A private complaint was filed before the Lokayukta today against Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Pradeep Singh Kharola, for reportedly allowing pilferage of taxes during his tenure as Commissioner of Commercial Taxes in 2008.
In his complaint, Mallesh, President of a local farmers' outfit alleged that the pilferage, especially in Bellary and surrounding districts like Koppal, Chitradurga, had resulted in a loss of Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 crore to the state exchequer and sought a direction for Kharola to be tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Mallesh alleged that during Karhola's tenure intermediate checkposts and mobile squads deployed to check pilferage had become totally inactive and that rampant illegal transportation of iron ore went on.
Published 03 August 2012, 12:03 IST