Sexual harassment case: Bengaluru police arrest Kannada actor-director BI Hemant Kumar
New Delhi: Kannada actor-director BI Hemant Kumar was arrested by Bengaluru police after a television actor alleged that he had sexually harassed, cheated and criminally intimidated her.
The television actor said that Hemant had offered her Rs 2 lakh for the lead role in a movie titled ‘3’, signing an agreement for the amount, while Rs 60,000 was paid up-front. She has accused Hemant of not only delaying the shoot but also pressing her to wear revealing clothes and perform indecent scenes. Further, when she refused, he misbehaved and threatened her.
A mediation of the Film Chamber helped her complete her portions in the movie, but Hemant continued harassing her, the complainant has said.
She added that, two years ago, he spiked her drink during a promotional event in Mumbai, filmed her when she was in an intoxicated state and used the clip to blackmail her. On finding that she attempted to resist his pressure, Hemant sent thugs to keep a watch on her and also threaten her and her mother, the actor said.
Hemant has posted edited and uncensored clips from the film on social media platforms with the approval of the Censor Board. He also shared her personal information and thereby defamed her, she added.
Although a Bengaluru civil court passed an interim injunction prohibiting Hemant from sharing the clips on social media, the actor violated the order, the lady actor pointed out.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
