Santosh Hegde promises that safety of officials investigating the mining scam would be ensured even after he completes his term
Santosh Hegde promises that safety of officials investigating the mining scam would be ensured even after he completes his term
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Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde's much awaited report was leaked and it was known beforehand that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's name would figure in the Rs 1,827 crore mining scam.
Loss that the state exchequer has suffered in 14 months between April
2009 and May 2010
With the leaked report showing the CM's name, the Lokayukta revealed that BJP leaders led by N Dhanajay Kumar, spokesperson of the party and state government representative in Delhi, approached him requesting that Yeddyurappa be spared in his second report on illegal mining.
After the legislative assembly and council were rocked by Belekeri scam, the government entrusted the Lokayukta to probe into the issue. This is in fact the second report from the Lokayukta on illegal mining, the first having been submitted in 2008.
Sources said that the report will talk about the discrepancies of the forest department in the transportation of 5 lakh metric tons of ore from Bellary to Belekeri as it passed seven check-posts on the way last year.
The forest department had seized the material at the Belekeri port saying it was extracted from the forest area. However, to everyone's surprise, forest officials later said that the ore was stolen from the port, thereby creating a sensation in the state.
Building up
It is obvious that Yeddyurappa will be linked to it, while the report is going to indicate his involvement in clearing the mining licence in Chitradurga and Bellary. Documents show the CM's son B Y Vijendra is closely associated with the business of a mining company based in Chitradurga and the government has cleared the lease licence of this company because of his involvement.
Apart from Vijendra and his MP-brother B Y Raghavendra being involved in ore trading, evidence to prove their control over a few mining companies indirectly exists. Sources said that the report is expected to show them as their front companies.
Soft targets?
Voicing concern for the safety of officials involved in the investigations into the mining scam, Hegde referred to the threat perception faced by them. The Lokayukta mentioned an attack on Director (Vigilance) Dr U V Singh.
"When Singh, who was spearheading the mining report was attacked by a local corporator over a trivial issue, other officials facing threats from influential and powerful people in the state have much more to fear," he said.
To avoid a repeat of such incidents, Hegde has confirmed that the safety of officials investigating the mining scam would be ensured even after he completed his term.
Hegde said that Bipin Kumar, Biswajit and Uday Kumar, forest officials of the state who worked extensively on the mining case to help Lokayukta investigations are targets. "I do not want them to face any hardship after my term, hence I am consulting the police department to access the threat perception and take necessary action to protect their interest," he added.
Report delayed
However, Hegde said there was no possibility of submitting the report on July 23 as promised, but confessed that it had leaked. He informed though that the leak was not from his office. "I have never mentioned about the date, but think that the media had guessed. It is not possible to submit it on July 23 and it may take some more time. However, I can assure you that the report would be submitted before my retirement," Hegde, who is due to retire on August 3, said.
Skirting around?
Interestingly, the report is understood to have not talking about the Reddys directly as it could not establish their direct involvement in mining business in the state. However, there are documents to show a mining company, in which MLA Anand Singh is one of the directors, has lifted a part of ore seized in Belekeri port and is exporting to Singapore. The ore was taken out of the company, after which the forest department announced that it was stolen. In addition, the company is proven to be a front company of Obalapuram Mining Company owned by G Janaradna Reddy, tourism minister and Bellary mining lord. The report is understood to
have named four ministers including Housing Minister V Somanna.
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