Karnataka Electoral Roll 2026: Voter base reaches 4.55 crore as 99.32 lakh names deleted. No arbitrary deletions via bulk Form 7; process fully transparent, says CEO Bengaluru The final electoral roll for #Karnataka has officially reached 4,55,00,011 electors following the conclusion of a state-wide Special Intensive Revision (#SIR) across all 224 Assembly constituencies, Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar announced on Tuesday. ​Addressing the media following the publication of the final list, Anbukumar strongly dismissed political allegations that voter names were deleted arbitrarily due to large-scale objection filings through #Form7. He affirmed that not a single voter name was deleted from the draft roll merely because Form 7 submissions arrived in bulk, clarifying that every removal occurred strictly after due verification and the issuance of formal speaking orders by statutory authorities. He added that constituency-wise data has been compiled and made fully accessible to the public. ​With the qualifying date established as October 1, 2026, the updated electorate comprises 4,54,55,689 general electors and 44,322 service electors, marking a net addition of 8,19,860 voters compared to the draft roll published in August. ​Women voters continue to outnumber men in the state. The final tally includes 2,29,14,063 female electors, 2,25,83,107 male electors, and 2,841 third-gender electors. This demographic distribution improved the state's gender ratio from 1,014 females per 1,000 males in the draft roll to 1,017 in the final list, while the elector-to-population ratio rose to between 66.11% and 66.91%, prompting the CEO to note that Karnataka stands better across all key demographic parameters. ​The revision exercise, undertaken on instructions from the Election Commission of India, began with door-to-door enumeration visits between June 30 and August 17. Out of 5,54,32,314 electors recorded in mid-June, 4,46,35,975 individuals,representing 80.52 percent of the baseline,submitted signed enumeration forms to Booth Level Officers. The remaining 1,07,96,339 unreturned forms were categorized under the Absentee, Shifted, Dead and Duplicate framework, which identified 65.45 lakh permanently shifted voters, 19 lakh absentees, 16.39 lakh deceased individuals, and 7.09 lakh duplicate enrollments. ​Following the publication of the draft roll on August 24, election authorities processed over 43.82 lakh statutory notices and conducted individual hearings. The subsequent claims and objections phase yielded 10,08,038 additions, including 8.77 lakh via Form 6 and 1.28 lakh inter - constituency transfers via Form 8. A total of 1,88,324 names were struck off the rolls, primarily accounting for 1.24 lakh shifted electors and 61,867 individuals found ineligible during hearings. ​Outlining safeguards against wrongful exclusion, the CEO stated that lists of omitted names were printed and distributed to political parties, uploaded to the official election portal, and marked with physical notices on households within #Bengaluru's civic limits where forms went uncollected. Senior field officials, including District Election Officers and Electoral Registration Officers, supervised every deletion order. ​Urging citizens who were left off the roll to seek inclusion, Anbukumar noted that the enrollment window remains open through #Form6, calling specifically upon youth turning 18 to submit their applications promptly to secure their voting rights. @ceo_karnataka @ECISVEEP @BJP4Karnataka @INCKarnataka @hd_kumaraswamy @prakashraaj

Election Commission has released the final #VoterList of #karnataka , you can check your name in the following link of CEO Karnataka.. voters.eci.gov.in/download-e…

ADA (DRDO) Scientist Dies by Suicide in Bengaluru; Family Alleges Severe Work-Related Pressure ​Bengaluru ​A 47 year old senior scientist with the Aeronautical Development Agency (#ADA) of #DRDO ied by suicide after jumping from a residential complex in Seegehalli on the evening of October 21. His family has alleged that acute work-related stress drove him to take the extreme step. ​The deceased has been identified as Sharad Katiyar, who served as #Scientist ‘F’ in the programming department of the ADA in #Bengaluru. He lived with his family on the fourth floor of the building at Seegehalli. ​In their statement to the police, the scientist’s family alleged that he had been under immense mental pressure and strain due to work-related stress for over a month. The family stated that, following severe occupational stress, he had been consulting specialists at private Hospital, where medical professionals diagnosed him with a depressive episode. The family further stated that despite medical attention, unrelenting workplace pressure persisted. ​On the day of the incident, October 21, he visited the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) for a psychiatric consultation, where he was prescribed medication. ​According to the police, between 7:30 PM and 8:00 PM on October 21, Sharad Katiyar went to the stairwell landing between the fourth and fifth floors of the apartment building and jumped through a window. He sustained critical injuries on impact. Family members and local residents rushed him to a private hospital in K.S. Halli, where he was declared dead on arrival. ​Acting on the family’s complaint, the police registered an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. ​Officers carried out a crime scene inspection on October 22 and completed the inquest examination at the hospital mortuary. The police have formally recorded statements from his wife as well as his parents, Suresh Chandra Katiyar and Sudha Katiyar, regarding the workplace allegations as the probe continues. ​Krishna Rajendra, Director of Administration and HR at ADA, said: "He was working in the #LCA Mk2 program office. If there was any such issue, we were not aware of it. I spoke to a few of his colleagues, and they also said they were not aware. In fact, over the last year, we have organized many programs related to mental stress management. I don't think work pressure was the sole reason he took this extreme step; I suspect something related to his health might have also played a role. I am not saying with 100% certainty that there was no pressure on him. Pressure exists for everyone when we have committed to a project timeline, but that does not mean working from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. That was never the case,employees arrive at 8:30 AM and leave by 6:00 PM. He was coming to the office daily. I even checked his medical records to see if he had applied for reimbursement, as we reimburse outpatients as well, but he had not applied. It is most unfortunate that a young scientist took this step. We have always maintained that if there is an issue, the doors of the Director of ADA and Director of Administration are always open."

Bengaluru Police Arrest 3 in Road Rage Murder; Victim Dragged Under Car for 150 Metres Had Succumbed ​Bengaluru In a chilling case of road rage leading to murder, the #Bengaluru police have arrested three men for deliberately running over and dragging a pedestrian for over 100 meters following an argument. The victim later succumbed to his injuries in a private hospital. ​The arrested accused have been identified as Ajay Rabidas (26), Sajal Namasudra (19) and Bijon Ray (27), all natives of #Assam currently residing in Basapura near #ElectronicCity. A fourth suspect, identified as Shyam Khoar, remains at large. ​According to the police, the incident occurred during the early hours of October 21 around 1:50 AM in Pragati Nagar, near the Ganesha Temple. The complainant, Nitish Kumar Mukhiya, was crossing the road along with his friend Ranjeet Kumar Sahu when a white Maruti Swift Dzire approached them at high speed. When Nitish Kumar gestured to the driver to slow down, the occupants confronted and assaulted him. ​When Ranjeet Kumar intervened to de-escalate the dispute, the driver deliberately rammed the vehicle into him. Despite Ranjeet getting trapped under the carriage between the front and rear wheels, the driver refused to stop and sped off, dragging him underneath for nearly 100 to 150 meters. The victim was dislodged when the vehicle jumped a road hump on the Hosur service road, where the accused dumped him and fled the scene. ​Ranjeet sustained critical multi-trauma injuries and was rushed to Kauvery Hospital, where he succumbed during treatment on the evening of October 22. The deceased, Ranjeet Kumar Sahu, hailing from #Bihar, was working as a cook at a Paying Guest (PG) accommodation in BTM Layout. He had come to Electronic City to celebrate the Dasara festival. ​A special investigation team headed by Police Inspector Azharuddin, under the supervision of DCP (Electronic City Division) M. Narayana and ACP Satheesha K. M., tracked down and apprehended three of the accused late Sunday night around 10:30 PM using CCTV footage, eyewitness testimonies and informant inputs. ​Efforts are underway to trace the absconding fourth accused. @DCP_ECITY @BlrCityPolice @elecityps

Senior RSS Member Gurudas Shenoy Killed in Road Accident in Udupi ​Udupi, Karnataka Gurudas Shenoy, a 65 year old local Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (#RSS) member, died early Monday morning after being struck by a speeding car at the Kota National Highway Junction in Kundapura taluk of #Udupi District. ​The incident occurred while Gurudas Shenoy, a resident of Kota Manoor, was crossing the highway pushing his cycle on his way to the Amruteshwari Temple. ​According to reports, a car traveling from Udupi toward Kundapura collided with Shenoy as he navigated the junction with his cycle. The impact was severe enough to cause the vehicle to overturn.​The driver of the car, identified as Pradeep, sustained serious injuries in the crash. He was rushed to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where he remains under medical treatment. Gurudas ​Shenoy succumbed to his injuries at the spot. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.

Musical Tributes Organised Across Bengaluru in Memory of Police Martyrs ​Bengaluru The police band performed a commemorative musical tribute at the historic #CubbonPark Band Stand today, marking the latest in a series of public performances held across the city to honour line-of-duty martyrs. The events are being held in memory of police personnel across the country who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. According to official data, 154 police officers and personnel of various ranks across India lost their lives while performing their duties between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026. Among them, #Karnataka accounted for the loss of six personnel. ​To honour these fallen officers, #PoliceBand performances been scheduled at multiple prominent public locations across #Bengaluru. Organized in two phases, the commemorative musical tributes took place initially from October 22 to October 24, with the second leg currently underway from October 26 through October 29, 2026. ​The performances aim to foster public connection and pay homage to the bravery and dedication of police personnel serving both the state and the nation. @BlrCityPolice @KarnatakaCops @PriyankKharge @DgpKarnataka @IPS_Association @PIBHomeAffairs

Cyclone 'Arnab' Intensifies Over Bay of Bengal; Landfall Expected Near Andhra Coast on October 28 ​New Delhi Cyclonic storm "#Arnab" over the Bay of Bengal is rapidly gaining strength and is projected to make landfall along the #AndhraPradesh and #Yanam coast as a very severe cyclonic storm on the forenoon of October 28, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Monday. ​Providing the official briefing, IMD scientist Amit Kumar stated that the system is currently centered over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal, near latitude 15.4°N and longitude 88.5°E. The storm lies approximately 580 km southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha and 610 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. ​According to the weather agency, the system will track west - northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday evening. It is expected to intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm over the same region by Tuesday, October 27. ​"Thereafter, it is likely to move northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, as a very severe cyclonic storm," Amit Kumar said. ​At the time of landfall on the morning of October 28, the #cyclone is projected to pack maximum sustained wind speeds of 115 to 125 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 140 kmph. ​Coastal administrations in Andhra Pradesh, #Odisha, and adjoining regions have been alerted to the impending severe weather. The IMD urged residents and local authorities to monitor official daily weather briefings and visit the department's website regularly for real-time tracking, coastal warnings, and advisory updates. @Indiametdept

CCB Woman Inspector Assaulted, Her Gold Ornament Stolen in Raid Linked to Alleged Sting Operation ​Bengaluru A high-voltage search operation in connection with an alleged #StingOperation involving former Chief Minister #Siddaramaiah turned chaotic on Friday evening after a woman police inspector was obstructed from performing her duty and had her gold bracelet go missing during a scuffle in #Bengaluru. ​The Byadarahalli police have registered a case against two women, identified as Pavitra (A1), wife of #MohanGowda, and her friend Pavithra (A2), following a formal complaint filed by a Central Crime Branch (#CCB) police inspector. According to police, the incident unfolded between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM on October 23, 2026, at a flat in Bharath Nagar. A joint police team comprising the Investigating Officer, a woman inspector of the CCB Women’s Protection Wing, and other personnel had arrived to execute a court-authorized search warrant linked to the Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS). ​ ​The search warrant was officially served on Mohan Gowda before officers commenced inspecting the premises. Trouble erupted when Gowda’s wife, Pavitra, refused to surrender her mobile phone for investigative examination. ​When Woman Inspector intervened to secure the handset, Pavitra and her friend, who also resides in the same apartment building, allegedly confronted the officer. The duo reportedly grabbed the inspector's arm, dragged her and engaged in a physical scuffle, leaving the officer injured and bringing the official search to a temporary halt. ​During the melee, the woman inspector's gold bracelet snapped and slipped off her wrist. Unaware of the loss in the heat of the moment, the officer only realized the ornament was missing after returning to the #CCB headquarters. An examination of the official video footage recorded by the search party confirmed that the gold bracelet had snapped and fallen onto a bed in the bedroom during the altercation. ​When the inspector returned to the apartment to retrieve the jewellery, the occupants denied having any knowledge of it and refused to return the ornament. Following the confrontation and the subsequent filing of the formal police complaint, Mohan Gowda’s wife reportedly locked the flat and fled the scene. ​Acting on the inspector's complaint submitted on October 24, the Byadarahalli police registered an FIR against both women under Section 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. A special team has been deployed to trace the absconding accused and recover the missing gold.

BJP Protests Against Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru, Several Leaders and Workers Taken into Custody Bengaluru Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and party workers were taken into custody by #Bengaluru police on Monday morning after a protest march against #Congress national president #MallikarjunKharge was halted outside Freedom Park. ​The demonstration was staged in response to remarks made by Mallikarjun Kharge during a public address in Patna, #Bihar, which the BJP alleged were derogatory toward Prime Minister #NarendraModi. ​Senior Karnataka #BJP leaders,including Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Rajya Sabha MP Lehar Singh Siroya and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan,led dozens of party workers in a dharna at Freedom Park, demanding an unconditional public apology from the Congress chief. ​The situation grew tense when the protesting leaders and cadres attempted to break past the venue limits and march onto the adjacent main road. Police personnel deployed at the site stopped the demonstration using barricades. When protesters tried to force their way forward, police intervened and took the senior leaders and several party workers into custody before boarding them onto transit . @RAshokaBJP @NswamyChalavadi @drashwathcn @LaharSingh_MP @BJP4Karnataka @INCKarnataka @kharge

Respected Krishna Byre Gowda ji, ​I kindly request you to inspect the #Bengaluru East division to assess the deteriorating road conditions around Coles Park, Haines Main Road, Pottery Town and nearby localities. Immediate attention to these stretches is urgently needed... @krishnabgowda

Bengaluru Parcel Blast Cracked: Three Assam Men Held; Family Feud Behind Attack, Accused Electrician Built IED Using Internet Resources Bengaluru #BengaluruPolice have arrested three men from #Assam in connection with an improvised explosive device (#IED) explosion at an under-construction house on Jemaiah Road in Pulakeshinagar (Frazer Town) that left two construction workers seriously injured, officials said on Sunday. The explosion occurred on the afternoon of October 20 on the fifth floor of the building while painting and construction work was underway. The injured workers, identified as Allawuddin M. from Assam and Suraj Kumar from #UttarPradesh, were hospitalised with severe injuries following the blast. The arrested individuals have been identified as Bhurhan Ahmad Burbhuiyya (20), a welder and electrician based in Maski, #Raichur district; Jahidull Hussain Burbhuiyya (27), a salesman at a bakery in #Jayanagar; and Sajidull Laskar (22), a kitchen worker at a coffee shop in #Malleswaram. All three hail from Dinanathpur village in Assam's #Hailakandi district and had been working in #Karnataka for some time. According to police, the plot stemmed from personal animosity. The accused allegedly harboured a long-standing grudge against the primary target, Allawuddin, who is a relative. The conflict involved disputes over ancestral land, financial matters, and the cancellation of a family marriage in their native village. #Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh, IPS, said the prime accused, Bhurhan, procured raw materials, including metal pellets, batteries and firecrackers from which gunpowder was extracted, while working in Maski."The accused learned how to assemble an IED through online sources," Commissioner Singh said. "He created an electrical circuit fitted with a switch mechanism. The victim was repeatedly instructed over phone calls to open the arcel. When the package was opened and the switch was engaged, the device detonated." Police said the parcel containing the concealed explosive device was left at a local shop for Allawuddin to collect. When the package arrived at the work site,Allawuddin asked co-worker Suraj to open it, triggering the blast. Following the incident, the East Division Police formed 10 special teams. Over 72 hours, officers analysed footage from more than 1,500 CCTV cameras, questioned over 100 individuals and tracked digital communications across encrypted messaging platforms allegedly used by the suspects. @seemantsingh96 @BlrCityPolice @DcpEastBcp @pulikeshinagrps @acppnagar @KarnatakaCops @spraichur1 @assampolice @DGPAssamPolice @DgpKarnataka @PriyankKharge

"Even Nehru, Indira Didn’t Harass Like This": R Ashoka Slams Karnataka Govt Over RSS Route March Curbs ​Bengaluru The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (#RSS) conducted its annual route march, #Pathasanchalan, across several parts of #Bengaluru on Sunday amid tight security arrangements. ​The marches commenced early in the morning around 8:00 AM across designated routes in the city, with additional marches scheduled across multiple localities later in the evening. Police personnel were deployed in strength along key stretches to ensure smooth movement and prevent any untoward incidents. ​Leader of the Opposition in the #Karnataka Legislative Assembly and senior #BJP leader R Ashoka, who participated in the route march, hit out at the #Congress-led state government, alleging deliberate obstruction and harassment. ​Speaking to reporters, Ashoka accused the administration of imposing stringent conditions until the eleventh hour to stall the event. ​"The state government imposed many restrictions this time and harassed us till the very last day even to grant permission. In history, neither Indira Gandhi nor Jawaharlal Nehru ever did such a thing," Ashoka said. ​He praised the participants for ensuring the event remained disciplined despite administrative hurdles. "Amidst all this harassment and troubles, we are all proud that this route march (pathasanchalana) was conducted with great grandeur, peace, and with the aim of preserving the nation's harmony," he added. ​ @RAshokaBJP @BJP4Karnataka @INCKarnataka @PriyankKharge @RSSorg

Probe into Sting Operations an Eyewash to Shield Accused, Says HD Kumaraswamy Bengaluru Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy alleged that the state government's investigation into the alleged sting operation controversy was being deliberately weakened and would not reach a logical conclusion. Addressing a press conference, #HDKumaraswamy questioned the manner in which the probe was being conducted and alleged that a key accused was allowed to secure anticipatory bail without any objection from the government side. He claimed that the arrest was only for "show" and alleged that the authorities had cooperated in facilitating bail despite public admissions made by the individual concerned. Referring to former Chief Minister #Siddaramaiah's reported remarks that the truth would emerge with time, Kumaraswamy said the Chief Minister had chosen silence and accused him of strategically managing the situation. He alleged that the government was "moving chess pieces" rather than ensuring a fair and transparent investigation. The Union Minister further expressed doubts about the outcome of the probe, stating that the government was unlikely to take the investigation to its logical end. He alleged that the intention was to create an impression of an investigation, shift responsibility elsewhere and eventually close the matter. H. D. Kumaraswamy also targeted the Chief Minister #DKShivakumar and Home Minister #PriyankKharge, alleging that they had already planned how to handle the issue politically. According to him, the ongoing investigation did not inspire confidence that the government intended to take stringent action to deter similar incidents in the future. Citing media reports, Kumaraswamy claimed that information related to as many as 170 to 180 alleged sting operations had surfaced. He questioned investigators over the material collected so far and asked whether all those linked to the recordings had been questioned and their devices seized. He also criticised the authorities for allegedly conducting searches against JD(S) social media workers while questioning what evidence and equipment had been seized from those directly linked to the alleged sting operation case. The sting operation controversy has triggered a political war of words between the ruling #Congress government and the #JDS, with demands for a thorough and impartial investigation continuing from various quarters. @hd_kumaraswamy @JanataDal_S @siddaramaiah @INCKarnataka

Siddaramaiah Sting Case: Video Uploader Arrested, Granted Bail; Followed Only 4 Accounts on X, Including PM Modi and HDK ​Bengaluru In a major breakthrough in the alleged sting operation targeting Former Chief Minister #Siddaramaiah, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the #Bengaluru Police arrested a man from #Delhi .The accused, identified as Ritesh Pandey, a resident of Ghaziabad, #UttarPradesh, was reportedly working in the camp office of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. Ritesh ​Pandey was produced before a local court in the afternoon and was subsequently granted bail. ​According to CCB sources, Ritesh Pandey is suspected of being the primary individual who uploaded the controversial sting video onto social media platforms. Investigators revealed that Ritesh Pandey allegedly procured a second-hand smartphone in Delhi specifically to execute the upload. To conceal his identity and digital footprint, he avoided inserting a SIM card into the device and instead relied on a Wi-Fi connection to circulate the footage. ​Police said the video was handed over to Ritesh Pandey on a pen drive before being transferred to the device. The CCB has seized the mobile phone used in the operation and sent it for forensic examination. ​During the digital analysis of Ritesh Pandey’s online activity, it was noted that his account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) followed only four profiles, which notably included Prime Minister #NarendraModi and #HDKumaraswamy. Further investigation is underway. @siddaramaiah @hd_kumaraswamy @PriyankKharge @INCKarnataka @JantaDalSecular

AgriGold Scam: CID Sets Up 9 Verification Centres Across Karnataka to Verify Depositors’ Bonds from Oct 27 ​Bengaluru In a major initiative to expedite claims and deliver relief to thousands of defrauded investors in the #AgriGold scam, the #CID of #Karnataka and #AndhraPradesh have rolled out a statewide bond verification and registration drive starting October 27, 2026. Nine designated collection centres have been established across Karnataka where depositors, legal heirs, and agents can get their original bond certificates and payment receipts verified. ​The joint inter-state operation follows high-level deliberations between senior CID officials of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka CID Director General of Police Dr. Pronab Mohanty, IPS. The initiative stems from the constitution of a five-member Group of Ministers by the Government of Andhra Pradesh tasked with reviewing the crisis and providing timely settlement to affected depositors. Verification counters at all nine centres will operate daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding Sundays. Officials have clarified key submission guidelines to prevent confusion and panic among claimants. Depositors do not need to surrender their original bonds. The original certificate must only be presented at the counter for physical verification, and applicants must hand over a signed, self-attested colour photocopy where the bond numbers and personal particulars remain clearly legible. ​The verification schedule has been organised geographically across District Police Headquarters and headquarters premises. In Bengaluru City, operations will run from October 27 to November 6, 2026, at the Office of the DGP CID, Carlton House, Palace Road, covering claimants from Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, and Bengaluru South. The centres in Tumkuru and Mandya will operate from October 27 to November 2, 2026, servicing Tumkuru, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Mandya, Mysuru, and Chamarajanagar districts. The remaining six centres, located at the District Police Headquarters in Bagalkote, Udupi, Raichur, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkaballapura, and Hassan, will conduct verification drives between November 11 and November 18, 2026, covering North Karnataka, coastal districts, the Old Mysuru belt, and central Karnataka. For administrative assistance and queries, Andhra Pradesh CID Superintendents of Police K. Eswara Rao and S. Sreedhar can be contacted. The details of the documents required for verification are listed below. @APPOLICE100 @KarnatakaCops @CybercrimeCID @dgpapofficial

Udupi Police Bust Extortion Network Linked to Underworld Operative Hemant Poojary; One Arrested, ₹4.13 Lakh Seized Udupi, Karnataka #Udupi district police have arrested an alleged accomplice of #underworld operative #HemantPoojary and foiled a conspiracy to target local businessmen, Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar said on Saturday. Addressing media, the SP said Hemant Poojary had been issuing death threats and attempting to extort large sums of money from entrepreneurs operating within the Padubidri, Shirva, Kaup and Manipal police station limits. Police have registered eight cases across the district in connection with the extortion racket and investigations are ongoing. The breakthrough came after police received credible intelligence about a plot to physically assault a businessman in Padubidri. Acting swiftly, officers arrested Suresh Ameen (38), a resident of Bada village in Yermal. Preliminary investigations revealed that Suresh Ameen acted as a key local facilitator for Hemant Poojary's network by supplying contact details of prominent businessmen, arranging manpower and logistical support, and actively participating in plans to attack the targeted entrepreneur. Police recovered ₹4.13 lakh in cash from Suresh Ameen's possession. Police suspect the money was arranged through Hemant Poojary's syndicate and are now tracing the channels through which the funds were transferred. After initially being remanded to judicial custody, Ameen has been taken into police custody for further interrogation. Issuing a stern warning, SP Hariram Shankar said anyone assisting underworld operatives, whether by sharing phone numbers, running errands or providing logistical support, would be treated as a co-accused. He added that claims of ignorance would not be accepted and that those aiding organised crime could face severe legal consequences, including lengthy prison terms. Police said several other suspects believed to be associated with the network are under surveillance and further arrests are likely. The SP also appealed to businessmen and members of the public not to give in to extortion demands. He urged anyone receiving threat or ransom calls to immediately file an FIR at the nearest police station, assuring them of police protection and necessary security measures."Paying extortion money only fuels further violence and criminal activities. People should report such threats without fear, and the police will take all necessary steps to ensure their safety," the SP said. @PoliceUdupi @KarnatakaCops