BSY case based on 'prima facie suspicions': Hegde

On the day the Division Bench of the High Court quashed the first information report (FIR) filed against former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, former Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde maintained that he furnished his case against Yeddyurappa for “acceptance of illegal gratification,” based on “prima facie suspicions”.

Hegde had, in his illegal mining report, indicted Yeddyurappa in Chapter 22 for having received illegal gratification, based on which the FIR was filed against him.

Hegde said he was bound by the Court’s judgment.

Concept of bribery

“The concept of bribe is very wide. If a bribe is received by any channel in advance is not considered a crime, then it’s not a crime. I guess it is now acceptable for one to accept bribe via somebody else,” he said, with a hint of sarcasm.

He said the money received by Yeddyurappa’s relatives was not for the right cause.

“I am not criticising the judgment of the court. A payment of Rs 30 crore was made to relatives of Yeddyurappa by cheque in advance, by the mining company which had filed an application for grant of lease. The payment made by the mining company prima facie looks suspicious.

“As it was a matter of illegal gratification, I said that the matter should be investigated, and hence the FIR was filed subsequently. It is interesting to note that nobody till date has denied that the bribe has been received.”

When asked about the implications of the judgment, Hegde said, “It’s not in my hands anymore. I gave my report based on the evidences. Chapter 22 of the report has been quashed – what to do, let’s accept it,” he added.