Bangalore, January 20: Investigations will continue against External Affairs Minister SM Krishna in a case of alleged facilitation of illegal mining, the Karnataka High Court ruled today. The case is based on a complaint which alleges that Mr Krishna had allowed illegal mining to continue when he was the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Investigations in the case will also continue against former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, the High Court said.
The Bangalore Lokayukta police had filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Mr Krishna on December 8. The FIR also named Dharam Singh and Mr Kumaraswamy, who succeeded Mr Krishna as Chief Ministers.
This followed a private complaint in the Lokayukta court by a businessman and social activist, T J Abraham, accusing Mr Krishna of taking decisions like de-reserving forest areas to facilitate illegal mining during his tenure as Chief Minister from 1999 to 2003. Lokayukta Court Judge NK Sudhindra Rao had directed the police to investigate the complaint.
Mr Krishna declined comment on today’s ruling, saying that his lawyers would go through the judgement. Sources, however, indicated that he may appeal in the Supreme Court.
Reacting to the High Court order, Mr Kumaraswamy’s lawyer said that he would appeal in the Supreme Court.
The former Chief Ministers had approached the High Court with a plea to quash the FIR filed against them.
Mr Krishna had earlier dismissed the allegations against him and said that he never handled the mines portfolio. He maintained that he did not permit de-reserving of forests for mining.
—Agencies