After a short break, chief minister’s political secretary BJ Puttaswamy has shed light on one more alleged mining scam of the former chief minister.
It seems there is no end for mudslinging, over mining, in the state.
After a short break, chief minister’s political secretary BJ Puttaswamy has shed light on one more alleged mining scam of former chief minister, HD Kumaraswamy.
Two days before he demitted office, Kumaraswamy granted mining lease to Sai Venkateshwara Minerals, violating rules and regulations. In turn, he got Rs167 crore in kickbacks from the mining company for his (Kumaraswamy) brother’s BSK trading company, alleged Puttaswamy.
Releasing the documents, Puttaswamy said, “JD(S) chief Kumaraswamy approved mining lease for 550 acres to Sai Venkateshwara Minerals at Sandur in Bellary district, an area which had been notified as reserved and held up. He bent rules while granting mining licence to a firm when he was in charge.”
Kumaraswamy even violated suggestions of the mines and minerals department additional secretary,” he added.
Puttaswamy further added that the orders granting mining lease, rejecting objections from officials, was passed on October 6, 2007, a couple of days before he demitted office.
“Actually, the area was considered as reserve or held up and, according to Minerals Act section 59/1, the state has no powers to grant mining lease in the area. But Kumaraswamy has flouted all rules and granted mining lease,” he revealed.
Originally 820 acres was given to Chougule and company for mining, but they have returned it.
Of this, 133 acres was granted to BK Kumargowda to carry out mining activities and 550 acres granted to Sai Venkteshwara Minerals.
The original owner of the company is SV Sakare, but the name was changed to Vinod Goel, who got mining lease to Janthakal enterprises from Kumaraswamy within two hours, he alleged.
“HD Deve Gowda and his family are not clean as they claim,” he said.
“They looted lot of money, but now the family is pretending as if they did not indulge in any fraudulent activities. Kumaraswamy had said if anyone proves that Gowda and family committed any fraud, he will retire form politics. Now we have given proof, so he should retire,” Puttaswamy said.
Puttaswamy demanded Kumaraswamy to respond to allegations of misuse of power and nepotism in allotting sites to his relatives, among others.
“So far, Kumaraswamy has not replied to my charges,” he said.
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