A special court in Bengaluru dealing exclusively with criminal cases related to elected representatives in Karnataka has ordered the registration of a corruption case against former BJP chief minister BS Yediyurappa in connection with a land denotification case pertaining to the 2006-07 period when Yediyurappa was the deputy chief minister.
“Register a Special Criminal Case against the accused No 2 Sri B.S. Yediyurappa for offences punishable under Sec. 13(1)(d) r/w Sec. 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988,” the special court has ordered in a private complaint filed by a landowner, Vasudev Reddy, that was investigated by the Karnataka Lokayukta.
“I am of the considered opinion that there is nothing on record to disbelieve the case of the complainant at this stage. He has made out a prima facie case against the accused,” special judge Jayanta Kumar has stated in his order of March 26.
“I am of the considered opinion that there is sufficient material to proceed against the accused by registering a Special Criminal Case and summoning accused No 2 and to give an opportunity to the complainant to establish his allegations,” the judge added.
“I am of the opinion that prima facie it cannot be said that de-notification has been ordered by the accused No 2 (Yediyurappa) in exercise of lawful powers vested in him,” the special court stated in its March 26 order.
