Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Aug 24: Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who always claimed that he has done nothing wrong and that he is prepared to face any inquiry, seems to have developed cold feet over a case relating to illegal renovation of mining lease. On Tuesday August 23, Kumaraswamy and his wife, Anita Kumaraswamy, filed petitions in the Lokayukta special court here, seeking anticipatory bail. Anita has been named in the irregularities connected with Vishwabharati Housing Cooperative Society.

The hearing on the applications will be held on August 25. On August 8, the court had served summons on Kumaraswamy, but the former Chief Minister had put up a brave face, and announced that he is innocent. Now that former minister, Katta Subrahmanya Naidu, and his son, Katta Jagadish, are under judicial custody, Kumaraswamy couple seems to be fearing that they too might be arrested, or a first information report may be registered and investigation might be started against them.

As per the said summons, Kumaraswamy was to appear before the court on August 30. Through a private complaint filed in the court, a lawyer named Vinod Kumar had complained to the Lokayukta special court that Kumaraswamy had illegally recommended for the renewal of lease for Jantakal Mining Company, Chitradurga, during the period he was the Chief Minister of Karnataka.  He also has been charged with wrongfully sanctioning  70 acres of government land to Viswhabharati Housing Cooperative Society during this period. As a reward for this favour, a site has been allotted to Anita Kumaraswamy in the extension developed by the society.