Lokayukta not to submit mining scam report to Governor

Bangalore, July 23: Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde is not submitting his report on the mining scam to Governor H R Bhardwaj as it was the Government which referred the case to him, and not the latter, sources in the Lokayukta said today (Jul 23).

The sources said till now the practice is that Lokayukta only submitted reports to the Government. It was the Government which had referred the mining issue for a probe by Lokayukta.

"It's not referred by the Governor",the sources pointed out.

The Governor said on Friday "...And if as a competent authority (the Governor), if he (the Lokayukta) sends the report to me, then I will deal with it according to the Lokayukta Act (section 12 and 13)".

"I will give my serious thought to whatever he (Lokayukta) recommends and you will know my action the moment I get the report", Bhardwaj had said.

Lokayukta sources stressed that since the probe was referred by the Government and not the Governor, the Lokayukta is not bound to submit the report to the Governor.

Sources also said that given the uneasy relationship between Bhardwaj and Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who have been often at loggerheads, Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde does not want to land in a controversy, by deviating from norms, and being accused of being biased.

But Lokayukta sources said the Governor can call for a copy of the report and make recommendations to the Government on what it needs to do in his advisory capacity.

In his finding,Lokayukta has indicted Yeddyurappa and four other ministers on illegal mining, which the anti-corruption watchdog says caused a loss of Rs 1,800 crore to the state exchequer in 14 months from March 2009.

PTI