The Karnataka government has advised quick sanction in pending corruption cases against Union minister HD Kumaraswamy and three former BJP ministers. (Image: PTI/File)
This comes amid a political slugfest triggered by Karnataka governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s permission to prosecute CM Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged MUDA site allotment scam on August 16
The Karnataka government has advised the governor to act on requests seeking permission to prosecute Union minister HD Kumaraswamy and three former BJP ministers in corruption cases against them. This comes amid a political slugfest triggered by the same sanction for chief minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged MUDA site allotment scam on August 16.
With this, the state government is trying to put governor Thaawarchand Gehlot in a spot, advising quick sanction in cases pending before him under the Prevention of Corruption Act. These include cases against former BJP ministers Murgesh Nirani, Shahsikala Jolle and Janardhan Reddy as well as Kumaraswamy.
“To take decisions in the pending cases at the earliest and to smoothen the judicial process, under article 163 of the Constitution the cabinet can give aid and advice to the governor. Using it, the cabinet has given its approval to give the governor aid and advice,” law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil said.
Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, he said: “The advice will be sent to the governor. Out of the four cases that are pending regarding which we have given aid and advice, in two of these cases (Janardhan Reddy and Kumaraswamy) the chargesheet has been filed…” he added.
Asked if the governor can reject this, the minister said: “According to us, he is bound by our advice; his discretion is limited. I am sure he shall use his discretion very judiciously.”
This comes a day after Siddaramaiah charged Gehlot with indulging in discrimination while approving prosecution sanction requests. He said the Lokayukta’s special investigation team (SIT) once again submitted a proposal to the governor on August 19 seeking permission to file a chargesheet against Kumaraswamy in an alleged illegal mining lease case.
The SIT had first requested Gehlot’s nod in November last year to prosecute the Union minister, who allegedly granted mining lease to Sri Sai Venkateshwara Minerals when he was the chief minister in 2007 in violation of law.
Siddaramaiah further said Gehlot issued show-cause notice to him on July 26, the same day he received a petition seeking sanction for his prosecution while in Kumaraswamy’s case, there has been no action.
“Has he (the Governor) not discriminated?” the CM asked. “We have not sought (the governor’s) sanction (for prosecution of Kumaraswamy) or private (individual). Sanction was sought by Lokayukta SIT. They have investigated, collected evidence, and thereafter they have sought (sanction), that means there is evidence against him (Kumaraswamy),” he said.
“In my case, no police officer has sought (sanction). Lokayukta has also not sought (sanction). There is no preliminary inquiry. Despite that, sanction was given; in his case, after Lokayukta conducted investigation, they have requested for sanction (but it was not given). Is it discrimination or not?” he added.
He further said nowhere has it been declared that Kumaraswamy will be arrested. “If there is a circumstance (in connection with the case) to arrest him, we will arrest him without any hesitation. Such a circumstance is not there now. He is now scared that the governor will give sanction,” he said.
On a petition filed by Siddaramaiah against the governor’s order, the Karnataka High Court granted him interim relief directing the trial court to defer proceedings on complaints against him and further instructing that no precipitative action be taken till August 29. He has vehemently denied all the allegations in the MUDA scam – pertaining to irregularities in the allotment of sites to his wife Parvathi — and called them “trumped-up”.
(With PTI inputs)
