K.R. Pet: Days after he was penalised Rs.11 crore by the Mines and Geology Department  for illegal stone quarrying in villages of K.R. Pet taluk, Mandya ZP JD(S) member H.T. Manju alleged that there is a political motive behind his penalisation.

Addressing a press meet at the JD(S) Office here on Monday, H.T. Manju said he started stone quarrying on Nov. 17, 2018 after obtaining licence in the name of T.J. Stone Crushers. 

Claiming that his industry was raided just nine months after he started business, Manju                   maintained that the raid was politically motivated.

Pointing out that he had paid a total royalty of Rs.1,74,678 as penalty under two separate licences following a notice issued by the Mines and Geology Department on Nov. 25, 2019, the ZP member maintained that he has so far paid Rs. 64 lakh as royalty to the Government in nine months after he started his stone crusher industry. But still the Government is hounding him at the behest of Minister K.C. Narayanagowda, who is attempting to finish him (Manju) off politically. 

Accusing Narayanagowda of being behind RTI activist K.R. Ravindra’s crusade against him, Manju asserted that Ravindra had failed to prove his claims that the documents related to his stone crusher industry were fake. 

Continuing his attack on Narayangowda, Manju accused the officials of sealing his crusher industry at the Minister’s behest. Urging the authorities to allow quarrying till the expiry of the validity of his mining licence, he warned of a legal battle if the authorities do not act in fairness.