Graft fire back to haunt Yeddyurappa as HC reopens cases

BANGALORE: The Karnataka high court on Tuesday directed the special Lokayukta court in Shimoga to consider afresh private complaints against former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa and their family members.
The complaints allege illegalities while acquiring land, allotment of sites and disproportionate assets.

Allowing a batch of criminal revision petitions filed by Shimoga lawyer B Vinod, Justice Anand Byrareddy restored the four private complaints filed by him and asked the court to examine whether the alleged misdeeds of the public servants fall under the official discharge of duties.

The high court noted that sanction for their prosecution under CrPC's Section 197 is not required if the complainant can prove the accused committed the offences by misusing their status as public servants.

Vinod had challenged the February 20 order of the special court, which dismissed four private complaints citing absence of prior sanction under Section 197.

One complaint against Yeddyurappa, now BJP vice-president, relates to acquisition of land in violation of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act with help from his son BY Raghavendra.