Illegal mining case: K'taka HC to hear S M Krishna's petition

The Karnataka high court will hear on Tuesday the petition filed by Union External Affairs Minister S M Krishna challenging the proceedings against him in the illegal mining case. The matter is expected to be come up in the morning session and will be heard by Justice B V Pinto, the same judge who heard the bail plea filed by B S Yeddyurappa.

The Lokayukta court while hearing a private complaint had ordered a probe against Krishna and two other former chief ministers of Karnataka. The complaint had alleged that Krishna during his tenure as CM had used his office and had favoured some companies as a result of which the exchequer of the state incurred huge losses due to illegal mining.

Following this the Lokayukta police filed a first information report against Krishna and others. The police were also directed to file a report on the probe by January 6. Following this there was chaos in the Rajya Sabha seeking the ouster of Krishna. Krishna then moved the high court against these proceedings.