Sign on mining file forged, Congress maligning me: Kumaraswamy on SIT’s prosecution sanction request

Asked by indianexpress.com as to whom he suspected of having forged the document, the Union minister for heavy industries and steel said, “How can I remember? It was 14 years ago. The SIT has to investigate that.”

Earlier, the JD(S) leader said he had all the original files related to the company.

The SIT had sought sanction for prosecution twice last year—in September and November—before Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot sought additional clarifications from the investigating agency this month. The SIT is learnt to have submitted the additional details on Monday. In its initial application, the SIT had sought the sanction, treating the minister’s signature as a key piece of evidence in the case.

Kumaraswamy maintained he had not signed off on the file related to SSVM. “It was not my handwriting (in the file),” he said and dared the SIT to approach even international forensic experts to verify it.

He said it was to be verified whether the particular file was put up before him or not. “What was the guarantee that there was no fraud here,” he asked.

The former chief minister said he had recommended the Lokayukta inquiry after allegations of Rs 150-crore kickbacks were raised against him and that some “misconduct” in the signature in the file was found.

“There is no loss to the state exchequer. Until now, the land (550 acres for which the mining lease is sought) was not allotted to anybody,” Kumaraswamy said. According to the minister, the inquiry was instituted against him because of the interference of the previous Congress government in 2014 and 15.

In March 2017, the Supreme Court asked the investigating agency to complete the inquiry in three months. “Till now, they have not informed the court of finishing the investigation. They have only filed status reports,” he said, adding that the case was being raked up to hide the misdeeds of the Congress government.