Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

1. ‘Explosives’ on PM Modi’s Bengaluru visit route: NIA joins probe

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has joined the probe into the recovery of suspected explosive materials along the route scheduled for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit in Bengaluru on May 10, 2026. The incident was reported within the limits of Kaggalipura Police Station, where security personnel conducting routine route sanitisation allegedly discovered a suspicious plastic cover containing explosive substances near the Kanakapura Road stretch leading to the Art of Living campus.

Officials from the NIA visited the spot and collected preliminary information from Bengaluru South district police officers. Investigators are examining whether the explosive materials were intentionally placed to target the Prime Minister’s convoy route or whether there was a larger conspiracy behind the incident. Senior officials, including officers from the state internal security and intelligence wing, are reviewing possible security lapses and analysing CCTV footage and local intelligence inputs.

2. Kodagu tourist assault case: Homestays, bed-and-breakfast properties to be brought under GPS, police monitoring

Following the sexual assault on a U.S. tourist at a Kodagu homestay, the government of Karnataka has made police verification of staff mandatory for all homestays and bed-and-breakfast properties. Travellers, as per a recent circular, will be able to check whether a property is registered with local authorities before checking in.

All registered properties will be linked to Karnataka Police Smart E-Beat system, to allow beat constables to make regular visits, verify guest records and log their inspections through GPS-based tracking. District administrations have been told to form joint inspection teams with police and tourism officials to carry out surprise checks and identify properties operating illegally.

3. Liquor manufacturers seek hike in prices citing West Asia crisis

International Spirits & Wines Association of India (ISWAI) has sought urgent intervention from the government of Karnataka to address the escalation in input and packaging costs being faced by the spirits industry due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, and the resulting global energy and commodity crisis.

The sharp volatility in oil, gas, coal, and petrochemical feedstocks has triggered a structural increase in packaging costs across multiple categories, leaving little scope for manufacturers to absorb these costs through operational efficiencies or alternative sourcing, according to the association.

4. Sringeri seat: After recount of postal votes, Karnataka Congress leaders seek divine justice

Congress leader T.D. Raje Gowda, who lost the Sringeri assembly seat to D.N. Jeevaraj of the BJP following the recount of postal ballots, has been visiting places of worship in the constituency, seeking divine justice in the vote count dispute. On May 9, Mr. Raje Gowda and his associates offered prayers at Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, Jamia Masjid, and a church in Koppa.

The Congress leader asserted that neither he nor his party had done anything wrong, and appealed to the Almighty to punish those responsible for the wrongdoing. Sudhir Kumar Murolli, who served as the party’s counting agent, also offered prayers, refuting BJP’s allegation that a bundle of invalid votes had been counted as valid for the Congress during the 2023 counting.

5. Karnataka seeks 4 tmcft drinking water from Maharashtra

Karnataka government has requested the Maharashtra government to release four tmcft of water to ensure drinking water supply to districts in northern Karnataka. The letter was sent on April 22.

CM Siddaramaiah has written to his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis requesting release of two tmcft of water from reservoirs in the Krishna river and two tmcft of water from the Bhima river, sources in the Irrigation Department said.