from daijiworld's political correspondent (MB)

Bangalore, May 9: The state cabinet on Thursday decided to wind up the U L Bhat commission of inquiry appointed to probe into charges of irregularities in large-scale mining in and around Bellary. The commission was set up eight months ago, after a loud clamour demanding investigation.

Sources in Vidhan Soudha told this correspondent that the cabinet had considered it wasteful expenditure.

The commission was appointed in wake of allegations Rs 150-crore bribery against the chief minister and his two ministers, home minister M P Prakash and forests minister C Chennigappa.

Former chief justice of the Asssam and Madhya Pradesh high courts U L Bhat was given a time-frame of two months for an interim report and six months for the final report.

Interestingly, sources close to the commission said that the public and ministers were not coming forward to depose before the commission and hence it had sought an extension. Citing the same reason, the government has decided to wind up the commission, the sources said.

The key person who had levelled the charges, MLC Janardan Reddy and Congress party had sought a CBI enquiry, to which the state government declined, following which Reddy approached the state high court and the supreme court.

It was pointed out that the commission had failed to get a response. BJP MLC Janardhan Reddy, who had levelled allegations against the Chief Minister and some of his colleagues, had stayed away from the commission. The Congress too stayed away from the commission.