Land case: High Court quashes Proceedings against BS Yeddyurappa , DK Shivakumar

BENGALURU: In a big relief to former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, the Karnataka High Court quashed the Lokayukta proceedings against them in connection with an illegal denotificaion case on Friday.

Following two separate private complaints by social activist T.J. Abraham and Kabbale Gowda, the Lokayukta police had investigated the case and filed chargesheet in June 2012. It was alleged that Mr Shivakumar had purchased 4.2 acres of land at Benniganahalli from the original owner, despite it was acquired by the BDA, and had allegedly got it denotified with the help of Mr Yeddyurappa, who was the CM then.

It was alleged that Mr Shivakumar allegedly got the land converted by using his influence on two government officials. He allegedly signed for joint agreement with a private builder to develop a property in the land.

Mr Yeddyurappa and Mr Shivakumar, had filed petitions seeking quashing of the proceedings. Justice Anand Byrareddy, in his verdict, pronounced that the allegations leveled against the petitioners did not constitute criminal acts. The officials helping Energy Minister Shivakumar can be termed as procedural lapses and not criminal conspiracy.