Police assure protection to Karnataka Lokayukta officials
July 23rd, 2011 - 7:49 pm ICT by IANSBangalore, July 23 (IANS) Karnataka Police Saturday assured protection to Lokayukta officials investigating illegal mining in the state, in view of the reported involvement of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and four of his ministers, among others, in the scam.
“Lokayukta asked us that some officials should be given protection and we have assured that it will be provided,” Bangalore Police Commissioner B.G. Jyothiprakash Mirji told reporters here.
Mirji, who met Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde, said there was no discussion on the nature of threats to the officials.
Asked whether there was threat to the life of the officials who investigated and prepared the report, Mirji said: “We were only asked to give protection and we have agreed.”
Hegde is to submit his around 5,000-page report next week and has told media that he has sought protection to five officials involved in investigating and preparing the document.
Most of the contents of the report have been leaked to the media. The report names Yeddyurappa, four of his ministers, former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Congress Rajya Sabha member Anil Lad and about 500 officials for their involvement in the scam.
In a related development, Congress leaders and members in Karnataka held a rally in Bangalore, demanding immediate resignation of Yeddyurappa for his involvement in illegal mining and also for allegedly tapping Hedge’s phone.
“The tapping of Lokayukta’s phone could not have taken place without Yeddyurappa’s knowledge and permission,” state Congress chief G. Parameshwara said, addressing the rally.
Kumaraswamy, who is state Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) president, said at a separate press meet that his phone was being tapped since Yeddyurappa came to office in May 2008.
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- Yeddyurappa says he won't quit, Gadkari to decide (Roundup) - Jul 25, 2011
- Yeddyurappa, others named in illegal mining report: Santosh Hegde - Jul 21, 2011
- 25,228-page Lokayukta report names chief minister, predecessor - Jul 27, 2011
- Yeddyurappa unwilling to step down as opposition steps up pressure (Roundup) - Jul 23, 2011
- BJP, Congress sparring continues over Lokayuka report (Evening lead) - Jul 22, 2011
- Can't comment on unreleased Lokayukta report: BJP - Jul 21, 2011
- Yeddyurappa arrest: Congress jubilant, JD-S wary - Oct 15, 2011
- Karnataka to act against 600 officials over illegal mining - Oct 28, 2011
- Ready to quit if phone-tapping charges proved: Yeddyurappa (Lead) - Jul 25, 2011
- Congress guns for Yeddyurappa, BJP hits back - Jul 21, 2011
- Hegde wants Yeddyurappa prosecuted for graft, BJP hit (Roundup) - Jul 27, 2011
- Will quit if Lokayukta phone tapping proved: Yeddyurappa - Jul 25, 2011
- Yeddyurappa has moral responsibility to act: Soni - Jul 21, 2011
- Double blow for Yeddyurappa: Faces illegal mining charge, court case (Roundup) - Jul 21, 2011
Tags: chief minister, congress chief, congress leaders, jd, karnataka police, kumaraswamy, lad, police commissioner, rajya sabha member, rally, related development, report names, resignation, santosh, state congress