Karnataka: Cabinet decides to press for prosecution of HD Kumaraswamy & three ex-BJP ministers
Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to advise Governor Thawarchand Gehlot to permit prosecution of Union Heavy Industries Minister HD Kumaraswamy and former BJP ministers Shashikala Jolle, Murugesh Nirani and G Janardhana Reddy as sought by the Lokayukta.
The Cabinet decision comes days after Lokayukta’s special investigation team (SIT) sent a second letter to the Governor requesting permission to file chargesheet against Kumaraswamy in connection with the renewal of a mining lease.
The ruling Congress has stepped up its counter-offensive against the BJP-JDS combine, both legally and politically, and is preparing to build a strong case ahead of the scheduled hearing of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s writ petition in the high court, coming up on August 29. The CM is battling charges of his wife being given 14 residential plots, unlawfully, in an upscale area in Mysuru.
The Congress is targeting Kumaraswamy and others seeking to turn the tables on the Governor, accusing of inaction in complaints against the JDS and BJP leaders, and acting at the behest of the Centre. The JDS State unit president is alleged to have cleared a mining proposal in faour of Sri Sai Venkateshwara Minerals in Sandur in Ballari district when he was the CM in 2007.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil, briefing the media about the Cabinet decisions, said the government would advise the Governor and assist him in facilitating the process of grant of permission to prosecute Kumaraswamy, Jolle, Nirani and Reddy under Article 163 of
