High court notice to former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa, son & kin on graft plea

BENGALURU: The high court on Tuesday issued notice to former CM BS Yediyurappa, his son BY Vijayendra, former minister ST Somashekar and others in connection with a petition alleging corruption in a housing project.
Social activist TJ Abraham, who filed the petition, challenged the July 8, 2021 order of the trial court rejecting his private complaint.
Apart from restoration of his complaint, Abraham sought directions from the court to register an FIR and investigate Yediyurappa (then CM) and others, both under the Prevention of Corruption Act and various sections of IPC vis-a-vis various instances of corruption cited by him.
Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav also ordered notice to Yediyurappa’s grandson Shashidhar Maradi, son-in-law Virupakshappa Yamakanmaradi, Sanjay Sree, son-in-law of Yediyurappa’s daughter Padmavathi, and businessman Chandrakanth Ramalingam among others. The petitioner argued that though the trial judge was convinced there was material to proceed against the accused named by him, the private complaint was rejected on the ground that the governor had refused sanction for prosecution under the anti-corruption Act. Now that Yediyurappa no longer holds the post of chief minister, it was argued, prior sanction from the governor is not necessary.
Abraham alleged that Rs 12 crore was paid as bribe to revive a BDA housing project in favour of M/s Ramalingam Constructions Private Limited — revealed subsequently in a TV expose — and Rs 17.5 crore cash was collected on behalf of Yediyurappa by his family members. He filed the complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau on November 19, 2020. Two days later, a notice was issued to him, seeking originals of documents.
He claimed though he offered clarification for the doubts raised, ACB sent an endorsement on December 15, closing the complaint submitted by him.