Delhi, metro cities to play host to Chhattisgarh’s ‘Bastar Café’ soon

Coffee News

Till date, coffee is grown in only one revenue block of Bastar district but the Chhattisgarh government is now planning to expand coffee cultivation to other districts of Bastar region, which include seven Maoist-affected districts of Chhattisgarh.

The Chhattisgarh government has decided to open a ‘Bastar Café’ in New Delhi, Raipur and other metro cities. (SOURCED.)
The Chhattisgarh government has decided to open a ‘Bastar Café’ in New Delhi, Raipur and other metro cities. (SOURCED.)

The Chhattisgarh government has decided to open a ‘Bastar Café’ in New Delhi, Raipur and other metro cities and is also considering signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with private companies to promote the café.

The cafés will be run on a franchise model with the condition that the name ‘Bastar’ would be compulsorily included in the brand name of the coffee.

Recently, senior officials have also been directed to prepare a project to promote cultivation of coffee and tea in the plateau areas of Bastar and Sarguja division of Chhattisgarh.

“We have not yet chalked out an overall plan of the project and consultation with various departments is going on but ‘Bastar Café’ will surely turn global in future. Bastar Cafe will serve mainly coffee grown in Bastar but it will also give a complete experience of the local food of Bastar including cookies made of ragi, milk shake, mahua laddu and bar, sitafal ice cream and other Chhattisgarhi and tribal cuisine. Thousands of people are involved in growing coffee in the state. Bastar Cafe will be opened in many malls, across Chhattisgarh and also in metro cities of the country,” said Alok Shukla, chief executive officer (CEO) of Rozgar Mission, who is in-charge of the project.

“Franchises can be self-help groups as well but other private sector organisations and start-ups will also be encouraged to take franchises,” said Shukla.

Till date, coffee is grown in only one revenue block of Bastar district but the Chhattisgarh government is now planning to expand coffee cultivation to other districts of Bastar region, which include seven Maoist-affected districts of Chhattisgarh.

“Plantation of coffee is done in Bastar’s Darbha region but we are now planning to expand in Sukma and other districts. In the first phase, eight quintals of coffee have been produced, which is being utilized at the Bastar Cafe opened in Jagdalpur. Nearly two kilograms of coffee is being consumed per day at this cafe. At least three more cafes can be started for utilization and marketing of the quantity of coffee being produced. A decision has been taken to open such cafes in Raipur and Delhi as well, so as to ensure the branding of Bastar Coffee,” said an official involved in the project.

He informed that coffee has been planted in 55 acres of Darbha area of Bastar in 2021.

Presently, coffee cultivation is proposed in an area of 5,108 acres in Bastar district, which includes 1,075 acres in 9 villages of Tokapal block, 1,027 acres in 11 villages of Lohandiguda, 1,445 acres in 14 villages of Bastanar, 460 acres in 7 villages of Bakawand and 1,101 acres in 13 villages of Darbha block.

Officials said that the Agriculture College, Jagdalpur has completed preparations for coffee plantation in 245 acres of land in Darbha.

“The horticulture department is in the process of getting 2.50 quintals of certified seeds of ‘Chandragiri’ variety from Coffee Board Bangalore, which would be utilized for producing 5 lakh saplings. These saplings will be planted in an area of 500 acres area… Likewise, Agriculture College Jagdalpur will also produce two lakh saplings from a quintal of certified seeds to be received from Coffee Board Bangalore. These saplings will be planted over an area of 200 acres. A target has been set to expand the area under coffee cultivation in 1000 acres of Bastar district every year. By 2026, nearly 5,820 acres of land would be brought under coffee cultivation,” said an officer of the public relation department.

KP Singh, scientist (Horticulture), who is overseeing the ‘Coffee project’ in Bastar, said that climatic conditions of Bastar are quite suitable for coffee cultivation.

“We are encouraging more and more tribes to cultivate in this area and training is continuously going on. We are hoping that soon Bastar coffee will become a brand in the market,” Singh added.

District Collector of Bastar, Rajat Bansal, said that Bastar Café will create employment and tourism in the area.

“Bastar Café could be a big brand of coffee and we are working on it. As per the direction from the state, currently, the district administration is trying to expand coffee plantations in an area of more than 5000 acres. The future target is Tokapal, Lohandiguda, and Bastanaar revenue block of the district. The key scientific parameter which makes Bastar coffee a unique product is the content of chlorogenic acid, caffeine and protein with a percentage of 6.02, 0.53 and 11.22 respectively,” said Bansal.

In terms of crops, the district administration aims to promote coffee as a non-conventional agricultural product which will help them to shift from paddy and also generate coffee tourism in future, the collector added.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> India News / by Ritesh Mishra / February 17th, 2022

The Auction Feels Like An Examination, You Feel Like Commodity: Robin Uthappa

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Sports
Robin Uthappa (Image Credit: Twitter)

Robin Uthappa, the former India batsman has opened up on what goes through the mind of a cricketer during an Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, where a player’s value becomes about how much somebody is willing to spend on you.

During the recent IPL mega auction, defending champions Chennai Super Kings re-signed Robin Uthappa for his base price of Rs 2 crore. The explosive batsman had chipped in with valuable innings in last season’s playoffs after being given a chance late in CSK’s campaign in the UAE following Suresh Raina’s poor form.

Suresh Raina (Image Credit: Twitter)

Robin Uthappa Opines That It’s Not A Most Pleasing Feeling To See IPL Auctions And Wants A More Respectful Draft System Instead

Robin Uthappa vitally scored 63 off 44 balls during the first Qualifier followed by a knock of 31 off 15 in the final to beat Kolkata Knight Riders. While Robin Uthappa admitted that he and his family had hoped that he would go back to CSK, the 36-year-old candidly spoke of how vulnerable a player can be while watching their name come up at an IPL auction.

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“Playing for a team like CSK was something I desired, it was one of my only prayers: let’s get back to CSK. My family, even my son, prayed for that, which is special for me. I’m happy to be back in a place where there’s a sense of security and a sense of respect,” Uthappa, who played 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is for India between 2006 and 2015, said.

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Robin Uthappa (Image Credit: Twitter)

Robin Uthappa opened up about his own fight with depression, battling suicidal thoughts and wanting to quit cricket at the height of his career. As elated as he was to have found a spot in CSK’s roster, Robin Uthappa advocated for the IPL to shift to a draft system rather than the auctions.

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“The auction feels like an examination which you have written a long time ago, and you’re just awaiting the results. You feel like cattle (commodity), to be honest,” he said.

“It’s not the most pleasing feeling, and I think that’s the thing about cricket, especially in India… everything about you is there for the world to consume and then judge and express their opinions about it. Having an opinion about performances is one thing, but having an opinion on how much you get sold for is quite something else.”

“You can’t imagine what the guys who don’t get sold go through. My heart goes out to guys who have been there for a long time and then miss out and don’t get picked. It can be defeating sometimes.

“Suddenly your value as a cricketer becomes about how much somebody is willing to spend on you. I really hope for the sake of the sanity of everybody that this goes into a draft system where it is more respectful.” 

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The consistently proven match-winner, Robin Uthappa, was traded to Chennai Super Kings by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2021 Player Auction. He had joined the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2020 season and played 12 games for them. Earlier, he was one of KKR’s stars in the title-winning efforts in 2012 and 2014.

Robin Uthappa Owes Being Part Of Chennai Super Kings And He Wants To Finish His Carrier With CSK

Ahead of the IPL 2022, which begins in just over a month’s time, Robin  Uthappa is geared up for another successful season with four-time winners CSK, hoping to end his playing career with them.

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The expectation is to contribute to the success of the team,” he said. ” I love being a part of the team. I love the hard work that’s involved in it. I have this new lease wherein I want to play as much as I physically can. God-willing to finish my career with a team like CSK. “

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Chennai Super Kings (Image Credit: Twitter)

Apart from Deepak Chahar (14 crores), Ambati Rayudu (6.75 crores) and Dwayne Bravo (4.4 crores) were CSK’s most prized picks at the auction. Shivam Dube (4 crores) and Chris Jordan (3.6 crores) were the only other players that cost them more than two crores. Chennai Super Kings bought 21 players during IPL 2022 auction.

Out of 14 seasons, the franchise CSK has played 12 as they were banned in 2016 and 2017. The team has won the trophy four times in IPL 2010, IPL 2011, IPL 2018, and IPL 2021. The franchise has also reached the playoffs 11 times out of 12 seasons.

source: http://www.sportzwiki.com / SportZWiki / Home> Cricket> IPL 2022> News / by Nirmalya Banerjee / February 22nd, 2022

Revealed! THIS is how Gulshan Devaiah feels about romancing RajKummar Rao in Badhaai Do

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Videos

The actor gets candid about playing a homosexual character in the recently released film and working with Taapsee Pannu in Blurr.

Gulshan Devaiah plays RajKummar Rao’s love interest in Harshavardhan Kulkarni’s latest directorial venture Badhaai Do. The film is being lapped up for its fresh portrayal of romance between people from the LQBTQ+ community. In an exclusive chat with the Free Press Journal, Gulshan opens up about his role in the film and more.

When asked about his first reaction to romancing RajKummar Rao, he shares, “I thought it was a good idea. I have tremendous respect for Raj, and I am also his fan. From a movie trivia point of view, I thought it was a cool idea for Harshavardhan’s previous leading man to romance his current one.”

When probed if he was apprehensive about playing a gay role and how he approached the character, he reveals, “I had no apprehension whatsoever. I read the nine pages worth of screen time, spoke with Harsh to understand his perspective and decided this was a very good idea. There was an element of surprise from the story point of view as well that I liked. My perspective was to, in the given time, have an accurate interpretation of the writing and to serve the sensibilities of the director.”

A still from Badhaai Do

Badhaai Do was marketed as a family entertainer at the backdrop of the wedding. Gulshan feels such films can play a role in changing the mindset of people. “Cinema is a soft power, so yes, I would like to believe that it has its impact on society. It helps them understand things better without shoving it down their throats or cancelling them (like on social media). However, one should be careful not to overestimate or underestimate the power of cinema,” he avers.

source: http://www.freepressjourmal.in / The Free Press Journal / Home> Entertainment / by Rohit Bhatnagar / February 19th, 2022

War puts coffee exports to Ukraine in jeopardy: Coffee Board

Business & Economy, Coffee Board, India (wef. Nov 17, 2021), Coffee News, Ukraine Updates, Kodagu Students(Feb 2022), World Opinion
The war could also have an indirect and long-term impact on the overall coffee exports from India to Ukraine and neighbouring coffee markets, say exporters. | Photo Credit: K. PICHUMANI

‘Ukraine has imported 6,604 metric tonnes of our coffee so far this fiscal’

Bengaluru :

The current crisis has put Indian coffee exports to Ukraine and neighbouring countries in jeopardy, the Coffee Board said on Friday.

So far, (April-Jan.) this fiscal, India had exported 6,604 metric tonnes of green bean, instant and roast and ground coffee to Ukraine and 23,519 metric tonnes to Russia. Coffee exports to Ukraine, in fact, peaked at 7,327 metric tonnes during fiscal 2018-19, and in 2019-20 it was 6,947 metric tonnes.

CIS countries were traditionally the major soluble/instant coffee importers from India. Russia currently accounts for 75% of this, while Ukraine alone has more than 20% share, according to data shared by Coffee Board.

“The Russia-Ukraine war will certainly impact Indian coffee exports to Ukraine and its neighbouring countries,” said Dr. K.G. Jagadeesha, CEO and Secretary, Coffee Board.

According to coffee exporters, in addition to the immediate impact on exports, the war could also have an indirect and long-term impact on the overall coffee exports from India to Ukraine and neighbouring coffee markets

“The Russia-Ukraine war is likely to push up prices of fuel, metal/aluminium (instant coffee is mostly exported in metal cans and containers) and packaging materials. It could also spiral logistics costs,” said Ramesh Rajah, president of the Coffee Exporters Association. “This means, the overall cost of exports will certainly go up and buyers and sellers are already worried about it,” he said. “Also, all these are happening when the prices of packaging raw material had already gone up by 30% recently,” Mr. Rajah added.

Ukraine is one of the largest importers of coffee in that region, while Russia is one of the top 5 buyers of Indian coffee. “Although Ukraine is largely a tea-consuming country, it has a very mature coffee culture, thanks to Turkish and Ottoman influence,” he said. “The current uncertainty is certainly worrying, both for exporters and as well as importers of all varieties of Indian coffees,” he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Business / by Mini Tejaswi / February 25th, 2022

Coorg Diaries: Dia Mirza shares memories with husband Vaibhav Rekhi from ‘most beautiful’ trip

Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021)
Coorg Diaries: Dia Mirza shares memories with husband Vaibhav Rekhi from ‘most beautiful’ trip

Recently, Dia Mirza and her husband Vaibhav Rekhi spent some quality time in Coorg, Karnataka.

They also celebrated their first anniversary on February 15 at the beautiful destination.

On Monday, the Thappad actor took to her Instagram account and posted a handful of pictures from her most recent vacation. In the photographs, Dia wrapped her arm around Vaibhav as the two smiled for the camera.

The other pictures she uploaded included sunsets and mesmerizing views from Coorg. Sharing the pictures, Dia wrote, “Monday musing about this most beautiful time spent at #Coorg @tajmadikeriresort thank you for making it such a memorable time! #SunsetKeDiVane” 

The actress’ post captivated her fans’ attention who bombarded the comment section. One of the fans wrote, “And here is to many more blissful vacations”, while another fan said, “Love Coorg through your eyes”. Actress Lara Dutta took to the comments section of Dia’s post and wrote “Gorgeous (sic).” Aditi Rao Hydari also left a cute comment which read, “Beauties (sic).”

On their first wedding anniversary, Dia Mirza shared some glimpses from her intimate wedding ceremony on the occasion. The caption of Dia’s anniversary post read, “There are years that ask questions and years that are full of answers. This was the year when so many of our dreams were fulfilled and many prayers were answered. Happy Anniversary @vaibhav.rekhi May we continue to grow together and cherish the simple joys of life. Sharing a glimpse of our wedding day. A day that brought our families and friends together in the garden at home. A sustainable wedding that was created by a team that made it ‘simply’ joyous and memorable in every way.”

source: http://www.pinkvilla.com / PinkVilla / Home> Entertainment> News / by Pinkvilla Desk / February 22nd, 2022

‘Five stranded students from Kodagu safe’

Education, Records, All, Ukraine Updates, Kodagu Students(Feb 2022), World Opinion

Even as the Indian Government was making efforts to get the stranded students from the country evacuated from the war-torn Ukraine, five students from Kodagu currently stuck in different cities of Ukraine are safe, an official from the district disaster management authority has said.

The official, who wished not to be named, said he got in touch with the five students, including three girls and two boys, studying in cities, including Kyiv, and they told him that they were safe but were facing a short supply of essentials with shops and businesses closed after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

“Till Friday afternoon, there was no communication from the students. However, the parents of these students got in touch with the district administration. We managed to make video calls with the students to know about their safety. They sought help for their early evacuation,” the official told The Hindu.

The Kodagu district administration is collating information on the stranded students and communicating the same to the State Government which is coordinating with the Indian government for evacuation.

Some students are said to be stuck on their college campuses while others are in their homes. “We have advised them to take all safety precautions. They have been advised to remain on the ground floor or in the basement of the buildings as a safety measure with cities under aerial attacks,” according to the official.

One problem that the students are facing now is the transportation to reach the border for getting evacuated from neighbouring countries like Poland. “The government authorities are coordinating on this issue with the embassy as we have communicated the problems faced by the students, who have been counselled on managing the war situation with the available resources. Their parents in Kodagu have been told to remain calm with efforts on to get them evacuated soon,” the disaster management official said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / February 25th, 2022

Basking on the success of Badhaai Do, Gulshan Devaiah talks of ‘chemistry’, upcoming films

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All

Gulshan Devaiah, who recently played the love interest of Rajkummar Rao in the movie Badhaai Do, tells CE why he picked a role with a short screen time.

Bollywood actor Gulshan Devaiah ( File Photo)

Bengaluru : 

Gulshan Devaiah’s part in the movie Badhaai Do was not just a pleasant surprise for his fans, but also brought in more substance to the movie. Devaiah, who romances Rajkummar Rao, the male lead in the movie, says Rao is a wonderful actor and romancing him was easy. “His wife had visited the set in Dehradun and she said, ‘You guys share such wonderful chemistry’,” says Devaiah, who plays a character by the name Guru Narayan.

His association with Harshavardhan Kulkarni, director of the movie, goes back to Hunterr, which was Kulkarni’s first movie as director. When Badhaai Do came about, they thought Devaiah was a great choice to play a part.

“I think they waited for the right time to call me. He said there is a small part and asked me if I would be interested to come for a shoot for 2-3 days. It comes towards the end of the movie but it is a very crucial part,” says Devaiah.

Though he is very clear about not doing cameos, he made an exception for this particular movie. “Sometimes, some things really seem like a good idea. I am not really a cameo sort of guy, I like full-fledged parts. I trust Harsh as he’s my friend and I want to support him as well,” says Devaiah, adding that the team wanted his part to be a surprise. He had even requested an uncredited part but “the team was too embarrassed about it”.

Most of Devaiah’s scenes are with Rao, who he “likes and respects” as an actor. “It was a wonderful opportunity to reunite with all of them. I had last worked with him in Shaitan, where he had a small part,” says Devaiah. The actor is also seen sharing screen space with Sheeba Chaddha, who plays Rao’s mother in the film.

Guru Narayan is basking in the glory of the success of the film, which has appealed to the LGBTQ community who find him relatable.  “I didnt think of the fact that he was gay, I just knew that he was in love. Guru Narayan is a person who is comfortable with who he is. All the LGBTQ community wants is equal treatment,” says Devaiah, who is yet to watch the movie.

While the actor is keener on playing full-length roles, he says it depends on numerous factors. “You have to have some sense and curate your career after a certain point. In the beginning, you just hope you work on good projects, but after a point, you need to have some sort of idea about what you want to do or what you don’t want to do. In my case I have figured the latter,” says Devaiah, whose next film is a project with Zoya Akhtar, the story of which is written by Reema Kagti, and stars Sonakshi Sinha.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Hindi / by Monaika Monalisa, Express News Service / February 21st, 2022

Karnataka youth’s off-beat short film makes it to Berlin Film Festival

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All

Kallichanda Nishan Nanaiah’s movie ‘Alpha Beta Gamma’ revolves around three people who are stuck in a flat during the Covid lockdown.

Nishan Nanaiah

Madikeri :

Kallichanda Nishan Nanaiah, a native of Kodagu, is now basking in fame through the short film ‘Alpha Beta Gamma’. The acclaimed movie, shot during the time of the Covid pandemic, is now being screened at the Berlin Film Festival.

Nishan is a pass out of the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune and he started his acting career with Cycle Kick directed by Shashi Sudigala.

Following this successful debut, Nishan set foot in the mainstream film industry and has so far acted in 25 movies in Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam.

“I grew up watching commercial movies and I did my film course in Pune. Following this, I moved to Mumbai and have acted with noted names in the film industry. ‘Alpha Beta Gamma’ is close to my heart as this movie revolves around three people who are stuck in a flat during the Covid lockdown. The life equations change and it narrates a unique situation faced during the pandemic,” said Nishan. The movie, shot during the time of the pandemic, is a low-budget movie that has high content, he adds.

The movie witnessed its premier launch at the International Film Festival in Goa. Following acclaimed reviews, the movie was among the 25 other short films that were selected by the Indian Panorama. “Further, nine films out of the 25 were selected to be featured at the Berlin Film Festival and the movie is now being screened to the European audience,” he added. Nishan is the son of Kallichanda Prasad and late Padma Prasad – natives of South Kodagu. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by
Express News Service / February 21st, 2022

Nature at its best in Coorg’s coffee plantations

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Records, All, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021)
A typical plantation walk in one of Coorg’s large coffee estates, in fact, is nothing short of a treat to all five senses.

New Delhi: 

In India’s coffee heartland Coorg, which is at a driving distance from the city of Bengaluru and nestled in the densely forested Western Ghats, February is the season to find abundant coffee trees laden with small crimson and green berries that hold inside them two green beans each. It is in these Karnataka-based coffee plantations, that many of the flavourful and aromatic coffee beans originate, before they are dried, roasted and ground into the perfect cup of coffee in your hands.

Coorg, locally known as Kodagu, can often be found on the bucket lists of seasoned travellers for its tranquil setting, biodiversity, delicious Kodava cuisine and large-scale cultivation of Indian coffee. A forthcoming luxury destination, the southern hill station has unmatched experiences that go beyond tourism-as-usual.

For those interested in experiencing first-hand, the crop-to-cup process of coffee in India, the local hospitality options do offer plantation walks and trails that have you immersed in the native experience.

In an ecologically diverse and sensitive region like Coorg, threats to the forest ecosystem are aplenty, and are prone to multiplication with additional construction to support the consumerist traveller’s lifestyle.

The homestay experience, then, comes as the perfect fit for the region and is growing by the year. Allowing one to lodge up in close proximity to the natural environment and coffee crops within the estates themselves, while observing all Covid-19 precautions, options on Airbnb in Coorg are something new-age travellers must check before heading to the beautiful southern coffee county.

A typical plantation walk in one of Coorg’s large coffee estates, in fact, is nothing short of a treat to all five senses.

As one walks along a narrow network of tracks lined by trees of Robusta and Arabica coffee species, along with cultivations of arecanut, pepper and cardamom, the calls of Coorg’s diverse bird species are unmistakable in the background. According to Ganesh H R, a local bird expert popularly termed the Bird Man of Coorg, over half of India’s overall bird species can be found in the region, along with birds like White-cheeked barbet, Malabar barbet and Malabar grey hornbill that are endemic to the region. The place is also a great spot for serious bird-watching.

Surrounded by a tall canopy and clear blue skies difficult to find in urban jungles, walkers are greeted with the smell of flowering coffee shrub and ripened coffee berries along the way. In some trail experiences, enthusiasts may be invited to participate in coffee berry harvest — picking bunches of red and green berries off the branches onto a wide-based container below.

In experiences bookable on Airbnb, such as the farm-to-cup experience on FiveFarms Coffee, one can step into the shoes of a coffee grower and help with jobs like transplanting young plants from the nursery, checking for fragrant coffee blossoms or picking ripe red berries. The beans are then dried in the sun before processing it mechanically into the final product. Visitors can also experience roasting and take back roasted batches of beans.

source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home / by IANS / February 27th, 2022

KPA Director Vipul Kumar, Kodagu SP Kshama Mishra Transferred

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

IGP (Southern Range) Pravin Madhukar Pawar given additional charge as KPA Director

Mysore/Mysuru:

The State Government on Wednesday transferred Karnataka Police Academy (KPA) Director Vipul Kumar and posted him as the IGP of Internal Security Wing. IGP (Southern Range) Pravin Madhukar Pawar has been given additional charge as KPA Director.

Kodagu Superintendent of Police (SP) Kshama Mishra has been transferred without posting and Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (Vigilance) SP Malachira A. Aiyappa, a 2017 batch IPS Officer,  has been posted to her place.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 18th, 2022