Bengaluru: A special court here on Wednesday granted interim bail to former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy for seven days, but with certain conditions, in the Janthakal mining case.
Directing the Lokayukta Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing illegal mining cases, to file objections to Mr Kumaraswamy's bail plea, the court directed the former chief minister to furnish a bond of Rs 5 lakh along with two sureties. The court also ordered him not to leave the country without prior permission from the court.
It is alleged that Mr Kumaraswamy, when he was the chief minister, and the CM’s office had pressured IAS officer Ganga Ram Baderiya, the arrested IAS officer, to renew the mining lease of Janthakal Enterprises, flouting several norms.
Just a few days ago, the SIT arrested IAS officer Baderiya, who was still in service, with prima facie charges of his involvement in the case. The SIT said that he allegedly received kickbacks of Rs 10 lakh from the mining company to renew the mining licence in 2007, when he was the Director of Mines and Geology Department.
SIT sources said that Mr Baderiya allegedly pressured his subordinates to renew the lease to the company. As a kickback, the company had paid him Rs 10 lakh and the money was deposited into the bank account of his son Gagan Baderiya, they said.
The case is related to the renewal of a mining lease and granting of work permit to lift an old, abandoned iron ore dump in Holalkere taluk of Chitradurga district that belonged to Janthakal Enterprises. The court is expected to hear the bail plea in a week.
Karandlaje demands probe
BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje has termed the death of IAS officer Anurag Tiwari as ‘suspicious’ and said she has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, seeking a thorough investigation. "I strongly feel that there is something more than what meets the eye in this episode. Only a thorough enquiry can bring out the truth," she stated in her letter.
Baderiya’s connections
Mr Baderiya is politically well connected. His daughter is married to Prabhulinga Kavalkatti, who is the private secretary of Home Minister G. Parameshwar.
