Did former chief ministers and arch-rivals B.S. Yeddyurappa and H.D. Kumaraswamy attempt a hush-hush deal to weaken cases against each other in the Lokayukta court?
Sources in the know of a secret deal to water down the cases confirmed that the leaders gave it a shot as they were evidently shaken by consequences faced by former IT-BT minister Katta Subramanya and his son Katta Jagadish Naidu at the hands of the Lokayukta court.
The need for such a pact was heightened by the decision of the high court to either stay proceedings in the lower court or consider pleas for an advance bail.
The sources said the first move was made by an emissary of Mr Yeddyurappa’s camp with an offer to discuss the possibility of weakening cases through unconvincing arguments. A couple of meetings ensued as Mr Kumaraswamy too was keen to wriggle out of cases against him.
The representatives of both leaders even discussed the possibility of rekindling the relationship which led to the formation of a Janata Dal(S)-BJP coalition in February 2006, and an all-out attack against Congress leaders for their alleged role in illegal mining. For reasons best known to the Dal (S) leader, he called off further discussions.
Meanwhile, a day after Mr Yeddyurappa appeared in the special court of Lokayukta, his political rival Mr Kumaraswamy and wife Anita were told to face the same court on Monday.
The Janata Dal (S) leader, accused of violating norms while renewing the mining lease of Jantakal Mining Company during his reign as chief minister, faced twin setbacks on Tuesday when his application for advanced bail was dismissed by the special court.