In a major setback to Yeddyurappa and others, who have been given clean chit by the CBI which had investigated illegal iron ore cases, the Karnataka Government announced it will form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe afresh the cases of illegal export of iron ore.
In fact CBI which investigated had closed the probe citing lack of prima facie evidence and the State Cabinet on Wednesday took a decision to reopen the cases for a fresh probe.
The State Cabinet on Wednesday accepted the recommendation of the Cabinet subcommittee, headed by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H.K. Patil, that recommended the SIT probe. The decision was taken in the wake of the of CBI closing the cases of illegal export of iron ore through New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), Karwar, Panaji, and Marmagoa ports citing “lack of prima facie evidence”.
A source said this might embarrass many BJP leaders during the run-up to the polls. Siddaramaiah became Chief Minister in 2013 after he conducted a padayatra to Ballari against illegal mining during the BJP regime.
Briefing reporters on the Cabinet decisions, law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said the SIT would get all the records transferred from the CBI. Explaining the Cabinet decisions, Jayachandra said that the CBI had conducted the probe following the Supreme Court order after hearing a petition of the Samaj Parivartan Samudaya.
According to Jayachandra the Cabinet also decided to confiscate the properties of those involved in these cases to recover loss to the State exchequer from illegal mining. Jayachandra said the SIT has completed its probe in 72 cases so far and filed charge sheets in 22 cases.
A report of the Karnataka lokayukta Justice N Santhosh Hegde had exposed the scam and had estimated the total loss to exchequer due to illegal export of iron ore from NMPT and Karwar ports at about `16,000 crore in four years (2006-2010). The expose had forced former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa to resign.
The CBI had in its communication to the State government expressed its “helplessness” in continuing the probe into illegal iron ore exports from NMPT and Karwar port due to lack of adequate evidence.
Meanwhile, SIT which is probing into cases of illegal ore export below 50,000 tonnees has registered 72 cases so far and filed charge sheets in 22 cases.