Anil Lad gives himself clean chit, eyes Cabinet berth

MLA Anil Lad claimed on Tuesday that he was not involved in illegal mining and challenged those making allegations against him to come out with documents to substantiate the same.

The legislator was addressing a press conference in the city. Anil said that he had already provided documents to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the illegal mining case, regarding the allegation of illegal export of iron ore from the Belekeri port.
Reacting to allegations made by freedom fighter H S Doreswamy and S R Hiremath of the Samaja Parivartana Samudaya, Anil said he was ready for a public debate.

Expressing dissatisfaction over not being made a minister, Anil said his brother Santosh Lad too was facing allegations of illegal mining. But the latter had been inducted into the Siddaramaiah cabinet. Anil said he would wait for another six months to be made a minister.

Refuting his brother’s claims, Santosh told reporters in Dharwad that there were no allegations of illegal mining against him.

Party stand

Reacting to Anil Lad’s claim that he was not involved in illegal mining, KPCC president G Parameshwara said in Bangalore that Anil and his mining companies had been mentioned in the Lokayukta report.

“He will get an opportunity to be a minister after he is absolved of all charges. He is also capable to become minister,” he stated.

Asked about Anil’s allegation that his brother Santosh was made a minister, despite his name figuring in the report, the KPCC chief said Santosh’s name is not mentioned anywhere in the report. He has been inducted into the Cabinet after verifying all facts, he added.