SC orders CBI probe against Yeddyurappa

In a major set back to former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation against him.

The bench headed by Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia issued the order on a petition that sought a probe by the CBI for alleged irregularities committed by him during his tenure as Karnataka chief minister in the mining scam.

The bench issued the order after the Central Empowerment Committee, which was appointed by the Supreme Court to look into the illegal mining in Karnataka, recommended a CBI probe against Yeddyurappa for allegedly favouring companies.

The CBI will now probe Yeddyurappa for nepotism, illegal land acquisition and also favouring some companies facilitating illegal mining.

The bench said that the CBI will probe all the charges against Yeddyurappa, which would also include the role played by the Jindal group. The court has given the CBI time till August 3 to submit a report.

Yeddyurappa had argued that similar matters are already pending before the courts in Karnataka and hence there was no need for another probe into the matter.

The bench,

however, questioned him as to how this would lead to prejudice especially when someone had approached the court with supporting documents to ascertain their stand.

Moreover, the CEC had stated that there had been serious violation of rules to de-notify agricultural land, which in turn allowed some persons close to him make huge profits.

The CEC also recommended that the link between the South West Mining Company and Yeddyurappa be probed. It has stated that the company, which is a subsidiary of Jindal steel, had made donations to the Prerna Education Society Trust set up by members of the Yeddyurappa family.

Yeddyurappa was asked to step down after the report on illegal mining by the Karnataka Lokayukta. However, he was granted relief by the high court which set aside the report against him while terming the same as bad in law.

Yeddyurappa has been making a bid to re-claim the chief minister's seat ever since he was asked to step down. He had, in fact, written to Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda to convene a legislature party meeting immediately after the latter had complained about him to the BJP's central leadership of indulging in anti party activities.