1. Opposition disrupts Assembly seeking Minister B. Nagendra’s dismissal over alleged scam in Valmiki corporation

Proceedings in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly were disrupted on August 17 as the opposition BJP and JD(S) demanded the dismissal of Minister B. Nagendra from the Cabinet over his alleged involvement in the multi-crore rupee embezzlement case in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.

As soon as Speaker G.S. Patil called for Question Hour, Leader of Opposition R. Ashok and BJP member V. Sunil Kumar raised the issue and demanded that Mr. Nagendra be dropped from the Cabinet. “How can we participate in Question Hour when a corrupt Minister is sitting here,” Mr. Ashok asked.

Mr. Nagendra currently holds the Planning and Statistics portfolio. He had resigned from the previous Siddaramaiah Cabinet in June 2024 following allegations of large-scale misappropriation of funds in the Valmiki Corporation. He was, however, inducted into the D.K. Shivakumar-led Cabinet on August 3, 2026.

2. BJP demands judicial probe, resignation of Ramalinga Reddy for killing of three suspected poachers in Hanur

Even as the ruling Congress government in Karnataka ordered a magisterial inquiry into the killing of three suspected poachers in a forest in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district by Forest Department personnel in the early hours of August 15, 2025, the opposition BJP and JD(S) demanded a judicial probe. They sought the resignation of Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy, holding him morally responsible for the incident.

Leader of Opposition R. Ashok raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly on August 17 and demanded compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families of the three deceased, whom he described as having been ‘murdered’ by Forest Department personnel. Mr. Ashok alleged that the Department had killed local residents in a ‘pre-planned encounter’ and demanded an impartial judicial inquiry. “This is a murder committed by the government,” he said.

3. DRI uncovers illegal use of SAFTA agreement in arecanut imports to India

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), in a month-long intelligence-led operation, has dismantled a major network involved in importing arecanut from South-East Asia to India but falsely declaring them as being of Bangladeshi origin, and fraudulently availing concessional duty benefits under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA). The investigation has so far revealed a potential revenue loss of more than ₹2,500 crore. 

Nine persons have been arrested in connection with the case, according to the Union Ministry of Finance. The import of arecanut into India attracts a Basic Customs Duty (BCD) of 100%. However, eligible import of arecanuts made under SAFTA agreement is fully exempt from customs duty. The arecanut originating from Bangladesh is entitled to exemption under SAFTA if imports meet the prescribed Rules of Origin criterion, according to the ministry.

4. Following Karnataka HC order, ASI asks mutt to stop construction at prohibited area of historic Hoysala monument in Shivamogga

Following a Karnataka High Court order, officers of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), on August 17, 2026, served a notice on the Shree Kudali Arya Akshobhya Teertha Mutt at Kudli in Shivamogga taluk, directing the institution to stop construction activities within the prohibited area of the Rameshwara Temple, an ASI-protected monument in the village.

A section of villagers had opposed the construction activities within the prohibited area of the historic 12th century Hoysala structure. The ASI had earlier issued multiple orders asking the mutt to stop the work, which were defied. Madhusudhan C.G., a resident of Shivamogga, had moved the High Court with a public interest litigation, questioning the violation of the ASI’s orders.

5. No difference between JeM, Taliban, RSS: KPCC’s B.K. Hariprasad says all three “not registered in India”

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President B.K. Hariprasad compared the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to international terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Taliban while targeting them over patriotism and legal registration status. “There is no difference between Jaish-e-Mohammed, Taliban, and RSS because all three are not registered in India.”

On Keralam VC Mohanan Kunnummal’s remarks regarding the Vande Mataram controversy, the KPCC president said, “…He has rightly directed this at the RSS because they never sing Vande Mataram, nor do they sing the national anthem or hoist the tricolour flag…” The remarks follow an FIR filed against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi alleging disruption during Vande Mataram’srendition.