BENGALURU: The High Court on Monday issued notice to Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, his wife Usha, brother D K Suresh and others, including granite companies, in connection with their alleged involvement in illegal quarrying around Kanakapura taluk in Ramanagaram district.
A division bench of acting Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice B V Nagarathna acted on a public interest petition filed by B S Narayana Swamy, secretary, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, and A C Shivaraju, a social worker.
The petitioners sought a CBI inquiry into the alleged illegal quarrying of coloured granite in Kanakapura and surrounding areas, in which D K Shivakumar and his family members were allegedly involved. The petitioners also alleged that Shivakumar, while an MLA, had appealed to then chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to withdraw forest offence cases pending against him.
Abusing power, vested interests and politicians are quarrying within 100 metres of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, violating the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act and Karnataka Forest Act, besides trying to hush up cases registered against them, the petitioners alleged. Hence, a CBI inquiry should be ordered into the illegal quarrying, they said.
No Breather For Renukacharya
The High Court declined to stay proceedings initiated against former minister and BJP leader M P Renukacharya in connection with a disproportionate assets case. Hearing a petition challenging the Lokayukta proceedings, Justice A N Venugopala Gowda refused to interfere in the probe taken up by Lokayukta police in Davanagere district. Justice Gowda asked Lokayukta police to submit a status report and issued a notice to complainant Gurupadaiah Matad, an activist, and adjourned the matter to July 1.
On May 28, Lokayukta police conducted simultaneous raids at properties owned by Renukacharya in Bengaluru, Davanagere and Shivamogga districts. The raids came in compliance with an order of the Lokayukta Special Court, and were conducted at palatial houses at Honnali, Davanagere and Shivamogga, and on the campus of Bapuji Educational Institution, owned by him.
The local court had ordered action after hearing a petition filed by Matad. Matad is a resident of Honnali in Davanagere district.
Lokayukta police seized `2.33 lakh in cash, gold worth `4 lakh, and hundreds of documents related to Renukacharya’s properties.
Order Recalled
Justice Anand Byrareddy on Monday recalled his order directing the Advocates Association of Bangalore (AAB) to pay a cost of `500 on each case listed before him on Friday, when advocates abstained from proceedings. Justice Reddy recalled the order in response to some senior counsels’ appeal.
PIL Disposed of The division bench disposed of a public interest litigation seeking additional train services between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. The division bench asked the Railway Ministry to consider the petitioners’ request within three months.