External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of private complaint and probe by Lokayukta police against him over alleged illegal mining during his tenure as Karnataka Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004.

The petition filed by Krishna has challenged the January 20 decision of the Karnataka High Court by which his plea for quashing the private complaint and proceedings ordered by the Lokayukta Special Court against him was declined.

The petition contended that the Cabinet decision was a collective one taken by 34 ministers and an individual cannot be held responsible for it. The high court had ordered that investigation should continue into offences relating to de-reservation of forest area in mineral-rich fragile zones.