Mangalore University confers honorary doctorates to Harekala Hajabba, Ravish Padumale
Mangaluru: The 44th annual convocation of Mangalore University was held at the Mangala Auditorium on the university campus on Friday.
Karnataka Governor and Chancellor of the university Thaawarchand Gehlot, who presided over the ceremony, conferred honorary doctorates on Padma Shri awardee and social worker Harekala Hajabba, and Daiva Nartaka Ravish Padumale.
The honorary doctorate announced for senior Tenkutittu artist Surikumera Govinda Bhat (posthumous) will be handed over to his family members at his residence on April 13.
The Governor also awarded degrees to all graduating students. Member of Parliament Capt. Brijesh Chowta delivered the convocation address.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. P.L. Dharma, Registrar Prof. Devendrappa, (Examinations) Ganesh Sanjeeva (in-charge), Finance Officer Dr Y. Sangappa and others were present on the occasion.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Palghar 'godman' accused of rape held in Pune
Pune (PTI): A self-styled godman from Maharashtra's Palghar district who allegedly raped a 35-year-old woman after claiming to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva has been arrested in Pune, police said on Saturday.
The 40-year-old accused, Hrishikesh Vaidya, was apprehended from the Pimpri area on Friday, an official said.
According to the police, the woman had gathered the courage to lodge a complaint against Vasai-based Vaidya after the recent arrest of self-styled godman Ashok Kharat in a rape case in Nashik.
However, Vaidya, in a social media post, has denied the allegations against him and claimed a false case had been registered against him.
As the primary offence allegedly took place in Pune, the Manikpur police in Vasai registered a 'Zero FIR' on Wednesday before transferring the probe to the Hadapsar police station in Pune for further investigation.
A zero FIR is a first information report that can be filed at any police station in India, regardless of where the crime occurred or which station has jurisdiction.
Police said that the woman first came in contact with the accused on Facebook in 2023.
"In December 2023, the accused visited Pune to meet her. He allegedly deceived her by claiming he was an incarnation of Mahadev (Lord Shiva) and that she was his 'Parvati," an official said, citing the FIR.
The complainant alleged that the man took her to a lodge in the Manjari area of Pune, where he administered a numbing substance before raping her. During the assault, the accused allegedly took photographs of the woman without her knowledge.
The woman told the police that the accused, who runs a social organisation in Palghar district, used the photographs to blackmail her. In May last year, he allegedly called her to a hotel at Vasai in Palghar, where he again attempted to sexually assault her.
"Teams were formed to nab Vaidya. We received information about his whereabouts and apprehended him from the Pimpri area," a senior officer of the Pune police said.
