From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 5: Mines and geology minister Murugesh R Nirani has cracked the whip on corrupt officials in his department.
Deputy director, mines and geology department, Chitradurga, BM Lingaraju, has been placed under suspension for allegedly indulging in corruption and harassing people on Friday.
Fayaz Ahmed Sheikh, geologist, deputy director’s office, mines and geology department, Bagalkot was earlier suspended for the same charges. BM Lingaraju was suspended on Friday following a departmental inquiry.
Murugesh Nirani (File Photo)
BM Lingaraju was accused of indulging in massive corruption and harassing owners of stone quarrying companies when he was functioning as acting (in-charge) deputy director of mines and geology department in Bagalkot district.
Nirani took the action after receiving written complaints and proof from mining companies against the two officials during his recent visit to Bagalkot.
The officials accused of indulging in massive corruption and encouraging illegal activities in the Bagalkot district.
Taking the issue seriously, the minister ordered a departmental inquiry against the officials. The probe revealed that Lingaraju received additional royalty from the stone crusher industries association in the Kalaburagi district.
He also rejected the renewal application of KS Kankale citing a lack of sufficient space in the safety buffer zone and demanded a bribe of Rs 10 lac.
The probe also revealed that the officer harassed the owner of Jayadeva stone crusher to renew the unit’s licence by citing safety issues and demanded a huge amount as a bribe.
The contractor obtained a loan and sold his assets and attempted suicide due to the huge amount of bribe demanded by Lingaraju.
The officer had also issued a notice to Jayadeva stone crusher asking it to pay Rs 13.17 lac fine for transporting and storing construction stones without a licence.
The regional commissioner overturned Lingaraju’s order imposing a huge fine on Jayadeva stone crusher thus exposing his misdeeds.
Lingaraju had also harassed Venkateshwara stone crushers to renew their licence.
Several such allegations of corruption against Lingaraju was proved during the investigation and he was suspended after considering all these things.