Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced a major property ownership drive here aimed at correcting and regularising property records, saying the government had already rectified 23 lakh Khatas and enabled citizens to download their documents online.

Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, said the state government had begun converting B-Khatas into A-Khatas and would organise special Khata camps every Saturday across corporation limits from May 16 to help citizens secure their property documents.

A Khata is a legal document in Bengaluru certifying that a property complies with all local by-laws, regulations and has paid property taxes to the civic body.

“We have already corrected 23 lakh khatas and provided an opportunity for people to download them,” he said.

Shivakumar explained that the major campaign has been undertaken in Bengaluru to streamline property documentation.

The Deputy Chief Minister said between five and 10 centres would be set up in every corporation area as part of the “Khata Andolana” programme and urged citizens to participate in large numbers.

“I appeal to people to safeguard their property documents. We have created an opportunity for all citizens,” he said.

Calling it a "people-centric" initiative, Shivakumar said the government was working to ensure citizens received proper ownership documentation for their properties.

Shivakumar further claimed that the initiative had drawn national attention and said the Union government had recognised Karnataka with an award for the programme.

“Your Khata is your right. Obtain your Khata and protect yourself from fraud,” he said, while urging people to take advantage of the scheme.

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Kochi (PTI): Police on Saturday said they had registered a case against an associate director in the film industry for "sexually assaulting" a model here.

The case was registered against Jojo Kurishinkal of Chengannur in Alappuzha district at the Maradu police station on May 6.

Kurishinkal has worked in several films as an assistant and associate director.

According to the FIR, the complainant, a model based in Kochi, met Kurishinkal through a dating app in July 2023.

The FIR stated that the accused told the complainant he was a film director and had separated from his wife before proposing marriage to her.

He later allegedly assured the complainant and her mother that he would go ahead with the marriage once the legal procedures related to his divorce were completed, the FIR said.

According to the FIR, the accused later invited the complainant to his apartment in Vyttila on April 18, 2024, where he "sexually assaulted" her.

The FIR further alleged that he continued to sexually harass the woman thereafter. It also stated that the accused had "physically assaulted" the complainant on multiple occasions before later refusing to marry her.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case under Section 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code for repeatedly raping the same woman.

Police said the woman’s confidential statement would be recorded, following which the accused would be summoned for questioning.