Latest news with #D'Cunha
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
RCB stampede probe: Judicial commission gets 2 retired officers for assistance
Bengaluru: The state govt Monday appointed two retired civil service officers to provide technical and legal assistance to Justice John Michael D'Cunha, who heads the one-man judicial commission investigating the stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium that left 11 people dead and 75 injured on June 4. NS Prasanna Kumar, a retired IAS officer, and MK Srivastav, a retired IPS officer, have been appointed to the commission. According to sources, Kumar retired from service in June 2020 and is currently an adviser to Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission, while Srivastav retired in Feb 2011 as DGP. The govt notification on the matter stated a separate order would be issued regarding their salary. The commission has one month to investigate the stampede and submit a report to the state govt. Justice D'Cunha is already heading a commission investigating two sensitive cases — the alleged Covid-era medical procurement scam and deaths of patients due to suspected oxygen shortage at the Chamarajanagar district hospital. But following the stampede, the govt launched a three-pronged investigation — judicial, magisterial, and CID, which took over the criminal probe Friday evening from Cubbon Park police. The Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner is heading the magisterial probe. The D'Cunha commission was formed on June 5, a day after the tragedy. The govt has instructed the DGP, Bengaluru city police commissioner, and Bengaluru Urban DC to provide files and documents for investigation by the commission. PWD min to review KSCA land lease With CM Siddaramaiah stating he would "examine" the possibility of shifting Chinnaswamy Stadium to the outskirts of Bengaluru, public works minister Satish Jarkiholi has sought the file related to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) lease agreement on the land. "KSCA pays Rs 19,000 a year for the land, and it has been renewed twice already for 30 years each. I've asked for the file, to check when their lease ends," said Jarkiholi. It may be recalled that 13 years ago, PWD had calculated a revised estimate of the annual rent — Rs 78.7 crore — based on the guidance value at the time. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had also pulled up the govt 20 years ago for failing to collect the market value rent from KSCA and had estimated it had foregone as much as Rs 203 crore in revenue back then.
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
Bengaluru Stampede: Retired HC Judge John Michael D'Cunha Leading Probe Had Convicted Jayalalithaa
Last Updated: From the Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case to FIR against Yediyurappa, D'Cunha has been involved in several high-profile cases The Karnataka government has constituted a one-man inquiry commission under retired High Court judge John Michael D'Cunha to inquire into the June 4 stampede at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru that killed 11 people. From the Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case to FIR against Yediyurappa, D'Cunha has been involved in several high-profile cases. He is currently heading inquiries into the pandemic medical procurement scam and oxygen-related deaths at Chamarajanagar hospital in Karnataka. procedural lapses and submit its report in 30 days. '…the Government, in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952, has constituted a one-man inquiry commission under the chairmanship of John Michael Cunha, retired Judge of the Karnataka High Court, to conduct an inquiry into the incident," the official notification dated June 5 said. 'The inquiry commission shall have all the powers to conduct inquiries under the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 and Code of Civil Procedure, and the government expects the investigation to be completed and a report submitted within one month," it said. The terms of reference in the notification include, to find — whether the necessary permissions, rules and procedures were followed while organising the RCB team's victory felicitation ceremony at Chinnaswamy Stadium; the causes/causers of the rush and stampede that took place; the causes/causers of the incident that led to the death of 11 people and injury to more than 50 people based on the chain of events and circumstances. Also, to inquire into the measures taken as a precaution regarding the incident and the omissions/deficiencies that may have occurred in this regard and to identify those responsible for this incident; and to inquire regarding other relevant aspects related to this incident. This inquiry commission is separate from the magisterial inquiry that has been ordered, and shall conduct a parallel and comprehensive inquiry, it clarified. The Chairman of the inquiry commission, if necessary, may take steps to obtain the services of one retired IPS officer and one retired IAS officer for technical and legal assistance. The salary/allowance expenses of the concerned officers shall be borne by the government. The Director General and Inspector General of Police, shall provide the necessary staff, materials, vehicles and office and furniture/telephone etc required for the commission of inquiry. WHO IS RETIRED HC JUDGE D'CUNHA? D'Cunha, who studied at SDM Law College in Mangalore, started his law practice in 1985, and formed Manu Associates with fellow advocates Amruth Kini, M P Noronha and Ullal S K. The name 'Manu' was formed from the first letter of each partner's name: 'M' for Michael, 'A' from Amruth, 'N' from Noronha and 'U' from Ullal. In 1999, he left Mangalore to join the Karnataka High Court. In 2002 D'Cunha joined the judiciary as a District Judge. He has served in the courts of Bangalore, Bellary, and Dharwad. He also served as secretary to the Chief Justice and Registrar (Vigilance) of the High Court. D'Cunha was appointed a judge in the Karnataka High Court in 2016 and retired on April 6, 2021. HIGH-PROFILE JUDGMENTS On 31 March 2021, a bench of Justice D'Cunha refused to quash the FIR against BS Yediyurappa in a case nicknamed Operation Kamala case. D'Cunha was appointed by the Supreme Court of India in October 2013 as the fifth judge to investigate the disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa, replacing judge MS Balakrishna. On September 27, 2014, D'Cunha convicted Jayalalithaa, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. She was sentenced to a prison term of four years and fined Rs 100 crore. Jayalalithaa was later acquitted by the High Court of Karnataka on May 11, 2015, claiming the trial court order by D'Cunha was not sustainable. However, the Supreme Court of India reconfirmed D'Cunha's order on February 14, 2017. With PTI Inputs tags : bengaluru J Jayalalithaa news18 specials Location : Bengaluru, India, India First Published: June 09, 2025, 14:48 IST News cities Bengaluru Stampede: Retired HC Judge John Michael D'Cunha Leading Probe Had Convicted Jayalalithaa
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Retired HC judge John Michael D'Cunha who convicted Jaya to probe Bengaluru stampede
BENGALURU: Karnataka govt tasked retired high court judge John Michael D'Cunha with submitting a report within a month on the June 4 stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium that killed 11 and wounded over 75 during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory celebrations, officials said Saturday. A govt notification on June 5 directed Justice D'Cunha - who gained national prominence in 2014 for convicting former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa in a disproportionate assets case - to give priority to the stampede probe. He already heads inquiries into the pandemic medical procurement scam and oxygen-related deaths at Chamarajanagar hospital in Karnataka. His one-member commission - appointed on Aug 25, 2023, and set to conclude work by July 31 this year - has now been granted an extension till Aug 31 to accommodate the additional case. "Since the commission needs to prioritise the stampede and submit its report in a month, the term has been extended," the govt order read. CM Siddaramaiah's govt has launched a three-pronged investigation - judicial, magisterial, and CID, which took over the criminal probe Friday evening from Cubbon Park police. Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner is heading the magisterial probe. CID officers inspected the stadium and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) office Saturday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo They seized CCTV footage, collected the digital video recorder for forensic analysis, and questioned KSCA staff. Two deputy SPs and several inspectors are part of the probe team. Police custody will likely be sought Monday for four key suspects already remanded in judicial custody: RCB marketing head Nikhil Sosale, 38; DNA Networks director Sunil Mathew, 49; ticketing official Shamanth SP, 38; and manager Kiran Kumar, 40. Three FIRs were filed earlier by Cubbon Park police before the handover. CID is expected to issue notices to additional accused in coming days, while also coordinating with hospitalised survivors. The magistrate probe is progressing in parallel, with Bengaluru Urban DC Jagadeesha G summoning over 25 wounded people to record statements on June 11. He said notices will be issued to police officers deployed during the stampede.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bengaluru stampede: Panel gets one month to probe stampede
Bengaluru: Karnataka govt Saturday gave retired high court judge Justice John Michael D'Cunha, who heads a one-member judicial commission, one month to investigate the stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium that left 11 people dead and 75 injured. The govt issued a fresh notification on June 5, assigning priority to the probe into the tragedy that occurred during RCB's IPL victory celebrations. Justice D'Cunha was already heading a commission investigating two sensitive cases — the alleged Covid-era medical procurement scam and deaths of patients due to suspected oxygen shortage at Chamarajanagar district hospital. Initially appointed on Aug 25, 2023, the commission's term was extended in Oct 2024 till July 31, 2025. To accommodate the stampede inquiry, the govt has now extended the panel's term by another month. "Since the commission needs to prioritise the stampede incident and submit its report in a month after completing probe, the term has been extended from Aug 1 to Aug 31, 2025, as it may need extra time to look into the case," the government order stated. The Congress govt has launched a three-tier investigation into the incident — judicial, magisterial and by Criminal Investigation Department (CID). While Justice D'Cunha leads the judicial inquiry, a magisterial probe is being conducted by deputy commissioner of Bengaluru Urban, and CID is holding a parallel investigation. Multiple probes confusing: HD Kumaraswamy Union minister HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) slammed the govt's approach, calling out the multiple probes as overlapping and confusing. "The govt wants to show that it has taken measures before the high court takes up the suo-motu PIL into the issue. The govt first ordered a magisterial probe, then appointed a commission headed by a retired HC judge, and the case was also handed over to CID. Which report are you going to accept?" he asked.
Business Standard
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Army deployed air defence to protect Golden Temple from Pak drones: Lt Gen
Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D'Cunha says Army deployed guns at Golden Temple to counter Pakistani drone threats; operation was cleared after coordination with temple authorities The Indian Army deployed air defence systems at the Golden Temple in Amritsar to neutralise drone threats from Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Director General of Army Air Defence Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha has said. In an interview with ANI released on Monday, Lt Gen D'Cunha said the deployment was made after temple authorities understood the nature of the threat and coordinated with the Army. 'The Golden Temple hierarchy realised there was possibly a threat when it was explained to them. They allowed us to deploy guns to protect… the Golden Temple's lights were switched off so that we could clearly visualise the drones as they were coming in,' he said. Debris of Pakistani drones, missiles recovered During a demonstration in Amritsar, the Army showcased debris of intercepted drones and missiles launched from Pakistan and brought down by upgraded systems including the L-70 Air Defence Guns and the AKASH missile batteries. 'These systems allowed for improved targeting and visibility, especially when aided by temple authorities switching off exterior lights,' Lt Gen D'Cunha added. First Published: May 20 2025 | 4:20 PM IST
