Karnataka's socio-educational survey distinct from Centre’s caste census: CM Siddaramaiah
Davangere (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday clarified that his government’s upcoming socio-educational and caste survey is fundamentally different from the Centre's caste census, emphasising that the state's initiative is driven by the imperative of social justice.
His comments follow a gazette notification stating that the nationwide caste census would commence from March 1, 2027 while in certain regions like the Union Territory of Ladakh, snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from October 1, 2026.
Addressing reporters here, Siddaramaiah said, “The Centre is doing a caste census, which will be taken up from 2027. However, it has not said that it will conduct a socio-educational survey. What we are going to do is a socio-educational survey. Caste census will also come under its purview.”
He reiterated that the Karnataka government has no objection to the Centre’s census but underscored the scope and intent of the state's exercise.
“The Centre is only doing a caste census, while we are undertaking a comprehensive socio-educational and caste survey. The distinction is important.”
According to Siddaramaiah, the purpose of the state survey is to gather data that can inform effective welfare measures for backward and marginalised communities.
“We are doing this because, for social justice, we must know the socio-economic and educational status of the people. Without knowing that, it becomes difficult to implement meaningful welfare programmes,” he explained.
Asked about the pressure from dominant communities objecting to the previous survey, the CM dismissed the allegation and noted that objections to the earlier survey came from both dominant and deprived communities.
“More importantly, it’s been 10 years since the earlier survey was initiated. As per Section 11 of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Act, a new report must be prepared after every 10 years. That is the legal and administrative basis for our decision to order a fresh survey,” he added.
Siddaramaiah further said that he has already instructed the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes to commence the survey work without delay.
“I have already ordered the Backward Classes Commission to do it immediately,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid an ongoing national debate surrounding caste-based enumeration and its implications for policymaking.
Karnataka had, in 2015, undertaken a socio-economic and caste census, but its findings were never officially published due to controversy and pushback from various quarters.
The state cabinet on June 12 decided to carry out a fresh survey, aiming to gather updated data.
The move follows a directive from the Congress high command, urging the state to initiate caste re-enumeration amid rising concerns from several communities that they were excluded or misrepresented in the earlier survey conducted a decade ago.
The announcement also comes at a time when the cabinet was already reviewing the findings of the Socio-Educational Survey submitted to the government, which was based on the 2015 data collection.
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ED arrests Sandeepa Virk, 'cosmetologist' for alleged money laundering
New Delhi, Aug 13 (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate said on Wednesday it has arrested a woman, who claims to be an actor and a cosmetologist, under the anti-money laundering law in a case of alleged fraud and misrepresentation.
The agency said the purported links of the woman, Sandeepa Virk, with a Reliance Group executive, Angarai Natarajan Sethuraman (President, Corporate Affairs), are also under its scanner. Sethuraman, in a statement, denied any connection with Virk or any transactions related to her.
Virk was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Tuesday after searches were conducted against her and her associates in Delhi and Mumbai over the last two days.
A special court sent her to the ED's custody till August 14, the agency said. The woman claims to be the owner of a skin care products selling website named hyboocare.com, which the ED claimed was a "front" for money laundering.
She and her associates are being probed for allegedly exerting undue influence through "misrepresentation" and "defrauding" individuals by soliciting money under false pretences.
According to an Instagram ID of Virk, she is an actor and entrepreneur and the founder of the said website.
The federal agency said in a statement that the woman was also "in touch with" Sethuraman, former director of erstwhile Reliance Capital Limited.
She was communicating with him regarding "illegal liaisoning", the ED claimed, adding that the searches at Sethuraman's residence "confirmed" these allegations.
"Besides, diversion of funds for personal benefit has also been unearthed during the course of the search action," it said.
The ED alleged that public money worth about Rs 18 crore belonging to Reliance Commercial Finance Limited (RCFL) was disbursed to Sethuraman in 2018 by "flouting" prudent lending norms.
The funds were lent under terms that allowed a deferment of the principal amount as well as the interest, with multiple waivers granted and no due diligence conducted, it said.
The ED claimed that besides this, a home loan of Rs 22 crore was provided by Reliance Capital Limited by "violating" the prudential norms. "A large part of these loans are seen to have been eventually siphoned off and remained unpaid," it alleged.
Sethuraman, in a statement, dismissed the allegations as "baseless". He denied any connection with Virk or any transactions related to her.
Detailing about Virk's web portal, the agency said it purportedly sold FDA-approved beauty products. However, the ED said the products listed on the website have been found to be non-existent and the portal lacks a user registration option and is plagued by persistent payment gateway issues.
A scrutiny of the website uncovered minimal social-media engagement, an inactive WhatsApp contact number and an absence of transparent organisational details, all of which reinforce the finding of "non-genuine" commercial activity, the ED claimed.
"These factors, including limited product range, inflated pricing, false claims of FDA approval and technical inconsistencies, indicate that the website serves as a front for laundering funds," it said.
Another social media-hosted bio data of the woman said she is a certified cosmetologist.
The ED said several "incriminating" documents were seized during the searches and the statement of a man named Farrukh Ali, stated to be an associate of Virk, was recorded.
The money-laundering case stems from an FIR lodged by the Punjab Police.
Sethuraman said that the home loan he received from Reliance Capital was granted following due process and was secured by the property offered as collateral.
