Here are the big stories from Karnataka today
1. Karnataka bans sale of gutka, pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine for one year The Karnataka government has prohibited the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation
1. Karnataka bans sale of gutka, pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine for one year The Karnataka government has prohibited the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of gutkha, pan masala and other products containing tobacco or nicotine across the State for a period of one year. The notification was issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety, Karnataka, on June 15, 2026, under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, read with Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. The ban covers gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco and/or nicotine, besides any other products marketed separately that contain tobacco or nicotine in the final product, irrespective of the name under which they are sold.
The prohibition applies to both packaged and unpackaged products. It also covers products packed separately but sold or distributed in a manner that facilitates their easy mixing by consumers. 2. Mobile phone found in former MP Prajwal Revanna’s Bengaluru prison cell had social media and streaming apps A mobile phone was allegedly found in the possession of former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is serving a life sentence for rape at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru. The phone was found during a surprise inspection conducted by Central Crime Branch (CCB) officials in the prison complex on August 11 afternoon, sources said. According to sources, the mobile phone was found in the barrack where Prajwal is lodged.
The discovery has raised questions over how a prohibited electronic device reached the possession of a high-profile convict inside the high-security prison. The incident has brought renewed scrutiny on security and surveillance measures inside the Central prison. 3. Vande Bharat Express train travels from Sakleshpur to Subrahmanya Road in first trial run on ghat section The first trial run of a Vande Bharat rake fitted with automatic emergency brake (AEB) system was carried out on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section of the Hassan-Mangaluru line on August 12, as a prelude to the introduction of VB Express service on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru sector. The trials are being conducted by the Mysuru division of South Western Railway (SWR).
The trial run commenced from Sakleshpur Railway Station at 6.42 a.m. The train reached Subrahmanya Road station at 10.55 am, Mysuru Divisional Railway Manager Mudit Mittal said. Successful completion of field trials would pave the way for introduction of a Vande Bharat Express train on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru sector that is expected to connect the State capital to coastal Karnataka.
The BriefWire