Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja released on station bail after inquiry in two cases
Belthangady: Legislator Harish Poonja, who had surrendered to the Belthangady Police on Wednesday night, was released on station bail a couple of hours later, after he submitted to police inquiry in connection to two cases against him.
Belthangady Police had registered a case against Poonja on May 19 for creating ruckus at the police station the previous night over the arrest of BJP Yuva Morcha president Shashiraj Shetty in an illegal quarrying case. A second case had been booked against the MLA on May 21 for having staged a protest without permission outside the Vikasa Soudha in Belthangady on May 20, opposing Shetty’s arrest.
The Belthangady Police officers visited Poonja’s residence in town on Wednesday for a questioning in the cases. As a safety measure, policemen were placed outside the house throughout the day.
A large number of BJP activists, including Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and BJP MLAs, who suspected the arrest of the MLA, also gathered outside Poonja’s house and raised slogans against the Karnataka government. Poonja’s advocate Shambhu Sharma asked the police to issue a notice for the legislator to attend the inquiry.
Belthangady Police sent two notices to Poonja on Wednesday evening, summoning him for inquiry in the cases, after which, the legislator visited the police station with BJP District President Satish Kumpala and other leaders of the party. Post-inquiry, Poonja was released on station bail, the police officers have said.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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