BBMP bed blocking scam takes new turn, MLA Satish Reddy accused of blocking beds for his supporters
Bengaluru: The alleged COVID bed-blocking scandal which rocked the BBMP South zone’s war room has now taken a new turn. On Tuesday, Parliamentarian Tejasvi Surya had conducted a press conference along with other MLAs and made serious allegations against some corporation officials and contract workers hired by the BBMP. The Bommanahalli region’s MLA, Satish Reddy, who participated in the press conference has now been accused of allotting beds to his supporters in the same case.
Reportedly, MLA Satish Reddy and his supporters were threatening the war room executives working in the Bommanahalli region, and providing beds for the COVID patients illegally. It is also learned that Satish Reddy had issued direct threats to the war room in-charge saying that among the war room employees, his supporters must be prioritized over others or he would bring in his supporters and demonstrate in front of the war room.
It is learned that amid the allegations that beds were being allotted to patients recommended by Satish Reddy, another accusation has come to light that the beds were also being sold for a certain amount of money to distressed patients.
Concerning the press conference on the bed-blocking scandal, where allegations were made by MP Tejasvi Surya, MLAs Satish Reddy, Ravi Subramanya, and Uday Garudachaar on Tuesday, the police had already arrested several individuals. Now, Satish Reddy’s name has come to the forefront of this case and given a new turn to the case.
However, MLA Satish Reddy has denied involvement in the scandal and said, “The accusation that my supporters were blocking beds inside the war room has no substance to it. Whoever has called my office requesting help for bed after they did not get a response from the helpline, in such case I have requested that beds be given to them on a preferential basis. But the allegation that I was blocking beds is a lie”, he informed.
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.
Hormuz Strait disruptions have caused huge economic impact, energy instability in region: Navy chief
Mumbai (PTI): The Strait of Hormuz disruptions have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region, Indian Navy chief Admiral D K Tripathi said on Thursday amid the war in West Asia.
Speaking at an event where INS Sunayna, an offshore patrol vessel, set sail from Mumbai as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, the admiral said competition at sea has no longer remained confined to oil and energy.
It is now expanding towards resources that will shape future growth - such as rare earth elements, critical minerals, new fishing grounds and even data, he said.
The West Asia crisis began on February 28 after a joint attack by the US and Israel on Iran.
Iran's strikes on its neighbours along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the world's energy supplies with effects far beyond West Asia.
"With the conflict in West Asia well into its fifth week, the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region," Tripathi said.
There is significant increase in the marine survey, deep-sea research activity, and Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU), often encroaching upon the sovereign rights of littoral nations and exploiting gaps in monitoring and enforcement, he said.
Alongside these, threats such as piracy, armed robbery and narco-trafficking backed by unimpeded access of advanced technology to non-state actors, have also become more complex and challenging to counter, the Navy chief pointed out.
Last year alone, the Indian Ocean Region witnessed a staggering 3,700 maritime incidents of varying nature, the admiral said.
Additionally, narcotics seizures in the region exceeded USD 1 billion USD in 2025, highlighting the persistence and spread of such challenges in the region, he said.
