Fri Jan 17 18:21:57 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka Governor Delays Prosecution of Top Politicians Pending English Translation of Chargesheets
**Bengaluru, January 17, 2025** – The prosecution of two prominent National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders in Karnataka has been delayed due to an unprecedented request for English translation of Kannada chargesheets. Karnataka Lokayukta police are in the final stages of translating the documents against Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy (JD(S)), and BJP MLA G. Janardhan Reddy.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot requested the English translations on August 28, 2024, returning the files to the investigating agencies. The chargesheets, stemming from an investigation into illegal mining cases by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), run into thousands of pages. The delay marks a first for the state.
The Lokayukta Police had sought permission to charge sheet Mr. Kumaraswamy in November 2023 and Mr. Reddy in May 2024. While Governor Gehlot approved the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a separate MUDA scam case in August 2024, he subsequently requested the English translations before proceeding with the cases against Kumaraswamy and Reddy. He rejected the prosecution of former BJP Minister Shashikala Jolle and sought clarification in the case against former Minister Murugesh Nirani.
A senior official stated that the translation process, involving thousands of pages, took months to complete and is currently undergoing final quality checks before submission to the Governor. The translated documents are expected to be submitted shortly.
First Piper 