ADGP says HDK trying to scuttle probe, lodges police complaint

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: ADGP M Chandra Sekhar, who heads the SIT which is investigating illegal mining cases, on Friday lodged a police complaint against Union minister HD Kumaraswamy and his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy for allegedly threatening him to scuttle the probe against the former CM. The probe against Kumaraswamy pertains to allegations that he illegally approved a 550-acre mining lease to SSVM in Bellary district in violation of law during his tenure as Karnataka CM from 2006 to 2008. "The SIT, after preparing the investigation report and having found substantial evidence and material to prosecute the accused (Kumaraswamy), had written to H E Governor of Karnataka seeking sanction for prosecution against the accused Sh H D Kumaraswamy on 21/11/2023," Sekhar said in his complaint lodged at Sanjay Nagar police station. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, vide his letter dated July 29, 2024, sought certain clarifications after going through the report, he said. Sekhar said: The SIT is just one step away from prosecuting this accused Kumaraswamy. Very clearly, the accused is intimidating me by threatening to have me shifted from Karnataka and also cause trouble to my family members.