Guv studying prosecution plea against Yeddyurappa

According to sources, Bharadwaj is studying the matter in great detail and will come out with a decision on it soon. The governor has also recently got about 20 important files pertaining to the scam from the State Urban Development Department.He had, in a recent letter, asked the government to provide all documents related to the scam before January 20.

The chief minister has been facing allegations of illegal denotification of large extent of Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) land. Similarly, he has been charged with illegal allotment of G category BDA sites to his kin. Besides the chief minister, his cabinet colleague Ashok is also facing land denotification charges.

Yeddyurappa was on the verge of losing his seat a few weeks ago because of the scam, but he managed to survive after the BJP high command stood by him.The governor would have to cite reasons for both rejecting the permission or granting it, sources said. If the permission is granted, the advocates can file criminal cases in a trial court.

“As per section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), permission of the competent authority is necessary to prosecute a public servant. In this case, the governor is the competent authority,” former advocate general B V Acharya pointed out.

Embarrassment
Though Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Ashok will have all chances to defend the case in the court, the governor’s grant of permission will be a severe embarrassment to his government. Moreover, there are chances of his detractors within the party again raising a banner of revolt and demanding his ouster.

Sources said the governor’s move in this regard provoked the BJP to launch a renewed attack on Bhardwaj.The BJP members of Parliament have decided to soon meet President Paratibha Patil and demand the recall of the governor.