Team Anna accuses Krishna of mining graft in Karnataka

Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan Tuesday alleged that External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna while serving as Karnataka chief minister indulged in corruption causing loss to the government - a charge denied by the Congress.

Bhushan told reporters here that Krishna, who headed the state government between 1999 and 2004, responded to their allegations by terming the issue as "subjudice".

He said though Congress spokespersons had termed the allegations as "unsubstantiated", they stood by their allegations on corruption in mining deals in the state.

"We have found the allegations correct and the loss to the state exchequer has been found to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees," he said.

Bhushan claimed having evidence which was allegedly not provided to the state Lokayukta due to which Krishna got undue benefit in criminal proceedings.

Krishna in his response termed the matter subjudice since he had obtained a stay from the Supreme Court against the proceedings in the Lokayukta, he said.

He alleged that the former chief minister managed to get relief as the state government did not furnish a cabinet note to the Lokayukta in which the chief minister had signed a note recommending de-reservation of 11,620 sq km forest land and permission for iron ore mining by private companies.

The documents pertaining to the cabinet note and other government functionaries were with us, said Bhushan.