'Naga Sadhu' keeps cops on their toes

Mangalore, Nov 28: A man who claimed that he was a'Naga Sadhu' created chaos in K S Rao Road and finally became the guest of the police, on Wednesday.

Over the last two days, a man aged about 50 years, clad in saffron attire, with a'damaru' (hand held drum) was seen talking to himself and at times screaming on the streets.

On Wednesday morning at about 11.30 am, this man started dancing in frenzy at the old bus stand area and then holding a rod in hand, he ran after people to attack them. He resorted to damaging several vehicles which were parked in the area. When the police rushed to the spot and tried to put him in the vehicle, they failed.

When the police snatched away his clothe bag, they recovered ganja from his belongings. While it was evident that he was in an inebriated state, neither the police nor the curiously watching public could nab him.

Speaking fluently in Kannada, English and Hindi, this man once said that he was on his way to Dharmasthala on foot and then said that he was a CID sleuth. However, all the while he was resorting to using slanderous words at the onlookers and at the cops.

When the cops finally managed to get him into confidence and then started walking him towards the signal, he all of a sudden removed his waist clothe and again started dancing in frenzy claiming that he is a'Naga Sadhu'.

The police tried their level best to save the man's modesty by wrapping him in his clothes, but all efforts went in vain.

He, then took to K S Rao road again and this time, 20 cops and some locals managed to push him into a vehicle.

It is learnt that the man hails from Gowdagiri in Bidar and being highly educated, he had abandoned his house and family for some unknown reason.

All in all, due to his behavior the police struggled to get the situation under control, while the petrified onlookers kept their fingers crossed.

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‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

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