Karnataka: Rs 150 crore G Janardhan Reddy charge back to haunt HD Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru: In further trouble for former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the illegal mining cases has reopened the alleged Rs 150 crore kickbacks in issuing mining permits. In this regard, the SIT has summoned former minister and mining baron G. Janardhan Reddy to appear before it on Friday.
It is learnt that the SIT has decided to consider Mr. Reddy as the witness to the case, as he was the one who made serious allegations in 2007, that the then Chief Minister Mr. Kumaraswamy had received Rs. 150 crore kickbacks from mining barons to issue permits. He had also released a video CD that purportedly had the visuals of the then minister C. Chennigappa discussing the alleged deal.
Sources said that Mr. Reddy has been issued notice to appear before the investigating team on Friday with all the related documents pertaining to the case. It is said that the SIT will also record Mr. Reddy’s statement regarding the case.
It is likely that the SIT will again summon Mr. Kumaraswamy for interrogation in this case and even Mr. Chennigappa would be issued notice to appear before them. “We will record Mr. Reddy’s statement and gather evidence from him. He would also be the witness in the case, as he, was an MLC from BJP then, and had levelled the allegations by releasing a CD,” an SIT official said.
Did not flout rule: HDK
Former chief minister H. D. Kumaraswamy was questioned by the Lokayukta Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials in connection with the Jhanthakal mining case for two hours on Friday. It is said that he answered all the questions and completely denied all allegations against him.
Mr Kumaraswamy reached the SIT officer near Hebbal around 12.30 pm. Sources in the SIT said that he was questioned for nearly two hours.“The set of questions were ready and he was asked around 25 questions. He answered all of them. He made statement that he was in no way connected to the case and had not misused his office to help Janthakal Enterprises. He also said that he had not pressured any official to grant mining lease to the company and all allegations against him were baseless,” an official said.
The SIT officials had framed the questions based on the statements made by arrested IAS officer Ganga Ram Baderiya, who had reportedly mentioned in a file that he had face tremendous pressure from the then CM and the CM’s office to grant licence to Janthakal Enterprises.
After the questioning, Mr Kumaraswamy told reporters that he had answered all the questions appropriately. “I have asked them to issue notice to me only if my questioning is inevitable, but have assured them of complete cooperation in the investigation. They questioned me only about Janthakal mining case and not other mining cases.”
JD(S) President H D Kumaraswamy leaves after appearing before Lokayukta SIT in Bengaluru on Thursday
Baderiya custody extended
The SIT Special Court has extended the police custody of IAS officer Ganga Ram Baderiya for two more days, till May 20. As his police custody ended on Thursday, the SIT officials produced him before the court in the evening.
The SIT officials told the court that they could not question the accused as he was admitted to hospital for the last two days. Thus, they want some more time to gather information from him about the case. Considering their request, the court extended Baderiya’s police custody for two more days.
Baderiya, a cardiac patient, had complained of chest pain and was admitted to Victoria Hospital on Tuesday evening. He was discharged on Thursday afternoon.
