Udupi: Former President Abdul Kalam’s signature forgery case: One convicted to 3 yrs RI
Udupi, Dec 12: Additional JMFC Court on Wednesday convicted a person to three years rigorous imprisonment on charges of misusing the signature of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam nine years ago and tarnishing his personality and image.
The convicted has been identified as Niranjan Chidanand Bhat (37) of Mudabettu in Kodavur village. With an intention of cheating and transacting in the name of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the convicted had forged the signature of the former President and fabricated the fake documents in 2010. He had created fake email ID in the name of Abdul Kalam at Surf and Weave cyber café near Karavali By-pass road in Udupi and using the fake email ID, he had sent a congratulation letter to Kalam. In turn, Dr Kalam had sent a letter in gratitude with his personal signature and Niranjan had forged that signature.
Using his forged signature, the convicted had sent a recommendation letter in the name of Dr Kalam for the Hoover Medal Award, instituted by the ‘American Engineering Organisation’ for the engineers who contributed for the welfare of the mankind. Apart from this, using the fake email ID of Dr Kalam, he had sent an email to Goswamy D Yogi of New York requesting him to send a project report on 50 MW solar thermal plant to him and claimed that all documents he had created were genuine. Thus, he had claimed himself as President Abdul Kalam and transacted to tarnish the image and personality of the former President, it was alleged.
Based on a complaint by intelligence wing police inspector Srinivas Raj, a case was registered at Malpe police station on May 24, 2009. Then Udupi circle inspector Ganesh Hegde investigated the case and later, circle inspector SV Girish had filed charge sheet to the court against the convicted on October 26, 2010.
After hearing the case, Additional JMFC court judge Manjunath MS pronounced the judgement convicting the accused. The judge awarded three years rigorous imprisonment under IPC Column 419, 465, 468, 469 and 471 and slapped a fine of Rs 7,000. Assistant public prosecutor and legal officer Mamtaz investigated the case and assistant public prosecutor Jayanti K argued against the convicted.
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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.
