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 Yeddyurappa, his two
sons, B Y Ragahavendra, B Y Vijayendra and son-in-law, R N
Sohan Kumar, Justice H Billappa directed them to furnish 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
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
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 Yeddyurappa`s family.
PTI
