Mangaluru: The Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education has revealed the names of eight distinguished individuals who will be conferred the prestigious ‘Sandesha Awards 2025’. The announcement also included the recipients of the Esteem Award and Talent Award for this year.

In a press briefing held in the city on Thursday, Sandesha Foundation Director Sandeep Paul announced the awardees, which include BR Lakshman Rao (Poetry), Girish Kasaravalli (Cinema), Ganesh Amin Sankamar (Tulu Scholar), Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi (Education), Iriene Pinto (Konkani Literature), DV Rajashekar (Media), KV Rao (Special Recognition), and Roshan D’Souza (Konkani Music).

Additionally, Michael D’Souza will be honoured with the ‘Esteem Award’ for his exceptional humanitarian service and philanthropy, while Remona Yvete Pereira will receive the ‘Talent Award’ for her outstanding achievements in Bharatanatyam.

The award ceremony will take place on Monday, February 10, at 5:30 PM at the Sandesha Institute Grounds in Mangaluru. The event will be presided over by Bishop Henry D’Souza of Ballari, who is also the Chairperson of the Sandesha Foundation. Other notable attendees will include Dinesh Gundu Rao, District In-charge Minister of Dakshina Kannada, Bishops Francis Serrao of Shivamogga, Lawrence Mukuzhy of Belthangady, and Sandesha Awards Jury member Damodar Shetty.

Senior members of the Award Selection Committee, including Dr. Na Damodar Shetty, BA Mohammad Haneef, Simon Coelho, and Roopakala Alva, were also present at the press meet.

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Kolkata (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday conducted raids at the premises of Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas and a local businessman as part of a money laundering probe against an alleged criminal and his linked syndicate in the poll-bound state, officials said.

Two premises of Biswas, including his residence in Ballygunge area and one location of the businessman named Joy Kamdar, Managing Director of a company named Sun Enterprise, have been raided under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Kamdar has been taken by the officials to the local ED office for questioning. Biswas, chief coordinator and nodal officer of the West Bengal and Kolkata Police welfare committee, was not present at his premises, they said.

The action is linked to a money laundering case against an alleged local criminal named Biswajit Podder alias Sona Pappu, who is booked in multiple cases on charges of attempted murder and extortion.

The federal probe agency had conducted the first round of searches in this case on April 1.

The ED had then seized cash of Rs 1.47 crore apart from gold jewellery and silver valued at Rs 67.64 lakh and a country-made revolver from some premises that were searched.

The probe stems from a Kolkata Police FIR against against Podder for his alleged involvement in rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and Arms Act violations. The accused, including Podder, were engaged in organised criminal syndicate activities in the state of West Bengal and generated funds illegally by way of syndicate operations, the ED said in a statement on April 9.

Podder is also wanted by the police in a case of violence in Kankulia road near Golpark of Kolkata and is currently on the run.

The ED has issued summons to Podder but he has failed to join the investigation so far, according to the agency.

West Bengal will have a two phase poll on April 23 and April 29.