Hegde happy over CBI probe into Kar mining scam
PTI, BANGALORE | 22 October 2013 19:03 IST
Former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice (Retd) N Santosh Hegde has expressed delight over the Congress government's decision ordering high-level enquiries into the mega mining scam which he had unearthed and expressed hope over the probe reaching "logical conclusion".
The Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Thursday gave the green signal for investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into illegal export of iron ore from seven ports in Karnataka and neighbouring states.
The government also said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) would be constituted.
"I am very happy", Hegde told PTI on the Cabinet's decision.
His final report submitted in July 2011 estimated the loss of revenue to the state exchequer due to illegal mining in the State between 2006 and 2010 at more than Rs 16,000 crore. The report had also named 797 officials.
Following his indictment in the report, the then Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa had to quit complying with the direction of the BJP's central leadership.
"I think it's the first step that the government is taking and I find it's a major step", Hegde said. "I hope it (the probe) will be taken to its logical conclusion."
Obviously referring to the previous BJP government, Hegde said nothing had been done to act on his reports in the last two years and there was a lot of "dilly-dallying" and "excuses".
The issues to be probed by CBI include evasion of royalty to the government and forest development tax. The Cabinet also announced that a special court would be established to try cases of illegal mining.
To investigate cases relating to investment made from the wealth of illegal mining, the Cabinet decided to hand over such cases to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and facilitation of invoking of the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
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