By. Firoz.T.Totanawala
The Bangalore Metro Reporter
THE DRAGON ENTERS!
SC ORDERS CBI PROBE INTO MINING IN KARNATAKA
CBI COMES TO KARNATAKA, JOLT FOR BJP
The Supreme Court acting on the report of the CEC has ordered CBI enquiry into mining scams in Karnataka too, particularly the AMC owned by Janardhana Reddy and his wife Aruna Laxmi. The BJP Government, its former Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa and his successor D.V.Sadananda Gowda continually refused the CBI probe into the mining scam. They have made it a policy matter to not allow CBI probe any scams in the state. And now, as the Supreme Court has ordered CBI probe, the BJP leaders and the Government are in an embarrassing situation and the order has come as a slap on the face of these leaders.
B. S. Yeddyurappa, the former Chief Minister used to point blank reject the demand for CBI probe into the mining scam which incurred thousands of crores revenue loss to the Government and irreparable extensive damage to the environment. Yedurappa had time and again proclaimed that he will not order a CBI probe under any circumstances. Even his senior colleagues and few national leaders also openly stated that they do not have faith in CBI.
Besides refusing the CBI probing the mining scam, Yedurappa on the contrary gave ‘clean chit’ and character certificate to Reddy Brothers. That too, not once but many a times and termed their business as white as snow! In fact, when the Andhra Pradesh Government ordered a CBI probe into Reddy Brothers’ Obalapuram Mining Corporation (OMC), the Central Government wanted the State also to order the CBI probe as the scam involves both the states. But, Yedurappa point black rejected the offer of the Union Minister for Mines in this regard.
While Yedurappa and his Government continued to defend Reddy’s, the Lokayukta probe team was piling damaging documents about their massive manipulation in the mining scam. Even after the Lokayukta submitted the final report giving sordid details of Reddy’s frauds and recommended a CBI probe, the Government stood its ground of not ordering the CBI probe. D. V. Sadananda Gowda who became the CM after the exit of Yedurappa also reiterated the similar stand.
As the entire mining operations and frauds were happening in Karnataka, the CBI had to conduct its probe in the State. But the adamant attitude of the State Government headed by Yedurappa blocked the CBI. CBI was helpless as it cannot probe a scam in the State without the permission of State Government. Even the Central Government on its own cannot force a CBI probe in the State, so, the only option left was the Supreme Court order. And here too, the Supreme Court can order a CBI probe in a State only under special circumstances.
While the different agencies probing the Mining scam clearly revealed serious violations and manipulations by the Reddy’s, they continually proclaimed their innocence by taking the plea that they do not have any mining in Karnataka. But the ground reality was different. The Reddy’s controlled the entire mining operations in the state. In fact, the Lokayukta Santosh Hegde in his Mining scam report described Bellary as Republic of Bellary, lorded over by the Reddy Brothers.
Besides, the mining Mafia also encroached upon Government and forest lands. When the Andhra Pradesh Government ordered a CBI probe in 2009 against the OMC company’s illegal mining etc., the Reddy’s got the stay from the High Court which was finally vacated in December 2010. And the CBI then raided many people and companies in the course of its probe, finally arresting Janardhana Reddy who is in jail since then.
The CEC when submitted its final report to the Supreme Court, it explained exhaustive details of the mining scam, encroachment etc. by mining companies, particularly AMC, another firm owned by Janardhana Reddy and his wife. The CEC also recommended CBI probe into the mining scams of AMC in Karnataka. Besides, an NGO also filed a PIL against the Mining scam and made a similar request to the Supreme Court. And the Supreme Court finally directed the CBI to conduct the probe into the Mining activities of AMC in Karnataka.
With this order, CBI officially begins its probe and needless to say that many heads are destined to fall in near future. It is not that the CBI has not probed the Mining Mafia, but because its probe was limited to Andhra Pradesh, it could only take action against the Mining companies there.
As far as the probe in Karnataka is concerned, the CBI stands in a better position. There is the Lokayukta report prepared by U. V. Singh, Principal Conservator of Forests which provide minute details of mining frauds. Besides, the CBI itself has a lot of details gathered in course of its probe in Andhra Pradesh. As Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are interlinked in the Mining scam, the CBI will trace the beneficiaries of the Mining scam and book them.
Arguably, the BJP Government has received a severe jolt with the Supreme Court ordering CBI probe in the State. One can be sure of many BJP leaders following Janardhana Reddy to jail. The BJP leaders had openly stated that they have taken a policy decision against CBI probe. But, what can be their stand now? They have no option except to cope with the CBI probe as the Supreme Court of India has ordered for it.
Surely, the BJP Government in the state is between the devil and the deep sea!
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