Large-scale drug seizures ahead of Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka
Bengaluru: Anti-Narcotics Squad and CCB team of the City Police seized 2.024 kg of MDMA crystals worth Rs 2.02 crore from Bommanahalli in the Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency.
Additionally, the Income Tax Department confiscated Rs 4.03 crore in cash in the Bangalore North Lok Sabha constituency, while the Excise Department seized 37031.33 liters of liquor worth Rs 82.65 lakh in Uttara Kannada district.
Rapid squads, fixed surveillance teams, and police officials have registered 1,290 FIRs related to the seizure of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and free gifts.
The Excise Department has registered 1,427 cases related to heinous crimes, 1,469 cases of license violations, and 95 cases under the NDPS Act. Additionally, 6,454 cases were registered under the Karnataka Excise Act, and 855 vehicles were seized.
Regarding the upcoming elections for 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, 358 candidates submitted 492 nomination papers, out of which 384 have been accepted. Withdrawal of nomination papers is possible until April 8th, after which the final number of candidates in the fray will be determined.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
