Bhatkal PSI suspended amid controversy over fine collection in private account
Bhatkal: The controversy surrounding Bhatkal PSI Yellappa Madara has deepened following recent clarifications provided by District Superintendent of Police (SP) M Narayan. The issue first emerged after a report on the local Kannada web portal, Kannada Vani, alleged that PSI Yellappa had been collecting traffic violation fines through QR code payments or in cash, with the funds reportedly being transferred to the account of a gold trader, Vinayak Maruti Shet.
According to SP Narayan, the incident in question occurred when Udaya Naik, a motorist fined for a traffic violation, did not have sufficient cash to pay the penalty. Naik allegedly paid the fine using a UPI app to Vinayak Maruti Shet, a gold merchant who was reportedly acquainted with both Naik and PSI Yellappa. The SP clarified that the money was later transferred to PSI Yellappa’s account.
However, this explanation has raised further questions. Kannada Vani, the web portal that initially reported the incident, highlighted discrepancies in the SP's account. The portal pointed out that the gold trader was not physically present at the scene, as claimed, casting doubt on the validity of the SP's clarification. Furthermore, concerns were raised about the non-use of the body camera provided to PSI Yellappa during the incident, which has fueled suspicions about transparency and adherence to police protocols.
The portal also questioned the SP's statement, suggesting that the gold trader's mobile signal should have been tracked to confirm his location during the transaction. Additionally, there are growing concerns about whether other motorists were similarly instructed to deposit fines into the same private account.
In response to the escalating controversy and public outcry, the Uttara Kannada District Police have suspended PSI Yellappa Madara from duty, pending a departmental inquiry. This suspension follows an investigation that revealed PSI Yellappa had violated departmental rules by collecting fines and depositing the money into a private account before withdrawing the cash. The District Police Superintendent issued a statement confirming the suspension and the ongoing inquiry into the matter.
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Adityanath meets Singapore Deputy PM; assures investors of biz-focussed policies in UP
Singapore/Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh is ready with land bank, business-focused policies and safety and security, Chief Minister Adityanath told investors in Singapore on Tuesday on a day he met the country's top leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong.
On the second day of his official visit to Singapore, Adityanath met the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, and Coordinating Minister for National Security and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, official sources said here.
Held in the presence of a high-level delegation, the discussions focused on leveraging Singapore's expertise in urban planning, internal security architecture and digital governance to help Uttar Pradesh achieve the target of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.
During talks with Gan Kim Yong, the chief minister emphasised on UP's pro-business environment and highlighted the state's vast land bank and improved connectivity expected from after the Noida International Airport becomes operational.
The meeting also explored the possibility of Singaporean companies establishing industrial townships in the Delhi-NCR, with particular focus on semiconductor manufacturing and green hydrogen modules.
During his interaction with K Shanmugam, Adityanath discussed modernisation of the state's law and order framework, with emphasis on Singapore's technology-integrated policing model and disaster management protocols.
Speaking to investors, Adityanath listed infrastructure, logistics, MROs among other projects in the pipeline in the state, and said he held more than 100 meetings with the business community during his visit to Singapore.
The UP CM also noted that Singapore investors were committed to a large number of projects in India and UP, including the Ganga Expressway.
Business leaders Adityanath met included CEO and chairpersons of Temasek, Government Investment Corp (GIC), Singapore Airport Terminal Services, and Blackstone.
