“I have no hope that the State government would take action on the final report. The report would meet the same fate as the interim report submitted in 2008. But the Supreme Court can always take action on this report,” he told reporters.
The Forest Bench of the Supreme Court is hearing a case on illegal mining based on a petition filed by a non-government organisation, Samaja Parivartana Samudaya.
Presently, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the court is investigating allegations of encroachments of forest land by ministers in Bellary district.
The Lokayukta has indicted Yeddyurappa as a beneficiary of illegal mining. His Cabinet colleagues, Janardhana Reddy, Karunakara Reddy, Sriramulu and V Somanna, too have been indicted for their alleged involvement in illegal mining. The contents of the report, which the Lokayukta is yet to submit to the government, were leaked on Wednesday.
The BJP and the Congress, whose leaders have been indicted in the report, have argued that the report has “lost its sanctity” after it was leaked to a section of the media. The BJP leaders have indicated that the report would be rejected on the grounds that it was leaked.
Rejecting that argument, Justice Hegde said the CEC, had been co-ordinating with the Lokayukta in its own inquiry on the issue. “The Supreme Court has taken the illegal mining issue seriously. Hence, the government cannot ignore the report,” he stated.
Sources said the State government will be constrained to take action as per the Lokayukta’s findings on illegal mining, if the Supreme Court gives a direction based on the report.
The government has been accused of sitting on the interim report submitted in 2008. Justice Hegde has claimed that illegal mining is still continuing in Bellary with the knowledge of the government.
‘Enough evidence’
Justice Hegde further said he had provided substantive and voluminous evidence against all those indicted in the report, including the Chief Minister. All charges are backed by documentary evidence. Even the money trail had been traced with the help of IT department and the illegality has been established.
“The Chief Minister is responsible for what is happening in Bellary district because the Minister in-charge (Janardhana Reddy) is owner of a mining company (Obulapuram Mining) and a mafia-like situation is created. They have created a new system altogether by which they could literally bleed other mining companies.”
On the role of the Reddy brothers, he said they have a major role in illegal mining. They are into illegal mining though they do not have any mining leases sanctioned in their name in the State, he said.
He also said leaders of all political parties are involved in illegal mining. “No political party can claim that it is clean.”