Investigation into rampant illegal mining in the state which took place between 2008 and 2011 picking up pace. For the first time after its two reports on illegal mining were submitted, the Lokayukta was directed to probe the alleged involvement of officials of the Department of Mines and Geology in the scam.
The Director of Mines and Geology had sent a proposal on September 3 to the state government asking it to transfer the case related to the alleged role of officials in illegal mining to the Lokayukta. Accepting the proposal, the government directed the Lokayukta on October 8 to conduct a probe into the alleged role of seven officials of the department.
The director had stated that the seven officials are assistant engineer Basavaraj, junior engineer B L Prakash, superintendent O L Ramachandraiah, FDAs Jagadish, T B Javare Gowda, S K Sathyanarayana and D Hanumantharaya, and were mentioned in the second report on mining.