Bangalore court to hear case against Krishna

New Delhi: A special Lokayukta court in Bangalore will hear External Affairs Minister SM Krishna's petition on Thursday in an illegal mining case.

Earlier, Krishna on December 9 petitioned the Karnataka High Court to quash the illegal mining case against him, a day after police launched a probe into his alleged role in illegal mining when he was chief minister during the period of 1999-2004.

Krishna has contended in the petition that he had not de-reserved any forest area for mining nor has he committed "any illegality or irregularity" in de-reserving mining wealth in the state during his chief ministership, his counsel Ashok Haranahally said. Police attached to the Lokayukta (ombudsman) on Thursday filed the FIR, marking formal launch of a probe, against Krishna, two of his predecessors and 11 serving and retired senior officials.

The other two former chief ministers are N Dharam Singh, also of Congress and HD Kumaraswamy of Janata Dal-Secular. Dharam Singh and Kumaraswamy are now Lok Sabha members from Karnataka.

(With additional inputs from IANS)