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The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Lokayukta police has submitted documents of the illegal mining case translated to English to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, seeking prosecution sanctions against Union minister H D Kumaraswamy.
According to sources, the translated documents were submitted based on requests made by the Governor’s office in August last year. The case concerns alleged irregularities in the mining lease grant to Sri Sai Venkateshwara Minerals (SSVM).
Janata Dal (Secular) leader Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, is accused of favouring SSVM due to his proximity to one Vinod Goel during his first stint as chief minister of Karnataka from 2006 to 2008. An investigation by the SIT revealed that though 24 companies had applied for mining leases, SSVM was unduly favoured and selected over other companies.
Though the SIT sought the initial sanction for prosecution in November 2023, the Governor’s office responded in July last year, seeking clarifications on the request made by the SIT. After clarifications were submitted in August, the Governor’s office is learnt to have sought the case documents in English.
The SIT was formed based on Lokayukta reports regarding illegal iron ore mining in the state. The reports were submitted in 2013 and 2017, and Kumaraswamy was among the prominent politicians named in the report.
The issue of pending prosecution sanction gained prominence after the Congress accused the Governor of hastily granting sanction against Siddaramaiah in connection with the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case while sitting on similar requests against BJP and JD(S) leaders.
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