Illegal mining issue: Janardhan Reddy ready to cooperate with Ombudsman

Bangalore, July 20 (ANI): Karnataka Tourism Minister G. Janardhan Reddy on Tuesday said that he is ready to cooperate with the Lokayukta (Ombudsman) for investigations into the controversial illegal mining issue.

Reddy claimed to have all the documents related to the Rs 1.5 billion-corruption charges against him.

"I am ready to cooperate with the Lokayukta (Ombudsman), and even with the Rs 1.5 billion corruption charges and all, including everything, in the report of Bellary district, I have released this. Illegal mining, engrossments and whatever the facts and figures I have given based on Lokayukta reports, said Reddy.

"I have the documents and whatever proofs I have, the whole, the documents, the entire papers I am going to hand over including the CDs of the corruption, everything I will be giving it to Lokayukta," he added.

Reddy also termed the allegations by former Karnataka Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy as false.

"Kumaraswamy made false allegations, baseless allegations on July 19. Even today, whatever, yesterday, I told one thing, I, myself and including my family only were pure gold," said Reddy.

Earlier on Monday, Kumaraswamy said that he possessed a document of Anantapura Mining Corporation owned by Reddy, where it is stated clearly that his firm transported iron ore illegally.

The Reddy brothers are facing allegations of illegal mining of iron ores by encroaching upon a large chunk of forestland in the area causing huge damage to the environment. (ANI)