Students deceived by training institute stage stir claiming money back

October 30, 2013

Mangalore, Oct 30: Alleging cheating to the tune of Rs. 1.2 lakh, a few students backed by some activists staged a protest and stormed the premises of a “training institute” in Kulashekhar where heated verbal exchanges, threats of violence and stories of financial penury played out on Tuesday.

According to a few students who had turned up from as far away as Hassan district, the Academy of Career Guidance Incorporation (Trust) had taken amounts ranging from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 1.2 lakh promising them a job in the army – as clerks, technical department and others – by getting their entrance examination sheets “passed”.

“They had taken Rs. 30,000 from me and guaranteed a job. It has been eight months and nothing has happened. They refuse to return my money too,” said Manoj P.D. from Sakleshpur. He said he was approached with this offer through an agent.

For Chennaiah, a daily-wage worker, paying for his son's Rs. 50,000 in the institute involved taking loans from surreptitious money lenders. However, after failing to get his money back, his son Manjunath B.C. fled fearing reproach from his family.

“I haven't seen him for eight days now. The Trust has given a cheque, but it has bounced,” he said.

Another student said he paid Rs. 1.2 lakh to be taken to Madhya Pradesh for a job.

Though expressing concern about the money – his father is a daily-wage labourer and is struggling to pay back the mounting interest – he remained away from the protests, hoping to reach a compromise with the Trust and get his money back.

Joining the victims in the protest were groups such as Samata Sainik Samiti from Hassan and Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkar vada). The activists alleged that the Trust Chairman Santhosh Kumar S. threatened them.

While the activists camped in protest in front of the institute, the police who arrived on the scene searched for the Chairman, who was not found.

More than 100 students train for the army in the centre – with some of them saying that they were not guaranteed a job and had only paid for the training.

At the time of going to press, a police complaint was not filed.

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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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