Karnataka suspends 5,947 driving licences in 2025, Bengaluru tops list with 4,479 cases
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Transport Department has suspended 5,947 driving licences (DLs) across the state in 2025 so far, with Bengaluru Urban accounting for the highest number at 4,479 cases, officials said.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express, of the total suspensions, 4,735 licences were cancelled for drunk driving (DD), making it the single largest cause of action. Officials said 1,512 cases, involving rash and negligent driving and other traffic violations, are still pending with Regional Transport Offices (RTOs).
"Drinking and driving will not only harm them, but also puts at risk the lives of pedestrians and others. To bring in discipline, the department suspends DL in the very first offence for DD," TNIE quoted Transport Minister R Ramalinga Reddy as saying.
Joint Commissioner of Transport Department, Bengaluru Urban Division, M Shobha said after receiving reports from the traffic department, they are sent to the regional transport offices concerned, and action is taken.
Meanwhile, Joint Commissioner of Traffic (Bengaluru City) Karthik Reddy said standing instructions have been issued to all 53 traffic police stations to intensify checks, especially during weekends.
"There is zero tolerance towards DD cases. Once caught, the license is referred to the transport department for suspension with immediate effect," he said.
Officials said licences can be suspended for three to six months. "The hearing is held in some cases, and based on the replies from motorists and reports from the traffic department, further steps taken," he said.
As per the report, the transport department on the eve of New Year on Dec-31 has announced that emission validity for new vehicles will extend for one year, unlike in the past, which was for five months only. New vehicles do not require an emission test for 1 year; after that, emission tests are mandatory at regular intervals.
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Expelled Cong MLA Mamkootathil gets bail in sexual assault case
Pathanamthitta(Kerala) (PTI): A Kerala court on Wednesday granted bail to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the third sexual assault case against him, in which he was arrested earlier this month.
The bail was granted by the Pathanamthitta District Sessions Court, which was considering an appeal filed by the MLA against a judicial magistrate's court that had denied him relief, stating that the allegations against him were serious and that he had "similar antecedents".
The third sexual assault case was registered against the Palakkad MLA under Sections 376 (rape) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), following a complaint lodged by a woman from Kottayam district on 8 January. He was arrested in the case on January 11 in Palakkad.
The Kerala High Court and a sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram had earlier protected the MLA from arrest in the first two sexual assault cases, which were registered based on complaints from two different women.
