Daijiworld Media Network – Belgaum (SP)

Belgaum, Dec 6: State Lokayukta, Justice N Santosh Hegde, has demanded that a suit be filed by the present government against former state Chief Minister (CM), Dharam Singh, for recovering a loss of Rs 23 crore suffered by the state because of the wrong decision of the then CM.

“When Dharam Singh was the Chief Minister, his secretary had recommended that illegal transportation of ore should not be permitted. Rejecting this recommendation, Dharam Singh had allowed iron ore worth Rs 23 crore to be transported illegally. This had caused a loss of Rs 23 crore to the state exchequer,” he explained.

He revealed that after the conclusion of the inquiry, the Lokayukta had sent its recommendation for filing suit against Dharam Singh, but that the then Governor, Rameshwar Thakur, had shot down the proposal submitted by the state government in this connection. Hegde felt that the present CM has the right to file suit against the guilty leader now to recover the amount, duly expressing his surprise at the inaction of the CM in this regard.

Justice Hegde said that first information reports had been filed against the accused connected with the recent land scam and that statements had been issued through the media accordingly. “Eshwarappa has been making baseless allegations against me. I have done what is expected of me constitutionally. I am not concerned as to how Eshwarappa has construed by actions. None of my statements were politically motivated as alleged by him,” he clarified.