Karnataka High Court Grants Former CM Yediyurappa 2 Weeks To File Objections In Plea Seeking Probe Into Corruption Allegations

Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav had earlier issued notice to the respondents on a petition filed by a social activist, TJ Abraham, following which the respondents appeared through their counsels before the court and requested time to file their statement of objections.

The court in its order said,

"Counsel appearing for the respondents request for time to file their Statement of objections. Two weeks time is granted to file their statement of objections. The synopsis by either side containing their contentions to be filed after serving copy in advance to the counsel for the other side. List the matter in week commencing from September 13."

Abraham had moved the trial court, filing a private complaint against Yediyurappa and others. However, the same came to be rejected on July 8, 2021.

The Court had then noted, "Private complaints filed by the complainant under Sec.200 of Cr.P.C., and interim application filed by the complainant under Sec.156(3) of Cr.P.C., are not maintainable in the absence of valid sanction and accordingly dismissed."

Thereafter, he moved the High Court.

The matter was first listed as Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, who opined that the petition cannot be treated as a PIL since the petitioner has a personal interest in the same. Thereafter, it was directed to be listed before a single judge.

The petition moved by Abraham seeks a probe by a Special Investigation Team comprising senior officers of the Anti-Corruption Bureau and to register a First Information Report into alleged payment of bribes and collection of cash by his son BY Vijayendra and others, on behalf of the former CM.

The complaint alleged that crores of rupees have been exchanged in Bengaluru, allegedly in the name of the stalled project of BDA and work order was issued in favour of M/s.Ramalingam Construction Company Pvt. Ltd., a company owned by accused No.5 Chandrakanth Ramalingam and Rs.12.5 Crores was demanded by Yediyurappa's son, on his father's behalf.

Another allegation was that Yediyurappa's grandson used influence to obtain contracts in the Government Departments and exerted pressure on the Governments for the advantage of accused No.5 in exchange for Rs.12.5 Crores, which was finally received by Yediyurappa.

The third allegation against the former CM was that he and other co-accused indulged in corruption by using shell companies and Rs.3,41,00,000/-was transferred to those shell companies and in turn the said amount was transferred to the bank account of the companies owned by Yediyurappa's family members.

The complainant alleged that the accused committed offences punishable under Secs.7, 8, 9, 10 and 13 of the PC Act, 1988 and Sections 383, 384, 415, 418, 420 r/w Sec.34 and Sec.120B of IPC and under Sections 27, 3 and 4 of the PML Act.