Court issues arrest warrants against Yeddy, aide

A special Lokayukta court in Bengaluru today rejected the bail application of former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, and his former minister, SN Krishnaiah Setty. The court asked the Lokayukta police to arrest Yeddyurappa and ordered an arrest warrant against him, claiming that Yeddyurappa, being an influencial person, is capable of tampering with the evidence and change the course of investigations.

The court was responding to private complaints filed by a Bengaluru-based advocate, Sirajin Basha. Basha had accused Yeddyurappa and five others, including his sons and son-in-law, of irregularities in denotification of government land in Geddalahalli,  Devarachikkanahalli and Arakere, south of Bengaluru, favouring those close to the former CM, causing an estimated loss of about Rs 40 crore to the state exchequer.

Earlier the Karnataka High Court had also rejected his bail plea. However, Yeddyurappa’s son and son-in-laws were granted bail in the case.

Yeddyurappa was not present in the court when the judge pronounced his verdict. Yeddyurappa sent a medical certificate saying he was suffering from back pain and sought exemption from personal appearance.

The court order comes as an embarrassment to the BJP and Yeddyurappa, who is credited with installing the party’s first government in the south.

Yeddyurappa was forced to step down in July by the party’s central leadership in the wake of his indictment by a Lokayukta report on illegal mining.

The Lokayukta Court last month had fixed 3 October for pronouncing its verdict on the bail pleas of Yeddyurappa and others, but had to postpone it following an interim stay granted by the High court on its proceedings.

On 30 September, a single judge had issued an interim stay on the Lokayukta court proceedings following a petition filed by Yeddyurappa. However, a division bench had vacated the stay on 4 October, facilitating the Lokayukta Court to continue the proceedings.

Meanwhile, senior counsel for Yeddyurappa, Ravi B Naik, told reporters outside the court that the former Chief Minister would challenge in the High Court the order of the Lokayukta court order and seek bail.

He said Yeddyurappa would surrender before the Lokayukta court if the High Court asks him first do so and then pursue his bail application. Validity of the Lokayukta order would be challenged in the High Court.

“We will make another effort by filing a bail application in High Court. If the High Court says we (Yeddyurappa) have to first surrender and thereafter pursue our application, we will be left with no option except surrendering before the (Lokayukta) court”, he said.

Soon after the Lokayukta court turned down bail to Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda held consultations with some of his ministerial colleagues at his Home Office “Krishna”. Home Minister R Ashoka, PWD Minister C M Udasi and Women and Child Development Minister C C Patil were present at the meeting.

Agencies

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