MANGALORE : “ District Minister Krishna Palemar who is panic stricken following
the unearthing of the scandals in which he was involved, was issuing absurd statements
as if he has lost his mental balance,” alleged KPCC General Secretary and former
Suratkal legislator Vijaykumar Shetty.
Addressing press persons at the District Congress office in the city on July 21, Tuesday,
he said “ The reports of Palemar visiting Lokayukta at his residence and tendering his
apology after being responsible for the Lokayukta resignation and the report of officials
seizing thousands of tonnes of unauthorized sand from the premises of an educational
institution owned by Palemar have appeared in many newspapers. Therefore, he out of
the fear of losing his ministership, has made a statement that he would file a Rs 2 crore
defamation suit against the newspapers and that he had already paid stamp duty worth Rs
20 lakhs for the same, thereby only tightening the rope around his neck by himself.”
Shetty further said “ Palemar who has no knowledge that he has to serve a notice to the
media and lodge a complaint even before filing a defamation suit in the court, saying he
has paid the stamp duty, is ridiculous.”
He also challenged the minister by saying “give a clarification regarding the allegations
instead of trying to gag the media with money power.”
“If there were records to prove that the sand stocked in the educational institute owned by
Palemar was legal, why would have the officials raided?” District Congress spokesperson
MG Hegde questioned and demanded that the minister first make it public as to who
had the license to stock the sand and in whose name was the trip sheet done and who was
paying the royalty.
Congress leader PV Mohan demanded the resignation of Palemar owning moral
responsibility in the backdrop of his name heard in several scandals.
Several Congress leaders were present on the occasion.
Lokayukta complaint : The Congress leaders said a Lokayukta complaint has been
lodged against Palemar seeking a probe into Palemar’s involvement in the sand mafia.
They said “ The Deputy Commissioner Ponnuraj who had stated that the sand mafia was
in the hands of criminals, might have said so indirectly realizing Palemar’s role in the
same.”
Vijaykumar Shetty also alleged that “ Palemar has secured the permit to transport sand
to Isro company in Tiruvananthapuram. But the sand is going elsewhere. In Adyapady,
one thousand tones of sand has been illegally stocked after mining sand using motor
at Puchemogaru in Siddakatte, under the leadership of Sujith Alva and Harish of
Adyapady.” H further argued that the BJP leaders had to play a role behind this. He also
said the sand mafia was flourishing in the district just like the mine mafia in Bellary.

Related news:

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2. Why was Palemar’s name omitted in Lokayukta report?, queries Vijaykumar Shetty
3. Palemar is pro-builders, alleges Vijaykumar Shetty
4. Illegal stocking of sand : BV See lodges Lokayukta complaint against Palemar
5. ETV expose on Palemar attracts attention