External affairs minister SM Krishna moved the high court on Friday, seeking to quash the FIR filed against him in connection with a private complaint at the Lok Ayukta special court.
He has been accused of permitting illegal mining
External affairs minister SM Krishna moved the high court on Friday, seeking to quash the FIR filed against him in connection with a private complaint at the Lok Ayukta special court.
He has been accused of permitting illegal mining.
A businessman, TJ Abraham, has alleged that Krishna, during his tenure as chief minister from 1999 to 2004, had indulged in various acts of omission and commission of illegalities in relation to the grant of leases for mining in Karnataka.
Abraham also alleged that Krishna amassed wealth in the names of his family members, including his children, son-in-law, and former cabinet colleagues.
The Lok Ayukta special court on December 3 had directed the Lok Ayukta police to probe Krishna's role in illegal mining. Former chief ministers N Dharam Singh and HD Kumaraswamy, and 11 serving and retired bureaucrats, have also been named in the complaint. The report must be submitted on January 6.
An FIR was filed by the Lok Ayukta police on December 8 against Krishna, Singh, and Kumaraswamy.
In his petition, Krishna also sought to quash the FIR registered against him. The petition is likely to be heard next week. Krishna has described the accusations as "attempts at character assassination".
Dharam Singh and Kumaraswamy have also denied charges against them.
Deve Gowda bats for SMK
In a related development, Krishna found support from his bete noire in Karantaka politics, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, who heads the JD-S. He told a Kannada TV channel in New Delhi that there was no need for Krishna to resign just because an FIR has been filed.
"Sitting in Delhi, Krishna cannot tamper with evidence in Karnataka and hence there is no need for him to quit," he said.
Opposition parties, particularly the BJP in Karnataka, demanded Krishna's resignation on basis of the FIR.
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