External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna has moved the Karnataka High Court against the case filed in a Lokayukta court. The petition has sought stay on the proceedings in the Lokayukta court and quashing of FIR issued by the Lokayukta Police to investigate the charges.
In a private complaint filed by T. J. Abhraham in the Lokayukta court, it is alleged that previous Chief Ministers—S. M. Krishna, Dharam Singh and H. D. Kumaraswamy—de-notified forest land, renewed mining lease and allowed mining for personal gain.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal questioned how an FIR could be filed against the External Affairs Minister as there was no Lokayukta in place in Karnataka.