Bangalore, April 13: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s camp today hit back at JDS chief H D Kumaraswamy charging him with bending rules while granting mining licence to a firm when he was at the helm of the state.
Kumaraswamy approved mining lease of 550 acres to Sai Venkateshwara Minerals at Sandur in Bellary district, an area which had been notified as “reserve” and “heldup”, B J Puttaswamy, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, alleged at a press meet here.
The orders granting mining lease, rejecting objections from officials, was approved on Oct 6, 2007, couple of days before Kumaraswamy demitted office, he alleged.
Puttaswamy, who has been bringing to the fore alleged irregularities that took place during rule of Kumaraswamy, after the JDS leader levelled a spate of corruption charges against Yeddyurappa, charged that the former Chief Minister received Rs 167 crore from mine owners.
-Agencies