Juniormost Reddy threatened Lok Ayukta officials

Lawmaker and Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) president G Somashekara Reddy had threatened Lok Ayukta officials when they visited Bellary a year ago to investigate illegal mining goings on in the district.

“Reddy asked them whether they had permission from the district in-charge minister and his brother, G Janardhana Reddy, to enter the district,” said Lok Ayukta Justice Santosh N Hegde.

Members of the investigation team led by UV Singh told Reddy that as citizens of a free country, they had the right to visit any place to carry out their job. Reddy then told Singh to leave the district or face the consequences. Singh informed Hegde about the incident and filed a complaint in Bellary.

“Till date, only an FIR has been registered. No charge sheet has been made,” said Hegde. “Officials who prepared the second Lokayukta report were threatened by some people whose names are mentioned in the report. But I don’t want to name them,” he said.

“I don’t think action will be taken against the people involved in illegal mining mentioned in the report. But since the CEC investigation is on and the case is pending in the Supreme Court, action may be taken against them,” Hegde said.

“I do not have any enmity with Yeddyurappa or his family members. Till now, I have met him only three times and they were all formal meetings. I have done my work,” he said.

Reddy brothers were behind 60% of illegal mining carried out in the state. Sriramulu and Karunakara Reddy’s names were also included in the report as they were the directors of Obalapuram Mining Company, he said.

“The officials collected whatever details available on illegal mining in Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga. But there is more to investigate. Despite threats and limited time, we have done this much,” Hegde said.

The loss to the state exchequer could be more than the amount mentioned in the report, he added.

“I am not a politician or enemy of anybody. It is up to the government to decide what needs to be done,” he said.