CM HITS OUT AT "EVIL FORCES" FOR MISLEADING CLAIMS IN ROW

A petition alleging corruption by chief minister Siddaramaiah in renewing mining licences in his earlier tenure was filed with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Wednesday.

- Arun Dev

BENGALURU: The petition also seeks sanction by the governor for the prosecution of the chief minister under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as well as several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The petition, filed by social activist H Ramamurthy Gowda, alleges that the government, instead of adopting a transparent auction process for expiring mining leases, extended licences to eight companies with a documented history of illegal mining as well as serious violations.

These companies, Gowda claims, were previously classified as Category C in the Santosh Hegde report, which pertains to illegal mining in the state and had their leases cancelled by the Supreme Court for illegal activities, including forest encroachment and lack of statutory clearances.

"The illegal deemed extension of mining leases, instead of following the auction process, has resulted in a total financial loss of ₹26,420 crore to the government. The act of bypassing auctions not only deprived the exchequer of rightful revenue but also encouraged corruption and lack of accountability in the mining sector. Wherefore, it is requested of your good office, to kindly grant sanction for the prosecution of Sri Siddaramaiah, for offences...," the petition reads.