The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Karnataka High Court order directing Lokayukta Police to probe External Affairs Minister S M Krishna in the alleged illegal mining case. A bench of the apex court said that the probe ordered by the Lokayukta court was premature.

The court passed the orders on a plea by Krishna . The petition sought quashing of private complaint and probe by Lokayukta police against Krishna over alleged illegal mining when he was Karnataka Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004. Krishna had contended that the Cabinet decision was a collective one taken by 34 ministers and an individual cannot be held responsible for it.

The Karnataka High Court had earlier declined to quash the probe in the case. It had ordered that investigation should continue into offences relating to dereservation of forest area in mineral-rich fragile zones.