Former Karnataka Lokayukta justice Santhosh Hegde favoured handing over the probe into illegal mining in the state to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He affirmed that, Karnataka former minister Gali Janardhan Reddy owned Obulapuram Mining Company indulged in such activity.

However, justice Hegde told that the arrest of Janardhan Reddy was not a result of the illegal mining report that he submitted to the Government as Lokayukta on July 27. In this context, he noted that Karnataka government has not given permission to CBI to conduct a probe into the matter, adding, Reddy's arrest is a result of sanction given by Andhra Pradesh in connection with some irregularities.

"The Obulapuram Mining Company people may deny many times that they have indulged in illegal mining. But we (in the Lokayukta report) have said they did engage in that through documents we produced," Hegde said. He said the probe into the entire illegal mining issue in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh should be handed over to CBI. "I am of that opinion. Even investigation in Karnataka should be given to CBI," added Hegde.