SC issues notice to K'taka govt for dropping charges of KCOCA against Gauri Lankesh murder accused
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Karnataka government for quashing charges under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA) against one of the accused in the murder case of journalist Gauri Lankesh.
The Apex Court was hearing an appeal filed by filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh challenging the move to remove the KCOCA charges against the accused number 6 in the case Mohan Nayak.
In the plea, Kavitha had stated that Mohan Nayak in the last few months had moved to Karnataka HC for bail after charges against him under KCOCA were mysteriously dropped by the police
The bail hearing is completed and is pending in the High Court, the plea said.
A Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari, and Aniruddha Bose issued a notice in the matter to the Karnataka government and posted the case for further hearing on July 15.
Senior counsel Huzefa Ahmadi assisted by advocate Aparna Bhat represented the petitioner.
The Bench while issuing notice in the matter observed that the accused cannot be granted bail till the plea is heard and disposed of by the Supreme Court.
The order in challenge before the top court was delivered on April 22, 2021, by which the Karnataka High Court had quashed the order of Bengaluru Commissioner of Police passed in 2018 and the supplementary charge sheet filed thereafter.
Offences under Sections 3(1)(i), 3(2), 3(3) and 3(4) of the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act, 2000 (“KCOCA”) against Mohan Nayak were, thereby, dropped.
The appeal before the Supreme Court alleged that Nayak was actively involved in providing shelter to the killers prior to and after committing the offence.
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Bengaluru: A new health report has revealed that over 75% of Karnataka's population screened in 2024 is either obese or overweight, highlighting an alarming rise in lifestyle-related health issues.
According to the Health of the Nation 2025 report by Apollo Hospitals, as cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, 56% of those screened were diagnosed as obese, while another 21% were classified as overweight.
The report underscores a growing public health crisis, driven by sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and undiagnosed chronic conditions that often do not show visible symptoms. The annual report, which examined health data from over 2.5 million preventive screenings conducted across the Apollo ecosystem in India, reveals that symptom-based healthcare is increasingly insufficient to address these hidden health risks.
In Karnataka, the report found that 28% of the individuals screened were hypertensive, with half of them classified as pre-hypertensive. Diabetes was found in 20% of the population, with an additional 25% falling into the pre-diabetic category. These figures reflect the rising metabolic stress among asymptomatic individuals, many of whom are unaware of their conditions.
Additionally, the report noted that 84% of the screened individuals in the state had low vitamin D levels, which can negatively impact bone health and immunity. Furthermore, 64% exhibited reduced flexibility, affecting musculoskeletal wellness.
Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, emphasised the need for India to shift towards a preventive health culture. "Early screening, personalised interventions, and health education should become integral to our homes, schools, and workplaces," TNIE quoted him as saying.
The report also highlighted several other health threats, including fatty liver disease, post-menopause health risks, and childhood obesity. Of the 2.5 million people screened nationally, 65% had fatty liver with 85% of those cases being non-alcoholic. Heart disease signs were present in 46% of asymptomatic individuals, while post-menopausal women saw a sharp increase in both obesity (from 76% to 86%) and diabetes (from 14% to 40%).
Childhood obesity is also becoming a significant concern, with the report revealing that 28% of college students were either overweight or obese, and 19% showed signs of prehypertension.
Mental health issues, often under-reported, emerged as another area of concern, with 7% of women and 5% of men screened nationwide showing symptoms of clinical depression, particularly among the middle-aged population.
