ID :
197718
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 22:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/197718
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Lokayukta indicts Yeddyruppa, Reddy brothers in illegal mining
Bangalore, July 27 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister B S
Yeddyurappa's survival hung in suspense tonight after the
state Lokayukta strongly indicted him over payment of about Rs
30 crore kickbacks by a mining firm to his family trust and
recommended his prosecution under anti-corruption law.
In a report on the rampant illegal mining in the
state, the Lokayukta (ombudsman) also indicted the mining
barons and ministers Reddy brothers, their associate H
Sriramulu, a minister, former Chief Minister and JDS leader H
D Kumaraswamy and several officials and recommended their
prosecution under Prevention of Corruption Act(PCA) and other
laws.
The Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, a former Supreme
Court judge, concluded that the state has suffered a loss of
Rs 16,085 crore during 2006-10 due to "illegalities and
irregularities" in mining in the state.
In damning evidence against the Chief Minister of the
south Indian state of Karnataka, Hegde said during the course
of investigations it was found that
certain transactions have taken place between a company-- the
South West Mining Company, owned by Jindals dealing in iron
ore-- which had donated Rs 10 crore to a trust managed by
family members of Yeddyurappa.
Shortly after submission of the report, a worried BJP
leadership summoned Yeddyruppa, its first chief minister in
South since May 2008, to Delhi as a section of the party is
said to be of the view that he should be removed so that its
anti-corruption campaign is not removed.
After a meeting of the BJP leaders at L K Advani's
house, spokesman Ravishankar Prasad put up a brave face saying
the voluminous report has to be first studied before the
action promised by party president Nitin Gadkari could be
taken.
The 25,228 page-report including annexures said the
Jindal firm also purchased one acre of land (from the chief
minister's family members) in Rachenahally on Bangalore's
outskirts for Rs 20 crore, whereas the guidance value fixed by
the government was Rs 1.40 crore. Hegde's main report runs
into 943 pages.
"This abnormal payment by a firm which was not
financially stable, I find it very difficult to accept that
one has to borrow money and donate", said Hegde, adding
there were a "lot of discrepancies" pertaining to the sale.
"This has led to the incontrovertible conclusion on
my part that these payments were made for reasons other than
genuine reasons. This is an offence under the Prevention of
Corruption Act", Hegde asserted and recommended the chief
minister's prosecution under section 12(3) of the Prevention
of Corruption Act, 1961.
"I have made recommendations to the Governor to take
further steps in that regard, because he is the competent
authority to take action against the Chief Minister. Today, we
have submitted the report to the Government through the
Chief Secretary and a copy has also been submitted to the
Governor for further action", he said in respect of donation
made to the trust run by the Chief Minister's family members.
At another point, he said, "I have made a
recommendation for prosecuting everybody. I have stated this
to the Governor. It is for him to act."
To a question, he shot back,"Action under Prevention
of Corruption Act should be taken. What else?."
Hegde told a press conference that he has named
Chief Minister Yeddyruppa, former Chief Minister and JDS
leader H D Kumaraswamy, Reddy brothers (who are ministers and
mining magnates), their camp follower and another minister H
Sriramulu, Congress MP Anil Lad's wife and over 600
officials in the mining racket.
In the case of Kumaraswamy, the enquiry found
"misconduct" on his part regarding grant of two mining leases
and action has been recommended under PCA.
The report castigated the BJP government, which is
in power since May 2008, for its failure to check
irregularities and illegalities in mining in the state.
"The enquiry has found large scale involvement of
officials, powerful people both in the Administration as
well as in the ground level," said Hegde.
He said the Lokayukta has submitted the report to the
Government and a copy of the report with annexures have been
sent to the Governor for "further action" (in regard to the
Chief Minister).
On Reddy brothers, Hegde said contrary to their claim
that they were not doing any mining in Karnataka, "we have
enough documents to prove to the contrary."
He said the illegalities found were of different
types as has been enumerated in different chapters and
supported by documents.
"The offences committed by various people and
companies will be covered under various acts and action will
be taken in accordance with law under IPC, Forest Act, FMRDA
and PCA," he added.
Hegde said the Lokayukta has recommended that since
various illegalities and irregularities were committed the
Government should cancel the mining licenses, compute the
quantity of loss and treat it as "stolen iron ore" and recover
money from people concerned at the market rate.
He lamented that despite pointing out several
irregularities and illegalities committed by persons concerned
including government officers, details from the time mining
leases were granted till the time mineral was exported,
suffering of the people in the mining areas en route the
mining region and the damage to roads and environment, in his
first report submitted to the government on December 18, 2008,
"no action worth the name has been taken".
Yeddyurappa is the first ever Chief Minister in the
state to be indicted by Lokayukta under the provisions of the
Prevention of Corruption Act and for whose prosecution it has
recommended.
The report running into 25,228 pages has been prepared
by officials including U V Singh, Biswajeet Mishra and Bipin
Singh by examining over four lakh records and collating 50
lakh entries, Hegde said, adding "out of the 25,228 pages, 543
pages are mine".
Lauding the tremendous work done by U V Singh, Hegde
said "I perceive he is under threat because he stepped on the
toes of powerful persons, political personalities and
strong lobby".
"I not only perceive physical harm, there is every
possibility of professional harassment in every way. I have
informed the government about this threat, physical and
professional and sought for security", he said.
Hegde hoped that the government would take suitable
action against those named in the report as contemplated in
law and recover loss that is caused.
"Once illegal mining is stopped the Central and the
State government can recover lakhs of crores of rupees as
Excise and VAT," he said, adding over 100 companies were
involved in illegal mining.
To a query on what action has been recommended
against those named in the report, he said "we have referred
to various acts, it could be the IPC, Prevention of Corruption
Act, Forest Act, Mines Minerals Regulation and Development Act
(MMRDA) Act, under which action should be taken in accordance
with law".
Hegde further hoped that since Supreme Court was
monitoring mining activities in Karnataka, it will take
cognisance and look into the report.PTI BH
ASR
Yeddyurappa's survival hung in suspense tonight after the
state Lokayukta strongly indicted him over payment of about Rs
30 crore kickbacks by a mining firm to his family trust and
recommended his prosecution under anti-corruption law.
In a report on the rampant illegal mining in the
state, the Lokayukta (ombudsman) also indicted the mining
barons and ministers Reddy brothers, their associate H
Sriramulu, a minister, former Chief Minister and JDS leader H
D Kumaraswamy and several officials and recommended their
prosecution under Prevention of Corruption Act(PCA) and other
laws.
The Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, a former Supreme
Court judge, concluded that the state has suffered a loss of
Rs 16,085 crore during 2006-10 due to "illegalities and
irregularities" in mining in the state.
In damning evidence against the Chief Minister of the
south Indian state of Karnataka, Hegde said during the course
of investigations it was found that
certain transactions have taken place between a company-- the
South West Mining Company, owned by Jindals dealing in iron
ore-- which had donated Rs 10 crore to a trust managed by
family members of Yeddyurappa.
Shortly after submission of the report, a worried BJP
leadership summoned Yeddyruppa, its first chief minister in
South since May 2008, to Delhi as a section of the party is
said to be of the view that he should be removed so that its
anti-corruption campaign is not removed.
After a meeting of the BJP leaders at L K Advani's
house, spokesman Ravishankar Prasad put up a brave face saying
the voluminous report has to be first studied before the
action promised by party president Nitin Gadkari could be
taken.
The 25,228 page-report including annexures said the
Jindal firm also purchased one acre of land (from the chief
minister's family members) in Rachenahally on Bangalore's
outskirts for Rs 20 crore, whereas the guidance value fixed by
the government was Rs 1.40 crore. Hegde's main report runs
into 943 pages.
"This abnormal payment by a firm which was not
financially stable, I find it very difficult to accept that
one has to borrow money and donate", said Hegde, adding
there were a "lot of discrepancies" pertaining to the sale.
"This has led to the incontrovertible conclusion on
my part that these payments were made for reasons other than
genuine reasons. This is an offence under the Prevention of
Corruption Act", Hegde asserted and recommended the chief
minister's prosecution under section 12(3) of the Prevention
of Corruption Act, 1961.
"I have made recommendations to the Governor to take
further steps in that regard, because he is the competent
authority to take action against the Chief Minister. Today, we
have submitted the report to the Government through the
Chief Secretary and a copy has also been submitted to the
Governor for further action", he said in respect of donation
made to the trust run by the Chief Minister's family members.
At another point, he said, "I have made a
recommendation for prosecuting everybody. I have stated this
to the Governor. It is for him to act."
To a question, he shot back,"Action under Prevention
of Corruption Act should be taken. What else?."
Hegde told a press conference that he has named
Chief Minister Yeddyruppa, former Chief Minister and JDS
leader H D Kumaraswamy, Reddy brothers (who are ministers and
mining magnates), their camp follower and another minister H
Sriramulu, Congress MP Anil Lad's wife and over 600
officials in the mining racket.
In the case of Kumaraswamy, the enquiry found
"misconduct" on his part regarding grant of two mining leases
and action has been recommended under PCA.
The report castigated the BJP government, which is
in power since May 2008, for its failure to check
irregularities and illegalities in mining in the state.
"The enquiry has found large scale involvement of
officials, powerful people both in the Administration as
well as in the ground level," said Hegde.
He said the Lokayukta has submitted the report to the
Government and a copy of the report with annexures have been
sent to the Governor for "further action" (in regard to the
Chief Minister).
On Reddy brothers, Hegde said contrary to their claim
that they were not doing any mining in Karnataka, "we have
enough documents to prove to the contrary."
He said the illegalities found were of different
types as has been enumerated in different chapters and
supported by documents.
"The offences committed by various people and
companies will be covered under various acts and action will
be taken in accordance with law under IPC, Forest Act, FMRDA
and PCA," he added.
Hegde said the Lokayukta has recommended that since
various illegalities and irregularities were committed the
Government should cancel the mining licenses, compute the
quantity of loss and treat it as "stolen iron ore" and recover
money from people concerned at the market rate.
He lamented that despite pointing out several
irregularities and illegalities committed by persons concerned
including government officers, details from the time mining
leases were granted till the time mineral was exported,
suffering of the people in the mining areas en route the
mining region and the damage to roads and environment, in his
first report submitted to the government on December 18, 2008,
"no action worth the name has been taken".
Yeddyurappa is the first ever Chief Minister in the
state to be indicted by Lokayukta under the provisions of the
Prevention of Corruption Act and for whose prosecution it has
recommended.
The report running into 25,228 pages has been prepared
by officials including U V Singh, Biswajeet Mishra and Bipin
Singh by examining over four lakh records and collating 50
lakh entries, Hegde said, adding "out of the 25,228 pages, 543
pages are mine".
Lauding the tremendous work done by U V Singh, Hegde
said "I perceive he is under threat because he stepped on the
toes of powerful persons, political personalities and
strong lobby".
"I not only perceive physical harm, there is every
possibility of professional harassment in every way. I have
informed the government about this threat, physical and
professional and sought for security", he said.
Hegde hoped that the government would take suitable
action against those named in the report as contemplated in
law and recover loss that is caused.
"Once illegal mining is stopped the Central and the
State government can recover lakhs of crores of rupees as
Excise and VAT," he said, adding over 100 companies were
involved in illegal mining.
To a query on what action has been recommended
against those named in the report, he said "we have referred
to various acts, it could be the IPC, Prevention of Corruption
Act, Forest Act, Mines Minerals Regulation and Development Act
(MMRDA) Act, under which action should be taken in accordance
with law".
Hegde further hoped that since Supreme Court was
monitoring mining activities in Karnataka, it will take
cognisance and look into the report.PTI BH
ASR
