Welcoming the Income Tax raids on Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar as the first step in the right direction, the National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR), the Jan Sangram Parishat (JSP) and the Samaj Parivartan Samudaya (SPS) have demanded a Special Investigation Team-monitored investigation of the financial irregularities of the influential Minister and his associates.
Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, NCPNR president S.R. Hiremath said that at a time when there were allegations of political motivation, only a SIT-monitored probe involving all Central agencies such as IT (CBDT), CBI, ED and CVC would go on in a proper manner and nullify such allegations.
Supreme Court judges M.B. Shah and Arijit Pasayat are chairman and vice-chairman of SIT which was constituted by the Union government in 2014 based on a July 4, 2011 order of the same court.
Mr. Hiremath said that on October 1, 2014 SPS and NCPNR had sent memoranda to the Prime Minister, the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Lokayukta and KPCC president G. Parameshwara supported by a voluminous representation on the corrupt practices of Mr. Shivakumar seeking criminal investigation and prosecution.
In 2014, Mr. Hiremath and his team had submitted 30 annexures pertaining to the alleged illegalities committed by Mr. Shivakumar and his family members. They had alleged that Mr. Shivakumar had, through his mining company, Victory Exports, and other shell companies, had caused loss to the State Exchequer by procuring iron ore at a throwaway price through the State-owned Mysore Minerals Limited (MML).
They had also submitted documents pertaining to the illegalities related to Vyalikaval House Building Cooperative Society that reportedly had connections with Mr. Shivakumar.
Mr. Hiremath said that although they had submitted all the documents pertaining to the illegalities to the former Governor (H.R. Bhardwaj), nothing was done except an assurance that action would be taken.