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HC orders interim stay on illegal mining probe against Kumaraswamy
Bangalore, December 15, 2011
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The Karnataka High Court today ordered a four-week interim stay on the proceedings in the Lokayukta Court and against arrest of Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on a private complaint.
Kumaraswamy was alleged to have permitted illegal mining after receiving a gratification of Rs 150 crore from mining operators when he was the Chief Minister in 2006.
A single-judge bench of Justice B V Pinto took up the petition filed by the JD(S) leader and ordered the interim stay on the proceedings in the case and against the arrest of Kumaraswamy or his family members, after hearing the arguments of the defence counsel.
In his petition Mr Kumaraswamy had sought to quash the proceedings in the Lokayukta Court as there had been no fresh allegations or evidences submitted by the complainant.
An activist has filed a private complaint against three former Chief Ministers S M Krishna, who is currently the External Affairs Minister, N Dharam Singh and Kumaraswamy for allowing illegal mining in the state.
A similar petition filed by Krishna would come up for hearing.
Kumaraswamy's counsel Azmath Pasha said the court had directed issuance of notice to respondent S J Abraham, while it also granted a stay for four weeks on any further investigation in the matter.
The court also directed that Kumaraswamy and his family members shall not be arrested nor harassed.
The petition was posted for January 5 for further hearing.
NNN
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