ACTIVIST PETITIONS GOVERNOR FOR PROSECUTION OF SIDDARAMAIAH FOR MINING LEASE ‘VIOLATION”; CM DENIES CHARGE

In what might bring fresh trouble to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a petition has been submitted to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot seeking sanction for prosecution for a decision taken in his earlier tenure to provide “deemed extension” for C category mines to eight mining companies in alleged violation of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2015.

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The Chief Minister, however, refuting all charges, late on Wednesday said a ten-year-old case was being brought up “to create confusion for political gains”.

Seeking prosecution sanction, petitioner H. Ramamurthy has pointed out that XXI Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge and Principal Special Judge for CBI cases, Bengaluru, had on November 24, 2017, given him the liberty to approach the appropriate forum, and that he was filing a formal complaint with the Lokayukta now.

Meanwhile, appealing to people not to believe the “political conspiracy”, Mr. Siddaramaiah termed the development as “a baseless issue being fed to pollute the minds of people”. He also said certain “evil powers” have been attempting to mislead the Raj Bhavan since he took oath.