CBI opposes Yeddyurappa's anticipatory bail plea

Bangalore: A special court today adjourned the hearing to 29 May on the anticipatory bail applications of former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and his kin, who apprehended arrest in an illegal mining case, after the CBI opposed their pleas.

When the applications filed by Yeddyurappa and others came up for hearing  before the CBI court, the investigating agency opposed them on the ground that granting the relief would hamper its ongoing investigations.

The CBI in its objections also informed the court that it was investigating the matter under Supreme Court direction and also moved another application seeking orders that all the accused be present before the court during the hearings.

Judge Venkat Sudarshan directed Yeddyurappa’s counsel to file his objections and adjourned the hearing to 29 May. Besides Yeddyurappa, his sons BY Raghavendra, MP, and BY Vijendra and son-in-law Sohan Kumar have sought anticipatory bail apprehending arrest by CBI in the wake of the agency filing an FIR against them and raiding their houses on 16 May.

On the basis of Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report, the Supreme Court on 11 May ordered CBI investigation into the donations received by a trust owned by Yeddyurappa family members by two mining companies and denotification and sale of a piece of land which had been acquired by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for formation of a residential layout.

Raghavendra, Vijendra and Sohan Kumar have been accused of securing denotification of 1.2 acres in Rachenahalli when Yedduyurappa was chief minister for a meagre sum of Rs 40 lakh and later sold it to a mining firm for whopping Rs 20 crore.

The mining firms have also donated Rs 10 crore a trust owned by Yeddyurappa family members.

Cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Karnataka Restriction of Land Transfer Act have been filed against them.

PTI