The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Government rejects demand for CBI probe

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Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Government rejects demand for CBI probe

Special Correspondent

In thelegislature

Bangalore: The State Government has turned down the demand of the Congress for an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into alleged irregularities in iron ore mining in the State.

Minister for Home M.P. Prakash said there was no need for a CBI investigation. "The CBI is not the panacea for all ills. The credibility of the CBI is well-known," he said.

The Government had referred the matter to the Lokayukta, which had adequate powers to issue notice, carry out searches and prosecute the accused. The terms of reference of the U.L. Bhat Commission of Inquiry had been passed on the Lokayukta, he said.

Replying to the discussion on the Bhat Commission of Inquiry, which has been wound up, Mr. Prakash said Mr. Bhat had neither submitted his resignation nor had the Government sought it. Mr. Bhat had written to the Industries Department stating that he did not intend to continue.

The Government then asked the Lokayukta to take over the investigation covering the same period (from 2000 to July 2006) as well as the allegations made against various people.

Unhappy with the Government's reply, the Congress, led by Leader of the Opposition N. Dharam Singh, staged a walkout. It said a CBI inquiry was needed since there were various facets to the scam, including the role of some departments of the Union Government that had a role in granting mining permits and export licences.

`It's a witch-hunt'

Earlier, the former Minister, D.K. Shivakumar accused the Government of a "witch-hunt" against him and his family members. Mining remained suspended only in Kanakapura taluk of Bangalore Rural district for nearly one year. There was no response to information sought by him under the Right to Information Act. "I am ready to face the consequences, if found guilty. But justice should be done."

A.T. Ramaswamy (Janata Dal-S) said, "I feel ashamed to speak on the iron ore scam. It is all a case of mudslinging by members of the ruling parties and the Opposition. What is the message that we are sending to the people? If a person can level an allegation that a sum of Rs. 150 crore has been paid as bribe, then one can imagine the money made by the person making the allegation. The Lokayukta should go into the very roots of the scam in its investigation."

Senior Congress member M. Mallikarjun Kharge said the Government should order the investigation to reveal the truth. The Government had wound up the Justice U.L. Bhat Commission of Inquiry constituted to look in alleged irregularities in iron ore mining in the State. For nearly three months the Government had not provided the required staff and support to the Bhat Commission. Fearing that a CBI inquiry would come out with the real truth, the Government had asked the Lokayukta to conduct an inquiry into the matter, he said.

`No power to prosecute'

Stating that "blackmail politics" would not work, Mr. Kharge said the Lokayukta could only submit a report to the Government and it had no power to prosecute the accused.

Ramesh Kumar (Congress) defended the party's demand for the CBI inquiry saying that the Supreme Court in the Sanjeev Kumar versus State of Haryana and others case had observed that the functioning of a commission in any State had its limitations.

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