JOIN USFormer Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, who has been chosen for the SR Jindal prize, which carries a purse of Rs 1 crore, has decided to contribute the sum to the Sainik Welfare Organisation, India.
When contacted, Hegde told Deccan Herald on Wednesday that he accepted the award only after confirming that the Sitaram Jindal Foundation had ‘no connection’ with the Jindal Steel Works of Bellary, which has been indicted in the report submitted by him on illegal mining.
“I was skeptical about accepting the award because of the company. I immediately sought their clarification. They gave it to me in writing that Sitaram Jindal and O P Jindal of JSW were distant relatives, and that there was no business connection between them,” he said.
Hegde said he would keep the certificate and donate the cheque to the Sainik Welfare Organisation. The prize will be presented on February 23.