Mangaluru, Apr 5: Mangaluru MLA and former minister U T Khader has performed Umrah amidst preparations for upcoming Karnataka assembly polls.
Mr Khader, who is also the deputy leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Assembly, also met Indian expatriates, especially those from Mangaluru region working in Saudi Arabia.
The four-time MLA from Mangaluru constituency (erstwhile Ullal constituency) is contesting from Congress ticket for the fifth time in May 10 Karnataka elections.
Udupi: Karnataka Kreedakoota-2025, a sports event organised by the Youth Empowerment and Sports Department, Karnataka Olympic Association, and the District Administration, will be held in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts from January 17 to January 23.
The event will feature 1,373 athletes participating in a variety of sports, including kayaking, canoeing, archery, cycling, wrestling, boxing, hockey, lawn tennis, table tennis, Kabaddi, Judo, and athletics.
Deputy Commissioner Vidya Kumari K addressed a press conference on Monday, providing details about the events in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada.
According to her, while volleyball, basketball, and swimming competitions will take place in Dakshina Kannada, events like kayaking and canoeing will be held in Brahmavara’s Swarna River, and archery will take place at the MJC Ground in Manipal.
Marena Sports Complex in Manipal will host lawn tennis and table tennis matches, she added.
The opening ceremony will take place on January 17 in Mangaluru and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be inaugurating the event.
The closing ceremony will be held in Udupi on January 23, with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Home Minister G Parameshwar attending.
The district administration, in collaboration with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, has made provisions for accommodation and food for the participants, said the DC.
She also said the synthetic track at the Mahatma Gandhi District Stadium in Ajjarakad is undergoing repair work after its 10-year durability period ended in 2023, to provide athletes better infrastructure.
Bengaluru: In a sweeping anti-corruption operation, the Karnataka Lokayukta conducted simultaneous raids on the properties of eight government officials across eight districts on Wednesday. The raids, part of ongoing investigations into disproportionate assets cases, targeted over 20 locations linked to these officials.
According to Lokayukta sources, the coordinated operation spanned Bengaluru, Mandya, Bidar, Belagavi, Tumakuru, Gadag, Ballari, and Raichur. Properties of the following officials were under scrutiny:
Shobha – Joint Commissioner, Bengaluru Transport Department
S. N. Umesh – Health and Family Welfare Officer, Kadur
Ravindra – Inspector, Minor Irrigation and Groundwater Development Sub-Division, Bidar
Prakash Sridhar Gaikwad – Tahsildar, Khanapur
S. Raju – Retired RTO Officer, Tumakuru
Huchesh alias Huchappa – Assistant Executive Engineer, Gadag Municipality
R. H. Lokesh – Welfare Officer, Backward Class Department, Ballari
Huliraja – Junior Engineer (Electric), Raichur
Lokayukta officials are thoroughly examining documents, assets, cash, and other valuables found during the raids.
This operation is the Lokayukta’s first major crackdown in 2025. Notably, on December 12, the watchdog had unearthed disproportionate assets worth Rs 48.55 crore in raids on properties belonging to 10 government officials.
The Lokayukta’s intensified efforts signal its commitment to curbing corruption and ensuring accountability among government officials.
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan and his family are facing the possibility of losing control over their ancestral properties in Bhopal, reportedly valued at Rs 15,000 crore. This development follows the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s recent decision to lift a stay imposed on these assets in 2015, potentially paving the way for their acquisition under the Enemy Property Act, 1968.
Properties Under Scrutiny
The properties in question include prominent landmarks such as:
Flag Staff House, where Saif Ali Khan spent much of his childhood
Noor-Us-Sabah Palace
Dar-Us-Salam
Bungalow of Habibi
Ahmedabad Palace
Kohefiza Property
Legal Background
Justice Vivek Agarwal’s ruling emphasized that the amended Enemy Property Act, 2017, provides a statutory mechanism for resolving disputes. The court noted, “If a representation is filed within 30 days from today, the appellate authority shall not advert to the aspect of limitation and shall deal with the appeal on its own merits.”
The Enemy Property Act enables the central government to claim properties belonging to individuals who migrated to Pakistan after Partition. In this case, the focus lies on the migration of Abida Sultan, the eldest daughter of Hamidullah Khan, the last ruling Nawab of the princely state of Bhopal, to Pakistan in 1950. While Sajida Sultan, Hamidullah Khan’s second daughter, stayed in India and became the legal heir, the government has argued that Abida Sultan’s migration classifies the properties as "enemy property."
Saif Ali Khan, Sajida Sultan’s grandson, inherited a portion of these assets. Although the court recognized Sajida Sultan as the legal heir in 2019, the latest ruling has reignited the family’s decades-long property dispute.
Government Action
Bhopal Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh has announced plans to review ownership records spanning the past 72 years. He also stated that individuals residing on the disputed properties may be classified as tenants under the state’s leasing laws. This decision has caused widespread anxiety among the estimated 1.5 lakh residents in the area, many of whom fear eviction.
Historical and Cultural Significance
These properties, deeply tied to the history of the princely state of Bhopal, have served as landmarks of cultural heritage. The potential government acquisition and the legal battles surrounding them highlight the complex interplay between history, law, and inheritance.
The next steps will depend on how the appellate authority addresses the family’s representation, as well as the government’s ongoing review of ownership records.
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