Supreme Court stays proceedings against S M Krishna in illegal mining case

From ANI

New Delhi, Jan 27: The Supreme Court today stayed proceedings against External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, in the Karnatka illegal mining case.

Krishna’s advocate, Sandip Patil, told the reporters that a two judge bench comprising of Justices Altamas Kabir and Gyan Sudha Mishra, while issuing the order said the Lokayukta’s order was premature.

“The Honourable Supreme Court has today stayed all further proceedings including the investigation, which has been undertaken by the Lokayukta (Provincial ombudsman) police pursuant to the registration of FIR in crime number 63 of 2011. So, henceforth, till the next date of hearing and till the final orders could be passed in the petition filed by Krishna, the entire proceedings, the entire criminal investigation has been stayed,” said Patil.

The Lokayukta of Karnataka had registered an FIR (first information report) against Krishna and two other former chief ministers, after it was discovered that the three were either directly or indirectly involved in the illegal mining that had been rampant in the state.

It has been alleged that Krishna, who was Karnataka Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004, and his successors Dharam Singh and H D Kumaraswamy, were involved in such illegal activities till 2008 as their prime motive was to satiate their vested interests.

A few months ago, former Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde had accused the then Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa and several other key officials in the mining graft that cost the state exchequer losses worth Rupees 160 billion between 2006 and 2010.
Consequently, Yeddyurappa was forced to resign from the post by BJP.
Copyright Asian News International/DailyIndia.com