Probe against BSY, son quashed

The High Court on Tuesday quashed the order passed by the Lokayukta court in Bangalore ordering a probe against former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, his son B Y Raghavendra and others in connection with denotification of 69 acres of land at Hunasekatte, adjoining  Bhadra Tiger Reserve in Bhadravathi taluk, Shimoga district.

Hearing a petition by Yeddyurappa and others, the High Court quashed the order on the grounds that the Lokayukta court in Bangalore does not has jurisdiction over the matter. The petitioners had stated that the alleged irregularity had taken place in Shimoga district and the Lokayukta court in Bangalore could not take cognisance of an act outside its jurisdiction and, order an investigation. Shimoga-based advocate B Vinod had filed a complaint against Yeddyurappa and others in the Lokayukta court in Bangalore.

However, Shyam Sunder, counsel for Vinod, submitted that Yeddyurappa, as chief minister, misused his office in Bangalore; the alleged beneficiary Dhavalagiri Properties was also situated in Bangalore; and all the accused were residents of Bangalore and, therefore  their petition cannot be entertained.

The court, however, granted liberty to Vinod to re-present the complaint before the Lokayukta court at Shimoga.