Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah skipped the launch of a Kannada news channel, reportedly because of state intelligence reports that it has been financed by a former underworld don.Sources said that Siddaramaiah was supposed to inaugurate the channel but reportedly cancelled at the last minute following an Intelligence report which said that the channel was allegedly financed by a former gangster. Siddaramaiah reportedly decided against participating in the event to avoid being seen with the man, should the latter turn up at the inauguration. It is routine for the chief minister to inaugurate a newly launched news channel. In July 2014, Siddaramaiah had inaugurated BTV. Prajaa TV was launched at 9 pm on Thursday by actors Anushka Shetty and Yash, and former Lokayukta N Santhosh Hegde. At the helm of the channel is Ravi Ganiga, who is both the owner and Editor-in-Chief of the channel. Manoj Kumar, who was the Output Chief at Kasturi News 24x7 will perform the same role in Prajaa TV as well.Some of the other names associated with the channel include one of Kannada daily Udayavani’s most well-respected editors Eshwar Daitota. Senior journalist Jyoti Irvathur has been roped in as the Political Editor. She was the head for political reporting with Samaya News and has also worked with ETV and in the print media before that. Another senior journalist Suresh MR is also in a top post. Hailing from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district, Suresh was the news head with Samaya before he moved to Prajaa. Starting his career in a prominent position with TV9, he has worked in several other channels including Kasturi.Prajaa TV has been running a Facebook campaign for some months now, projecting itself as a channel that would not compromise on its professional ethics.In a Facebook post on May 21, the channel said: "ಸುದ್ದಿಯನ್ನು ವೈಭವೀಕರಿಸಬಹುದು..ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ತಿರುಚುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಮಾಡಬಹುದು.ಆದರೆ ಸತ್ಯ ಸತ್ಯವೇ ಆಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಇದ್ದದ್ದನ್ನು ಇದ್ದ ಹಾಗೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಮುಲಾಜಿಗೆ ಸಿಲುಕದೆ ಹೇಳುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಜಾ ಟಿವಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಗಟ್ಟಿ ಧ್ವನಿಯಾಗಿ ಸದಾ ನಿಲ್ಲುತ್ತದೆ..ನಿಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಹಾರೈಕೆ ಹೀಗೆ ಇರಲಿ.."(Translated, the post reads: News can be glorified, attempts can be made to twist the truth. But truth is truth. Prajaa TV will do its best to present news as it is, without being obligated to anybody. It will always stand as your voice. Let your love and good wishes always remain so.)The launch of Prajaa TV makes it the 11th addition to the stable of Kannada news channels, some of which have been shaky for a long time. At present, Samaya and Janashri are facing financial troubles while Kasturi is wrestling with poor TRPs.