Dharmasthala case: SIT launches search at new location
Belthangady: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations of bodies being buried in connection with past criminal activities in the Dharmasthala Police Station limits has initiated a fresh search operation at a new site on Saturday.
The search is underway in the forested area at the foothills of Bahubali Hill, near the main entrance of Dharmasthala. SIT officers arrived with full preparations, accompanied by Puttur AC Stella Varghese, Beltangady Tahsildar Prithvi Sanikham, a team of doctors, forest officials, FSL experts, ISD personnel, and other authorities.
On August 8, SIT officers, along with the anonymous complainant, had carried out searches at two sites, locations 16 and 16A, in the Boliyar Gomkratar area of Dharmasthala village. Reports indicate that excavations were also conducted at two additional spots, though the SIT has not issued any official statement on this.
On Saturday, the complainant witness was brought to the new location by SIT officers to identify further possible sites. It remains to be seen how many locations will be marked during this round of investigation. Although the mahazar process had earlier been completed at the 13th location, no further work has been carried out there since.
According to officials, the anonymous complainant arrived at the Belthangady SIT office under police escort at around 10:15 am, departed at 12:05 pm, and reached Dharmasthala village by approximately 12:45 pm.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
