Criminal case against Minister K Sudhakar; Special Court issues summons to minister
Chikkaballapur: The Special Court trying the cases against MPs/MLAs has ordered that a criminal case be registered against Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar, following the case filed by R Anjaneya Reddy, president of the Permanent Irrigation Agitation Committee.
The Court has also issued a summons to the minister in the matter.
Sudhakar, who is a legislator from Chikkaballapur, had been made chairperson of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) during the Congress-JD(S) coalition government tenure. Reddy had challenged the appointment in court, questioning Sudhakar’s eligibility to hold the post and the criterion used for the selection of the MLA.
The legislator had countered, calling Reddy a person who had been imprisoned for sale of hooch to farmers.
Reddy had filed a defamation case in court against Sudhakar for the statement.
As the Supreme Court has opined that a defamation case could be considered a criminal case, Reddy has filed a criminal case against the minister. The Special Court has ordered the registration of the case and summoned Sudhakar.
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IMF approves USD 206 million emergency funding for cyclone-hit Sri Lanka's recovery
Colombo (PTI): The IMF has approved an emergency funding of USD 206 million under its rapid finance instrument to help Sri Lanka “address the urgent needs arising from the catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah and preserve macroeconomic stability”.
The cyclone caused widespread destruction in the island nation and left over 643 people dead.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the disaster has created urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs, generating significant fiscal pressures and balance-of-payments needs.
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The emergency financial support provided by the IMF under the rapid finance instrument will help address these pressures, it said.
The IMF added that the cyclone devastation hit when the Fifth Review of Sri Lanka’s USD 2.9 billion bailout was nearing completion.
“Given the time needed to assess the economic impact of the cyclone and examine how an IMF-supported programme can best support Sri Lanka’s recovery and reconstruction efforts while preserving objectives and policy priorities, the Fifth Review has been deferred," it said.
"An IMF mission team will visit Sri Lanka in early 2026 to resume discussions,” it added.
The 48-month extended fund facility deal with the IMF in March 2023 carried hard reforms to Sri Lanka's welfare-based governance.
It was signed after Sri Lanka plunged into an unprecedented economic meltdown with its first-ever sovereign default.
Several hours before the IMF decision, the parliament here approved without a vote a supplementary estimate of LKR 500 billion, which the government said was required to restore the livelihoods of those affected by the disaster.
