Court reserves verdict on Krishna’s plea to quash FIR

Karnataka high court on Wednesday reserved judgment in the case filed by external affairs minister SM Krishna, seeking to quash a first information report (FIR) pertaining to a private complaint alleging his involvement in illegal mining scam.
It further extended the stay on the investigation until the pronouncement of the verdict.
 
The Lok Ayukta special court on December 3 had directed the Lok Ayukta police to investigate a private complaint filed by businessman TJ Abraham, who linked Krishna and former chief ministers HD Kumaraswamy and N Dharam Singh to illegal mining during their tenure. An FIR was filed by the Lok Ayukta police on December 8 against the three.

Krishna then moved the high court, seeking to quash the FIR.
When Krishna’s case came up for hearing on Wednesday, senior counsel UU Lalit argued that the Lok Ayukta’s report on illegal mining did not say anything against Krishna. Lalit contended that no mining lease had been granted during Krishna’s tenure as the chief minister. The mining rights were granted from 2006, after Krishna stepped down.

After listening to the arguments, Justice N Anand reserved judgment and extended the stay on the investigation until the pronouncement of the verdict.