HDK seeks quashing of FIR, files plea

BANGALORE: After External Affairs Minister S M Krishna approached the Karnataka High Court to quash the FIR against him in alleged mining scam, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy filed a petition on Monday seeking quashing of FIR against him, which accused him of illegally approving the mining licence of Sai Venkateshwara Minerals and renewing the licence of Janthakal Enterprises.In his petition, Kumarswamy challenged the case filed in the Lokayukta Special Court, the police investigation into the case and filing of the FIR. He maintained that he had never allowed illegal mining and renewed the licence of Janthakal Enterprises between 2006 and 2007. The complaint accuses him of diverting the illegally obtained money to H D Balakrishna. The police lodged the FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Karnataka Forest Act and Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act. The state wide investigations will be handled by a special team headed by Lokayukta SP (Tumkur) M Jagadeesh Prasad. The Special Lokayukta Court has sought a report by January 6, 2012.It may be recalled that the complainant, social worker T J Abraham, accused three former CMs and more than 10 bureaucrats of causing huge losses to the state exchequer.He filed the case in the Lokayukta Special Court on November 30, alleging that S M Krishna and two other former CMs—N Dharam Singh (Congress) and H D Kumaraswamy (Janata Dal-Secular), were involved in mining scam during their tenures.