HC dismisses PIL seeking Governor’s nod for prosecution against CM Siddaramaiah in Mining case
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought directions to the Governor to grant sanction for prosecution against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act in connection with alleged illegal grant and renewal of mining leases.
The petition had been filed by Bengaluru-based businessman M.P. Venugopal and came up before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Prasanna B. Varale (Correction: please confirm, original says Vibhu Bakhru) and Justice C.M. Joshi on Thursday.
When the case was called twice, the petitioner’s counsel failed to appear before the bench. Taking note of this and citing non-compliance with legal procedure, the court dismissed the petition.
The PIL had demanded that the Governor be directed to approve prosecution against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah under the PC Act. It further sought a direction for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct an independent probe into the alleged illegal renewal of mining leases, and for the Lokayukta to submit a report on the matter.
The petitioner had also asked the court to cancel mining leases granted to Ramgad Minerals and Mining Pvt. Ltd. and Veerabhadrappa Sangappa & Co., declaring all such leases illegal. Additionally, it called for recovery of alleged financial losses from those who benefitted from illegal mining contracts.
Apart from Siddaramaiah, the petition had also named former Secretary of the Commerce and Industries Department Tushar Girinath, along with several private mining companies, as respondents.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Pak police registers case against unidentified gunmen for opening fire on LeT co-founder
_vb_37.jpeg)
Lahore (PTI): Pakistan's Punjab Police on Friday registered a case against unidentified gunmen for opening fire on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) co-founder Amir Hamza, who suffered bullet injuries in the attack in Lahore.
On Thursday, two unidentified gunmen riding on a bike opened fire on the vehicle of the private TV channel 24NewsHD TV, owned by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, on Peco Road in Lahore near the TV channel's office.
In the attack, Hamza suffered bullet injuries.
"The FIR has been registered against unidentified gunmen, but it is sealed forthwith," a senior police officer told PTI.
He said the intelligence agencies have taken over this case from the police, and they are currently investigating the matter.
The channel's religious programme host Justice (retd.) Nazir Ahmed Ghazi and Hamza were in the vehicle when it was attacked. Hamza was shifted to a hospital for treatment.
Punjab police on Friday said that "upon receiving information about the incident, the SSP Operations immediately reached the scene and a high alert was imposed in the area. SSP Operations Tauqeer Naeem also met the affected individuals. Thankfully, all present in the vehicle remained safe during the firing."
It further said senior police officers of the Township and Chung, along with a heavy police contingent, were present at the scene.
"Police collected evidence from the site and initiated an investigation. Efforts to arrest the suspects are underway using CCTV footage and geo-fencing techniques. Search and sweep operations are being conducted at various locations, with scrutiny of suspicious individuals ongoing," police said.
It added that those involved in the incident will be traced and arrested soon.
The police sources said that Hamza has been shifted to his residence in Jauhar Town, Lahore, where police and agency personnel met him.
The leadership of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a political front of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's banned Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD), including Hafiz Saeed's son Hafiz Talha Saeed, also called on him.
TV host retired Justice Ghazi, who remained unhurt in the attack, remained a legal counsel for Hafiz Saeed, they said.
The PMML has strongly condemned the attack on Hamza and demanded that those involved in the incident be arrested immediately.
Hamza is regarded as LeT's second most important leader after its chief Hafiz Saeed, who has been in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail since 2019 after getting convicted for several years in terror financing cases.
Hamza has been designated as a terrorist by the US. In the past, he served as the head of LeT's "special campaigns" department.
In 2018, Hamza formed a fundraising group for the LeT following a ban on the JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation by the Pakistani government.
_vb_22.jpeg)
_vb_35.jpeg)
