BENGALURU: THE High Court on Wednesday directed the Lokayukta Special Court in Shivamogga to review the need to take prior sanction from the competent authority before taking cognizance of offence against former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. The case relates to the alleged illegal allotment and purchase of KHB sites involving his daughter Aruna Devi.
The direction was issued by Justice Anand Byrareddy after quashing the Lokayukta special court order, taking cognizance of the offence against Yeddyurappa, based on a private complaint lodged by B Vinod, an advocate, on February 12, 2012.
Justice Byrareddy observed that prior sanction needs to be taken from the competent authority before taking cognizance of offence against any public servant as per Section 197 of CrPC.
Complaint Vinod alleged that sites were allotted to four persons, under journalists’ quota, at Vinoba Nagar Extension Shivamogga, formed by Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) in 2011 when Yeddyurappa was deputy chief minister. The four were working in an institution run by Aruna Devi. Aruna purchased all four sites from them in 2012.
Vinod filed a private complaint against Yeddyurappa under Prevention of Corruption Act. The Lokayukta Special Court directed the Lokayukta police to investigate and submit the report. However, the Lokayukta police filed a ‘B’ report, saying that there are no illegalities in purchase.
Finally, the Lokayukta Special Court rejected the ‘B’ report and issued summons to Yeddyurappa and others.
BBMP yet to give details of traffic bottlenecks in city
The BBMP is yet to furnish details of the spots choking vehicle movement in the city, the High Court observed while hearing a miscellaneous first appeal filed by the BBMP with regard to widening of the road near HMT office on Wednesday.
Justice Gowda, on July 28, had asked BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad to submit the details of spots where traffic bottlenecks are created and a list of cases hampering developmental works taken up by BBMP in the city.
Taking note of the high-rise apartments near HMT, the judge also directed the commissioner to provide details of the plans approved during the last decade in the vicinity of HMT.
The BBMP counsel informed the court that Manjunath Prasad could not make it because he was at Kasavanahalli where the demolition drive is under way. The counsel added that four apartments plans have been approved in the vicinity of HMT.
Taking note of it, the judge asked BBMP commissioner to comply to this order by August 25.