Bengaluru: FIR filed against former CM BS Yediyurappa, son in BDA contracts case

BENGALURU: A few days after a special court ordered registering of an FIR against former CM BS Yediyurappa and others in an alleged corruption case, the Karnataka Lokayukta on Friday registered it under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC, based on a private complaint by activist TJ Abraham.
According to the FIR, a copy of which is with STOI, Yediyurappa, a BJP parliamentary board member, is the prime accused.
The other accused named in the FIR are Yediyurappa’s son BY Vijayendra, Shashidhar Maradi, Sanjay Chandrakant Ramalingam, MLA ST Somashekar (cooperation minister in the Basavaraj Bommai government), GC Prakash, K Ravi and Virupakshappa Yamakanamaradi. Lokayukta sources revealed the FIR has been registered based on Abraham’s complaint accusing Yediyurappa and others of flouting norms and accepting bribes in return for granting BDA contracts when he was CM.
The FIR said, “Tenders were called for constructing flats at Konadasapura, Bidarahalli in east Bengaluru. While the tender amount was Rs 575 crore, Ramalingam Constructions had quoted Rs 675 crore. However, at the board meeting on November 21, 2017, the tender was given administrative approval in favour of Ramalingam Constructions for Rs 666.22 crore and subsequently a letter of acceptance was issued to the company, reportedly under pressure from then BDA chairperson ST Somashekar.”
The FIR further said: “Later, then BDA commissioner GC Prakash reportedly told Chandrakant Ramalingam that they (construction company) have to pay Rs 12 crore to Yediyurapppa and Vijayendra if the project has to be continued. A few days later, Chandrakant handed over the cash in mid-May. But for reasons unknown, the amount didn’t reach Vijayendra and a local news channel aired a recorded mobile phone conversation allegedly between the above accused persons. Further, Yediyurappa, his son and two other family members roped in seven companies to receive the kickbacks and corruption money through them. The accused carried out financial transactions of Rs 5.01 crore in a fraudulent way.”