Bengaluru; A Lokayukta Special Court yesterday rejected an anticipatory bail application filed by former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in an illegal mining case.

Lokayukta Special Court Judge Gopal observed that anticipatory bail cannot be granted as the allegations against the accused amount to economical offence, considering the verdicts of the Supreme Court in similar cases. Fearing arrest, Kumaraswamy quickly moved the Karnataka High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing illegal mining cases in the State, had registered a case against Kumaraswamy based on the statement by senior IAS Officer Gangaram Baderia.

The SIT had arrested Baderia for according permission to Janthakal Enterprises in 2006 based on forged letters purportedly issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

During questioning, Baderia had stated that he had accorded permission on instructions from the then CM Kumaraswamy.

Baderia, the then Commissioner of Mines and Geology, had alleged that Kumaraswamy instructed him to allow Vinod Goel of Janthakal Mining Company to lift iron and manganese ore dumped in Chitradurga.

Meanwhile, former Minister G. Janardhan Reddy yesterday submitted evidence to the SIT in support of his allegation made 10 years ago, that Kumaraswamy had received Rs. 150-crore kickback from mining companies in Ballari. After submitting the evidence at the SIT office, Reddy said he has submitted a pen drive and several bank statements to substantiate his allegations.