Former Karnataka Lokayukta and Team Anna member N. Santosh Hegde has said that he was unable to indict External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna in the mining scam with the documents that were available to him.
Pointing out that his first report on illegal mining had indicted several bureaucrats who held important positions when Mr. Krishna was Chief Minister, Mr. Hegde said: “I could not find documents showing Krishna's direct involvement. When I asked the government for certain files, I was told that they are not available.” He also said that he had indicted V. Muniyappa, who was the Mining Minister in Mr. Krishna's Cabinet as well as his successor and party colleague Dharam Singh.
“I had extensively dealt with illegal mining during Krishna's tenure. It is true that forests were de-reserved during his tenure in violation of Supreme Court directives. This move paved the way for large-scale illegal mining. But I could not connect it to him,” he said.
Miffed with media reports suggesting a rift between him and members of Anna Hazare's team, Mr. Hegde said: “If they have found material against Krishna, it is a good thing. Let a proper enquiry be conducted on the basis of the fresh evidence.”
Speaking to The Hindu minutes after television reports claimed that he had quit Team Anna, he said: “I have no plans to quit the team.”
Terming such speculation “ridiculous,” he added in jest, “I will go only if I am asked to leave. They are not going to get rid of me so easily.”
