Devotees’ belongings like clothes, blankets and backpacks seen strewn around the spot where a “stampede-like” situation broke out on Mauni Amavasya during the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela, at Sangam in Prayagraj, on January 29, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
1. Four from Belagavi die in Maha Kumbh stampede
Four persons, including a woman and her daughter, from Belagavi have died in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on January 29. District Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan has urged people not to panic, assuring that officials are in constant touch with senior revenue and police officers in Uttar Pradesh.
The deceased are Jyoti Hattarwad (50), a BJP worker, her daughter Megha Hattarwad (25), Arun Narayan Khoparde (60), and Mahadevi Hanumant Bavanur (45). All are residents of Belagavi district, and local police officers have confirmed the deaths. MLA Asif (Raju) Sait visited the families of Mr Khoparde and Ms Bavanur.
2. Karnataka HC declares actions of ED against former MUDA Commissioner as ‘illegal and abuse of process of law’
The Karnataka High Court has declared as ‘unwarranted, illegal and abuse of process of law’ the actions of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in searching the residence D.B. Natesh, a former MUDA commissioner, summoning him and recording his statement, in connection with his role in the case of alleged illegal allotment of 14 sites to Parvathi, wife of CM Siddaramaiah.
The court reserved liberty to Mr. Natesh to prosecute — under Section 62 [punishment for vexatious search] of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 — against the officer concerned of the ED before the appropriate forum for conducing search at his residence ‘as whether the search and seizure is vexatious or not is a matter of trial’.
3. Mere possession of illegally allotted site by accused in criminal case not money laundering: Karnataka HC
Mere possession of a site that was allegedly allotted illegally to an accused in connection with a scheduled offence does not, by itself, constitute an offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), unless the essential ingredients of the offence of money laundering, as defined under Section 3 of the Act, are satisfied, stated the High Court of Karnataka.
Justice Hemant Chandangoudar made these observations in his verdict of quashing the actions of ED against former MUDA commissioner. These observations could come to the aid of CM Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi and Minister Byrathi Suresh, to whom the ED had recently issued notices, which were stayed by the HC, asking them to appear for recording their statements.
4. KEA makes Aadhaar based authentication for CET mandatory in Karnataka
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has got approval from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to use Aadhaar-based authentication for the Common Entrance Test (CET) registration. CET 2025 registration will be held on three level authentication, including Aadhaar based authentication and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered face recognition system.
With an aim to curb irregularities like seat blocking, the KEA had decided to go for Aadhaar-based registration for entrance exams like the CET, the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), and recruitment exams, and submitted a proposal to the UIDAI.
5. Maharani’s College building collapse in Mysuru: Worker trapped in debris found dead
Construction worker Saddam, who was trapped in the debris of the Maharani’s Science College building, which collapsed on January 28 evening, was found dead on the morning of January 29.
A portion of the 108-year-old building collapsed when preparations were underway for its demolition after removing the window frames and other material from the structure.
Published – January 29, 2025 07:02 pm IST
