Now, ration card not must for new LPG connections

[email protected] (P M Raghunandan, DHNS)

September 9, 2013

Bangalore, Sep 9: Obtaining new LPG domestic connections has become a lot easier. Ration cards are now no longer mandatory to get new connections in the state.

Both state government and oil marketing companies — IOC, HPCL and BPCL — have recently directed all LPG agencies not to push for ration cards for sanctioning new connections.

Instead, ration cards will be considered one of the identity proofs, Know Your Customer (KYC) documents.

But one has to submit the Revenue Register number (RR number) mentioned in the monthly power bill to get a connection.

The state government in 2004 made it mandatory to submit ration cards to get an LPG connection. This was done to prevent people from misusing ration cards to get both LPG cylinders and kerosene, which are highly subsidised. People are entitled to either of the fuels.

With ration card distribution becoming a mess, gullible people used to face a tough time obtaining new LPG connections.

“Now there is no need for ration cards to get new connections. RR number and one of the KYC documents are enough. All the agencies have been given a direction in this regard,” said IOC Deputy General Manager (LPG) Dilip Rai.

The State Food and Civil Supplies Department (SFCSD), which collected RR numbers of all LPG consumers in the state last year, has now linked the ration card database with that of the RR numbers available with the electricity supply companies.

This has enabled it to ascertain whether a ration card applicant already has an LPG connection.

As a result, it has become almost impossible for one to hoodwink the government and get both LPG and kerosene supply, explained the officials.

However, the SFCSD has not yet withdrawn its 2004 order.

Ironically, the initiative to create an RR number and ration card database had come under severe criticism from various corners. The SFCSd had then announced that LPG connections of those who failed to submit RR numbers would be disconnected.

Faced with mounting opposition against the move, the then government in 2012 had directed the SFCSD not to resort to disconnection. But the department had gone ahead with the database creation, said the officials.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said a new system has been put in place wherein the department would know if an applicant for the ration card possess LPG connection. Hence, there is no need to insist that people submit ration cards for obtaining new LPG connection. But RR numbers are a must, he added.

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SIT raids rape accused BJP MLA Munirathna’s residence, 15 other locations

News Network

September 28,2024

Bengaluru, Sep 28: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing charges against arrested Karnataka BJP MLA N. Munirathna Naidu, including allegations of rape, honey-trapping, and other offences, on Saturday conducted raids at his residence and 15 other locations across the city.

Sources confirmed that the raids were taking place at his Vyalikaval residence and other properties owned by the BJP MLA. The operation is being conducted by the SIT under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) led by ACP Kavitha.

The team is examining documents, electronic devices, and other materials related to the rape and honey-trapping case. The SIT is being supported by experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), with Superintendent of Police (SP) Sowmya Latha also participating in the search and inspection at Munirathna’s Vyalikaval residence.

According to sources, the raids were triggered by information provided by the victim, who alleged that Munirathna recorded footage of sexual assaults and used it to blackmail politicians and public servants, including IAS and IPS officers.

The victim reportedly revealed that she was used to entrap the woman who had lodged a rape case against a senior IFS officer. She was allegedly instructed to frame the rape victim in a drug peddling case.

The complainant told police that she was tasked with capturing compromising videos of the rape victim who had filed the case against the IFS officer. She claimed that, after several failed attempts to obtain the videos, the victim was drugged with sleeping pills, and obscene footage was recorded without her consent. Later, the IFS officer was bailed out from the charges.

Furthermore, the complainant has accused MLA Munirathna of raping her at his office within the state legislature, in his official vehicle, and at his godown. She has alleged that he recorded videos of these assaults.

Police sources also revealed that the victim in the MLA's case provided details of a plot involving sending HIV-infected women to Munirathna's targets in an attempt to ruin them politically and personally. She also disclosed the names of several politicians whom she had entrapped through honey-trapping.

The woman further claimed that Munirathna had threatened to have her son kidnapped and killed if she refused to comply with his demands. According to her, the MLA had a well-organised team dedicated to carrying out these honey-trapping operations, and she provided details about his close associates and relatives involved in the scheme.

Munirathna, who was in judicial custody following his arrest in the rape and honey-trap case, has now been taken into the custody of the SIT.

The MLA was transferred from Bengaluru Central Jail to the CID office on the night of September 24. The BJP legislator, however, has denied all the allegations, claiming they are false.

Karnataka Congress leader D.K. Suresh had alleged that Munirathna was trying to infect his adversaries with HIV and that the government should investigate the matter.

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