Doubt if K'taka govt will act on report: Hegde

'Possibility' of threat to inquest officials mentioned in report

PTI | July 27, 2011



Ahead of submission of his report on illegal mining, Karnataka Lokayukta justice Santosh Hegde said on Wednesday he does not believe the government would act on his findings.

"As I said yesterday, I don't believe the government will take action", Hegde, a former supreme court judge, told reporters.

"They (the state government) took the first (interim) report (submitted in December 2008) but did not take action".

Lokayukta registrar Moosa Kunhi Nayar Moole is slated to hand over the report to chief secretary S V Ranganath later on Wednesday.

The report has pegged the loss to the state exchequer due to illegal mining between March 2009 and April 2010 at more than Rs 1,800 crore.

Hegde, a member of Lokpal bill drafting committee, declined to talk about contents of the report, which has indicted chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, four cabinet Ministers, and former chief minister and JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy, among others, and more than 500 officials, particularly in mineral-rich Bellary district.

Asked if he would also submit the report to the supreme court, Hegde said the apex court had not sought it.

"If asked, I will have to give it, and I will give it. Otherwise, someone else may give it," he said.

Last week, Hegde had said the "supreme court is my only hope."

He said leakage of the report does not mean it has lost its "significance". It's just that somebody got it in advance. "It's not (like) leak of question paper (in examination)."

Hegde said he has mentioned in the report about "possible threat" to Lokayukta (five) officials who were involved in the enquiry. "And I have not said that there is already a threat".

He said these Lokayukta officials might have displeased a number of people (by probing into their illegal affairs) and there is a possibility that their future could be in jeopardy.

Asked if he has a "sense of bitterness" as he leaves office, Hegde said: "...I have a sense of bitterness when it comes to leakage ...beyond that...no".

The report talks in detail about iron ore exports, those engaged in it, illegalities and their value, among others, he said.

Stressing upon the need to ban iron ore export, Hegde said the country does not stand to gain by these shipments.

Domestic companies engaged in value addition activities should procure ores only to the extent of their requirement, which will give the union government central excise revenues and VAT to the states, he said.

Related Story

Not asking for Lokayukta report: Bhardwaj

Bangalore,July27 (PTI) Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj said on Wednesday that he is not asking the Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, to submit to him his final report on illegal mining in the State.

Bhardwaj said since the matter was referred to Hegde by the Government, he has to give his report to it along with his recommendations.

"There is one eventuality...that is.. anything is to be done on the part of the Governor...then he can definitely send it (to the Governor).Otherwise, this report he has to send it to the Government, not me", the Governor told reporters in the district headquarters town of Mysore in response to questions.

Explaining the "legal position", Bhardwaj, who shared an uneasy relation with chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and has been at loggerheads at times, said once the report is given to the Government, "there will be period given to the Government to accept or reject those recommendations".

Noting that since he (Bhardwaj) has not referred the matter to the Lokayukta, he is "not a party to this whole thing...it relates to mining and related matters".

"So, there have been comments from Hegde from time to time that he may send (the report to the Governor), may not send. I am not asking (him) to send", Bhardwaj, who had twice recommended president's rule in the state in the past but without success, said.

On Sunday, the Governor, perceived in some quarters of BJP as being hostile to the government, said he would send a report to President Pratibha Patil once the mining report "comes on record".

 

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