Illegal mining: Kumaraswamy in trouble as interim bail rejected

13 June, Bengaluru

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S)State President H D Kumaraswamy suffered a set back as LokayuktaCourt today rejected his bail application in connection with illegalMining by Janthakal Enterprises.

Kumaraswamy had obtained interim bail from Vacation Courton May 17 in connection with permitting the company to lift the ironore on production alleged production of fake certificate from theEnvironment authorities.

The Lokayukta Court which took up the main application todayrejected the interim bail granted by the vacational court.

Reacting to the court order, Kumaraswamy said ”I am not atall worried about the rejection of anticipatory bail. I am very muchconfident that I have not done anything wrong”. He said he wouldabide by the suggestions of his legal team and move for theanticipatory bail at a higher court.

The Special Investigation (SIT), which is probing illegal mining,on May 17 had arrested IAS officer Ganga Ram Baderiya.

It was alleged that Kumaraswamy had pressurised the IASofficer, who was then Director of Mines Department, to grantpermission for mining by Janthakal Enterprises.

Mining baron and former Karnataka Minister Gali Janardhana Reddy,who had alleged that Kumaraswamy had taken Rs 150 crore bribe forsanctioning lifting of iron ore by Janthakal Enterprise, is yet tosubmit documents in support of his allegations as asked by the SIT.
SIT Chief Charan Reddy said that Janardhana Reddy is yet tosubmit the documents to support his bribe charge against Kumaraswamy despite granting his sufficient time to him for submission.