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Karnataka
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Deshmukh clarifies CBI raids against Yeddyurappa in illegal mining case | Union Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Wednesday clarified that the Central
Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids against former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa had not been orchestrated by the ruling Congress Party as perceived
by the opposition parties. "Investigation only takes place by the CBI when they
have concrete evidence against the person, so this raid should not be viewed as
being ordered by the ruling Congress party. The CBI has not been pressurized to
conduct this raid by the Congress," said Deshmukh. "Our party has never wrongly
supported or acted against anyone. There are many Congress Ministers, who are
being interrogated by the CBI with regard to the Adarsh Scam (housing scam). We
have never interrupted in their procedures," he added. Meanwhile, S.R. Hiremath,
key petitioner in the illegal mining scam, today welcomed the legal action initiated
by the CBI officials against Yeddyurappa. Reflecting on the case, Hiremath revealed
that the CEC (Central Empowered Committee) report had indicted both Yeddyurappa
as well as the steel conglomerate, Jindal Steel Works Limited, in connection with
the scam. "On 20th April, they submitted their report, that is the CEC, and it
is a comprehensive report recommending a CBI investigation into the illegalities,
irregularities and criminalities involved by B.S. Yeddyurappa, the former chief
minister of Karnataka and his family members and relatives on one hand," Hiremath
told mediapersons in Mumbai. "On the other, Jindal Steel Works Limited, which
is one of the major steel manufacturers in the country and their group companies,
who have donated 20 crore rupees to an educational trust, which is managed by
the kith and kin of B.S Yeddyurappa on one hand," he added. Hiremath further said
that all evidence gathered by officials and activists in the scam had furthered
cemented the case against Yeddyurappa and his kith and kin. "There was a windfall
profit of 19.60 crore rupees. We strongly feel, as per the investigation of the
Lokayukta of Karnataka and much more importantly, the irrefutable evidences that
we have submitted to the CEC, that there were serious irregularities, illegalities
and criminalities involved of B.S. Yeddyurappa and others," he said. The report
of the court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had pointed out 'undue
favour' in respect of a land purchased by close relatives of Yeddyuruppa for 40
lakh in 2006 and subsequently sold to South West Mining Ltd, an alleged front
company of JSW Steels Ltd" in the year 2010 for Rs 20 crores. The CEC report said
Yeddyurappa's family members had received Rs six crore in kickbacks from a mining
firm. The CBI officials earlier today raided Yeddyurappa and his family members'
residences and two other mining firms. Officials of the investigating agency conducted
raids at eight premises belonging to Yeddyurappa, his sons B.Y. Raghavendra, a
Lok Sabha member, and B.Y. Vijayendra as well as son-in-law Sohan Kumar in Bangalore
and Shimoga district. Yeddyurappa today filed an anticipatory bail plea in the
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court after officials of the investigating
agency launched a probe into his alleged role in illegal mining. The Supreme Court
had earlier on May 11 directed a CBI probe against Yeddyurappa for allegedly granting
undue favours to firms involved in illegal mining in lieu of donations to a charitable
trust run by his kin. Yeddyurappa was forced to quit from his post of state chief
after the Lokayukta report indicted him in the illegal mining scam and also for
his alleged role in irregularities in allotment of prime land to his own kith
and kin.
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