Veteran Cong leader Kagodu Thimmappa declares political retirement
Bengaluru, July 31: Veteran Congress leader, political stalwart, front leader of Socialist Movement in the state and former minister Kagodu Thimmappa, on Tuesday, declared retirement from the active politics.
Speaking to reporters at the Vidhana Soudha here, the socialist leader said that “I am aged. I have completed the works I had to do. I have contentment about my works. It’s enough. I have decided to keep myself away from electoral politics. I’ll not contest in any election. But I’ll involve myself in social works”, said Kagodu is retiring from his 55 years political career.
After his B Com and BL graduation, Kagodu had started his practice in Sagar as an advocate. Later, he had plunged into politics from Socialist Party. He had contested from Sagar Assembly constituency on Socialist Party ticket two times, but was defeated. Third time, he had entered the Vidhana Soudha in 1972. As he had participated in Sandur Bhoo Vimochana Satyagrah in 1973, he was arrested. Later, he was elected as the MLA and MLC and served the state.
As minister, he had managed various portfolios efficiently. In 1980, he had joined Congress (I) party. He was elected as the MLC from the Assembly constituency on May 5, 1980 with the help of then chief minister Gundu Rao and became the chairman of the Backward Classes Committee. Later, Gundu Rao had made him as the forest minister on October 3, 1980 and made him Leader of the Legislative Council. Later, he was appointed as the PWD Minister. In 1989, he was elected to Legislative Council from Congress and then chief minister Veerendra Patil appointed him as state Housing Board chairman.
He was again elected to Assembly in 1994 and 1999 elections from the Congress. He had served as the Social Welfare Minister in SM Krishna government. In the Siddaramaiah government, he had served as the Speaker and Revenue Minister. But he lost in the 2018 Assembly election from Sagar constituency against BJP candidate Hartal Halappa. Now, he has decided to retire from the active politics.
Foolish act: Kagodu
Responding to separate North Karnataka state movement, Kagodu said that the united Karnataka came into existence because of the efforts of many years. It was the height of the foolishness to demand for two states. No one should support the fight aimed at dividing the state, he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Delhi court acquits husband, in-laws in dowry death case
New Delhi (PTI): A Delhi court has acquitted a man and his parents in a dowry death case, saying the prosecution failed to establish allegations of cruelty or dowry harassment against them.
Additional Sessions Judge Deepak Wason acquitted Kartik Sharma, his father Ravi Dutt Sharma, and his mother Veena Sharma in the case of Shivali Sharma, who died by suicide in March 2023.
The accused were facing trial under Sections 498A (cruelty by husband or relatives) and 304B (dowry death) of the IPC.
In the April 1 order, the court said, “There is nothing on record to establish the culpability of the accused persons in the commission of the offences charged against them. The prosecution has failed to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.”
It held that while the death was unnatural and occurred within seven years of marriage, the key elements of dowry death, particularly proof of harassment connected to dowry demands, remained unproven.
According to the prosecution, the deceased's family alleged she was subjected to harassment and repeated dowry demands, including cash and a vehicle, which allegedly drove her to commit suicide.
The police registered the FIR after her parents made statements before an executive magistrate.
However, during the trial, key prosecution witnesses, including the deceased's mother, father, brother, uncle and grandmother, did not support the allegations in the court.
They consistently stated that Shivali was living a "peaceful and happy" married life and denied any dowry demand or harassment by the accused.
The witnesses further attributed her death to depression caused by her child's serious medical condition.
The court noted that the testimonies of close relatives, considered the most material witnesses, revealed no evidence of cruelty or dowry-related harassment “soon before her death,” a crucial requirement to establish an offence under Section 304B IPC.
The court observed that the medical evidence confirmed death due to asphyxia caused by hanging.
Giving the benefit of the doubt, the court said this alone was insufficient to implicate the accused without corroborative evidence of cruelty.
