Mining: SC asks CEC to look into bribe allegation against BSY

The Supreme Court today asked the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to look into the allegations that bribe was paid to former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and some bureaucrats purportely for illegal mining in Bellary and adjoining district of Anantpur in Andhra Pradesh.

The Supreme Court today asked the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to look into the allegations that bribe was paid to former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and some bureaucrats purportely for illegal mining in Bellary and adjoining district of Anantpur in Andhra Pradesh.

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A special forest bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia passed the order on a plea made by an NGO seeking extention of CBI probe against JSW Steel and Adani Enterprises for alleged illegal mining and transportation of iron ores.

"We ask the CEC to consider the interim application for appropriate recommendation," the bench, also comprising Justices Aftab Alam and Justice Swatanter Kumar, said.

The NGO, Samaj Parivartan Samudaya, sought a probe against the companies on the basis of the report of the Lokayukta which had allegedly indicted them.

It alleged JSW had received 12.97 lakh metric tonnes of illegal iron ore by overloading, which led to a loss of Rs 324 crore to the state exchequer.

"As a quid pro quo, JSW, through its subsidiary, South West Mining Company, made payments to close relation of the then chief minister of Karnataka (Yeddyurappa)," the application alleged.

It charged powerful corporate entities such as Adani Enterprises and others of Belikere Port are involved in the scam relating to the theft of 5.5 lakh tonne of iron ore.

The application also alleged links of former Karnataka Minister G Janardan Reddy’s Associated Mining Company with Adani Enterprises, relying upon the Lokayukta report.