Yeddyurappa ouster: Tourism minister’s account was node for all money trail

That tourism minister, also minister in charge of Bellary district, G Janardhana Reddy, has been receiving large sums of money into his bank account from the owners of mining firms has been carefully documented by Lok Ayukta justice N Santosh Hegde.

“I recommend to the competent authority that Reddy be removed from the cabinet,” Justice Hegde stated in the report, under provisions of Section 12(3) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984.

Under this section, the governor is the competent authority to recommend action against the chief minister and his cabinet.
All these days, Reddy has been vigorously denying allegations of his involvement in the illegal mining scam.

With the submission of the Lok Ayukta report, however, the lies have been nailed. Reddy, along with his brothers Karunakara Reddy, revenue minister, and Somashekhara Reddy, MLA from Bellary, and also associate and health minister B Sriramulu, now stand indicted.

The report has details of the money trails that lead into Janardhana Reddy’s account. Sri Bhaktha Markandeshwara Minerals Hospet (SBMM), a firm established in 2008, as yet unregistered and owned by 35-year-old K Kashivishwanath of Hospet in Bellary has deposited crores of rupees to various persons and firms.

Finally, however, the money was seen to be deposited into the account of tourism minister.

In the sixth chapter of the report, chief conservator of forests UV Singh shows that the amount deposited in the names of different firms finally finds its way into the bank account of G Janardhana Reddy.

The report concludes that the cash paid finally reaches this one person, as the money was used to procure overall protection for the illegal iron ore trade and transportation.

The Lok Ayukta has recommended further investigation into the money trails. Account No 0298358000000307 of M/s SBMM in Lakshmivilas Bank, Hospet, shows a transaction of May 31, 2010, for an amount of Rs12.5 crore. The amount was deposited in favour of Associated Mining Company (AMC) in account No 31000313003 of the SBI, Main Branch, Bellary.

This account is a joint account of managing partners Janardhana Reddy and G Lakshmi Aruna of AMC.

On the same day, Rs5 crore had been credited by the Sri Jambunatheshwara Minerals, Hospet, into the account of SBMM. Jambunatheshwara Minerals is involved in illegal trade of iron ore from Hospet-Sandur-Bellary regions.

SBMM was responsible for transporting ore illegally to various destinations.