Mangaluru: Prime accused in the Surathkal Abdul Jaleel murder case Lakshmish Devadiga was on Wednesday sent to 14-day police custody by a local court here in the city.

According to the reports, Lakshmish is the prime accused in the Abdul Jaleel murder case and had barged into the latter’s shop a week before the murder and had gotten into a fight with Jaleel. Lakshmish had also allegedly damaged the shop by pelting stones besides threatening to kill Abdul Jaleel.

He was also involved in the case of the attempted murder of Pinky Nawaz. Case of assaulting and robbing two children in Surathkal after consuming drugs was also registered against Lakshmish earlier in Surathkal Police Station.

The police team investigating the Abdul Jaleel murder case has so far arrested four accused. Three accused were arrested on Sunday night while Lakshmish was nabbed on Monday. Earlier the cops had arrested three others, Shailesh (21) of Krishnapura, Saveen Kanchan (24) of Hejmady, and Pawan (23) of Krishnapura in Surathkal.

 

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Bengaluru, Apr 9 (PTI): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s economic advisor, Basavaraj Rayareddi, on Wednesday said he never claimed that "Karnataka is number one in corruption" during the tenure of the present Congress government.

Rayareddi issued a clarification after a few publications in Karnataka reported that, during a review meeting by a committee for the redressal of regional imbalance, he had told officers that Karnataka tops the country in corruption.

Accusing the media of twisting his statement made in Koppal, the Yelburga Congress MLA said he had only highlighted the perception that "Karnataka is branded as the most corrupt state", which, he said, is unfortunate.

"I did not say that corruption has increased during Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s tenure. It’s a phenomenon that has been prevailing for the past two to three decades," Rayareddi told reporters here.

Insisting that he never made such a statement at a press conference, Rayareddi claimed, "I never said Karnataka is the number one corrupt state. I only said that Karnataka is branded as the most corrupt state. This impression has been created due to the poor governance by the previous BJP and JD(S) governments."

The MLA said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was doing commendable work by ensuring fair administration and was supported by dynamic ministers such as Krishna Byre Gowda and Priyank Kharge.

"Our government is doing good work. I support our Chief Minister because he is doing a good job. Whether he makes me a minister or removes me from this assignment (as economic advisor), I will continue to support him," Rayareddi said.

His remarks gave ammunition to the opposition, which has been alleging rampant corruption in the state.

BJP MLA C N Ashwath Narayan appreciated the Yelburga MLA for being candid in “accepting” that corruption has increased in Karnataka.

"We are happy that at least someone from within the Congress spoke about it," Narayan said.

In response, Rayareddi hit out at the BJP and JD(S), saying these two parties brought a bad name to Karnataka, and that some of their ministers had even gone to jail during their tenure.

Rayareddi said he was clear in his speech in Koppal on Tuesday that corruption had increased over the last few decades without blaming any one political party.

According to him, "corruption in North Karnataka is more prevalent compared to the old Mysuru region."

He also remarked that schools built these days collapse within five years, while those built during his father’s time remain intact for decades.

The MLA said he was concerned that corruption has escalated mainly due to electoral politics and felt that a public discussion on the issue was long overdue.

"I am happy that the media presented half the truth about what I said. At least this way, a discussion to curb corruption has begun," he quipped.

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