New Delhi, Apr 5 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday put on hold the trial proceedings against Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, in connection with a 10-year-old alleged land corruption case.
Yediyurappa is accused of a role in the alleged illegal allotment of 24 acres of government land to private individuals at a huge loss to the taxpayer.
Senior counsel KV Vishwanathan, appearing on behalf of Yediyurappa, told the apex court that the decision to award contracts was a "bonafide administrative decision" in which a First Information Report and a chargesheet could not have been filed without prior sanction.
On Wednesday last, the Karnataka High Court had rejected his plea seeking quashing of criminal case.
The high court had passed an order on a private complaint, which had claimed that the contract for the development of the housing construction project was "handed over" to shell companies to claim money and get control of large tracts of land.
Now, the apex court issued the notice and stayed the proceedings against him.
The Court also sought responses from the state, Lokayukta and the complainant in Yediyurappa's plea.
UNI JW SHK1844