Justice Santosh Hegde on Wednesday submitted his report on illegal mining in the state, which blamed Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and his family members of receiving bribes, resulting in a loss of Rs 16,085 crore to the state exchequer.
Mr Hegde has recommended that the Chief Minister be prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
However, amid rumor of his resignation, Yeddyurappa claimed that he would complete his term despite the stinging indictment handed out by the Lokayukta.
“I am going to Delhi with party President Eshwarappa to meet our all-India leader Nitin Gadkari. We’ll take some time to discuss the report…many of the old issues seem to be reported. Tomorrow the state cabinet is meeting over this. The issues of Prerna Trust were discussed extensively on the floor of the house,” said Yeddyurappa.
“It’s a voluminous report, let us read it, and then we will comment on it,” said BJP Spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.
The report was submitted to the Chief Secretary S V Ranganath by Karnataka Lokayukta Registrar Kunhi Nair Moosa Wednesday evening in Bangalore. Speaking to the media persons after the submission, Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde informed that a copy of the report is forwarded to the Governor to initiate further action against the Chief Minister.
He pointed out that illegal mining in the state, has led to the loss of more than 16,000 crore rupees to the exchequer between 2006 and 2010. He said enough evidence is unearthed against the Trust run by Chief Minister’s family for receiving crores of rupees from mine owners in return for favours from the Government.
The report also implicates Bellary Ministers – Janardhan Reddy, Karunakara Reddy and Sriramulu. Justice Hegde said clear evidence is found of their involvement in mining in Karnataka, a thing which was strongly refuted by the Reddy brothers.
The names of family members of Housing Minister Somanna also figures in the report. Those from the Opposition referred in the report are former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Congress Member of Parliament, Anil Lad’s wife.
The report running over 25,000 pages has also blamed 600 top officials for aiding illegal mining in the state. Justice Hegde hoped that Central Empowerment Committee appointed by the Apex Court to probe illegal mining will take cognizance of the report submitted by Lokayukta to the Government on Wednesday.