Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

Karnataka Today newsletter: HC notice to banks on Vijay Mallya’s plea seeking debt recovery details, and more

The Karnataka High Court on February 5, 2025, ordered issue of notice to the debt recovery officer and 10 banks on a petition filed by fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya seeking directions to provide statement of accounts for the total amount, along with accrued interest, owed by him, the United Breweries Holdings Ltd., (UBHL) and other certificate debtors, and the amount recovered so far in the process of recovery of debts of erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines Ltd.

Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya, appearing for Mr. Mallya, pointed out that the winding up order against Kingfisher Airlines and its holding company UBHL (which is under liquidation) as well as the parallel process for debt recovery for a sum of ₹6,200 crore from primary debtor Kingfisher and its guarantor, UBHL, had attained finality in law. However, the debt has been recovered multiple times over since 2017, he contended.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) president Badagalpura Nagendra has urged the State Government to clarify its position on withdrawing the amendments to Land Reforms Act and APMC Act introduced by the previous BJP government. There is a concern that the agricultural policies of the ruling Congress government seem to be a continuation of what was pursued by the BJP.

In a letter, farmer leaders pointed out that the ruling Congress government had fulfilled none of the promises made in its 2023 election manifesto, which included repealing the ‘’anti-farmer laws brought by the BJP, dropping politically motivated cases against farmers, implementing MSP, increasing the amount of interest-free loans,” etc.

Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar has helped another family facing alleged harassment by a microfinance company in Belagavi district. Loan recovery officers had evicted the family of Basavaraja Maruti Kondaskoppa in Basarikatti three months ago. He had taken loans totalling ₹7 lakh from a private financial institution.

The farmer had approached the Minister’s office seeking assistance. The Minister’s personal secretary Mahantesh Hiremath spoke to employees of the company and instructed them to provide two months’ time for loan repayment. The Minister also spoke to officials of the company and warned private financial institutions not to harass borrowers unnecessarily.

Members of Samana Manaska Sanghatanegalu (like-minded organisations) sat on a dharna demanding abolition of toll collection on Mangaluru-Bengaluru NH 75 at Brahmarakootlu near B.C. Road, speedy completion of ongoing National Highway projects in Dakshina Kannada district, and other demands, at Nanthoor Junction in Mangaluru, on February 5.