Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj on Friday said he would go by the recommendations of Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde on illegal mining and emphasised that he was the only constitutional authority to take action against Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.
The ombudsman's report had not yet been given to the state government, Bhardwaj told reporters, adding that if he received it from a competent authority, he would act on it according to the Lokayukta Act.
He also asked for two days' time to react to the report.
"Justice Hegde is a competent man. Whatever he recommends, I will go according to it," Bhardwaj said.
Yeddyurappa, mining barons and ministers the Reddy brothers, Janata Dal-Secular leader H.D. Kumaraswamy and Congress MP Anil Lad were named by the Lokayukta in his report on illegal mining, which was leaked before its release.
Hegde blamed Yeddyurappa and four of his ministers for illegal mining that has caused a Rs.1,827 crore loss to the exchequer in over a year.
Replying to a volley of questions about possible action against the chief minister, Bhardwaj said he would not like to comment till the report was submitted.
"All (of it) has to be studied," Bhardwaj said, adding that he was the only constitutional authority to take action against the chief minister.
He said he would see what is written about the chief minister, ministers, legislators and MPs in the report.
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