2 BJP MLAs could be disqualified from Uttara Kannada if their poll expenditure crosses Rs 40 lakh
Karwar: Two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs from Uttara Kannada district may get disqualified if they fail to furnish details of their poll expenditure within the given time.
Shivaram Hebbar and Dinakar Shetty along with four other BJP aspirants shared the stage with Prime Minister Modi on May 3 during an election campaign in Ankola whose total expenditure was Rs 1.10 crore, according to the calculations of the district expenditure observation committee. The cost had to be divided equally among all, resulting in each candidate’s poll expenditure to be Rs 18.33 lakh.
Additionally, around 800 buses, including 150 buses from Goa, were used to ferry people. The organisers of the public event have been charged with Rs. 1.35 crore by the Karnataka Road Transport Corporations. Reportedly, the Goa public transport is ‘reluctant’ to provide data of the expenses. If this amount is added to the poll expenditure of the six candidates, then it will cross the maximum limit of Rs 40 lakh set for each candidate in assembly polls by the election commission.
Sources in the district administrations have asserted that apart from the Modi event, the candidates have also spent money on publicity materials, rallies, pamphlets, among others. Few of them also shared a stage with Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath at a public rally.
District Expenditure Observer Satish G Pawar told Deccan Herald that if all these factors are taken in consideration then the total expenditure will cross the Rs 40 lakh mark. He added that the candidates have challenged the expenditure calculated by the officials. Furthermore, all the six candidates have claimed that they did not hire buses. Dinakar Shetty stated that Modi fans had hired buses, jeeps, and taxis to attend the event. He claimed that his total poll expenditure was Rs 37 lakh.
Deputy Commissioner Prabhuling Kavalikatti mentioned that the officials have seeked information from the government of Goa regarding people who have hired Kadamba buses. A report will be sent to Election Commission based on the data collected from district administration for further action, he added.
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Hubballi: Gym trainer assaulted; police say clash due to personal reasons
Hubballi: A gym trainer was allegedly assaulted by a group of people following accusations of sexual assault and ‘love jihad’, even as both families involved in the case traded serious allegations.
According to police, a group of individuals went to the residence of Sameer Mulla, a resident of Vijayanagar, and questioned him over his friendship with a woman he had met at a gym. The situation escalated into a clash, during which he was allegedly dragged away and assaulted. He sustained minor injuries and was admitted to KIMS hospital.
N. Shashikumar said that after this incident, members from Sameer’s side went to the woman’s house, leading to another clash in which one person was injured. “It was wrong for groups to go near houses. We will take necessary legal action,” he said, adding that the incident appears to have arisen from personal reasons. Police have taken some individuals into custody and are investigating the matter.
Sameer Mulla was reportedly thrashed by a group of Sangh Parivar activists and later handed over to police at the Old Hubballi Police Station after relatives of the woman and members of Hindu organisations gathered at his residence in Rajnagar.
The woman’s family alleged assault and threats from Sameer’s relatives at their Vikas Nagar residence.
Meanwhile, Sameer’s family denied the allegations and accused the woman’s relatives and others of assaulting and kidnapping him. His sister said the two had been in a relationship for three years and that the allegations were baseless.
Police said statements from both sides have been recorded, and a detailed investigation is underway. Sameer remains hospitalised, and appropriate legal action will be taken based on findings.
In a video statement shared on social media, the 20-year-old woman alleged that Sameer had given her an intoxicant, recorded videos without her consent, and sexually assaulted her. She lodged a complaint alleging rape and blackmail, which police are investigating.
In another video, Sameer denied the allegations, claiming the video was recorded with consent and that the accusations were made under pressure.
Former Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) chairman Nagesh Kalburgi termed the incident a serious matter and urged police to take strict action.
Police said the case involves multiple complaints from both sides, and further investigation is underway.
