The Hindu : Kharge rules out CBI probe into Nagappa episode

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 19, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Kharge rules out CBI probe into Nagappa episode

By Our Special Correspondent

HUBLI April 18. Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister for Home and Minor Irrigation, made it clear here today that it was the policy of the Government not to refer the investigation of any case in the State to the CBI.

Mr. Kharge, who was talking to presspersons, was responding to the reported move on the part of the family of the slain former minister, H. Nagappa, to move the Supreme Court for a CBI probe into the death of the late leader.

He said the Government was against referring any case to the CBI, and "this is our policy at present". The Government had made it clear that no other probe into the Nagappa episode was called for, other than the one that had been ordered. The one-man commission headed by Justice Vaidyanathan had been constituted to hold a judicial inquiry.

On the charge that the Government had lost some cassettes sent by Veerappan, Mr. Kharge said the investigation would bring out who received the cassettes for distribution, to whom they were given, and other related matters.

On the implications of Tamil Nadu's move to investigate the case of "ransom" paid to Veerappan for the release of the Kannada film star, Rajkumar, and the reported move to invoke POTA against the Editor of Nakkeeran, R.R. Gopal, Mr. Kharge said whatever was possible under the provisions of the Cr.P.C. and the IPC would be done.

The minister was asked whether a probe would be ordered in Karnataka in the light of the former DGP, C. Dinakar's allegation in his book that ransom was paid by the State for Mr. Rajkumar's release. He said the Government had decided to ignore the allegation, and Mr. Dinakar had been called upon to give evidence in a couple of cases that had been filed in this connection.

Mr. Kharge maintained that there was cooperation between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the joint STF operation against Veerappan. He said there was unanimity between the States that the brigand should be either nabbed or killed. The STF was doing a good job, he said, and added that Natarajan was heading the task force following the exit of Walter Dawaram in Tamil Nadu.

Drought relief

Mr. Kharge, who heads the Cabinet subcommittee on drought relief, said an official team was being despatched to New Delhi for following up the promise of assistance made by the Union Government for tackling the drought. Andhra Pradesh had got a higher share of funds from the Centre compared with Karnataka, though the situation was no less severe than that in the neighbouring State.

There was no reply from the Centre to representations made by Karnataka and other States on rescinding the changes made in the guidelines on the Food for Work programme, and the matter was being taken up, he said.

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