Latest news with #PranabMohanty
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Dharmasthala case: No human remains found in latest excavation, SIT probe continues
No human remains were discovered during a fresh exhumation carried out on Tuesday at 'spot number 13' in Dharmasthala, officials confirmed. The digging is part of an ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged illegal burials in the region, following claims made earlier this year by a complainant who alleged that 'tens of human bodies' had been buried at various locations. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) examining the site in the Dharmasthala mass burial case in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. (PTI FILE PHOTO)(HT_PRINT) According to news agency PTI, at the site, the SIT used two earthmovers to excavate an area 18 feet deep and 25 feet wide, removing over 20 tonnes of soil. This marked the deepest excavation carried out so far as part of the inquiry. (Also Read: Dharmasthala case: SIT uses ground-penetrating radar to examine key burial site) The team had earlier used a drone-mounted ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to scan the sub-surface before digging began. While officials have not yet released the analysis of the radar imagery, PTI sources said the high-capacity drone can detect sub-surface anomalies in real time. The exhumation began at 11.30 am and continued until dusk, after which the site was refilled. It remains unclear whether other identified locations will undergo similar digging. 'Spot number 13' has been classified as a critical site in the SIT's investigation, the report added. The operation was supervised by SIT chief Pranab Mohanty, who arrived in Mangaluru on Tuesday before heading to the SIT office in Belthangady. He was joined by SIT personnel and the Assistant Commissioner. The complainant and his legal counsel were also present during the GPR scan to ensure transparency. The SIT is currently examining 16 identified sites in Dharmasthala based on anonymous tips. So far, none have yielded definitive evidence of mass graves, except for 'site number 6', where a half-broken human jawbone and several other bones were found. Belthangady taluk authorities later verified the discovery, but the origin and age of the remains have not yet been determined. (Also Read: Stray dog attack on Bengaluru University campus leaves two students injured, one critical)
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Home minister calls addiction to online gaming worse than drugs, govt plans fresh curbs
Bengaluru: The govt will decide on regulating the online gaming sector based on recommendations of a committee headed by IPS officer Pranab Mohanty, home minister G Parameshwara told the assembly Tuesday. The committee, set up in April, is expected to submit its report in Sept. Responding to a question from BJP's S Suresh Kumar during question hour, Parameshwara said he had met representatives of online gaming companies and sought their cooperation in framing regulations to safeguard public. "They have agreed," he said, while suggesting online games were more dangerous than drugs. Parameshwara acknowledged concerns about addiction, especially among youth. He cited police data showing 347 cases of online betting registered in the state since 2023 — 84 cases in 2023, 104 in 2024, and 159 up to July 31 this year. Ballari district reported the highest number, at 73 cases. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru Kumar accused the govt of inaction in the Supreme Court, where the matter has been pending for three years. "Why hasn't the govt made sure that the SC stay is vacated? We don't need another country to destroy us. These games are enough," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia Solar Panels: See How Much It Will Cost To Install Them (See Prices) Solar Panel | Search Ads Learn More Undo Highlighting aggressive marketing, he said: "I received a message that my wallet has been credited with Rs 1.6 lakh and I can play rummy. How many people have the capacity to resist the temptation? The likes of (cricketer) Harbhajan Singh are endorsing such games." The legal tussle over online gaming began in 2021, when the previous BJP govt amended the Karnataka Police Act to prohibit online games. The high court struck down the amendments in 2022, after which the state challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court. Parameshwara said the "comprehensive" changes were contested by the All India Gaming Federation, adding: "We need to define games of skill and chance, whose need wasn't anticipated when the law was amended. " CN Ashwath Narayan of BJP urged the govt to ban betting even in games of skill. In response, IT-BT minister Priyank Kharge said: "Even fantasy sports were put under the skill game category by the court. The Union and state govt must work together on a law. There's a 28% GST on online gaming. So, games are being hosted on foreign servers. This makes it difficult for us to take action if there's fraud." Priyank said India has 519 million gamers, including 140 million paid gamers, and projected the online gaming business to grow from $4.5 billion to $9 billion within three years. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
News18
15 hours ago
- News18
No human remains found in latest Dharmasthala excavation, SIT probe continues
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Aug 12 (PTI) No human remains were found during fresh exhumation at 'spot number 13' in Dharmasthala on Tuesday, said officials. The exhumations are part of a wider SIT inquiry ordered after allegations surfaced earlier this year about possible illegal burials in the region. The complainant had claimed that 'tens of human bodies" were buried at the location. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) had deployed two earthmovers on Tuesday, digging up to 18 feet deep and 25 feet wide, removing over 20 tonnes of soil. The SIT is probing the alleged burial of bodies in Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district. They have also been using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technology at the spot. Before the digging began, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) mounted on a drone was used to scan the sub-surface. The SIT has not yet disclosed its analysis of the GPR imagery. According to sources, the high-capacity drone equipped with radar imaging can provide live images of sub-surface anomalies. The exhumation work, which began at 11.30 am, continued until dusk, after which the site was refilled. Officials did not specify whether further exhumation will be conducted at other identified sites. The exhumation at 'spot number 13' on Tuesday was the deepest so far. The inspection is being led by SIT chief Pranab Mohanty, who arrived in Mangaluru earlier today before proceeding to the SIT office in Belthangady. Mohanty, accompanied by SIT officials and the Assistant Commissioner, is likely to visit the site along with the complainant and his legal counsel. Officials said the GPR examination is being carried out in the presence of the complainant and his lawyer to ensure transparency. The move is expected to help uncover crucial evidence related to the case. The SIT has identified 'spot number 13' as a key location in its ongoing probe, and investigators believe the radar scan could provide significant leads in resolving the matter. With the help of anonymous tip-off, investigators had identified 16 sites in the Dharmasthala area. To date, none have produced conclusive evidence of mass graves, except site number 6, where officials recovered a half-broken human jawbone and a few other bones. Belthangady taluk authorities later confirmed the finds, but their origin and age are yet to be formally established. PTI COR JR GMS ROH view comments First Published: August 12, 2025, 22:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Online gambling: Karnataka will soon have foolproof law to end illegal betting, says home minister
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills The Karnataka government's proposed law to regulate online gaming will clearly distinguish between games of skill and games of chance and will be framed to withstand any judicial scrutiny, home minister G Parameshwara told the Assembly on the same time, Karnataka would also pursue the case in the Supreme Court to have the 2021 amendments to the Karnataka Police Act restored and end the menace of betting through unlawful gaming apps, he expert group led by DGP Pranab Mohanty is working on a draft law to regulate the sector, and the same was expected next month. The government would take the recommendations forward, the home minister minister's reply came in response to a question from Rajajinagar MLA S Suresh Kumar (BJP), who said there was a near vacuum in regulations that allowed illegal gaming apps to operate at will and ruin the lives of the youth and impoverish many families. The online gaming addiction has also led to people ending their lives in hopelessness and desperation, he home minister said he agreed with Kumar's views, and the government was serious about dealing with the burning issue. The All-India Gaming Federation (AIGF) was also on the same page with the government on the subject and backed the latter's CEO Roland Landers had, in a recent statement, backed Karnataka's initiatives but called for a national regulatory framework, arguing that the state-level laws alone may not be 'sufficient to curb the growing menace of offshore gambling platforms."The previous BJP regime had amended the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act, 2000, adding comprehensive sections related to online gaming. But the high court had, on February 14, 2022, struck down the amendments on a challenge mounted by the online gaming companies. The state government moved the apex court in 2023, challenging the judgment and is awaiting its admitted there had been a delay in pursuing the case in the apex court, but assured that the government will now move in all a recent chat with ET, IT/BT minister Priyank Kharge said the government will place the Mohanty committee report before the Cabinet after having it vetted by the home & law departments. The proposed legislation intended to curb online games of chance while supporting innovation and sustainable growth of the skill-based gaming industry , he had earlier said that the legitimate online skill-based gaming industry in India was a sunrise sector worth $4 billion, contributing Rs 12,000 crore in taxes and adding over 1.5 lakh jobs. Karnataka alone accounted for a fourth of the market, contributing Rs 1,350 crore in annual tax GST Council, at its meeting on July 11, 2023, decided to tax online gaming, casinos and race courses at 28% on the full face value of bets.
The Hindu
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Online gaming will be regulated based on panel report: Home Minister
The government will take action on regulating online gaming based on the recommendations of a committee headed by IPS officer Pranab Mohanty. The committee, which was set up in April 2025, is expected to submit its report in September, Home Minister G. Parameshwara informed the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. In a reply to S. Suresh Kumar (BJP) during question hour, Dr. Parameshwara said he held a meeting with online gaming companies and sought their cooperation for regulating the sector, as youth have been getting addicted to online games. Legal battles In 2021, the previous BJP government amended the Karnataka Police Act to prohibit online games. This was struck down by the High Court in 2022. The government has challenged this before the Supreme Court. The Home Minister said comprehensive amendments were challenged by the All India Gaming Federation. Online betting cases registered in Karnataka Year No. of cases 1 2023 84 2 2024 104 3 2025 (till July 31) 159 Dr. Parameshwara said a total of 347 cases have been registered for online betting in the State since 2023. A total of 84 cases have been registered in 2023, 104 in 2024, and 159 as of July 31, 2025. Mr. Kumar said the government has not been doing enough in the Supreme Court since the matter has been pending before the court for three years. Noting that online gaming companies were aggressively enticing people, the BJP member said sportspersons like Harbhajan Singh have endorsed games. Senior member C.N. Ashwath Narayan (BJP) criticised the government for allowing betting on online games. Big business IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge said that even fantasy sports were put under the 'skill game' category by the court. He stressed that both the Union and State governments must come together to frame a law. Mr. Kharge said the online gaming business will go from $4.5 billion to $9 billion in three years. There are 519 million gamers in India. Of them, 140 million are paid gamers.
