After the Lok Ayukta probe into illegal iron ore mining caused tremors in politics, the state is mulling over to bring the alleged illegal granite mining in the state under the Lokayukta scanner.

“We are considering a proposal to conduct a Lokayukta probe into the alleged illegal granite mining all over the state from Kanakupa to Chamarajnagar in the light of the complaints pouring in,” forest minister CP Yogeshwar said on Friday.

Complaints of illegal granite mining are pouring in from Ramanagar district too. Complete information would be gathered on granite mining and the issue would be discussed with chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda before taking a final decision on handing over the probe to Lokayukta, the minister said.

The move is being seen as a significant development in the light of allegations that senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar too had granite mining interests in the state. Launching an indirect tiradeagainst Shivakumar, the minister said, “Those who had issued licenses for granite mining are now trying to bring me down. They have complained against me to the governor. It is like robber himself filing a complaint.”

Referring to recent meeting of a Congress delegation with governor HR Bhardwaj seeking Yogeshwar’s ouster for his alleged involvement in Megacity scam, the latter said, “I have not committed any fraud in the Megacity project. The Congress leaders have lodged a complaint against me to the governor. I have already explained the issues to the governor. There is no question of resigning as I have not committed any fraud,” he said.

Yogeshwar also stated that he was contemplating to file defamation cases against the media organisations, which have been allegedly maligning him.