CBI seeks probe against Shivakumar

A Dharwad-based NGO, Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking CBI probe against former minister D K Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh and nine other mining companies in connection with illegal iron ore mining.

The SPS in its writ petition alleged that in 2005, Shivakumar, used his influence over the then chief minister Dharam Singh to get allotted over 10,80,000 tonnes of iron ore (conservative value of over Rs 250 crore) to eight companies, some of which were owned by him or his brother D K Suresh and his close accomplices such as P K Ponnuraj, an exporter.

“This amounts to a blatant abuse of power, corruption and nepotism by Shivakumar. The former chief minister Dharam Singh for acceding to this demand equally attracts the charge of maladministration. These acts are in violation of Prevention of Corruption Act,” the petitioner said.

Shivakumar in connivance with an exporter Satyam Granites, owned by Ponnuraj, made huge amount of ill-gotten wealth at enormous cost to the public exchequer, the petitioner alleged.

The SPS also demanded the CBI probe into affairs of mining companies — Varalaxmi Mining Company, R Praveen Chandra, RBSSN, Mysore Minerals Limited, Deepchand Kishenlal, Matha Minerals, Latha Mining Company, Sesa-Goa, Rama Rao Poal in connection with illegal iron ore mining in Karnataka.

SC notice on mining lease

The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Karnataka government on a plea made by JSW Steel, challenging its 2006 notification granting a 134-acre lease of iron ore mines to B Kumar Gowda, reports DHNS from New Delhi.

A Bench of Justices R M Lodha and S J Mukhopadhaya issued notice to the State government as well as to the legal representatives of Gowda, as he was no more, on a special leave petition filed by the steel company.

JSW Steel challenged the Karnataka HC’s order passed on April 13, last year.