Bangalore:
A special court in Bangalore today rejected former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's anticipatory bail plea.
The BJP leader, accused of giving undue favours to mining companies who thanked him with huge donations to trusts run by his family, had filed the petition after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted multiple raids at his residences in Bangalore last month. The CBI sleuths had seized certain crucial documents from Mr Yeddyurappa and his two sons. The CBI has to submit its report to the Supreme Court by August and might arrest Mr Yeddyurappa for questioning.
The investigating agency had opposed Mr Yeddyurappa's bail, claiming that granting relief to Mr Yeddyurappa would hamper its ongoing investigations.
The CBI, in its objections, had also informed the court that it was investigating the matter under the direction of the Supreme Court and had also moved another application seeking orders that all the accused be present before the court during the hearings.
The raids, that came a day after the CBI filed a First Information Report (FIR) in the case, were conducted at the residences of Mr Yeddyurappa, his two sons - BY Raghavendra, who is the BJP MP from Shimoga, and BY Vijayendra - and his son-in-law, Sohan Kumar's properties. The CBI has booked the former chief minister for criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.
Besides Mr Yeddyurappa, both his sons and son-in-law have also sought anticipatory bail fearing arrest by CBI in the wake of the agency filing an FIR against them and raiding their houses on May 16.
Mr Yeddyurappa's sons BY Raghavendra MP, BY Vijendra and son-in-law Sohan Kumar have been accused of securing denotification of 1.2 acres in Rachenahalli when Yedduyurappa was chief minister for a meagre sum of Rs. 40 lakh and later sold it to a mining firm for whopping Rs. 20 crore.
The mining firms have also allegedly donated Rs. 10 crore a trust owned by Mr Yeddyurappa family members. Cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Karnataka Restriction of Land Transfer Act have been filed against them.