ACB sends 2nd notice to BSY, asks him to appear before IO tomorrow

The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has issued a second notice to former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to appear before the investigating officer (IO) on August 24 in connection with the cases of dropping lands under notification.

The ACB has registered two cases against Yeddyurappa for dropping lands from acquisition at the stage of preliminary notification for Bangalore Development Authority's (BDA) Dr Shivaram Karantha Layout in Bengaluru.

The first FIR (34/2017) pertains to dropping three acres and six guntas in survey number 109/1 at Avalahalli in Yelahanka hobli and the second FIR (35/2017) relates to dropping one acre and eight guntas in survey number 24/1 and 18 guntas in survey number 22/2 at Somashettyhalli in Yeshwanthapur.

Yeddyurappa had sought time to gather related documents before appearing before the IO when the ACB noticed him last week. However, the ACB has noticed him again asking him to appear before IO on Thursday.

The ACB enquiry report stated that real estate middlemen had got conversion orders and plan sanctions in respect of 78 acres and 38 guntas out of 257 acres and 20 guntas dropped from acquisition during 2008-2011. The preliminary notification for Dr Shivaram Karanth Layout in Bengaluru North and Additional North taluks was issued in December 2008.

KAS officer H Basavarajendra, the then special land acquisition officer of BDA, has also been noticed to appear on August 24. Basavarajendra is an accused in the second case. Basavarajendra, presently working as deputy secretary (Mines Investigation cell and Sugar) had alleged that he was pressured by the ACB officials to give statements against Yeddyurappa.