K’taka HC gives nod to ED to conduct probe in MUDA land scam case
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday allowed the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to investigate all accused persons in the MUDA site allotment case, except former MUDA commissioner D B Natesh.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind ruled that the ED is entitled to proceed with the investigation against other accused individuals in accordance with the law.
The ED had approached the division bench seeking a stay on a single-judge bench order that had quashed the summons issued to Natesh.
"Investigation under the PML Act is not to be hampered or put on hold, nor would its continuance be affected adversely in relation to the alleged scam. The investigating authority—the applicant, Directorate of Enforcement—notwithstanding the judgment and order of the learned single judge impugned in this appeal, is allowed to investigate the matter," the court stated.
It further stated that the impugned judgment and order should not prevent the ED from proceeding with the inquiry and investigation in accordance with the law concerning other accused individuals and persons who may need to be questioned or investigated in connection with the case, notwithstanding the impugned judgment and directions in the petitioner's case.
"As the court has permitted the inquiry and investigation to continue against other accused persons, the applicant—Enforcement Directorate, the investigating agency—shall be at liberty to utilise all documents and materials gathered, recovered, and secured during the search and seizure at the petitioner’s premises. The agency may also use recorded statements for the remainder of the investigation, in accordance with the law," the division bench added.
Alongside the Lokayukta, the ED is probing the MUDA site allotment case, in which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi B M, her brother Mallikarjuna Swamy, and land seller Devaraju are among the accused.
In the MUDA site allotment case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land, which had been 'acquired' by the MUDA.
The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme instead of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout.
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Karnataka issues nutrition advisory for govt events; recommends millets, healthier options
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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Monday issued a nutrition advisory recommending healthier food and beverage options at meetings, functions, and other official gatherings held in the state.
The advisory has been issued by the Department of Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services to promote healthy dietary and nutritional habits among officials and staff, noting that food, refreshments and beverages served in government offices and official programmes are "often not aligned with nutrition standards."
The advisory recommends serving snacks such as millet-based, low-fat and low-sugar foods, fresh fruits, vegetable salads, sprouts, roasted nuts and seeds during in-house office meetings and breaks.
Beverages such as green tea, low-fat buttermilk, and locally filtered or boiled water served in glass bottles or steel flasks have also been suggested.
According to the advisory, for larger government events, conferences and exhibitions, departments have been advised to include at least one millet-based item during snacks and a minimum of two millet dishes in meals, along with local cuisine and at least one regional recipe.
It also recommends the use of brown rice instead of white rice, freshly prepared vegetable salads, and fresh fruits or low-sugar fruit juices.
If non-vegetarian food is served, it should consist of well-cooked lean or white meat, the advisory stated.
In eateries operating within government office campuses, the department has recommended millet-based foods, fresh vegetable salads, boiled pulses such as horse gram or chickpeas, and low-fat beverages.
It suggests serving food using reusable metal plates and glasses.
The advisory also recommends avoiding microwave-heated food, industrially processed food, fried snacks, high-fat or heavily spiced dishes, carbonated drinks, high-sugar fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages.
It further discourages serving milk-based tea or coffee and plastic-bottled water during official events.
“Overall, hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained while serving food and water. Local cottage industries, self-help groups, prison kitchens, nutri-gardens and others should be preferred for placing food and beverage orders,” the advisory added.
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