Karnataka | The state cabinet decides to withdraw 43 criminal cases from the criminal prosecution process

HK Patil | Photo credit:

The state cabinet on Thursday decided to withdraw 43 criminal cases registered at various police stations in the state from prosecution.

Briefing mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said the Cabinet took the decision after its sub-committee examined 60 cases referred to it. Of the 60 cases, the subcommittee recommended withdrawal of 43 cases, he noted. Sources said the cases that would be withdrawn would include those against farmer leaders and Kannada activists.

SIT’s term was extended

According to Patil, the Cabinet has also decided to extend the tenure of the Karnataka Lokayukta SIT, which investigates illegal mining cases, by a year. The Cabinet believes this is necessary as 113 iron ore export cases are still pending for investigation while another six cases are at various stages of investigation, he said.

The Cabinet decided to set aside 19 villages in Dharwad Taluk as reserved sugarcane growing zone for Mrunal Sugars Ltd. by withdrawing them from Someshwara Cooperative Sugar Mills. The Cabinet is believed to have taken the decision on the grounds that these villages are closer to Mrunal Sugars Ltd. lay.

When asked if this sugar factory belonged to the son of Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, the Law Minister replied that he was not aware of it.

Sarees of Anganwadi workers

The Cabinet also decided to allocate ₹13.75 crore for procurement of two saris per year as per rules for 1,37,509 anganwadi workers through tender process.

The Cabinet also gave administrative clearance for construction of a ‘Reshme Bhavana’, an office-cum-commercial building, at a cost of ₹527.5 million on a 4.25-acre plot belonging to the Sericulture department at Okalipuram in Bengaluru. The Karnataka State Minerals Corporation will make investments in this regard, Mr Patil said.

Among other decisions, the Cabinet also gave regulatory approval for construction of a high-tech cocoon market at Sidlaghatta in Chickballapur district at a cost of ₹200 crore.

The Prime Minister approved the appointment of a new Chairman and members of the State Law Commission following the expiry of the term of office of the incumbent members.

Out of compassion, the Cabinet also decided to appoint Adithi D., daughter of late IPS officer Dilip R., as an assistant in the government secretariat.