BANGALORE: Spelling more trouble for former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, the Lokayukta Court on Saturday rejected the report that gave him a clean chit over alleged irregularities in granting an irrigation project to a private firm for pecuniary gains.
Lokayukta court judge N K Sudhindra Rao rejected the “B” report of Lokayukta police earlier this year and directed the investigating officer to conduct further probe into charges against Yeddyurappa and others. The judge directed the police to submit a report within 21 days and adjourned the case to June 18.
Besides Yeddyurappa, Dhavalgiri Properties, Sahyadri Healthcare and Murdeshwar Enterprises owned by Yeddyurappa’s kin also figure in the case.
Earlier this month, JD(S) leader Y S V Datta had filed objections to the B-report and said a chartered accountant’s report attached with the B-report was sufficient to chargesheet the accused.
Datta in his complaint had alleged that Yeddyurappa received Rs 16 crore kickbacks for awarding the Upper Bhadra Irrigation Project II Stage to a joint venture company of RNS Infrastructure Ltd and Jyothi Ltd, though the firm was the highest bidder, ignoring the claims of the lowest bidders.
In return for the contract to RNS, Murdeshwar Power Corporation (MPCL), a sister concern of RNS Jyothi, paid Rs 6 crore to Sahyadri Care and Diagnostics Ltd and Rs 10 crore to Dhavalgiri Properties, Datta alleged.
After payment of Rs 10 crore, MPCL entered into an MoU with Dhavalgiri to get 40 per cent of developed land of 79 acres purchased by Dhavalgiri for real estate purposes, he alleged.
The complainant had also alleged that Lokayukta police had taken legal advice of the then state Advocate General B V Acharya who recommended filing of a B-report. However, it was also noted that before being appointed as Advocate General, Acharya had given a favourable legal opinion for RNS Infrastructure during the tender proceedings.