Lokayukta issues summons to Kumaraswamy

Bangalore: A Lokayukta court today issued summons to former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and two others to appear before it on 30 August  in connection with a complaint against them for alleged illegal grant of mining licence and land to a private housing society.

Special Judge Sudhindra Rao ordered issue of summons to Anita, wife of Kumaraswamy and Jantakkal Enterprises, a mining firm, which Kumaraswamy has been accused of favouring.

Advocate Vinod Kumar had filed the private complaint alleging that Kumaraswamy had recommended grant of mining licence to Jantakkal company violating norms.

The complainant had alleged that following allotment of land by Kumaraswamy in favour of the housing society during his tenure as Chief Minister, his wife was benefitted by a residential site in return.

Kumaraswamy was also named in the Karnataka Lokayukta report on illegal mining which set off a political storm leading to the resignation of B S Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister following his damning indictment by the anti-corruption watchdog.

However, the court dismissed the complaint (in the same case) filed against former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, his son H D Balakrishna Gowda, Kavita Balkrishna Gowda, H D Revanna, and Bhavani Revanna.

The complainant had alleged that Kumaraswamy ordered renewal of mining licence to Janatakkal Mining Company at lightning speed and allotted 70 acres to Vishwabharathi Housing Cooperative Society.

The private housing society had allotted a residential site measuring 100ft x 150 ft to Anita, the complainant had alleged in his petition.

Vinod Kumar said he would challenge the order dismissing his complaint against Deve Gowda and others in the High Court.

PTI