The Karnataka High Court on Monday granted an interim stay on a first information report (FIR) registered by Lok Ayukta police against former chief minister N Dharam Singh for his alleged involvement in a mining scam.
The Karnataka High Court on Monday granted an interim stay on a first information report (FIR) registered by Lok Ayukta police against former chief minister N Dharam Singh for his alleged involvement in a mining scam.
It posted the hearing to January 10, 2012.
Singh had moved the high court, seeking the quashing of a FIR filed against him following a complaint in the Lokayukta special court, accusing him of facilitating illegal mining during his tenure as chief minister.
In his complaint, a businessman, TJ Abraham, had alleged that external affairs minister SM Krishna and former state chief ministers HD Kumaraswamy and Singh had encouraged illegal mining during their tenure. He sought sanction for their prosecution by the speaker of the Lok Sabha as they are members of Parliament.
The Lok Ayukta special court, on December 3, had directed the Lok Ayukta police to investigate and submit the FIR on January 6. It was filed by the Lok Ayukta police on December 8 against Kumaraswamy, Krishna and Singh.
The counsel for Singh argued that the state governor had dismissed the allegation against him in the first Lokayukta report. In the second report, there was no mention of Dharam Singh.
The case came up for hearing before Justice BV Pinto, who observed that the governor, in his report, had said that no action should be taken against Singh.
“So I’m of the view that the matter requires further consideration. Hence, the interim stay on the investigation. The case has been adjourned to January 10,” the judge said.
The high court recently stayed the investigation against Krishna and Kumaraswamy.
Three officials, who are respondents in the same complaint, had filed a petition seeking a stay on the investigation. The high court granted an interim stay and adjourned the case to January 5, 2012.
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