The Supreme Court appointed Central Empow-ered Committee has recommended a court-monitored investigation by the CBI into illegal mining in Bellary.
M.K. Jiwrajka, member secretary, Central Empow-ered Committee said in its interim report submitted to the Supreme court on September 21, that it firmly believed the CBI which is investigating illegal mining in the Bellary Reserve Forests in Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh, should be asked to investigate illegalities pertaining to mining leases of the Associated Mining Company (AMC) in Sandur, and the illegal mining done in the field, ML No: 1111, leased by the National Mineral Development Corporation, by “third parties,” an alleged reference to former minister Janardhan Reddy and one of his legal advisors. The CEC said 16.20 hectares leased by AMC in Sandur was transferred to Mr Janardhan Reddy and his wife Lakshmi Aruna on August 1, 2009.
“This appears to have been done by dubious means to ensure the retirement of all the existing partners,” the report said.
It explained that a CBI probe was necessary because the existing location of the boundary pillars of the mining lease was completely different from the sanctioned lease sketch, the quantity of iron ore shown to have been produced and dispatched from it was far in excess of the quantity that could have been physically produced and dispatched from such a small area and because the Karnataka Lokayukta had made scathing observations regarding the series of illegalities allegedly committed by the AMC and the undue favour shown to it by government officials.