CBI files FIR against Cong leader Muniyappa

BANGALORE: After G Janardhana Reddy, it's now the turn of another former Karnataka minister and Congress leader V Muniyappa to face the CBI probe into illegal mining.
Acting on a Supreme Court directive, the CBI on Saturday filed an FIR in the special CBI court, Bangalore, against 21 people, including Muniyappa and geology department director M E Shivalinga Murthy.
The FIR also named Lakshmi Aruna, wife of Janardhana Reddy, currently in a jail in Hyderabad in connection with illegal mining charges.
Muniyappa, as minister in the SM Krishna government in 2003, allegedly allowed quarrying in forest areas. In his first report, the Lokayukta too had named Muniyappa for allegedly renewing the licence of Associated Mining Company, owned by Janardhana Reddy, for 10 years in violation of rules. Recently, the CBI had raided his residence in Bangalore.