Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday ordered issue of notice to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Lokayukta on a plea filed by senior IAS officer Mahendra Jain seeking anticipatory bail in a case of alleged corruption causing loss to State-owned mining company Mysore Minerals Ltd. (MML) during 2006–08.
Jain, who is now serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, was in-charge managing director of MML during 2006–08 and he has been accused of causing loss of several crores of rupees to MML because of illegal means adopted for selling ores.
Claiming that there is no material to show that he or other officials obtained pecuniary advantage to themselves and denying allegations levelled again him, it has been contended in the petition that even the report submitted by the former Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde stated that there is “no criminality” in the official discharge of duties by the officers and had recommended only disciplinary proceedings.
