The Supreme Court on Friday ordered a CBI investigation against former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, but limited it only to one of four issues referred by the central empowerment committee in its April 20 report.
The point 1(a) of the CEC report dealt with Mr Yeddyurappa’s two sons and a son-in-law purchasing 1.12 acres of agriculture land in two separate sale deeds executed through general power of attorney in 2006 for a total sum of `40 lakhs. The sale deed were registered with the senior sub-registrar K.R. Pura, Bengaluru. It further stated that the said land was later sold for `20 crore to Jindal group’s South West Mining Ltd.
The point 1(b) dealt with alleged donation of “`20 crore” paid by SWML to Prerana Education Society run by kin of Mr Yeddyurappa. However, the CEC report had certain contradictions on donation amount as it referred to `20 crore on page-3 while framing the four issues for CBI probe. But while discussing the matter in detail in the body of the report, CEC had put the donation amount as `10 crore at least in three places at “pages 4, 15 and 16”, raising doubts as which of the two figures were correct.
The SC’s order at the same time made it clear that the of CEC report and the documents filed by it “shall be treated as informant’s information for the CBI”. While laying down the guidelines for the CBI how to go ahead with the probe, the apex court said “the investigation shall be done in most fair, proper and unbiased manner uninfluenced by the stature of the persons and the political or corporate clout, involved in the case.”
The agency given power to “inspect” records of connected matters pending before any other probe agency and courts, while the CBI director was asked to set up a special investigating team to be headed by an officer not less than the rank of the ADG.
While keeping open all issues to be raised by the parties on merits later, the apex court directed all the government agencies in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to co-operate with the CBI fully.
“This order is being passed without prejudice to the rights and contentions of any of the parties as well as in any other proceedings pending before the courts of the competent jurisdiction and the investigating agencies,” the SC said while posting the case for further assessment on August 3.
The three aspects of CEC report left “untouched” by the SC for the time being included alleged illegal export of iron ore from Belekeri port, export from Krishnapatnam and Chennai ports and transfer of senior police officers on deputation to Lokayukta.