Prakash clarifies on terms of reference for judicial probe

Bangalore, July 27 (UNI) Karnataka Home Minister M P Prakash today clarified that the judicial probe ordered into illegal mining in the State covered the entire gamut of activities in the sector since 2000, including pay-offs and the Rs 150 crore bribery charge involving Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and others.

Speaking to newspersons here, he said a defamation case would be filed separately by the Government against Bharatiya Janata Party MLC G Janardhana Reddy for having accused the offices of the Chief Minister, Home and Forests Minister of receiving a bribe of Rs 150 crore from the mining lobby. There was no question of going back on this decision, he added.

Mr Prakash, however, said there was no need to file the case in a hurry as ''we had six months time'' according to legal provisions.

Noted criminal lawyer C H Hanumantharaya would replace Mr Doreraju as the Special Public Prosecutor and the Government would soon issue a notification in this regard, he added.

When his attention was drawn to the Congress leaders' stand of not cooperating with the probe, he said it reflected their intention of not getting at the truth. He appealed to them to cooperate with the probe by furnishing whatever details and documents they had.

On Janata Dal (Secular) President H D Deve Gowda's remarks that some BJP leaders were conspiring to topple the Government, Mr Prakash merely said it might be true. However, he could not speak further on the issue as he had to follow coalition dharma, he added.

He said Governor T N Chaturvedi had returned the Office of Profit Bill, suggesting some modifications. Mr Kumaraswamy would hold discussions with the officials soon to consider the suggestions made by the Governor, he added.

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