Deshmukh clarifies CBI raids against Yeddyurappa in illegal mining case

New Delhi/Mumbai/Bangalore, May 16 (ANI): Union Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Wednesday clarified that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids against former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had not been orchestrated by the ruling Congress Party as perceived by the opposition parties.

"Investigation only takes place by the CBI when they have concrete evidence against the person, so this raid should not be viewed as being ordered by the ruling Congress party. The CBI has not been pressurized to conduct this raid by the Congress," said Deshmukh.

"Our party has never wrongly supported or acted against anyone. There are many Congress Ministers, who are being interrogated by the CBI with regard to the Adarsh Scam (housing scam). We have never interrupted in their procedures," he added.

Meanwhile, S.R. Hiremath, key petitioner in the illegal mining scam, today welcomed the legal action initiated by the CBI officials against Yeddyurappa.

Reflecting on the case, Hiremath revealed that the CEC (Central Empowered Committee) report had indicted both Yeddyurappa as well as the steel conglomerate, Jindal Steel Works Limited, in connection with the scam.

"On 20th April, they submitted their report, that is the CEC, and it is a comprehensive report recommending a CBI investigation into the illegalities, irregularities and criminalities involved by B.S. Yeddyurappa, the former chief minister of Karnataka and his family members and relatives on one hand," Hiremath told mediapersons in Mumbai.

"On the other, Jindal Steel Works Limited, which is one of the major steel manufacturers in the country and their group companies, who have donated 20 crore rupees to an educational trust, which is managed by the kith and kin of B.S Yeddyurappa on one hand," he added.

Hiremath further said that all evidence gathered by officials and activists in the scam had furthered cemented the case against Yeddyurappa and his kith and kin.

"There was a windfall profit of 19.60 crore rupees. We strongly feel, as per the investigation of the Lokayukta of Karnataka and much more importantly, the irrefutable evidences that we have submitted to the CEC, that there were serious irregularities, illegalities and criminalities involved of B.S. Yeddyurappa and others," he said.

The report of the court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had pointed out 'undue favour' in respect of a land purchased by close relatives of Yeddyuruppa for 40 lakh in 2006 and subsequently sold to South West Mining Ltd, an alleged front company of JSW Steels Ltd" in the year 2010 for Rs 20 crores.

The CEC report said Yeddyurappa's family members had received Rs six crore in kickbacks from a mining firm.

The CBI officials earlier today raided Yeddyurappa and his family members' residences and two other mining firms. Officials of the investigating agency conducted raids at eight premises belonging to Yeddyurappa, his sons B.Y. Raghavendra, a Lok Sabha member, and B.Y. Vijayendra as well as son-in-law Sohan Kumar in Bangalore and Shimoga district.

Yeddyurappa today filed an anticipatory bail plea in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court after officials of the investigating agency launched a probe into his alleged role in illegal mining.

The Supreme Court had earlier on May 11 directed a CBI probe against Yeddyurappa for allegedly granting undue favours to firms involved in illegal mining in lieu of donations to a charitable trust run by his kin.

Yeddyurappa was forced to quit from his post of state chief after the Lokayukta report indicted him in the illegal mining scam and also for his alleged role in irregularities in allotment of prime land to his own kith and kin. (ANI)