Karnataka High Court schedules hearing on plea for CBI probe into MUDA scam
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday scheduled its next hearing on a plea seeking the transfer of the investigation into the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Currently, the case is being investigated by the Lokayukta Police.
Senior advocate KG Raghavan, representing the petitioner, argued for an independent CBI probe, emphasizing that the investigation should remain free from the influence of the state government and the Chief Minister.
The case also implicates Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is facing allegations of illegal allotment of 14 prime sites in Mysuru city by MUDA to his wife.
Siddaramaiah has challenged the Governor’s sanction for prosecution, which was upheld by the High Court in a previous judgment. The court found no procedural irregularities in Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s approval of the investigation.
On Thursday, the High Court deferred the Chief Minister’s plea to challenge the single-bench order to January 20. Siddaramaiah's petition questions the legality of the Governor’s sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and prosecution under Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Based on the Lokayukta's First Information Report (FIR), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a money laundering investigation in addition to the Lokayukta investigation. Siddaramaiah has blamed the accusations as politically driven and denied any misconduct in the face of growing legal pressure and BJP claims. Despite the ongoing probes, he has rejected calls to resign.
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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.
