The Karnataka Mines and Geology Department today rejected the application of ruling Congress MLA K Shivamurthy Naik's son for quarry lease in a village in Chitradurga district.
The decision comes against the backdrop of an allegation by Mines and Geology Department Secretary Rajender Kumar Kataria that the legislator had abused and threatened him on Monday to clear his son Suraj Naik's application.
The officer had even complained to the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about the alleged ill-treatment meted out to him by the MLA.
Kataria later shot off a letter to chief secretary S C Khuntia and principal secretary to Chief Minister L K Ateeq complaining against the MLA and sought protection from the MLA.
In his three-page order, the director of minesand geology department rejected the application under the Rule 8-B of Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession-1994 (Amendment Rule-2016-17).
Naik had rejected the charge, saying "there is CCTV camera. Let people see whether I attacked him."
The MLA had claimed that he went to meet Kataria to impress upon him that there should be reservation for SC/ST in the mining business.
"There should be at least 25 per cent reservation for us also," he said.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
