Senior government officers, S Muthaiah and S.P. Raju, arrested on Monday by the Central Bureau of Investigation for their alleged role in illegal mining in the state had planned to contest the next Assembly elections in 2013 and climb up the political ladder, according to sources close to them.
Mr Raju, a former deputy director of mines and geology, Hospet circle, retired in August last year and Mr Muthaiah , a deputy conservator of forests was under suspension for the last six months. But this did not deter him from laying careful plans to contest from Molakalmur Assembly (ST) reserved constituency on a national party ticket in the next elections. Mr Raju, for his part, is believed to have been keen on contesting from Challakere (ST) assembly constituency on a regional party ticket.
“The two men who are from Chitradurga district enjoy considerable influence in their respective communities and have a wide network of relatives in almost every village of these constituencies. They made it a point to attend private events, village festivals and other social gatherings , besides donating funds to temples during the last six months, to give the impression that they were in the running for the next Assembly polls,”say sources.
Mr Muthaiah allegedly never went against the wishes of former district in charge minister, Gali Janardhan Reddy, now behind bars for illegal mining, only because he nursed political ambitions. It's also claimed that the officer used his influence with former minister, B Sreeramulu (now an Independent legislator) to get BJP tickets for his close relatives to contest from Molakalmur and Jagalur in the 2008 Assembly elections. But his efforts on their behalf didn't pay off as both men lost the elections.
The officer was reportedly so important to Mr Janardhan Reddy that in November 2009 he raised a rebellion against then Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa only to protest the government's decision to transfer him and Mr Raju. The mining baron turned politician allegedly bought peace with Mr Yeddyurappa only after the two officers were reinstated. The two men were arrested and produced before the CBI court which handed their custody to the CBI till May 10 for further investigation. Janardhan Reddy and his assistant Mehfuz Ali Khan are in jail in the same case.