The Karnataka High Court on Friday declined pleas of External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna and JDS chief H. D. Kumaraswamy to quash private complaints against them over alleged illegal mining during their Chief Ministerhsips, but gave them partial relief on some charges.
Justice N. Ananda passed separate orders on criminal petitions by Krishna and Kumaraswamy, who had prayed for quashing the private complaints and proceedings ordered against them by the Lokayukta Special Court.
1The Court ordered that investigation should continue into offences against Krishna relating to deservation of forest area in mineral rich fragile zones. Krishna, Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004, however got some relief as the court quashed the charges of mismanagement of state owned Mysore Minerals Limited by him on the ground ‘it does not constitute any cognisable offence and do not call for investigation’.
Kumaraswamy, who headed the JDS-BJP coalition, got some reprieve when the court upheld his plea to quash Rs 150 crore bribery charges levelled against him in the complaint and his order for renewing the mining licence of Jentakal Mining firm.
But the court said Kumaraswamy has to face a probe into ordering renewal of mining licence of Sree Sai Venkateshwara mining company when he was Chief Minister from 2006 to 2007.