Daijiworld Media Network - Ballari (SHP)

Ballari, Sep 28: Former Ballari MLA and Congress leader Anil Lad is considering joining BJP and abandoning the sinking ship of Congress.

On Thursday, Lad expressed his desire to join BJP on Brucepet Block Congress message group. He wanted to hear out the views of his party members regarding his decision. However, Lad's declaration created unrest among other party workers who urged him to stay in Congress.

To make his decision public, Lad announced it to a couple of journalists. He alleged that he was being treated unfairly in Congress where he was getting 'consciously sidelined'. Lad believed that his name and photo were being strategically excluded from banners and pamphlets printed for party programmes. With all the group politics in Congress, Lad stated it was wise to join BJP and work 'unconditionally' as its party worker.

Besides, Lad confirmed that there was no point in staying with Congress and that he already expressed his interest in joining BJP with BJP leader B Sriramulu. On September 30, Lad will be discussing the matter with chief minister B S Yediyurappa and will also meet with BJP general secretary B L Santhosh.

As per sources, Lad has already conveyed his message to Congress Legislative Party leader Siddaramaiah.

Illegal mining - Anil Lad's application dismissed by high court

Anil Lad, who is facing a case registered by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against him relating to alleged illegal mining and exporting 50,000 metric tonnes of iron ore without licence, had approached the state high court, seeking to drop the case. The high court has now dismissed Lad's petition.

A single judge bench of the high court presided over by Justice John Michael Cunha had heard the arguments and reserved the orders in the case. The bench pronounced its order on Friday September 27, as per which it said that the plea of the accused cannot be upheld now as the case is under investigation. It upheld the arguments placed by advocate for CBI P Prasanna Kumar, that the accused had illegally extracted iron ore, caused loss to the exchequer by not paying the royalty and forest development tax.

CBI had registered the above case as per the direction issued by the Supreme Court on illegal iron ore mining. It had filed charge sheet under different sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code in the special CBI court here on September 13, 2012. 50 persons including Anil Lad, mining baron, Janardhan Reddy, Satish Seil, the then forest officer N K Shukla, Kharadapudi Mahesh and Swasti Nagaraj were named as accused.