Bangalore: External Affairs Minister S M Krishna became the latest politician to face a court case on the illegal mining issue as the Lokayukta police on Thursday filed an FIR against him and two former Karnataka Chief Ministers N Dharam Singh (Congress) and H D Kumaraswamy (JD-S).
A Lokayukta court headed by Justice N K Sudhindra Rao had asked the Lokayukta ADGP to conduct an inquiry and file an FIR over a private complaint filed against the three Chief Ministers, alleging that they permitted illegal mining.
Today, the Lokayukta police filed the FIR against them.
Mr Krishna was the Chief Minister between 2001 and 2004, while the other two succeeded him.
Complainant, Social Worker Abraham T Jospeh, had accused them along with more than 10 bureaucrats of causing huge losses to the exchequer.
According to the complaint, Mr Krishna had not only sanctioned mining lease on old rates but also de-reserved forest land, despite severe opposition from the Forest and Environment department.
However, the former Chief Minister had refuted the charges and said the decision on mining leases was taken by the Mines and Geology department and none of his actions relating to mining had caused any loss to the exchequer nor he had personally gained from them. (PTI)