Officer who exposed Bellary scam attacked

UV Singh was on an inspection visit to Nagwara Lake, following a complaint that it was being polluted by some commercial businesses

UV Singh was on an inspection visit to Nagwarau00a0 Lake, following a complaint that it was being polluted by some commercial businesses

An officer of the Lake Development Authority was attacked by a group of unidentified persons when he was on an inspection visit to Nagwara Lake yesterday. UV Singh, who received minor injuries, has been admitted to Columbia Asia Hospital. He was visiting the lake following a complaint about it being polluted by some people who are running commercial activities in and around.


Close shave: U V Singh has been admitted to Columbia Asia Hospital.
He was attacked by a group of unidentified persons when he was on
an inspection visit to Nagwara Lake. Representation Pic

A 1985 batch senior Indian Forest Service officer, Singh's name came into prominence after he exposed the Bellary mining lobby while investigating for Lokayukta on the mining scam. Singh was later transferred under controversial circumstances.

Based on his statement, a complaint has been booked at Amruthhalli police station. ACP T Sunil Kumar termed it as a trivial incident. Preliminary investigations revealed that it could be a handiwork of some locals. "We are investigating to ascertain the culprits behind the attack," he said.

Singh, who has been functioning as forest conservator in the Bangalore Lake Development Authority, was promoted as the chief forest conservator, and was posted as the registrar of Tumkur University, through an order dated May 23.

Singh was also functional in the team that investigated post-2000 mining scam earlier, had reported that the Obalapuram Mining Company, with which some state ministers are involved, was involved in illegal mining within Karnataka borders, even though it holds a mining lease in only Andhra Pradesh.

Based on this finding, the divisional bench of the High Court had ordered for a joint survey of the inter-state border to conclusively arrive at a decision. According to a source, there were earlier attempts on him to separate him from the Lokayukta investigating team.

At one time, he was ordered not to go out of the city, while, on another occasion; he was transferred as the chief executive officer of Uttara Kannada Zilla Panchayat. After the Lokayukta expressed his displeasure, the transfers had to be cancelled.

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