Congress alleges commission in accounts of MLA Sunil Kumar’s close aide
Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar is facing fresh allegations of corruption as the Karkala KPCC campaign committee president, Shubadrao, has claimed that the MLA's close aides have received deposits of Rs 25,000 each in their accounts as commission.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Rao also accused Kumar of canceling all agreements made by the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) for the poor vehicle owners agreement and making a single tender for 603 vehicles at a higher rent rate of Rs 45,000 per month, owned by his close friend.
Rao alleged that commission money of Rs 13,000 for one vehicle and Rs 80 lakh for 603 vehicles is being paid, in which Rs 25,000 per month is being deposited in the accounts of 60 close aides of the MLA. He also drew attention to a similar tender process initiated by HESCOM, CHESCOM, GESCOM, BESCOM and MESCOM, which floated a tender for more than 1000 vehicles, where 210 vehicle owners of Mescom division brought a stay order from the court.
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Rao questioned whether the money received by 60 MLA's close-aides was not commission money and criticized BJP workers, saying that they were being used for the selfish ends of their leaders. He promised benefits such as Rs 2,000 per month through the Grihalakshmi scheme, free electricity to alleviate financial burdens, and job opportunities for the educated unemployed, emphasizing that a Congress-led government would prioritize the welfare of the people.
Former municipal councilor Vivekananda Shenoy, campaign committee member Dinakar Shetty Nitte, and others were present at the press conference. The allegations of corruption against the MLA have caused a stir in the Karkala constituency, and many are questioning the transparency of the tender process initiated by the MLA. The BJP has not yet responded to the allegations.
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Cordelia cruise case: Delhi HC gives nod to disciplinary action against Sameer Wankhede
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court on Friday gave its nod to the continuation of disciplinary proceedings against IRS officer Sameer Wankhede in connection with the 2021 Cordelia cruise drugs case.
A bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Amit Mahajan allowed the Centre's plea against an order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) which quashed the disciplinary proceedings against Wankhede in the matter.
"This petition is allowed," said the bench while pronouncing the verdict.
A detailed copy of the verdict is awaited.
The central government challenged the CAT order passed on January 19, quashing the 'Charge Memorandum' issued to Wankhede on August 18, 2025, by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
Wankhede, a 2008 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, made headlines for allegedly demanding Rs 25 crore from Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's family by threatening to implicate his son Aryan Khan in the Cordelia cruise drug bust case during his tenure in the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai in 2021.
Before the CAT, Wankhede filed an original application challenging the disciplinary inquiry against him by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs for allegedly seeking confidential information related to the probe from NCB's legal department after he was relieved from the agency.
It was also alleged that he sought an "assurance" from the NCB's legal officer to "steer the investigation" in the probe.
On January 12, the high court refused to interfere with an order of the CAT staying the disciplinary proceedings against Wankhede.
It had, however, asked the CAT to make "sincere efforts" to decide the main matter on January 14 or within the next 10 days.
