Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

Karnataka Today newsletter: How an anti-hero film propelled Puneeth Rajkumar to stardom, and more

In 2002, before the release of Puneeth Rajkumar’s debut film Appu, journalist Ravi Belagere whipped up a storm with a cover-page article in his popular tabloid Hai Bangalore. Writing about the buzz around the film, he posed a big question to his readers: Can the final horse from the stables of Dr Rajkumar’s family win the race?

However, the film’s subsequent blockbuster run mocked those who underestimated the project. A new star was born. On March 14, 2025, as part of Puneeth’s 50th birth anniversary celebrations, a remastered 4K version of Appu hit the screens. But this time, excitement around the movie has more to do with the actor’s untimely demise due to cardiac arrest in 2021 than the film itself.

The Karnataka High Court on March 14 stayed the trial court’s order of taking cognisance of offences against former Chief Minster B.S. Yediyurappa based on the chargesheet filed under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, on the allegation of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl at his residence in February 2024.

The interim order, passed on a petition filed by Mr. Yediyurappa, would be in force till adjudication of the petition by the High Court. Mr. Yediyurappa had challenged the FIR registered on March 14, 2024, on the alleged incident that occurred on February 2, 2024, the chargesheet filed by the CID, and the February 28, 2025, order of taking cognisance of offences afresh by the trial court. 

The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has introduced a minor degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, to provide additional opportunities for skill enhancement and entrepreneurial development, for engineering students in Karnataka. Minor degrees are online and five semester courses.

Students enrolled in regular undergraduate degree programmes and who are entering into the fourth semester of their graduation course with Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 (whether or not they have a backlog) are eligible to apply directly to the VTU for this course.

Coconut trees on 1.48 lakh hectare in 14 districts across Karnataka are affected by whitefly disease, Minister for Industries M. B. Patil informed the Legislative Assembly on March 14. In reply to a question by Suresh Babu (JD), the Minister said coconut trees on 64,457 hectares in Tumakuru and 34,530 hectares in Hassan districts were affected by high populations of whiteflies.