NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday granted huge relief to Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa as it stayed his arrest in an old case. The Apex Court agreed to hear Yediyurappa’s Special Leave Petition challenging the Karnataka High Court’s order allowing restoration of a criminal case against him and now cabinet colleague Murugesh Nirani. A three-judge bench of CJI S A Bobde, Justice A S Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian, however, did not stay the High Court’s order, but has stayed arrests in the case in the meantime.
Yediyurappa had approached the Supreme Court against the Karnataka High Court order restoring a case filed by businessman Alam Pasha. Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, representing Yediyurappa, told the court that the CM was seeking protection from arrest that can be warranted due to the High court’s order reinstating the case.
While Yediyurappa can still face charges under the case, his petition to review the High Court order has been allowed. During the hearing, the CJI asked Yediyurappa’s counsel who would issue a warrant against him, given that he is the Chief Minister. The decision of the Supreme Court brings much-needed relief to the CM who is facing another denotification case filed by activist Jayakumar Hiremath.
While neither the CM nor Murugesh Nirani commented on the Supreme Court’s order, terming it subjudice, Nirani’s office insisted that the case was a result of political vendetta. Alam Pasha, the original complainant in the case, had earlier this week held a press conference demanding Nirani’s ouster from the cabinet. Pasha had even threatened to go on a hunger strike and write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The case in question dates back to 2011 when Yediyurappa was Chief Minister and Nirani was Industries minister. In his complaint, businessman Alam Pasha had accused the two of criminal conspiracy and using forged documents to allegedly withdraw a grant of 26 acres for a `600 crore housing project in Devanahalli that was committed to him during an investors’ meet.
Chargesheet filed in 2013
A chargesheet in the case was filed in 2013 by the Lokayukta police, but the case was quashed after Yediyurappa went to the High Court stating that police had failed to obtain sanction to investigate him in the case.After he stepped down as CM, a fresh PCR was filed in the case stating that it not necessary to obtain sanction since Yediyurappa had demitted office, but that too was dismissed by a special court. The complainant had then turned to the High Court to overturn the special court order,
which it did.
HC transfers CM plea for quashing FIR to spl court
Kalaburagi: The Kalaburagi Bench of the HC on Wednesday transferred a writ petition filed by CM B S Yediyurappa to a special court dealing with cases against public representatives. The CM has sought cancellation of an FIR filed against him at Devadurga police station for allegedly luring Sharanagouda Patil, son of JD(S) MLA Naganagouda Patil, to resign from his post.