New Delhi:
A First Information Report or FIR has been registered in Bangalore against External Affairs minister S.M. Krishna for allegedly allowing illegal mining during his term as the state's chief minister. The FIR, which was registered by the Lokayukta police, also features two other men who succeeded Mr Krishna as chief minister: H.D. Kumaraswamy and Dharam Singh.
A private complaint by a social activist and businessman, T J Abraham, has provoked the FIR. He alleges that as chief minister from 1999 to 2003, Mr Krishna took decisions that facilitated illegal mining and did not protect the state's forests.
On December 3, Lokayukta court judge N K Sudhindra Rao had directed the police to investigate the complaint.
Mr Krishna described the accusations as "unholy attempts at character assassination." He added, "I wish to point out that I never retained the portfolio of Mines and Geology." He said that no mining licences were issued during his term in office and that he did not permit the de-reservation of forests for mining companies.
Justice Santosh Hegde, who completed his term as the Lokayukta or ombudsman of Karnataka a few months ago, said that his comprehensive investigation of illegal mining did not produc "enough evidence" against Mr Krishna. Mr Hegde added that his report does indict Dharam Singh, who like Mr Krishna, belongs to the Congress. It was Mr Hegde's report on illegal mining that pushed the BJP's B S Yeddyurappa to resign as Chief Minister of Karnataka in July this year.
Mr Hegde's inquiry reveals a long-standing nexus between mine owners, bureaucrats, and politicians across parties in Karnataka.