Hand over illegal mining probe to CBI: Hegde tells Karnataka

Bangalore, Sept 5 (PTI) Former Karnataka Lokayukta N
Santosh Hegde on Monday said that he favoured handing over the
probe into illegal mining in the state to the CBI, maintaining
that the Obalapuram Mining Company owned by former minister G
Janardhana Reddy indulged in such activity.
The former Supreme Court Judge said the CBI move to
arrest Janardhan Reddy is not a result of the illegal mining
report that he submitted to the Government as Lokayukta on
July 27.
In this context, he noted that Karnataka government has not
given permission to CBI to conduct a probe into the matter,
adding, Reddy's arrest is a result of sanction given by Andhra
Pradesh in connection with some irregularities.
"They (OMC) may deny many times that they have indulged in
illegal mining. But we (in the Lokayukta report) have said
they did engage in that through documents we produced", Hegde
said.
He said the probe into the entire illegal mining issue in
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh should be handed over to CBI. "I
am of that opinion. Even investigation in Karnataka should be
given to CBI", added Hegde.