Bangalore:
In further relief to former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, the Karnataka High Court today granted anticipatory bail to him and his family members in a corruption case.
Allowing the petitions filed by Mr Yeddyurappa, his two sons, B Y Ragahavendra, B Y Vijayendra and son-in-law, R N Sohan Kumar, Justice H Billappa directed them to deposit Rs 2 lakh bond and two sureties each for a like sum.
Observing that petitions were "maintainable" and that the accused cannot flee from justice, the judge said, "Apprehensions if any regarding the tampering of evidence or witnesses can be taken care of by imposing certain conditions."
Listing the conditions while granting bail, the judge said the accused should not leave the country without prior permission of the court and shall not visit places where witnesses reside. They should not contact or tamper with witnesses or evidence, attend court regularly without fail except for vital reasons and should not commit any offence. If any condition was violated, the complainant (Basha) can approach this court for cancellation of bail, the judge said.
"There is enough material to indicate petitioner's apprehension of arrest in a non-bailable offence and therefore the petitions are maintainable," the judge said.
The court observed that all the accused including Mr Yeddyurappa "who is in public life and his son who is an MP", had been granted bail in two corruption cases and are ready to cooperate in the investigation. Besides, the petitioners had already been granted anticipatory bail in two other such cases by the same court earlier this month, it said.
This is the fifth and the last corruption case filed by advocate Sirajin Basha in the Lokayukta court against Mr Yeddyurappa and others.
The case pertains to illegal allotment of a site in HSR layout in the city to R P Shankar, maternal uncle of Sohan Kumar. The site was subsequently transferred by Shankar to Sohan Kumar. Basha alleged this had resulted an estimated loss of Rs 1.92 crore to the state exchequer for a pecuniary gain of Rs 1.87 crore to Mr Yeddyurappa's family.