Karnataka: Cabinet decides to withdraw 60 cases against activists

The Cabinet on Thursday decided to withdraw 60 cases booked against Dalit activists, farmer leaders, Kannada activists and labour activists, besides dropping cases filed against Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar and BJP senior leader C T Ravi. 

After the Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil told reporters that some of the cases booked against the activists and farmer leaders were as old as 10 years. So, it was decided to withdraw them. 

Cases booked against Karnataka Rakshana Vedike chief T A Narayana Gowda and farmer leader Kurburu Shantakumar were among those withdrawn. 

The minister said that it was decided to extend by one year the tenure of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing illegal mining cases.

“The inquiry in 113 cases of illegal iron ore mining is pending, while the high court has ordered a stay in two cases. In eight cases, investigation under sections of the CrPC is pending. So, the Cabinet felt it necessary to give extension to the SIT,” he said.

Patil said the state was able to collect over Rs 29,000 crore in fines and royalty in the last 10 years since its formation.  So, it would be wrong to conclude that the SIT did not yield results.

The Cabinet allocated a designated sugarcane area of 19 villages in Dharwad district to Mrinal Sugars Limited, a sugar factory owned by Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar and her brother MLC Channaraj Hattiholi. 

Patil said, “The designated area earlier belonged to Sri Someshwara Co-operative Sugar Mill of Bailahogal. With their consent, the government has redistributed the sugarcane area to Mrinal Sugars.”  In response to a question, the minister said he was not aware of who the owner of this factory was.