Probe against SM Krishna, HD Kumaraswamy stayed for a month

The Karnataka high court on Thursday ordered a four-week interim stay on the investigation against former chief ministers SM Krishna and HD Kumaraswamy regarding their alleged involvement in illegal mining.

The Lok Ayukta special court had directed the Lok Ayukta police to look into a private complaint filed by a businessman, TJ Abraham, who accused Krishna, Kumaraswamy and N Dharam Singh of abetting illegal mining during their tenure as chief ministers.

An FIR was filed on December 8 and Krishna and Kumaraswamy moved the high court, seeking that the FIR be quashed.
Justice BV Pinto on Thursday granted the interim stay
on probe against Krishna and gave time to Abraham to file objections. The case has been adjourned to January 6, 2012.

Also, Justice Pinto granted an interim stay on investigation against Kumaraswamy and directed that Kumaraswamy or his family members should not be arrested or harassed in the guise of investigation.

The hearing of the case has been adjourned to January 5.
Krishna’s counsel UU Lalit argued that the Lokayukta report on illegal mining did not name Krishna and he did not issue mining leases during his tenure.

When Kumaraswamy’s case came up for hearing, his lawyer, Hazmat Pasha, pointed out that the same allegation was levelled against Kumaraswamy in a previous complaint and the high court had quashed the proceedings.

Furthermore, Dharam Singh on Thursday moved the high court, seeking to quash the FIR filed against him.