Justice K N Keshavaranarayana also ordered extension of the interim stay granted by the court against the 23rd Additional Civil and Session Court judge C B Hipparagi proceeding further on the complaint against Ashoka till the verdict was pronounced on his petition.

Counsel for the minister B V Acharya submitted that the lower court should not have taken cognisance of the offence without sanction from the State Governor.

A private complaint was filed against Ashoka that he secured denotification of some lands acquired by Bangalore Development Authority illegally and sought his prosecution.

The high court had earlier stayed an order of Hipparagi taking cognisance of five complaints filed by two city-based advocates against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his family members alleging irregularities in denotification of lands.