JOIN USThe CM did not react to the developments to media, while Katta remained incommunicado. Sources in the party said that in case Naidu decides to put in his papers, he should do so before he gets arrested.
There is no point in resigning after the Lokayukta police arrest him. But Naidu did not volunteer to resign till late in the evening on Thursday.
The JD (S) has made a series of allegations against the CM stating that he has denotified several lands to favour his family members and associates. The Lokayukta is probing into these allegations also. Hence, Yeddyurappa reportedly chose to maintain silence over the FIR against Katta, it is said.
BJP state president Eshwarappa, who held a meeting with the CM said, “We will study the contents of the first information report (FIR) filed by the Lokayukta, consult the party central leadership and take a collective decision”.
Sources said that if the high command decides to save the party from further embarrassment, then Naidu be forced to put in his papers. Naidu may move court seeking anticipatory bail.
Asked whether Katta and others connected with the KIADB scam would be arrested, Lokayukta Santosh Hegde said, “filing an FIR against a person doesn’t mean that he should be arrested. But if investigation agency has right to arrest the accused if it wants his custody”.
Background
Naidu has been in trouble for three months. Pressure for his resignation as minister in the Yeddyurappa cabinet has been increasing. The alleged misdeeds of the Katta and his son Jagadish Katta came out in September this year, when the Lokayukta began probe into irregularities in releasing compensation to land acquired by KIADB at Bandikodigehalli for a software park proposed by a firm Itasca. The entire affair involved a sum of Rs 106 crore.
It is alleged Jagadish Katta took compensation of Rs 4 cr for the land which he did not own. The Lokayukta took custody of three KAS officers, allegedly responsible for releasing the compensation. The issue attracted wider attention when the minister and his son - Katta Jagadish met Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde.
Lokayukta police are probing into the minister’s relationship with Itasca, the software firm for which 325 acre of land was allotted when Naidu was the Industries minister. The company obtained land to set up a software park.
The minister came under major embarrassment when his son was arrested by the Lokayukta police on charges of bribery on September 30. Katta Jagadish was caught when he paid Rs 50,000 to silence Ramanjanappa, who was helping the Lokayukta in its probe into KIADB scam. Jagadish was imprisoned.
But his minister-father declined to resign. He reportedly told the CM that he would not resign and if he was compelled to resign he would ensure that misdeeds of the CM also come out.
Later the chief minister came in support of Katta stating “father should not be punished for children’s mistake”. These developments have mellowed him. There was considerable changes in his behaviour. He avoided reacting to media’s questions on the scam. However, the issue took a back seat when allegations of land grabbing made against Yeddyurappa.