Lokayukta to probe 3 ex-CMs
A Special Lokayukta Court here on Saturday handed over investigations into allegations made in a private complaint against three former chief ministers and bureaucrats to the State Lokayukta police.
Pronouncing orders on a private complaint filed by Abraham T J, a businessman, Judge N K Sudhindra Rao referred the investigation to the additional director general of police of Lokayukta under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The matter has been posted to January 6.
No action
Abraham has alleged in his complaint that no action has been initiated against several politicians and officials, even though they have been implicated in the two reports of Lokayukta on illegal mining in the State.
The names of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, former chief ministers Dharam Singh and H D Kumaraswamy, IAS officers Gangaram Baderiya, V Umesh, I R Perumal, Mahendra Jain, K S Manjunath (Retd), D S Ashwath (Retd), former IPS officer Jija Madhavan Hari Singh, former director of mines and geology Basappa Reddy, Dy GMs of Mysore Minerals Limited (MML) K Srinivas, M Ramappa and Shankarlingaiah are given as accused in the complaint.
The complaint states that S M Krishna during his tenure as chief minister illegally amassed wealth in the name of some members of his family, including his children and in laws, and also in the names of his erstwhile close cabinet colleagues, in return for de-reserving forest land for private companies.
In one instance, an agreement with Kalyani Ferrous required the MML to pay interest of 10 per cent on the advance amount paid by Kalyani, even though such an agreement was not to be found with other companies.
It also indicates a loss of Rs 25.72 crore caused to the MML due to its mining agreement with Vijayanagar Mines Private Limited and Jindal. It accuses Dharam Singh of issuing temporary transport permits for movement of iron ore and manganese ore from agricultural lands not held under mining lease and violating rules.
This has resulted in a loss of Rs 23.22 crore. H D Kumaraswamy is accused of approving illegal mining licence to Sai Venkateshwara Minerals and renewing the lease of Janthakal Enterprises illegally. The complaint accuses him of diverting the illegal money obtained through these favours in the name of his brother H D Balakrishna.
The charges against the officials are the same as those indicated in the first report submitted to the government by former Lokayukta Santhosh Hegde.
