HDK arrested in mining case, granted bail

Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy was arrested and released on anticipatory bail granted to him by the Lokayukta special court, in an illegal mining case being probed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The Lokayukta special court had granted Kumaraswamy anticipatory bail stating that in case of arrest, he shall be released on a surety of Rs five lakh.

The SIT had registered an FIR pertaining to illegalities while granting mining lease to Sri Sai Venkateshwara Minerals (SSVM). The illegalities were part of those mentioned in the Lokayukta report submitted to the SIT. The SIT had arrested Vinod Goel, the deemed beneficiary of the illegalities, and under-secretary K Jayachandra.

The Lokayukta report stated that around 29 applications were received by the Director of Mines and Geology in respect of land in NEB Range (Sandur taluk, Ballari district) for different extents. The report stated that SSVM had filed the last application.

However, on October 5, 2007, the file pertaining to SSVM was placed before various sections and finally, before the then chief minister Kumaraswamy. The report said that Kumaraswamy made a note saying, “I have perused the records. The mining lease in respect of 550 acres of land in Jog, Thimmappagudi, Vhavihalli, NEB Range in Sandur taluk, Ballari district, is granted in favour of the following: Sri Sai Venkateshwara Minerals.”

SIT notice

The SIT police had issued a notice to Kumaraswamy on July 27, asking him to appear before the Investigating Officer (IO) before August.

Kumaraswamy filed an anticipatory application on August 1 before the Lokayukta special court and also sought an anticipatory bail. The special court judge V G Bopaiah granted interim anticipatory bail to Kumaraswamy on August 3.

On August 5, Kumara-swamy appeared before the IO and the arrest formalities were completed.

“He (Kumaraswamy) signed on the arrest register, on the bail order and his fingerprints were taken. He was questioned on the note, despite the secretary writing a note that there were other applications, too,” an official said.