A special CBI court in Bengaluru on Wednesday acquitted former Karnataka Chief Minister and state BJP president B.S.Yeddyurapppa and 12 other accused in a bribery case involving two mining companies.
All accused including Yeddyurappa’s two sons—B.Y. Vijayendra and B.Y. Raghavendra, son-in-law R.N. Sohan Kumar and former minister S.N. Krishnaiah Setty were acquitted for lack of evidence.
The CBI, which probed the case following the Supreme Court direction in 2012, had filed chargesheet under Section 120B and 420 of the India Penal Code and Sections 7, 11, 13(2) 13 (1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Yeddyurappa, then chief minister, was accused of denotifying 1.12 acre of land in Rachenahalli village in Bengaluru, which was purchased by his family members for Rs 40 lakh. But the same was later sold to South West Mining company (sister concern of JSW Steel) at Rs 20 crore. In addition, SWMC also donated Rs 20 crore to Prerana Trust, which is managed by Yeddyurappa's family.
It was also alleged that Yeddyurappa had favoured JSW Steel by imposing a ban on the export of iron ore on July 28, 2010, thus facilitating the price negotiation for domestic purchase of ore by the company. Incidentally, the SWMC had purchased the land at Rachenahalli on the same day from Yeddyurappa's sons.
Said C.V. Nagesh, Yeddyurappa's counsel, "The kickback allegation is false as the money was donated to the Trust and it cannot be taken home by any member of the Trust. Moreover, the land price was not inflated as the witnesses (sub-registrar, real estate owners and others) have testified the land price was around Rs 20 crore to Rs 25 crore. The guidance value might have been Rs five crore. The export ban was Yedyurappa's unilateral decision, but a step taken to curb illegal export of iron ore, following reminder from the Centre, demand from Karnataka Assembly and recommendation by Lokayukta."
It may be recalled that then Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde, who filed a report on illegal mining in the state in 2012, had recommended a probe into these transactions mentioned in Chapter 22.
The same year, the high court quashed the chapter, FIR and the sanction for prosecution against Yeddyurappa issued by the Governor. However, social activist S.R. Hiremath submitted the Lokayukta report before the Supreme Court, which in turn sought a report from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on the mining transactions. The apex court then ordered the CBI probe.
Yeddyurappa, the Shimoga MP, who had been kept outside the Union cabinet over the pending corruption cases against him (He had to step down as the CM in 2011 and spend 21 days in jail over illegal land notification case), became BJP's best bet even as the party hopes to recapture Karnataka in the 2018 Assembly elections. With the acquittal, the Lingayat strongman and the saffron party have both got relief, as Yeddyurappa is being projected as BJP's chief ministerial candidate when the state goes for election.
Reacting strongly to the court verdict, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "The acquittal is citing lack of evidence. But it does not imply the offence was not committed."
Health minister Ramesh Kumar mocked saying, "court gives verdict and not justice. It is the people who deliver justice."
IANS adds:
Reacting to Yeddyurappa's acquittal, Congress leader Sanjay Jha said in New Delhi that the party was stunned, surprised and shocked over the verdict, as CBI had overlooked the mounting evidence it was provided with in the case. "This is clear case of political influence," he said.
Jha also charged that the CBI under (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi government had become a "Convenient Bureau of Investigation", the way in which NIA (National Investigation Agency) has become "Namo Investigation Agency".
Attacking the BJP-led central government, Jha said the institutions meant to investigate and furnish evidence were failing miserably in their task. "It is evident that these are all under political influence," he reiterated.
