BENGALURU: Viewing the conduct of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) of Nagamangala sub-division in Mandya district, Cheluvaraju, seriously, Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa directed the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP) to enlighten him and other police officers about their role in the prevention of unauthorised transportation of minor minerals in the state.
Cheluvaraju had given an evasive reply to a suo motu complaint registered by the Upa Lokayukta against all officials concerned, in January this year over the killing of the driver of a tipper carrying boulders unauthorisedly in a deep gorge on December 26, 2025, in Nagamangala, where the quarry owner was carrying out illegal mining.
“The DySP has stated that he will act only on complaints made by the public or any other authorities, being an authorised officer. His attitude and statement should be deprecated, as he failed to discharge his duties in accordance with the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994, and notifications.
It is also astonishing that the registration number on the tipper lorry and its chassis number do not match each other, but the DySP’s statement that he will act only on the complaints shows how he is discharging his duties...,” Justice Veerappa stated in the order, which was also marked to Inspector General of Police, Southern Range, Mysuru, and Superintendent of Police and Deputy Commissioner, who is on the District Level Task Force Committee of Mandya, for ensuring compliance with various directions issued in the order.
The Upa Lokayukta also noted that, unfortunately, Cheluvaraju also stated that it is not his duty to prevent illegal mining, as the government intends to establish a separate panel for it. It is nothing but shirking of institutional responsibility by pointing out that the Department of Mines and Geology is the sole stakeholder in preventing it, though he is a duty-bound authorised officer, as notified by the state government in the notification dated January 21, 2014, to prevent the same. His statement is against the provisions of KMMC Rules and notifications, which itself is dereliction of duty, the Upa Lokayukta observed.
Upa Lokayukta seeks answers from DySP
1 How many police officers have been deputed in his sub-division to check minor minerals transport vehicles?
2 How many vehicles checked as provided under Rule 43(3) of KMMC Rules, with details of registration number of vehicles?
3 What are the action initiated for violations, if any, during the course of checks for unauthorised transportation of minor minerals under IPC/BNS?
4 How many vehicles without GPS illegally transport minor minerals, and seizure and report of such vehicles?
5 How many vehicles do not carry required documents as provided under Rule 43(2) of KMMC Rules?