Mining scam: Senior Karnataka official arrested

Bengaluru May 16: Special Investigation Team of the state's Lokayukta has been arrested Karnataka's Principal Secretary, Revenue, Ganga Ram Baderia here on Monday.

While going to matter, they have arrested the person for his alleged involvement in a mining scam a decade ago.

According to the Lokayukta Inspector General of Police K.S.R. Charan Reddy told to the media persons here "Baderia gave permission to Janthakal Enterprises Ltd to export 1.2 lakh tons of iron ore on receiving Rs 10 lakh bribe from the mining firm when he was Director of the State's Mines and Geology Department in 2007,"

Baderia, a 1989 IAS batch officer, had also recommended renewal of the mining firm's lease, with forged documents for allowing it to mine iron ore from the reserved forest area in Ballari district, as evident from his official notings in the files.

"A court remanded Baderia to three-day police custody for interrogation," said Reddy, adding that the case against him, the mining firm and others were registered on April 5 on the Supreme Court's March 29 directive