The Karnataka high court on Friday refused to quash the lokayukta police probe of the charge against external affairs minister SM Krishna that he de-reserved forest areas in ecologically fragile zones during his chief ministership in the state.
Justice N Ananda gave the order on Krishna's petition praying for quashing the lokayukta court proceedings initiated on December 11 on the basis of a private complaint.
But the high court turned down the charges against Krishna of mismanagement in state-owned Mysore Minerals Ltd (MML), the nodal agency for supplying iron ore to various firms.
"Averments of complaint made against the petitioner in the matter of dereservation of forests, accepted on their face value, would constitute offences against the petitioner and warrant investigation," Justice Ananda observed.
On MML, he said, "I hold the allegations made against the petitioner relating to alleged illegal activities committed in the management of MML do not constitute any cognisable offences and they do not call for investigation."
Social activist TJ Abraham had filed the private complaint before the lokayukta court, which ordered the probe. Subsequently the lokayukta police on December 8 registered an FIR against Krishna and two former chief ministers N Dharam Singh and HD Kumaraswamy.
{{/usCountry}}Social activist TJ Abraham had filed the private complaint before the lokayukta court, which ordered the probe. Subsequently the lokayukta police on December 8 registered an FIR against Krishna and two former chief ministers N Dharam Singh and HD Kumaraswamy.
{{/usCountry}}SM Krishna, who attended a programme in Bangalore, said he would proceed only after reading the order.
Asked whether it was a setback to him, he said, "Unless I see the full text of the judgment, I think I would not be in a position to comment about that."
With inputs from PTI