State police chief Omprakash’s son, Karthikesh Omprakash, has business relations with the kin of N Narasimha Murthy, a clerk at the State police headquarters, who has been arrested by the SIT probing the Lokayukta corruption scam.
Documents available with the Deccan Herald show that Murthy's brother-in-law Ashwath and Karthikesh are partners in a quarrying and crusher unit in Ramanagara. Incidentally, a complaint by the villagers of Hanchikuppe in Ramanagara district against this quarrying firm for violation of rules is still pending before the Upalokayukta.
The application for quarrying and stone crushing unit was filed in the name of Karthikesh in 2009. The Mining Licence (Number 1354 and 1353) was issued in favour of the firm Magadi Quarry and Crusher, owned by Karthikesh and Ashwath. Around five acres of gomala land at Hanchikuppe was allotted to the firm.
When villagers objected to the quarrying unit within the prescribed safe zone, a proceeding by the Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner held on March 1, 2013 relaxed certain conditions. The area was declared as safe zone. The same day, based on the recommendation of the DC, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board accorded certification for the safe zone. The decision was so fast that both the offices passed orders in favour of a quarry owner in just one day, the documents reveal. Despite this, the Tahshildar had submitted a report that the unit fell within 500 metres of residential area, which is not permissable under Karnataka Regulation of Stone Crushers Act, 2011.
The Hanchikuppe villagers had also filed a PIL in the High Court. The court dismissed the petition on the grounds that since the villagers are the concerned parties a PIL cannot be entertained. The villagers also filed a complaint before the Upalokayukta (Compt/Uplok/BD/459/2011) and the next date of hearing is September 23, 2015.
On the day Omprakash took charge as DG&IGP, Loksatta Party had complained to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that he had prima facie misused his position to get clearances for the unit owned by his son.
When contacted, Omprakash said that it was a personal business issue of his son. Asked if he is aware of his son's business partnership with the brother-in-law of a clerk in his office, the DG&IGP answered in the negative.
“You have to ask this question to my son. He may have a business relationship with a private person. Moreover, if it is illegal, let the law take its own course,'' he said.
