HDK appears before SIT in Jantakal illegal mining case

Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy who is facing allegations in the Jantakal Illegal mining case appeared before the Lokayukta Special Investigation Team (SIT) here on Thursday. The JD(S) state leader Kumaraswamy has been accused of allegedly providing permit to Jantakal Enterprises for illegal mining.

Fearing arrest by the SIT - after senior IAS officer was taken into custody in the case - Kumaraswamy had sought an anticipatory bail and he was granted only seven-day interim bail on Thursday. He was directed by the court that to co-operate with the investigation team and not to leave the country. Kumaraswamy is being grilled by the SIT on his alleged role in granting permit to Jantakal Enterprises.

It may be recalled here that Gangaram Baderiya, Principal Secretary, (Bhoomi and UPOR), Revenue Department was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for his alleged involvement in the Jantakal Enterprises illegal mining case. As the then director of mines and geology department, Baderiya had allegedly forged letters of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) granting permission to Jantakal Enterprises to lift iron ore from Chitradurga. The senior bureaucrat had named Kumaraswamy - who was then the chief minister - and Mumbai's encounter specialist Daya Nayak of allegedly putting him under severe pressure to favour Jantakal Enterprises.

Kumaraswamy who had been claiming that he had no role in the Jantakal illegal mining case, said that the SIT investigation is a political move to thwart his growth. At a party convention in Raichur, he blamed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of being vindictive against him and this was the proof of it. This was the reason to seek anticipatory bail, he claimed. "I'm not afraid of being arrested - as being projected by the media. I have no role in the Jantakal illegal mining case," he said. He also denied of having any links with encounter specialist Daya Nayak.

• hd kumaraswamy
• jantakal illegal mining