HC stays proceedings against Minister Arvind Limbavali

Karnataka High Court today stayed proceedings in a lower court against Health and Family Welfare Minister Arvind Limbavali and another official on a criminal petition filed by the duo, seeking quashing of proceedings on a private complaint.

Justice K N Keshavarana stayed the proceedings ordered by the Lokayukta court against Limbavali and IAS officer Shiva Kumar, co-accused in the complaint alleging violation of rules to favour a private builder for pecuniary gain.

On November 15, the Lokayukta court had ordered a probe into a private complaint against Limbavali and 10 others, including former Commissioner of Bangalore Development Authority (BDA),Bharat Lal Meena on a complaint by one N Nagaraj.

Judge N K Sudhindra Rao directed Superintendent of Police (Lokayukta) Bangalore Urban, to investigate the complaint under 156(3) of CrPC and submit his report by December 15.

Nagaraj in his complaint in November charged Limbavali with favouring private builder DLF when he was higher education minister in 2009 for an unauthorised construction in Hulimavu by directing Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to widen the road in violation of the Revised Master Plan, 2015.

Owner of the adjacent land, he claimed to have executed a Joint Development Agreement with one Kiran, since deceased, for constructing six floors. After Kiran's death on Oct 23 1998 his mother came forward to complete project and so a Power of Attorney was executed in her name.

The woman, the eighth accused, executed a relinquishment deed of his property BBMP "without any authority", to favour DLF, again for pecuniary gain, Nagaraj alleged.
Subsequently, Limbavali issued a direction fixing 24 metres for the road in violation of the RMP in which 18 metres was fixed, to favour DLF, he said.