Yeddyurappa, others named in illegal mining report: Santosh Hegde

Jul 21, 2011 |

IANS

Bengaluru

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Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, mining barons Reddy brothers, Janata Dal-Secular leader H.D. Kumaraswamy and Congress MP Anil Lad are involved in one way or another in illegal mining, Lokayukta (ombudsman) N. Santosh Hegde said on Thursday.

Hegde, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, admitted that his report, yet to be submitted to the government, was leaked late Wednesday and apologised for the lapse.

Hegde, whose five-year term expires Aug 2, became emotional at the early morning press meet over the leak.

The report blames Yeddyurappa for not taking steps to check illegal mining even after the Lokayukta submitted a report on it in December 2008.

The chief minister's sons and son-in-law are said to be involved as well.

Besides the Reddy brothers, Tourism Minister G. Janardhana and Revenue Minister G. Karunakara, their associate, Health Minister B. Sreeramulu, is also said to be guilty of illegal mining.

Kumaraswamy, who was chief minister in the shortlived JD-S-BJP coalition in 2006-07, has been found to have granted mining license to two companies flouting rules.

Hegde acknowledged that most of the points circulating on the basis of the leak find mention in the report.

He said the leak of the report would not lessen its importance.

Hegde said he had reason to believe that his phones had been tapped and this could have led to the leak of the report. None of his officers involved in preparing the report was responsible, he asserted.

He will submit the report to the government on Friday.

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