BJP MLA Uday Garudachar sentenced to 2-month jail for cover-up of info in poll affidavit
Bengaluru, Oct 13: BJP MLA Uday Garudachar was on Thursday sentenced to two months' imprisonment by a local court in Bengaluru for keeping off information in his election affidavit.
An Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court sentenced him to prison and fined him Rs.10,000 for failing to mention two pending criminal cases against him and the fact that he was the managing director of a private company.
He has been found guilty under the Representation of Peoples Act after a complaint was lodged by a person in this regard.
Though the MLA has been sentenced, considering that the sentence is less than two years, the court granted him bail allowing him to appeal to a higher court. He was released on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 and a surety. Uday Garudachar contested from the Chikpet Assembly Constituency from Bengaluru in 2018 and won on a BJP ticket. The affidavit was filed on April 18, 2018.
It was alleged that though he was the managing director of the private firm, his affidavit mentioned him only as an investor. His wife was a director of the same company, which was also not mentioned in the election affidavit. It was also found that he had not mentioned the bank account details of his wife in the affidavit.
The allegation against him as recorded by a court read, "The accused was aware of the criminal case...pending...the accused did not mention about the same in the affidavit. The accused has sworn false affidavit and submitted the same before the election officer."
"The accused also had to furnish his wife's bank balance in the affidavit. But he has not stated the actual balance in her account as on the date of filing the said affidavit. The accused has also stated in the affidavit that he is the investor in the private company and others as well..." Sentencing him, the trial court said the charges against the MLA were proved.
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Caste census will form basis for future policy decision, says CM Siddaramaiah
Mysuru (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that the ongoing caste census would form the basis for future policy decisions, asserting that the exercise was crucial to advancing social justice in the state.
Addressing a gathering at the Siddarameshwara Jayanti celebrations here, he said caste enumeration was being carried out for the first time since 1931 and would be followed by deliberations once the report is submitted.
"At present, a caste census (Jaati Sameekshe) is underway. After the report comes, we will discuss it and take necessary decisions," Siddaramaiah said.
He underlined the government’s commitment to equality, stating, "We are committed to social justice. No one should face injustice. Even if not 100 per cent, we will strive to ensure 99 per cent justice."
Referring to measures aimed at addressing intra-caste disparities, the chief minister said the government had already implemented internal reservation based on revised classifications.
"We have gone beyond the Nagamohan Das report and implemented internal reservation… now it has been revised to 5.25 per cent, 5.25 per cent, and 4.5 per cent. This has been approved by the Cabinet," he said.
Siddaramaiah said the broader objective was to ensure equitable distribution of resources and opportunities, while reiterating that policy interventions would be guided by constitutional principles.
"Our objective is equal share and equal life for all," he said.
He also emphasised the role of education in eliminating inequalities, particularly among marginalised communities, and said empowerment was essential to dismantle entrenched caste hierarchies.
"Only when people gain such empowerment can caste divisions be eradicated. Education is essential for this," he added.
The CM said the government would examine demands raised by various communities and take decisions based on feasibility, while ensuring that benefits reached all sections without discrimination.
