Karnataka Lokayukta on Wednesday submitted its report on illegal mining to the State government, with the findings expected to determine the fate of Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa.
Lokayukta Registrar Moosa Kunhi Nayar Moole handed over the report to Chief Secretary S. V. Ranganath at the State Secretariat.
Karnataka Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde said a copy of the report on illegal mining has been sent to Governor H.R. Bhardwaj. He said the loss to the exchequer for the period 2006-2010 was estimated at Rs.16,085 crore.
He said a mining company in Karnataka has donated Rs. 10 crore to a trust owned by the Chief Minister’s family members. He added that the donation was made by the company for reasons other than genuine. The company also paid Rs. 20 crore for purchase of land by the trust far above the guidance value which makes for an offence under Prevention of Corruption Act.
The report mentions the name of the Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa, the Reddy brothers (G. Janardhan Reddy and G. Karunakara Reddy), another Minister Sriramalu and former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy, among others. Besides, it has reportedly named more than 500 officials.
“We have found evidence of Reddy brothers indulging in mining in Karnataka contrary to their claims that they were not involved in any such business”, said Mr. Hegde.
“I have gone through a lot of turmoil...this thing...leakage and other things...lot of work has been done by Lokayukta staff (in compiling the report)...”, Mr. Hegde said.
He had said earlier the report with annexure runs into 10,000 to 12,000 pages, with “his own report of 450 to 500 pages“.
Meanwhile the BJP sources said Mr. Yeddyurappa was summoned to Delhi by the party top brass following the submission of the report.
Mr. Yeddyurappa had said earlier in the day that he would consult Cabinet colleagues and legal experts once he received the report, adding, he had told BJP president Nitin Gadkari he would bring the contents to his notice.
