Bangalore: After SC Order, DVS Now Offers Full Cooperation to CBI

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 24: A day after the Supreme Court expanded the ongoing CBI investigation into the illegal mining in Bellary district, the State Government on Saturday said offered to extend full cooperation to the investigating agency.

Karnataka's decision on the CBI probe is considered a big climbdown as the State Government ruled by the BJP and by all other parties, including Congress, have consistently opposed allowing CBI to probe into any case in the State.

''The government is committed to abide by the Supreme Court order," said Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, adding: ''We will go by whatever direction the Supreme Court gives. We will extend all cooperation to the CBI."

The Supreme Court has appointed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which had earlier conducted a probe under the legal frame work on illegal mining in Bellary and other parts of the state, to monitor the investigation.

The apex court on Friday asked CBI to probe into linkage between illegal mining in Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh and Bellary in Karnataka allegedly involving the Reddy brothers, former ministers.

Mining of ore by Associated Mining Company (AMC), owned by former minister G Janardhana Reddy and Deccan Mining Syndicate (DMS), was routed through Obulapuram Mining Company in Andhra Pradesh, the court said.

Reddy and his brother-in-law Srinivasa Reddy, who is the Managing Director of Obulapuram Mining Company, have already been arrested by CBI and lodged in Chanchalaguda jail in Hyderabad in connection with illegal mining.

A report submitted by Karnataka Lokayukta into illegal mining has indicted Janardhana Reddy, his two brothers and their associate former minister B Sreeramulu.

The CBI has already raided the residences of Janardhana Reddy, his brother G Karunakara Reddy and several other close associates of the Reddy brothers. The central investigating agency has already interrogated several persons, including Karunakara Reddy, former minister Sriramulu and others.

29 Officials indicted by Lokayukta suspended

Meanwhile, in a major action after submission of the Lokayukta report on illegal mining, the State Government has suspended 29 officials of the Forest Department for their role in illegal mining and transportation of ore from Bellary.

The officials have been suspended following their indictment by the Karnataka Lokayukta report on illegal mining submitted to the Government.

An order issued by the Forest Department stated that officials have issued 900 permits to transport iron ore even after the expiry of the contract period.

The officials permitted Karthikeyan Manganese and Iron Ore Private Limited to mine iron ore in the forest areas of the Ramamalai and Swamimalai.

The suspended officials are: Mahesh Patil, V K Thippeswamy, M S Nyamathi and Ramamurthy (all range officers), K Gange Gowda, Bellary Raghavendra, K C Nagarajaiah, N Basavaraja, K R Chetan, K Ganti Rajesh, Sayyed Sharief, B Shekhar, Basavanagouda, B Nagaraj, T K Chandrappa, Sanjeevakumar Agaras, Sunil Kumar Chauvan (all forest watchers), K M Madhusudhan, M Honnur Sab, V Nagabhushan, B Rangaiah, K Kenchappa, D Maranna, J Hanumanthappa, Kanakappa, V Thimmaraju, K Jadiyappa, Nagendrappa, (forest guards) and T Darappa Naik (surveyor).

The final report of the Lokayukta on illegal mining has named over 700 officials involvement in illegal mining.

The order said the suspended officials should not leave their centres without prior permission.

Moily or Centre have not sent any report on Yogeshwar

The Chief Minister said he had not received request from anyone, including the Union Corporate Affairs Ministry Veerappa Moily, for information on the alleged irregularities in Mega City housing project promoted by Forest Minister C P Yogeshwar.

"I have no communication even from the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs which has probed into the matter," he said.

Moily, the former Union Law Minister and a former chief minister of Karnataka, had recently stated that his ministry had submitted a report on the Mega City project 'irregularities' and action would be taken by the government.

However, Yogeshwar has denied any irregularities in the project and contended that the allegations were ''politically motivated" by Congress and JD(S). ''I am clean," he had said.

Chidambaram promised Special Status to Hyderabad-Karnataka

The Chief Minister said Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had promised him that the Centre had decided to amend Article 371D of the Constitution to provide for special status to Hyderabad-Karnataka region.

BJP will win, but Koppal is no referendum

The Chief Minister said the outcome of the September 26 by-election to Koppal assembly seat cannot be considered a referendum on his government as he had assumed office last month.

Gowda, who campaigned for two days in the constituency, claimed that the BJP would emerge victorious by a huge margin.