Karnataka FDA recruitment scam accused fled to Maharashtra, will be arrested soon, says Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Tuesday said Rudragouda D Patil whose name has figured in the First Division Assistant recruitment test scam, has escaped to Maharashtra, and police have been directed to catch him wherever he was holed up.
Over 20 people were arrested from Kalaburagi and Yadgir districts for using Bluetooth to write the test conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority on October 28.
As his name surfaced in connection with the scandal, Patil scaled the boundary wall of the Mahalakshmi Apartment at Varada Nagar in the district headquarters town of Kalaburagi and fled on Monday, police sources said, citing CCTV footage of his act.
Patil is also an accused in the police sub-inspector recruitment scam, in which an Additional Director General of Police Amrit Paul was arrested and jailed for 15 months before he secured bail in September.
"We have already sensitised the police. We have given direction to police to ensure that the accused is arrested. We have got the information that he has escaped to Maharashtra. He will be arrested, which is not a big thing. He can escape (only) for a day," Parameswara told reporters.
The Minister warned those who assisted Patil in fleeing saying they will face police action. He reiterated that the accused will be brought to book.
"Already there is a case against him in connection with the PSI recruitment scam. With his involvement in this scam, more evidence will add up against him", Parameshwara added.
To a query, he said, "We will scrutinise the case and if required, we will give the case to the CID. All that we want is an investigation to bring out the truth and action against the accused."
Regarding cancelling the exam and conducting it afresh, the Minister said such questions are left to the KEA.
Karnataka IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge, who is an MLA from Kalaburagi district, said there is no question of showing mercy to the accused.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA and BJP Karnataka vice president B Y Vijayendra alleged that a minister and an MLA helped Patil escape.
"The entire Congress party is in support of the accused and supporting them. R D Patil is not an ordinary man. He is in touch with the bigwigs of the ruling Congress. Because of his support, he fled," he alleged.
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Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
