Illegal mining: HC stays probe against Krishna, Kumaraswamy

The Karnataka high court on Thursday stayed proceedings against External Affairs Minister S M Krishna in the illegal mining case for four weeks. Justice B V Pinto stayed the proceedings initiated by the special Lokayukta court while adjourning hearing on the matter to January 6.

Krishna had challenged the proceedings.     

In a relief to former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, the high court stated that he cannot be arrested in connection with the illegal mining scam. Justice Pinto while hearing a petition filed by Kumaraswamy challenging proceedings against him in the mining case stayed the investigation.

In a private complaint, it was alleged that Krishna, Kumaraswamy and N Dharam Singh during their tenures as chief ministers of Karnataka had facilitated illegal mining which resulted in a huge loss to the exchequer. An FIR too was filed against Krishna after the court took cognisance of the matter.

Kumaraswamy had challenged before the court the investigation and also put forth an apprehension that he may be arrested during the course of the probe. He had sought anticipatory bail in the case.

The Lokayukta police, who are probing the matter, had been directed by the special court to submit a report in the illegal mining case against the three former chief ministers by January 6.