New Delhi, Mar 30 - The Supreme Court today posted to April 24 disposal of an appeal filed by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna challenging the Lokayukta police probe into a case of his alleged involvement in illegal mining during his tenure as chief minister of Karnataka.

The bench of justices Altamas Kabir and S S Nijjar had on January 27 stayed the proceedings on the FIR against Krishna on his plea, observing that the case "was too premature".

"We are inclined to stay the proceedings. Accordingly, the proceedings arising out of the FIR on the issue ordered by the Karnataka Lokayukta will remain stayed," the apex court had said earlier on Krishna's plea, challenging the January 20 order of the Karnataka High Court refusing to give him relief.

The bench had said the probe ordered by the Lokayukta court was "premature" as the proceedings before the ombudsman was "incomplete" on account of the failure of the submission of the supplementary report.

The bench, which had issued a notice and sought response within three weeks from Lokayukta police and the complainant, on whose plea the FIR was registered, also said, "We are all anxious that truth should come out." 

The proceedings by a Special Lokayukta Court was initiated on December 8 last on a private complaint by social activist T J Abraham against him and two other former chief ministers H D Kumaraswamy and N Dharam Singh seeking action against them for allegedly facilitating illegal mining in the mineral rich state. PTI