BSY’s petition seeking quashing of Lokayukta report dismissed

PTI

Bangalore, 29 August 2011: The Karnataka High Court today dismissed as withdrawn a petition filed by former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa praying for quashing of Chapter 22 of the Lokayukta report on illegal mining that indicted him.

 

Yeddyurappa’s counsel filed a memo before the bench, comprising justices K L Manjunath and H S Kempanna, seeking to withdraw the petition, citing "subsequent developments," as well as liberty to challenge it at a later date.

 

"No liberty can be granted", the court said, dismissing the petition as withdrawn, and also observed that seeking quashing of the report when investigation into it has not started is "premature". The bench observed that the Lokayukta probe was referred by the Government.

 

In Chapter 22 of the Lokayukta report submitted to the Government last month, initiation of prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act was recommended against Yeddyurappa.

 

Yeddyurappa’s counsel had earlier argued that the report had been made without hearing the petitioner and it is violative of principles of natural justice, and that it has gone beyond the terms of reference, among others. 

 

Yeddyurappa’s bail plea rejected

 

Bangalore, 29 August 2011 (IANS): The Karnataka high court on Monday rejected the anticipatory bail petition of former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa in land scam and graft cases.

 

Rejecting the bail plea, Justice N. Narayana Swamy directed Yeddyurappa to be present in the Lokayukta (ombudsman) court later in the day in response to the summons issued by its judge N.K. Sudhindra Rao Aug 8.

 

Though Yeddyurappa was to appear in the trial court Saturday, his counsel pleaded for his exemption as he was suffering from fever.

 

Rao, however, rejected the counsel’s plea and ordered Yeddyurappa to appear before the court Monday.

 

The twin cases relate to denotification of land near Bangalore in favour of his kin and a Rs13 crore kickback in awarding a contract work to the highest bidder in the Upper Bhadra irrigation project during his tenure as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) first chief minister in south India.