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SIT quizzes Kumaraswamy in illegal mining permit case
Former Chief Minister H D Kumara swamy on Thursday appe- ared before the Special Investigation team (SIT), probing illegal mining cases.
He was questioned in connection with the illegal permit granted to Janthakal Enterprises to lift iron ore. Kumaraswamy denied allegations made by senior IAS officer Gangaram Baderiya, who has been arrested by the SIT, and said that he had not pressured any government servant to illegally accord permission to any mining company.
The JD(S) leader appeared before the Investigating Officer (IO) in the case at the SIT office at Hebbal on Ballari Road. The SIT had issued him notice to appear before the IO in the wake of Baderiya's statement that Kumaraswamy, when he was the chief minister, had given an ultimatum to officials of the Mines and Geology Department to accord permission to Janthakal Enterprise in two hours.
“Kumaraswamy has denied all allegations made against him. He was questioned only with regard to the permission granted to Janthakal Enterprises to lift iron ore. Since there was no further questions in this case he has been considered as a witness in this case so far,” a senior official said.
Meanwhile, Baderiya's police custody has been extended up to May 20. The SIT officials produced Baderiya before the magistrate as his police custody ended on Thursday.
An official said that an application, seeking extention of the police custody, was moved since the senior official was admitted at Victoria Hospital since May 16. “He complained of chest pain and also informed the police that he had a history of heart ailment. He was immediately admitted to Victoria Hospital. Doctors at the Victoria Hospital examined him and he was discharged only at around 2 pm on Thursday,” the official said. Sources in the SIT said that the doctors have given the report stating Baderiya's health condition was stable and normal.
After appearing before the SIT, Kumaraswwamy said, “SIT official had issued notice to me to appear before him. I have obeyed the notice and appeared before the officer. I have offered my full cooperation with the investigation. There are four cases under investigation involving Janthakal Enterprises. I have never pressured any official to pass any orders in violation of rules in my tenure as chief minister for 20 months.”
He was questioned in connection with the illegal permit granted to Janthakal Enterprises to lift iron ore. Kumaraswamy denied allegations made by senior IAS officer Gangaram Baderiya, who has been arrested by the SIT, and said that he had not pressured any government servant to illegally accord permission to any mining company.
The JD(S) leader appeared before the Investigating Officer (IO) in the case at the SIT office at Hebbal on Ballari Road. The SIT had issued him notice to appear before the IO in the wake of Baderiya's statement that Kumaraswamy, when he was the chief minister, had given an ultimatum to officials of the Mines and Geology Department to accord permission to Janthakal Enterprise in two hours.
“Kumaraswamy has denied all allegations made against him. He was questioned only with regard to the permission granted to Janthakal Enterprises to lift iron ore. Since there was no further questions in this case he has been considered as a witness in this case so far,” a senior official said.
Meanwhile, Baderiya's police custody has been extended up to May 20. The SIT officials produced Baderiya before the magistrate as his police custody ended on Thursday.
An official said that an application, seeking extention of the police custody, was moved since the senior official was admitted at Victoria Hospital since May 16. “He complained of chest pain and also informed the police that he had a history of heart ailment. He was immediately admitted to Victoria Hospital. Doctors at the Victoria Hospital examined him and he was discharged only at around 2 pm on Thursday,” the official said. Sources in the SIT said that the doctors have given the report stating Baderiya's health condition was stable and normal.
After appearing before the SIT, Kumaraswwamy said, “SIT official had issued notice to me to appear before him. I have obeyed the notice and appeared before the officer. I have offered my full cooperation with the investigation. There are four cases under investigation involving Janthakal Enterprises. I have never pressured any official to pass any orders in violation of rules in my tenure as chief minister for 20 months.”
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