The Lokayukta, which submitted report on mining scandal which rocked the state, has recommended criminal action against former chief minister D Dharam Singh and 11 senior IAS/IPS officers.

In his report, Justice N Santosh Hegde said the state has incurred loss to the tune of Rs 745.56 crore which, he suggested, could be recovered from the tainted minister and babus.

According to the report, the chief minister recommended the sanctioning of agricultural land for mining. Though it was done with the consent of farmers, middlemen were the beneficiaries, Justice Hegde observed in his report.

The officials who acted at the behest of the former chief minister are: Jija Hari Singh, Gangaram Baderia, Mahendra Jain, DS Ashwath, IR Perumal, V Umesh, Dr Basappa Reddy, K Srinivas, Ramappa and Shankarlingaiah.