Lokayukta denies naming Krishna in mining report

BANGALORE: Karnataka Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde Friday denied he had named External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, who was chief minister in 1999-2004, in his report on illegal mining in the state."I have not named former state chief ministers S.M. Krishna and N. Dharam Singh in the report," he told reporters here reacting to some publications mentioning that Krishna has also been named in the report.Hegde said his report "however, has a mention about the impropriety involved in de-reserving 11,620 sq km of forest area in the state for mining and allotment of mining leases to select firms in 2003 when Krishna was the chief minister."The Lokayukta in his December 2008 interim report on illegal mining had named Dharam Singh (Congress) who was chief minister in 2004-06.Hegde is expected to submit the final report Monday though the gist of it has been leaked to the media. The report slams present Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and four of his ministers, among others for the large scale illegal mining.