H K Patil pulls up own govt for 'apathy' in illegal mining cases

Only 7.6 per cent of all illegal mining cases have been investigated, Law Minister H K Patil has said in a scathing letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, lamenting that the government has not done enough to punish the culprits and recover the lost wealth.

The seven-page letter dated June 18 reminds Siddaramaiah that he had led a 320-km foot march to Ballari to take on the illegal mining scam in 2010.

“Between 2007 and 2011, massive treachery took place in Karnataka in the form of illegal mining. Politicians and bureaucrats systematically looted the state’s wealth. The government lost Rs 1.5 lakh crore,” Patil stated.

“But in spite of such a large-scale loot, the government has not demonstrated honesty and commitment in ensuring commensurate punishment for the loot and recovery of the state’s wealth. There is outrage among people about this,” he stated.

Patil said he headed a Cabinet sub-committee between 2013 and 2018 - when the first Siddaramaiah-led Congress government was in power - and exposed the true extent of the illegal mining scam.

“Only 7.6% of all illegal mining cases have been subjected to an investigation. Of them, only 2% have seen conclusion. Only a few criminals have been punished. Some of the accused persons have been let off on the grounds of benefit of doubt. Appeals in these cases are rotting due to indecision,” Patil fumed. “The remaining 92.4% of cases need investigation, punishment for the accused and recovery of the looted wealth.”

Patil blamed administrative apathy “treacherous bureaucratic mindset” for the lack of investigation. “A special investigation team (SIT), which is looking into a few cases, has not made progress. These cases are getting buried in government files and administrative delays,” he stated.

The criminal proceeds of the illegal mining scam were used in elections, Patil pointed out. “Such illegal money was used to topple governments and purchase lawmakers,” he said. “This money has controlled the state’s polity for two decades. The fate of political parties is dependent on this money. Governments are not doing enough,” he said.

Patil told Siddaramaiah that the government can still act. “There’s still time,” he said.

The government must immediately appoint a Recovery Commissioner in line with provisions under the Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance, 1946.

Patil sought the creation of a new SIT to take up investigation of cases that were not probed at all. He also sought a special court to try these cases.