Substantive evidence against CM, others: Lokayukta

In a damning indictment of B S Yeddyurappa, K'taka Lokayukta Santosh N Hegde said there was "substantive" evidence against the CM and others in the "huge racket" of illegal mining that caused a loss of over Rs.1,800 crore to the state in 14 months.

Hegde, who is likely to submit his report by Monday, squarely held Yeddyurappa responsible for the happenings in mineral-rich Bellary where there is a "mafia-like situation" with every official being involved.

Quickly upping the ante, Congress demanded Yeddyurappa's resignation while the Left parties said he has has lost all moral and constitutional right to continue in office.

"The immediate resignation of the Chief Minister should be the starting," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said in Delhi.

He said every other minister who has been named should also resign and the state should call for and give consent for a CBI enquiry.

The Lokayukta described the illegal mining scam as huge.

"In the time period of 14 months, it is more than Rs 1800 crore. The time period is between March 2009 to May 2010. It is the loss to the state exchequer. It is loss to the state".

The report has given substantive evidence whether it's the Chief Minister, Ministers and miners in the illegal mining.
"It's a voluminous evidence", he said, adding, the report runs into 4000-5000 pages.

"It's a huge racket. As a matter of fact, the Chief Minister is responsible for what's happening in (mineral rich district of) Bellary because of the fact that the Minister in Charge (of the district G Janardhana Reddy) is owner of a mining company (Obalapuram Mining Company) and a mafia-like situation is created with every official being involved".

They have created a new system altogether by which they could literally bleed other mining companies", Hegde told the news agency.