Lokayukta Justice Shivaraj V. Patil on Friday instructed the Lokayukta police to initiate criminal proceedings against former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, based on the governor’s communication to the Lokayukta on August 2.
Justice Patil in an order dated August 19, has instructed the additional director-general of police (Lokayukta) J.K. Gaonkar to investigate allegations in Chapter 22 of the Lokayukta’s second mining report.
“I have passed the order for the police to take appropriate action,” said Justice Patil.
Karnataka governor H.R. Bhardwaj had sanctioned criminal proceedings against the former CM after he accepted the findings and recommendation of the former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde in Chapter 22 of his second mining report.
The report indicts Mr Yedyurappa for receiving a donation of `10 crores from South-West Mining Company towards his family-owned Prerna Education Trust, and the sale of land in Rachenhalli to another mining firm at an “exorbitant” price by members of his family.
It is however, not clear whether the Lokayukta police would immediately file an FIR against Mr Yedyurappa or initiate a criminal inquiry against him before prosecuting him.
On August 2, Mr Yeddyurappa filed a petition in the high court seeking quashing of Chapter 22.