The High Court of Karnataka has quashed a first information report (FIR) registered against former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa for his alleged involvement in the land denotification case of 2006.
The order was passed last week by the Single-Judge Bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna on a petition filed by the former CM seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him on the basis of the 2012 report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India had tabled a report in the Karnataka Assembly on March 30, 2012, alleging that the Yediyurappa-led government had denotified 15 acres and 30 guntas land in Bengaluru’s Bellandur and Devarabeesanahalli in 2006.
The report said the decision lacked accountability and was implemented despite objections raised by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB).
Appearing for Yediyurappa, Advocate Sandeep S Patil apprised the High Court that a coordinate bench of the Court in 2015 had already addressed the allegations, ruling that the CAG report could not serve as the basis for a criminal case and the CAG could not be involved in the investigation.
Noting that the issue had been comprehensively addressed in the coordinate bench verdict and that the respondents did not dispute the stance, the Single Bench quashed the proceedings.
The State of Karnataka was represented by Advocates BS Prasad and KP Yashodha, while Additional Solicitor General (ASG) H Shanti Bhushan appeared for CAG.
Earlier on January 24, the Supreme Court had rejected the application seeking to vacate an earlier order of the Court restoring a criminal case in an alleged illegal land denotification case against Yediyurappa and former State Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani.
On April 5 last year, a two-judge Bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Vikram Nath had rejected an application that was filed by Alam Pasha, observing that the Advocates appearing on his behalf were heard before passing the order.
(Case title: B S Yeddyurappa And State of Karnataka)