Former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurapppa could be acquitted of charges levelled against him by JD(S) spokesperson Y.S.V. Datta for committing irregularities in return for allegedly receiving kickbacks while awarding the tender in the second stage Upper Bhadra Irrigation Project.
The Lokayukta police, investigating the complaint, is expected to submit the report on January 10 before the Special Lokayukta Court. It is reliably learnt the investigation into Mr Yeddyurappa’s role in awarding the tender has reportedly not found any irregularity in the tender procedures. On the allegation of kickbacks the Lokayukta police has reportedly not been able to establish whether it was a private investment or a quid pro quo for the tender.
The investigation, according to sources, is allegedly still incomplete. Mr Datta had lodged a private complaint before the Special Lokayukta court in August last year in which he had alleged that Mr Yeddyurappa, during his tenure as the chief minister, had favoured the highest bidder — the joint venture firm R.N.S. Jyothi — to execute the project.
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Sreeramulu and bsy’s new party taking shape
Shivakumar G. Malagi
Bellary, Jan. 4
In a signal that both former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and the sitting Bellary MLA B. Sreeramulu have set the political ball in motion that looks beyond their self-imposed deadline of January 14, a trusted aide of the Independent MLA has been putting the final touches to a new political force in a series of meetings with Mr Yeddyurappa’s son and Shimoga MP B.Y. Raghavendra in New Delhi.
The talks centred on the Lingayat-Valmiki-Dalit alliance reportedly conceived by BJP rebel Sreeramulu and his mentor, the jailed mine baron Gali Janardhan Reddy, in the event that the BJP top brass continues to treat BSY like a pariah.
Sources told this newspaper Mr Sreeramulu’s uncle and BJP LS member from Raichur Sanna Fakeerappa met his Shimoga counterpart B.Y. Raghavendra in New Delhi during the winter session of Parliament.