evidence gathered, the agency has provisionally attached properties held directly and indirectly by him, which are believed to be linked to money laundering.
“With this, the ED has attached assets worth more than ₹320 crore in the present case under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002. Further, during the course of the investigation, proceeds of crime exceeding ₹2,300 crore have been identified so far, which were generated through illegal online betting and gambling activities and subsequently laundered through multiple layers of transactions,” the agency said.
