CID seeks withdrawal of interim protection from arrest granted to MLA Byrathi Basavaraj
Bengaluru: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has urged the Karnataka High Court to revoke the interim protection from arrest granted to KR Puram MLA Byrathi Basavaraj (B.A. Basavaraj) in connection with the murder of rowdy-sheeter Shivaprakash alias Biklu Shiva.
The CID argued that there is a strong need to arrest and interrogate the legislator, who has been named as Accused No. 5 in the case registered at Bharathi Nagar Police Station.
During the hearing of the CID’s interim petition on Thursday, Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav presided over the proceedings. The CID requested the court to lift the interim stay that prevents Basavaraj’s arrest, which had been granted earlier while considering his plea to quash the FIR filed against him.
Additional State Public Prosecutor B.N. Jagadish, representing the CID, told the court that Basavaraj had provided false information during the investigation and that significant evidence has been collected linking him to the case. “We have gathered crucial material. His custodial interrogation is necessary. If the court later finds the evidence unsatisfactory, it may quash the case, but at this stage, his arrest is vital for investigation,” the prosecutor argued.
Defending Basavaraj, his counsel said the CID has invoked the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA) in the case — a law applicable only to organised criminal activities. Under KCOCA, anticipatory bail is not permitted, the lawyer said. “If the interim protection is withdrawn, the MLA will lose the opportunity to seek anticipatory bail. The investigation is being carried out with political motives, and we are considering seeking a probe by an independent agency,” he submitted, urging the court to retain the interim order.
The bench orally observed that investigating agencies must be given the freedom to conduct independent probes. However, the court adjourned the matter to October 23 and extended the interim protection from arrest until then.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
