Congress MLA hurls abuses at IAS officer for not clearing mining lease file

A senior IAS officer was allegedly abused by a Congress MLA over a refusal to clear a file granting mining lease to his son.

The Secretary of the Commerce and Industries Department (MSME and Mines), Rajender Kumar Kataria, has accused the Congress MLA from the Mayakonda constituency of Davangere, Shivamurthy Naik, of abusing and threatening him and even physical preventing him from carrying out his duties.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Kataria stated that the MLA came to his office on Monday (October 9) and hurled abuses at him, threatening if he didn't follow his orders, he should "be ready to face dire consequences."

"He was not willing to listen to my explanation and reasoning. He has also physically prevented me from carrying out my official duties," the IAS officer mentioned in the letter.

Naik wanted Kataria to grant permission for an ornamental granite quarry lease on six acres in Challakere taluk. The MLA's son Suraj S. Naik had sought the lease in 2015.

According to the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession rules, lease can be granted only through auction. The final draft notification in 2016 states that whoever applies for lease before August 12, 2016 are ineligible and therefore, Suraj's application was also not considered.