Illegal betting case: Karnataka High Court stays ED summons against lawyer Anil Gowda
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday granted interim relief to lawyer Anil Gowda, a close associate of Chitradurga Congress MLA K.C. Virendra, by staying the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons issued to him in connection with an online and offline illegal betting case.
The single-judge bench of Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum directed that no coercive action be taken against Gowda. The order came in response to an interim petition filed by Gowda, son of Congress leader Hanumantharayappa from Rajarajeshwari Nagar, challenging the ED summons and seeking protection from any immediate enforcement action.
The court noted that a related matter concerning the issuance of summons to lawyers is already pending before the Supreme Court. Considering this, the High Court held that Gowda was entitled to interim protection. Accordingly, the summons dated August 24, 2025, issued to him under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), has been stayed.
The court further directed the ED to refrain from invoking PMLA provisions or initiating any coercive steps against Gowda until the Supreme Court delivers its decision on the broader issue.
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Separate nodal officer in all districts to prevent female foeticides in Karnataka: Minister
Belagavi (PTI): Accepting that the female foeticide has not stopped in the state, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said that the government is taking strict measures to prevent it.
The minister said the government is appointing separate nodal officers in all districts and tightening measures to prevent foeticide, which he called a "social evil".
He also assured that the government will consider strengthening legislation to control such activities.
The minister was responding to a question by BJP MLC C T Ravi in the Legislative Council.
"Female foeticides have certainly not stopped. If you look at the sex ratio, there is a lot of difference. I accept that this is happening," Rao said.
"Foeticides are not happening under pressure; voluntarily, it is happening, for not wanting a girl child. These things are happening based on the sex determination of the foetus at some hospitals. Sex determination is illegal, but with the advancement in technology, portable ultrasound machines have been developed, which can be easily carried anywhere, and scans and tests can be done. This needs to be controlled. We will bring it to the notice of the central government," he said.
In some districts and in a few hospitals, a higher number of male child births is happening. It is found with the help of intelligence input, the minister said.
"Information is being gathered on the taluk in which the male-female ratio is worsening, what is happening in which hospital, and appropriate action is being taken to crack down on such a network, after proper evaluation."
Decoy operations have been done at seven places in the last two years, to identify those involved in illegal activities linked to female foeticides, and actions have been taken against officials and hospitals involved, he said, adding that more needs to be done on priority.
Responding to a question by Ravi about whether any stringent legislation is being brought, Rao said, the government will consider strengthening the legislation and making it stricter to control this.
"Some amendments have been made to the existing laws in the last two years....advanced technology and the internet is being used to carry out such things, also oral medicines for abortions are available over the counter.
We need to look into bringing legislation to control them. The Food and Drug Administration has issued instructions to pharmacists that the sale of such drugs should be documented."
The minister also said that measures are also being taken for the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, and awareness is being created against the identification of female foetuses and female foeticide.
