The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Janardhan Reddy's case referred to Division Bench

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Saturday, Oct 14, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Janardhan Reddy's case referred to Division Bench

Staff Reporter

Judge says the case is more of a PIL

BANGALORE: A single judge of the Karnataka High Court on Friday referred to a Division Bench a writ petition filed by suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC from Bellary C. Janardhana Reddy, seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy, Home Minister M.P. Prakash and Minister for Forests Chennigappa and their relatives for offences punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

Justice H.G. Ramesh, who had reserved orders on the petition, said the case was more of public interest litigation and referred the case to a Division Bench.

On August 23, Mr. Reddy filed the case alleging that the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, Mr. Kumaraswamy, Mr. Prakash and Mr. Chennigappa had threatened to close mining activities in Bellary district if the mine owners did not "cough up money".

He alleged that the gratification sought for by Mr. Kumaraswamy and others ran into crores of rupees. He claimed that the amounts invested for acquisition of property running into crores of rupees came to be shown as borrowings from banks on the security of the deposits made in the very institutions.

He said women members of the three public servants lent their name for the acquisition of assets. They could not have made these investment as they had no independent source of income.

Mr. Reddy alleged that names of several business establishments such as Amogh, Kunal Enterprises, Kasturi Medias and BSK Trading came to be used for funnelling the bribes. He further alleged that property worth Rs. 100 crores came to be purchased in the names of some of the family members of Mr. Deve Gowda. Most of such acquisitions, he said, were after Mr. Kumaraswamy assumed office as Chief Minister.

Soon after he came to know of these facts, he called for a press meet and disclosed them. He said he had even then asked for a CBI investigation. Though the Chief Minister had initially pretended to order a CBI inquiry, he had later ordered an inquiry under the Commission of Enquiries Act, without making any reference to the charges levelled by him.

He said the charges needed a thorough investigation and this could not be done by the State police as it is an instrument of the State Government. He sought a direction from the High Court to refer the matter to the CBI.

He said he has filed materials to substantiate his charges. He said only an agency that is not under State control could conduct a fair and transparent investigation.

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