Kumaraswamy appears before Lokayukta SIT in illegal mining case

Bengaluru, May 18: A day after securing anticipatory bail from a Karnataka court, former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today joined investigation by the Lokayukta SIT into an illegal mining, lodged against him.

Janata Dal (Secular) state president Kumaraswamy was questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for two hours during which he explained his version of events, the officials said.

Kumaraswamy has been accused of putting immense pressure on the then Commissioner of Mines, Gangaram Baderiya, in 2007 to clear a file in favour of Janthakal mining firm, when he was the chief minister.

Baderiya, now the Revenue Department's principal secretary, was arrested by SIT on May 15 for allegedly allowing the firm to illegally lift one million tonnes of mined ore in Chitradurga based on forged documents. The SIT had summoned Kumaraswamy following the arrest of Baderiya.

Speaking to reporters after appearing before SIT officials, Kumaraswamy said he was being targeted by the Congress government as he has a strong base in the state ahead of 2018 assembly elections.

"I am being targeted because I have a stronger base ahead of 2018 elections. And the people, who are occupying the SIT seats, take orders from the government to ensure that I am behind the bars for at least an hour and they show me in bad light," he said. Kumaraswamy said he would cooperate with SIT officials.

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‘Profit’ trap: Mangaluru trader duped of ₹33.1 lakh in online App scam

News Network

December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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