By Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE AFFIDAVIT OF LIES- 2! BANGALORE DOORDARSHAN DIRECTOR (NEWS), SG RAVEENDRA, FALSE AFFIDAVIT TO GRAB LAND!

 Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

1st July 2012 issue-

THE AFFIDAVIT OF LIES- 2 

BANGALORE DOORDARSHAN DIRECTOR (NEWS), SG RAVEENDRA, FALSE AFFIDAVIT TO GRAB LAND 

 S.G. Raveendra, the Director (News) in Bangalore Doordarshan provides a classic text book case to bureaucrats about “how to benefit from false affidavits and gain stray sites and still go scot free”. SG Raveendra owns a bungalow in RT Nagar and also owns agricultural lands and a revenue layout on the lands. And to top it all, has obtained a stray site in HSR layout by submitting a false affidavit to the BDA and got the Chief Minister to allot a stray site to him. While the site allotment has taken its toll on many, SG Raveendra is still roaming scot free! 

In our earlier issue, we had exposed the false affidavit scam of SG Raveendra, the Director (News), Bangalore Doordarshan. 

 We had exposed about the allotment of a stray site under Chief Minister’s quota (?) to SG Raveendra in HSR Layout 6th Sector in 2011. Before he was allotted this highly valuable stray site, Raveendra had given an affidavit to the BDA swearing that neither himself nor his wife or dependent children own any site or house in Bangalore. The filing of the affidavit is a must for getting a BDA site allotment. Raveendra had also affirmed that if his affirmations in the affidavit are false, he is liable for penal action including forefeiture of the allotted site and the building built thereon by the BDA without paying any compensation. 

 And now for the crux of the issue, on 24.05.2010, SG Raveendra had sworn an affidavit before the Notary D.S.Chandrakanth and submitted it to the BDA for allottment of site to him. On the basis of this affidavit supported by the direction of the then Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa, the BDA allotted a big site in HSR Layout, VI Sector. The stray site bearing No.1014, HSR Layout 6th Sector has been shown an alternate site allottment! 

 Raveendra had sworn the affidavit on 25.4.2010 by stating that he had no site or house in Bangalore. It goes without saying that the affidavit is insisted by the BDA to prevent more than one site to a family. And what is the real truth vis-a-vis Raveendra filing an affidavit about not having any site or house in Bangalore? 

 The hard fact is that as on 25.4.2010, that is the day Raveendra sworn this affidavit, he had a big house in the posh RT Nagar Layout, in his own name. The house in question bears No.406, I Block, RT Nagar on 40x60 site. It is another matter that this RT Nagar Layout was formed by the BDA. The PID Number for the property being 97-1-406 and the Khatha extract from BBMP states that the owner of the property is S.G.Raveendra and the property came to his name during 2006 though Mutation number 768/06-07! 

 As per the khatha extract, there is a built up area of 2000 sq.feet and is self occupied. The property tax is Rs.5000 per annum. This amply makes it clear that Raveendra does own a house in Bangalore years before he had sworn the affidavit claiming that he has no site or house in Bangalore. This implies that Raveendra had submitted a false affidavit to the BDA for allottment of a stray site which is valued at more than two crores! 

 Apart from this property, Raveendra owns lands in Sy. No.15 of Madanayakanahalli village, near Widia on Tumkur Road. The lands were purchased jointly by Raveendra and his brother who later gave the GPA to SG Raveendra. An unauthorised revenue layout was formed by Raveendra in this land. However, the said lands are not mentioned in Raveendra’s Assets and Liabilities Statement. 

 And what now? As per the BDA Acts and Rules, a person who owns either in his name or in the name of his wife or dependent children, a site or house in Bangalore is ineligible for allotment of sites by BDA. Before getting the allotment, one has to file an affidavit with the BDA to this effect. In the affidavit itself, the person swearing the affidavit clearly states that if the contents of the affidavit are proved to be false, the BDA can forefeit the site or the building on it, without paying any compensation. 

 In the case of Raveendra, on the face of it, it becomes clear that he had submitted a false affidavit claiming that neither he nor his family owns a house/site in Bangalore while the hard fact is that he owned a site in RT Nagar and that too in his own name! Now, the BDA has to allow the law to take its course. First it has to cancel the allottment and resume the site from SG Raveendra and also forfeit the sital amount paid by him. Further, the BDA has to prosecute SG Raveendra under Indian Penal Code for having given false affidavit to grab a highly valuable site. 

 Of course, Raveendra being a government servant and that too, of central government, should have known the repercussions of filing a false affidavit, more than anybody else. Moreover, he is in a high position as Director (News), in Bangalore Doordarshan. What he had done is beyond anybody’s comprehension. Even as per the service rules, he is liable for dismissal from service as he has violated them by making false affidavit. 

 In conclusion, the BDA should resume the stray site allotted to SG Raveendra immediately and forfeit the sital amount. It should also prosecute him for submitting a false affidavit of not owning any house/site in Bangalore while infact, he owns a bungalow in RT Nagar. In addition to this, the Prasara Bharathi should also initiate proceedings against Raveendra for behaving in a manner unbecoming of a civil servant. More than anything else, the BDA should initiate prosecution in criminal court against Raveendra for false affidavit so that it will be a warming signal for others.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE HONEST POLITICIAN! SURESH KUMAR –THE BIRD OF SAME FEATHER!

Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

Firoz.T.Totanawala  

The Bangalore Metro Reporter 

1st July 2012 issue-

                      THE HONEST POLITICIAN!

         SURESH KUMAR –THE BIRD OF SAME FEATHER!

Law Minister Suresh Kumar had tendered his resignation as a minister following charges of his getting a big BDA site under ‘G’ category, while he had a house and two sites in his family member’s names. Suresh Kumar refused to take back his resignation unless the CM ordered probe and got his name cleared. The CM referred the matter to the Advocate General who gave a report that Suresh Kumar had done nothing wrong. And now, the business is as usual.

Suresh Kumar over the years had cultivated an image of simple, honest and transparent politician. But, the charges of his involvement in a site scam have definitely damaged his reputation and credibility.

Let us take a look at the charges. Suresh Kumar’s mother who is a retired teacher had purchased a house in Rammohanpuram with her money. His wife is a senior journalist and he himself has been a politician. So, he was not much inclined towards worldly needs, more so as his daughter has also completed her medical education. This fact had a great bearing on his image, which people considered honest breed of rare politicians. Even as a Minister, Suresh Kumar had not involved in scams.

It all started with BBMP in its road widening scheme, issuing notice to Suresh Kumar’s mother’s house, intimating acquisition for the road widening project. As a citizen, Suresh has every right to protest the acquisition and family property or atleast make alternative property. So, assuming that his mother’s house would be demolished for road widening, he made a request to the then Chief Minister Yedurappa for allottment of a site.

Yedurappa upon his request, alloted him a big site (50x80) in Nagarabhavi Layout. But, the same Yedurappa denotified the lands in favour of its original owners and Suresh’s site was also in the denotified land. This denotification has become another scandal of Yedurappa.

So, Suresh Kumar again requested the Chief Minister for alternate site allotment in lieu of the Nagarabhavi site which was lost due to denotification. This time Yedurappa took enough care and alloted him a similar big site (50x80) in RMV Extension. This allotment was definitely a jackpot for Suresh Kumar as it was in the most posh area of Bangalore, where the sital rate is more than Rs.20,000/- per sqft. And what is the rate of allottment of this site to Suresh Kumar? It is a simple 10 lakhs that is Rs. 250 per square feet! Where is Rs.250 per Sft. and where is Rs.20,000 per sft? If this is not procuring political favour, then what is it?

In the meanwhile, the BBMP dropped the road widening project and his mother’s house remained safe and intact. So, his request for allottment of a BDA site on the excuse that his house was to be demolished lost its relevance. Moral propriety expects Suresh to have withdrawn his application for a BDA site. But this ‘simpleton’ and honest politicians suppressed this fact when he asked for an alternate site in lieu of the Nagarabhavi site!

Suresh’s mother and daughter were allotted one site each from the Satyanarayana Housing Society at Madanayakanahalli. The Housing Societies allot sites months in advance so that the members can pay the remaining sital amount and get the site registered. No society allots the sites and registers the same the next day or even next month.

And the story takes a different turn from here. Before the sites were allotted to Suresh’s mother and daughter, Suresh had submitted an affidavit to the BDA swearing that neither he nor his dependent family members own a site or house in Bangalore Metropolitan area. This is a statutory binding as BDA rules stipulate one site per family.

It is this affidavit of Suresh that has shown him in poor light. When he swore the affidavit, he had a house in his mother’s name and he had claimed that his mother is dependant on him. So, when he submitted the affidavit to the BDA that neither he nor his dependent family members own a site/house in Bangalore, it was definitely a false one. And Suresh is an honest and simpleton politician and the Law Minister to boot.

Again, the procurement of two sites in the name of his mother and daughter is also improper as the Housing Co-op. Societies allot only one site for a family. Here too, the members have to submit an affidavit similar to the affidavit to be given to BDA for site allottment. The allotment of two sites in the name of mother and daughter is highly illegal. Being a law minister Suresh knows better.

After resignation, Suresh tried to defend his false affidavit by stating that he had no site/house of his own in BDA limits. He also defended the allotment of two sites by a Housing Society on the pretext that the sites does not come under BDA limits, conveniently forgetting that the area is under BBMP. He reiterated his stand that he will not withdraw the resignation till the matter is probed and he declared innocent!

CM Sadananda referred the matter to the Advocate General Vijayashankar to give legal opinion. The AG is chosen by the law minister and as usual, the AG gave an opinion that Suresh had done no wrong. The house is in his mother’s name and belongs to her as she had her own income; conveniently ignoring the fact that Suresh himself had submitted that his mother is dependent on him. Regarding the two sites, the AG echoed Suresh’s defence that they do not come under BDA! So, acting on this made up ‘clean’ Certificate, Suresh Kumar withdrew his resignation! He had also decided to return the BDA site in RVM II Stage also!

In a nutshell, the AG who is the personal choice of the law minister did his job well to provide legal sanctity to Suresh’s illegal acts by endorsing his defence! If the AG is asked to decide about the charges against a minister, then what is the need for courts or Lokayukta? Sadananda should have asked for the Incharge Lokayukta to conduct a preliminary probe within seven days and submit an interim report. He would have even asked a retired SC/HC judge to go through the charges. But he chose the AG who is a public servant.

Whatsoever, the entire episode involves more a moral than a legal or technical issue. And Suresh has disgraced himself from the public esteem by proving that he is just one of the professional politicians who are out to gain from power. That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE COVETED ROAD TO RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN! POLITICAL GAME IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS!

Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

1st July 2012 issue-

THE COVETED ROAD TO RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN 

 POLITICAL GAME IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 

 From the word go, the Congress has hinted that Pranab Mukherji will be its presidential candidate. The opposition NDA realising its limitations has not thought of putting up its candidate. Mamata Bannerji, who though in UPA, is not inclined to Pranab Mukherji. Along with Mulayam Singh, she floated the name of Dr. Abdul Kalam and the name of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the President post. TN Chief Minister J.Jayalalitha and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik proposed PA. Sangma’s name. Now, PA Sangma who broke away from the NCP, is contesting as an independent. Interestingly, the BJP has declared support to P.A.Sangma. While NDA’s allies JDU and Shiva Sena are backing Pranab, the CPI and RSP have decided to abstain from voting.... 

 The UPA led by Congress, has put up Pranab Mukherjee as its candidate for President’s post and Mamata Bannerji, a partner in UPA has opposed his candidature. Along with Mulayam Singh, she floated three names - Dr.Abdul Kalam, Somanath Chatterji, and even Manmohan Singh. Never in the history of the country, has the name of the PM been proposed to the President Post. It was just Mamata’s ploy for humiliating Manmohan Singh. 

 At the other end, the NDA led by BJP has its own problems. It does not have the numbers and so is not interested in putting up its candidate. When Mamata floated Kalam’s name, the NDA was thinking of backing him as it was NDA which nominated Kalam to the President post in 2002. However, When Kalam withdrew from the race, the BJP and its NDA were back to square one. 

 While UPA and NDA were finalising their strategy, the Tamil Nadu CM J.Jayalalitha and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik floated the name of former Loksabha Speaker P.A.Sangma who is in NCP of Sharad Power. NCP is an ally of Congress both at the State and National level. Infact, Sangma’s daughter Agatha Sangma is a Minister in Manmohan Singh Cabinet. 

NCP rejected Sangma’s request to sponsor him as its candidate. But, Sangma was determined to contest and therefore resigned from NCP and announced his candidature as Independent. He had the assured support of AIADMK of J.Jayalalitha and BJD of Naveen Patnaik, whose vote share do not cross even single digit percentage. By any stretch of imagination, Sangma did not stand even remote chance of a strong contest. 

 The NDA too faced embarrassment from its allies. Its strongest ally, Shiva Sena, and Nitesh Kumar’s JD (U) announced their support for Pranab Mukherji. The NDA at one point of time mulled over not putting up a fight itself. 

 As far as UPA is concerned, except Mamata all other allies stood behind Pranab Mukherji, Mulayam Singh and Mayawathi’s BSP too pledged support to Pranab. Apparently, the road to Rastrapathi Bhavan became easy for Pranab Mukherji. Had NDA put up its candidate and managed its allies and the support of other ‘neutral’ regional parties, the contest would have become real. 

 In the left front also, there were divisions. The CPM was not in favour of backing Pranab, but, the Bengal lobby insisted to back a fellow Bengali. The CPI has thus decided to abstain and so is RSP. Interestingly all the political parties call upon the people to vote in the general elections. And they are also thinking of making a law for compulsory voting. And here, they have decided not to vote! 

 Finally, Sangma entered the fray as an Independent candidate backed by AIADMK and BJP. The BJP which was not prepared to put up a candidate suddenly made a U turn and to everybody’s shock announced its support for Sangma. The BJP’s decision to back Sangma has exposed its political opportunitism. If it wanted to really contest, it would have put up any of its leaders even if it meant defeat. The BJP would have bargained with Congress to get the post of Vice President’s post in lieu of allowing Pranab Mukherji getting elected as the President unanimously. But it chose to adopt a rank outsider who belonged to Congress (NCP), the arch enemy of BJP. As on now, the NDA which is divided over the President election, is not in a position to garner enough support for Sangma through cross voting. 

 It is not in a position to get the support of regional parties. Even in BJP ruled state there is the fear of cross voting. 

 True, neither the Congress nor the BJP have a majority of state government of their respective parties. Regional parties are ruling many a states. The BJP in Odisha, SP in Uttar Pradesh, SAD in Punjab, JDU in Bihar, TMC in West Bengal, AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, CPM in Tripura, JMM in Jharkhand etc. The Congress and BJP are sharing power with regional parties in some states. The UPA and NDA are full of regional parties and both Congress and BJP are numerically larger than their respective allies. 

 The BJP, a national party and the leader of the NDA has belitted itself by not putting its own candidate and adopting a rank outsider as its candidate. It would have gained public esteem had it allowed the unanimous election of President. But it adopted Sangma just for the sake of contest. Contesting for the sake of contest is not a wise political move. 

 All the political parties talk of policy, principles, committment etc. Once they gain or come near power, they forget all their ‘objectives’. The BJP on its part ‘borrowed’ Sangma, despite knowing that Sangma has all along been anti BJP. Similarly, Nitesh Kumar who is sharing power in Bihar with BJP and an ardent Congress enemy now wants to prove his secular credentials, by backing Congress candidate Pranab Mukherji. Similarly, Mamata who grew with Congress and is a party of UPA does not want Pranab Mukherji. SP and BSP, who fought bitterly with each other in UP and with the Congress, also are supporting Pranab Mukherji. 

 To top it all, Sangma, the candidate sponsered by BJP is appealing to the electoral college of MPs, MLAs to vote on their conscious! It has been proved time and again that politician as tribes, except rare exceptions, do not have a conscience of their own. All they do is politics devoid of policy, principles, committments and probity. This is nothing but the politics of absurdities, at its peak. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE MALL OF MANIPULATIONS! ‘BANGALORE CENTRAL-JAYANAGAR’-VIOLATIONS GALORE

                            

Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

15th June 2012 issue-

 THE MALL OF MANIPULATIONS 

‘BANGALORE CENTRAL-JAYANAGAR’-VIOLATIONS GALORE 

 The ‘Bangalore Central’, a shopping Mall located in Jayanagar stands as the shining example for manipulation - machinations and corruption. This Mall violated laws that govern the construction to the commercial business. The BBMP officials are hand in glove with the Mall owners. From the plan sanction stage to the commencement of construction to the completion of the building to the occupancy certificate, it is violations all the way. The people living in the neighbourhood are feeling suffocated not only with the parking menace but also with the choking of their drains... 

The Bangalore Central Mall in Jayanagar 9th Block developed by Mantri Developers is worth a study. It is a prestigious Mall in Bangalore South with hundreds of commercial shops, food courts, Multiplexes etc. Allegedly, the Bangalore Central Mall was built violating many stipulated rules and regulations and the willing BBMP officials turned a blind eye towards the violations, albeit for a price! Not only this, allegedly, the officials of departments concerned like Pollution Board, Traffic Police, Commercial Tax etal are all involved. To understand the quality and quantum of violations, one has to start from the construction stage. 

 The Bangalore Central (BC) is built on a big stretch of land abetting 17th Main, Marenahalli, JP Nagar 2nd phase. Earlier, there was a pharmaceutical Company - BPRL (P) Ltd., functioning on this industrial land run by its owners S.T. Raghavendra Madi and family. The Madis after relocating the pharmaceutical company elsewhere built Chartered Madis Apartment in a portion of this big land. They have also built their residence in a portion of the land and in the remaining portion, the Bangalore Central is located. It was built partnering Prathiba Realtors Ltd., a front of Mantri Developers. 

 The construction was started in 2009. Everybody knows that while building a huge Mall, there are rules to be followed scrupulously. Before applying for plan sanction, the owners have to submit the NOC from the neighbours for construction and Trade license. It is a must. Considering the nature of the educated people residing in the neighbouring areas, it was impossible to get the NOC from the neighbours as they would obviously object fearing the commercialization post Mall construction. The Madis therefore hit upon a novel idea to overcome this biggest problem of NOC which is very crucial in getting the plan and Trade license sanction for the Mall. The Madis did unimaginable and submitted NOC from neighbours. Now, who are these neighbours who have signed the consent? The first was S.T.R. Madi himself. Madi’s house is in the premises of the property itself. The second signature is that of K.M.Upadhyaya, a cousin of Madi who resides in Madi’s ‘Chartered Madi Apartment’! The third was Sunil Subramanyam, a tenant in the same apartment who is not residing there since long. The fourth was A.M.Kashi Udupa, again a relative of Madis who is not a neighbour as he is residing two roads away. 

 What does this mean? The NOC are manipulated one. There are other residents all along 17th Main and none of them have given their NOC for the simple reason that they were unaware of the project. They were not even approached. Obviously, the BBMP officials should have inspected the spot and ascertained the opinion of the neighbours who may be affected by the proposed business. This would have the fact that the NOC was signed by none other than the owner of the land and his relatives including a person who is not a neighbour at all. But, they simply overlooked to do their duty allegedly for obvious reasons. This is a first major violation by the Bangalore Central. 

The next perplexing factor is the trade license given by the BBMP. Shockingly, the BBMP has given ‘Trade License’ to the whole complex by defeating the very purpose and basis for trade license. Every trader whether small, medium or big, should obtain the Trade License for their individual trade. There is no provision to issue trade license to the whole complex in one go. The BC Mall has hundreds of shops selling from salt to the scotch. As per the BBMP rules, every trader has to obtain individual trade license for the business they do either in the streets or in the Mall. This is a must. Then, how one can comprehend the BBMP issuing Trade License to the whole complex? This beats any known standard or limit of logic or reason. 

 Besides, the BC Mall opens scores of temporary shops in its compound on the pretext of special occasions be it a festival or even a weekend. Interestingly, nobody in BBMP opposes this serious violation. If a petty trader or even a push cart trader does business in the street, the BBMP officials pounce on them and seize the items. But when a prestigious BC Mall does this sort of street business, the BBMP officials take no action! 

 Most importantly, the BC Mall does not have proper parking facilities. Eventually, the customers park their vehicles on the roads, particularly on 17th Main, which is not even a 30 ft. Road. There are apartments on this road and the owners/tenants park their vehicles on one side of the road while the BC Mall customers park their vehicles on the other side of the road making it impossible for any vehicle to pass through this road easily. The parking menace has reached unbearable level. Residents in this area are cursing the BC Mall, but they have become helpless before the might of the big people who are into the Mall business. 

 The residents are plugged with another menace which has become a health hazard. The BC Mall lets out sewage water and wastes into the drain, sometimes choking the drains. The drains are meant for rain water passage and as such they are not big enough to withstand the load of sanitary water and wastes from the BC Mall. In fact, the Mall has to make arrangements on its own for sanitary and solid waste management. It is a big problem as thousands of people visit the Mall everyday and one can imagine the pressure on drains laid by BWSSB for the benefit of the residents. 

 On the contrary, the BC Mall has obtained permission from the Pollution Board to manage the sanitary and sewage to discharge about 100 KLD per day. In fact, the Pollution Board has stipulated in its permission, that the sewage discharge of 100 KLD per day be treated through the treatment plant and the same had to be used for gardening. The permission also stipulates that there shall not be discharge of sewage outside the premises! But the BC Mall does not care to follow these conditions. Sometimes they let the sewage water to the drains in Main and Cross Roads. Again, the Pollution Board officials do not care to inspect or verify whether the BC Mall is following the stipulations allegedly for obvious reasons. 

 Is anybody listening! Any comments!

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter TBMR IMPACT! NEELAKANTAPPA OUT, CHICKMATH TRANSFERRED. NEELAKANTAPPA & GANG ARE OFF THE KSTDC WHEEL!

Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

15th June 2012 issue-  

                   TBMR IMPACT  

NEELAKANTAPPA OUT, CHICKMATH TRANSFERRED.  NEELAKANTAPPA & GANG ARE OFF THE KSTDC WHEEL

Shaken by the total and detailed series of exposure in ‘The Bangalore Metro Reporter’ News Paper about the day light robbery by Neelakantappa and his gang, under the guise of KSTDC’s BIAL Taxi operations, the authorities have finally woken up. The Neelakantappa gang operated an Association which did not have any legal sanctity. Their ‘Bangalore Airport KSTDC Taxi Drivers Welfare Association’ was a bogus one and unregistered! And now it’s all over, finally. 

The authorities woke up to the massive scale manipulations of cab drivers and ousted Neelakantappa. A KSTDC official named ‘Chickmath’, who was hand in glove with Neelakantappa is transferred. The association members have filed various complains with various agencies against Neelakantappa and his functioning citing the TBMR exposure. They have also united to form another welfare association truly for their welfare and registered it under the name- “Bangalore International Airport KSTDC Taxi Drivers Welfare Association”.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter YES, WE DID IT! ESHWARAPPA’S DISCLOSURE MAKES BJP GOVERNMENT ILLEGAL & UNCONSTITUTIONAL! WHY IS THE GOVERNOR SILENT NOW?

Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

15th June 2012 issue-

                                            YES, WE DID IT!

ESHWARAPPA’S DISCLOSURE MAKES BJP GOVERNMENT ILLEGAL 

& UNCONSTITUTIONAL WHY IS THE GOVERNOR SILENT NOW? 

 The State BJP President K.S.Eswarappa has officially confirmed the fact that the State BJP government grabbed power through money and caste power. Everybody knows this fact but there was no official confirmation. Now that the State BJP President himself has admitted this fact, the government has lost legitimacy. Morally, legally and technically, the government has lost any right to continue in power. Despite the public admission that money and caste was used to form the government by none other than the Party President himself, one wonders why the Governor, who is the custodian of the constitution in the state, is keeping quiet. Everybody knew that the BJP formed its first ever state government in the state by procuring the support of six independent MLAs. The BJP had obtained 110 seats in 2008 elections, three short of simple majority. The Congress and JD(S) together won 108 seats. There were six independent MLA’s whose support was crucial for the formation of the government. Before the last result was announced, Janardhana Reddy, the Mining Czar clinched deals with the independents for their support and eventually B.S.Yeddyurappa became the Chief Minister. 

 At that time itself, there were colourful stories of money and perks paid to independent MLAs. Out of the six independents, five were made cabinet Ministers and another was made the Chairman of Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board with cabinet rank. So, all the six independents were given ministerial positions. The monetary aspect was looked after by Janardhana Reddy and allegedly each of the six MLAs was promised 25 crores in cash and minister ship. But people did not attach much importance due to euphoria created by the formation of the first ever state government by the BJP in the South India. 

 Nobody would have grudged had Yedurappa managed the government with simple majority. But he was afraid of the largest opposition ever, which had 108 MLAs. Moreover, Yedurappa had his own suspicion about the continued support of the six independents and was apprehensive of the Congress toppling the government by luring away six independents. 

 Yedurappa therefore started hunting for more support and tried to snatch as many MLAs possible from the opposition to decrease their strength. And thus started his Operation Kamala. The Reddys, who were entrusted, brought in four MLAs from Congress who were made to resign their MLA posts and join the BJP and were immediately made ministers. Later they contested the by-elections as BJP candidates and the Reddys ensured their victory. With the induction of four more ministers, the support base of Reddy’s increased much to the chagrin of Yedurappa. In fact, Yedurappa wanted to bring some more MLAs on his own without involving Reddys. He targeted MLAs of his own Lingayath and brought in Umesh Katti a lingayath strongman from JD(S). S.K.Bellubbi, a minister was asked to resign to make way for Umesh Katti and Katti was made a minister. Later, Yedurappa procured V.Somanna from Congress and engineered other defections from Congress and JD(S) in the old Mysore region, majority of who are lingayath and a couple of them Vokkaligas. 

 Yedurappa catered to his lingayath vote bank especially its Matadhipathis, so that they can come in handy to him in consolidating his power. In fact, whenever Yedurappa faced the danger to his CM post, many of the lingayath Swamijis have rushed to his rescue and at one point of time, they even threatened to take to streets if any harm was done to Yedurappa. 

 Whatsoever, Yedurappa had heralded an unadulterated Corrupt Raj in the state so much so that the state was ranked Number one in corruption in the entire country. Many of the ministers lost their posts due to corruption charges and some have even gone to jail including Yedurappa himself. More than a dozen ministers are facing court cases for their corrupt acts. 

 To sum up, the BJP government in the state was formed with the brute force of money and sustained by the caste factor. Everybody knows this because it was a reality. And now the state BJP President K.S.Eswarappa has admitted this fact and no one can have any doubt. The so called heresays about the MLAs getting purchased, caste becoming dominant factor etc. have now been confirmed officially by the state BJP President. 

 Now what? Our constitution prohibits role of money and caste in formation of the government and its sustenance. It is not only illegal but unconstitutional too. Democracy and democratic government can not be run on money and caste factors. The state BJP government has lost legal, moral and democratic right to run the government any more. In proven cases of money spending - enticement of voters through money and caste, the Election Commission and the courts nullifies the elections or the elected persons. 

 When this being the case, one can not understand why the Governor is keeping defeaning silence over the matter. It is time; he interferes and dismisses the government. One can not allow this illegal government to continue. But as the old saying goes - who will bell the cat? 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE RIDING BLUES! OF HELMETS, SEAT BELTS AND TINTED FILMS!

Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

15th June 2012 Issue-

                                       THE RIDING BLUES 

 HELMETS, SEAT BELTS AND TINTED FILMS 

 The Supreme Court has ordered that all Sun films from the cars be removed. It had fixed 70% visibility on the front and rear glass and 50% visibility in side door glasses. The SC has allowed company manufactured tinted glasses to be fitted in the cars. The traffic police were quick to direct the car owners to remove all the films. They have also fixed the penalties which includes cancellation of the Driving License! 

 ‘Seat Belt’ mission was started by the Traffic police three months back. They made it compulsory for the Drivers and the front seat occupants with the contention that it will save lives from accidents. Mind it; this compulsion is limited to Bangalore only. Every body knows that Bangalore Traffic is hell on earth. Cars on average cannot cover more than 15 kms in an hour and eventually, due to slow moving, accidents are rare in car segments. Then, one fails to understand the need for seat belts. 

 On the contrary, seat belts will definitely save the lives in Highways accidents, where drivers go on maximum speed. But the police do not insist on seat belts on Highways. Except putting adboards along the High ways to wear seat belts, there is nobody to enforce the rule. And the traffic police in Bangalore are busy in booking the offenders. 

 The helmet rule in state is also contradictory. The helmet rule is limited to few cities like Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Bellary and others which are Mahanagar Palikes. Helmets definitely may save the lives of riders in some cases by preventing head injuries. But interestingly, the helmet rule is enforced in only half a dozen big cities in the state. Does this imply that the lives of people in these cities are more precious than the people in the rest of the state? Even people bordering Bangalore does not need to wear helmets. One does not understand the rationale behind enforcing the helmet compulsory rule in few cities and exempting the rest of the state. 

 True, lives of people are precious and the helmets of standard quality help in minimising the impact of the accident. But, the hard reality is that majority of the people use substandard or cheap helmets that are available on the road sides apparently because good quality helmets are highly priced. One cannot get a standard helmet for less than Rs.1000, while the road side helmets are available for prices as low as Rs.100! 

 Talking about the tinted films, with the Supreme Court ruling that to avoid theft and terrorist activities, the cars should not have tinted films, it had to be removed to make persons in the car visible! The moment the SC delivered the judgement, the Bangalore Traffic Police swung into action. They directed the car owners to remove the Sun films by 19th of May, without realising the ground reality. There are about 10 lakh cars in Bangalore and the removal of the tinted films needs expert handling. At best, a worker can remove maximum of 100 tinted films in a day and there are not more than 100 experts in the city. The police too made arrangements for the removal of tinted films free of cost at many points, but, the waiting time there was exorbitantly long. The removal work also was done shabbily and in most of cases, the adhesives were not erased properly. The regular people involved in the trade started charging Rs.300 to 400 for a removal work which usually cost not more than Rupees fifty including the cost of the soap oil. Later, the charges went upto Rs.500-600! The traffic police finally extended the deadline to 5th June. 

 The Traffic Police are again advancing the argument that plain glasses will reduce thefts and attacks and they are enforcing it. They want to penalise the people who violate the law. True, there are any number of laws in the country touching upon police and the human rights. But that is followed more in violation. The traffic police who are expected to manage and regulate the traffic are busy putting up ‘No Parking’, ‘One Way Boards and fining vehicle owners, even for a small offence.

 In conclusion, the handling of the helmet rule, the seat belt rule and now tinted film removal by the traffic cops has become a bane to vehicle owners in Bengaluru. 

That is all!

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter LICENSE PLEASE! NEELAKANTAPPA & GANG RUNS BOGUS ASSOCIATION, MINT MONEY! BANGALORE AIRPORT KSTDC TAXI DRIVERS’ WELFARE ASSOCIATION IS ILLEGAL.

                          

Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

1st June 2012 issue-

                    LICENSE PLEASE!

NEELAKANTAPPA & GANG RUNS BOGUS ASSOCIATION, MINT MONEY!

BANGALORE AIRPORT KSTDC TAXI DRIVERS’ WELFARE ASSOCIATION IS ILLEGAL.

Shaken by the total and detailed exposure of their day light robbery in ‘The Bangalore Metro Reporter’ News Paper, the Neelakantappa gang tried to stage manage the General Body meeting of the Association on 25^th of May. The gang is also stage managing the audit of its accounts and the hard fact is that Neelakantappa gang is operating the Association which does not have any legal sanctity. Their ‘Bangalore Airport KSTDC Taxi Drivers Welfare Association’ is a bogus one and unregistered! How could the KSTDC, a government undertaking recognise this Association and what more abdicating some of its official powers to this bogus Association?

Wonder of wonders, the Bangalore Airport KSTDC Taxi Drivers Welfare Association which suffixes ‘Registered’ to its name, is taking everybody for a ride as the same is not registered with any government authority. For the last several years, this ‘set up’ Association has not conducted General Body Meetings, audit of accounts let alone elections! At the same time it has collected lakhs of rupees from the helpless owners cum taxi drivers. Even now, the Association is collecting call centre charges on its receipts. At every stage, the Taxi drivers are harassed and squeezed.

Neelakantappa gang and even the KSTDC use the name ‘Bangalore Airport KSTDC Taxi Drivers Welfare Association’. The KSTDC has recognised this Association in this name and even the receipts, Letter heads of the Association sports this name. Neelakantappa gang has collected Rs.16500/- from each cab owners cum drivers as membership fee. And till to day there are no official documents to prove the credentials of anybody as a Member of the Association!

And the hard fact is that there is no association by name ‘Bangalore Airport KSTDC Taxi Drivers Welfare Association’ registered either with the Registrar of Societies or the Labour Commissioner. ‘The Bangalore Metro Reporter’ had made enquiries about the real status of this Association and the result is that this Association is not registered. How could Neelakantappa gang suppress this ‘all important’ fact from the government and the taxi drivers?

It is another matter that many of the Executive Committee members and even office bearers have tried to ascertain about the bonafides of this Association. Interestingly, the letter head, receipts application forms etc. printed by this association carry ‘Registered’ but not the registration number and the year of the registration which is a must for any registered society or Association! Putting the ‘Registered’ word after the name of the Association without actually being registered is not only cheating but a criminal offence as well. Till today, nobody except Neelakantappa and Siddaiah knew about the real facts.

One has to appreciate Neelakantappa gang for fooling the members, the KSTDC, the government and the general public.

What more, Neelakantappa gang has not bothered to hold general body and elections to this Association from the beginning. Only now, after our exposures and subsequent stories in other newspapers Neelakantappa is exposed for what he is. The Neelakantappa gang is hard pressed to explain their actions, nay their omissions and commissions. Moreover, the Taxi drivers have come to know the real facts after our exposure and as such have become restive. Sensing trouble for them in the long run if the law of the land is allowed to take its course, the Neelakantappa gang held a stage managed general body meeting and they are also getting the accounts audited (?). This was the first time the gang was going before the members (?) and defend their misuse, misappropriation et al.

Interestingly, to prevent more members attending the General body meeting and force the gang out of their posts, the gang purposely fixed 25th of May, for the general body meeting. The reason is simple. On 25th May, Meru cabs were scheduled to go in for a colour change and therefore many of its cabs will be out of action. The Easy Cab which has lost the licence is taking away its fleet. This makes the KSTDC Taxies getting more demand and there will a few members who would skip their duties to attend the General body. This could enable the gang to have their say and continue with their loot.

Curiously, the Neelakantappa gang issued ID cards and members had to visit the Association’s unauthorised office in Madhuvan Lodge to get the ID. Shockingly, the gang did not give notice about the general body meeting to the members. All they did was display a notice in the KSTDC counter at BIAL about the general body meeting. This is highly illegal as the rules stipulate that every member should be given the notice through post and that too 15 days in advance along with the audit report and the agenda. Tomorrow any member can question these serious lapses and can even get the general body postponed through courts of law.

Interestingly, the venue selected was Kannada Sahitya Parishat’s auditorium in Chamarajpet. The auditorium is very small and cannot accommodate more than 100 people while the Association has more than 600 members. Moreover, had the venue be fixed at Yelahanka - Devanahalli route, more members could have attended the meeting. It is another matter that most of the members do not know about the general body meeting itself as not even a single notice was sent by the gang to the members. Infact, the gang has just started issuing the ID to the members and nobody knows the exact number of members of this unauthorised association!

But, finally, expecting a backlash, Neelakantappa, Chickmath and their gang, having called a meeting gang kept away themselves from the meeting.  More than 130 members of the association had gathered for attending the meeting and they went ahead with the meeting themselves in the absence of Neelakantappa and gang.

Interestingly, this unauthorised association functions from unauthorised place other than the address shown in its letter heads - receipts etc. This Association displays its address as ‘-1418, AECS Layout, E Block, Kundalahalli, Opp. Brookes Field, Bangalore-37’ but functions from a room in the Madhuvan Hotel.

One understands that there are laws governing the functions of the Association in the state. Is it too much to expect the law taking its own course in respect of the present bogus association?

The General Body Meeting of Bangalore Airport KSTDC Tax Drivers Welfare Association (Regd) was scheduled to be held on 25th of this month. The interesting fact about this Association is that it is not a registered one. As per the information provided by the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Division-3, there is no association registered under this name!

But there is one more Association registered in the Labour Commissioner Office. The name of the Association so registered is “Bangalore Airport Pre Paid Taxi Drivers Welfare Association”, registered as No.ACL-3/DRT/TUA/CR-01/2002-03 dated 4.4.2002.

Curiously, the addresses of both the Associations are one and the same, No.1418, AECS Layout, Opp. Brooke Field, E-Block, Kundalahalli Post, Bangalore - 560037.

One can suffix the word ‘Registered’ in case of the Prepaid Taxi Drivers Welfare Association. It is legal. But the same can not be the case with Taxi Drivers Welfare Association; it is not a registered Association. Moreover, Neelakantappa gang has collected millions of rupees from the Taxi Drivers on various pretexts and is now collecting ‘call centre’ charges from the drivers in the name of the bogus Association. All these are criminal offences.

It is time that government to act in this regard. And the Neelakantappa gang should clarify which is the original one they are operating! May be they are operating in the name bogus Association to avoid the legal consequences!

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter SUB REGISTRAR CHELUVARAJU’S MULTI CRORE TRANSFER BUSINESS..

Firoz.T.Totanawala    

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

SUB REGISTRAR CHELUVARAJU’S MULTI CRORE TRANSFER BUSINESS..

The Chief Minister D.V.Sadananda Gowda has transferred 90 Sub Registrars within ten days. There are more such transfers in coming days. 

The highlight of this year’s transfer is the dominant role played by a Sub Registrar Cheluvaraj who has taken over the wholesale transfer business in the department. Allegedly, more than 25 crores were collected from the Sub Registrars to get transfers or retentions. The going rate for posting to Bangalore Sub Registrar offices allegedly is 25 to 75 lakhs. Cheluvaraju himself has taken a posting to highly fertile Varthur office. 

It is to be recalled that Cheluvaraju’s house was raided by the Lokayukta two years back after he held the birthday celebration of his son in a grand scale. It is said that he had transported crores from his house before the Lokayukta raid. Cheluvaraju had done transfer business during the role of Karunakara Reddy, the then Revenue Minister. 

And this time, Cheluvaraju had done the transfer business with meticulous care. No other official or person was allowed in the transfer business. The total money collected for transfer business this season was allegedly more than 25 crores and it is true that Cheluvaraju has kept a share as his brokerage. 

Cheluvaraju who hails from a very poor family joined as Sub Registrar in 1999. Now he is worth several crores. We will shortly expose the entire transfer business and Cheluvaraju’s properties - both naami and benami worth crores.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE BURNING FEUL! PETROL PRICE HIKE SQUEEZES THE AAM ADMI.

Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

1st June 2012 Issue- 

                                     THE BURNING FUEL                 

PETROL PRICE HIKE SQUEEZES THE AAM ADMI.

The day after the celebration of the third anniversary of UPA-2 government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the UPA government announced a steep hike in petrol prices. Very soon, one can expect another price hike in the prices of Diesel and cooking gas. Once the price of petrol/diesel is hiked, there will be all round increase of prices of all commodities and the hike in cooking gas will further severely hit the people. The UPA-2 rule has become synonymous with all round increase of prices of everything. 

Ever since the UPA-2 government came to office, there is no stoppage of price increase. The Rs.7.50 increase per litre in addition to state taxes finally has made the hike more than 8.50 per litre. Besides, the government has also hinted at similar huge increase in the price of Diesel and cooking gas. With this increase, the UPA government has increased the price of petrol by more than Rs.22 per litre since 2011. 

The steep hike has shocked the common people to no end. This steep hike of petrol price is being defended on the pretext that the oil companies are suffering loss which stands at Rs. 78000 crores as on May 15th! However, the government stated that it is the sliding of rupee against dollar and the increase in the prices of petrol in the International market! But, the irony is that international prices are on the downward Journey in the last one month! 

 Apparently, the oil companies are crying ‘loss’ when actually they are making profits, year after year. Earlier, when the government controlled the prices of petrol and diesel, the price rise was a difficult option. During the UPA-1 regime backed by the left front, price hike was only nominal because the left parties never allowed the government to hike the prices as per its whims and fancies. Many times, the left parties forced the government to abandon the price hike or reduce the customs - excise duty on crude oil. At one point of time around 2007, the government hiked the price by Rs.2 per litre when the international prices were hovering around 130-140 dollars per week with an assurance that this price will be taken as a base for further hike or reduction. Very soon, the government decontrolled petroleum prices and gave full liberty to the oil companies to review and revise the prices, once in a fortnight. The present international petrol rate is 98 dollars per barrel. 

 Despite the hulla bullo about the rising prices and incurring heavy losses, the oil companies have continued to make profits. Not even a single government owned Oil Company is running under loss. To put it bluntly, the so called ‘huge losses’ is only a ruse to increase the profits, more than covering the losses. With the left losing its control in UPA-2, it is the regional parties that have become the part and parcel of UPA-2. 

 And no regional party in the UPA-2 is prepared to oppose the unnecessary price hike. Even Mamata Bannerji, the WB Chief Minister who dismissed her nominee in the UPA-2 for having increased the passenger fare by 2 paise per Km had no guts to oppose the unprecedented hike in the petrol. M.Karunandhi, also is not prepared to block the price hike. Only some symbolic statements were given by the UPA allies in condemning the price hike. The main opposition BJP is no different. The price of petrol in Bangalore is the highest in India, almost Rs.4-5 per litre compared to other states and Karnataka is ruled by the BJP. 

 It is true the sliding of the rupee may be one of the reasons for the hike. In the last fifteen days, the dollar has gained almost seven rupees from the previous Rs.49/-, but who is responsible for this slide after all? It is the duty of the government to prevent such slides through corrective actions. But, the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherji is 80 plus and has no time for looking after the ministry as he is tipped to become the President. The Petroleum Ministers in the past and present were always busy giving indication of price hike and after much stage managed shows used to defend the hike in the name of economic stability. 

 Arguably, if the government increases the price of diesel and cooking gas, it will be hell for the common man. With the last increase in diesel and cooking gas rates, the country witnessed all round increase of almost 20% in the prices of essential commodities etc. A cup of coffee which used to cost Rs.4 to 5 just six months back is now less than Rs.10. Idli which used to cost Rs.4 now costs Rs.12! The rates of Vegetable, pulses, oil etc. have increased by leaps and bound. If there is one more increase, it will be intolerable to aam admi. 

 In that event, one hopes against hope that the UPA government falls and elections held immediately. While the common man is bombarded with price hikes etc., one hears about lakhs of crores of rupees siphoned off in 2G spectrum, Scam, CWG scam, Tatra deals, coal Mines, illegal mining, granite deals etc. If, even 10% of the ‘scam money is recovered, there may not be any more taxes on the people. Coupled with this, is the stashing of lakhs of crores rupees in Swiss Banks by the corrupt politicians bureaucrats and others. 

To put it simply, India is fast moving towards becoming a become banana republic. 

That is all.