The Karnataka High Court on Friday rejected former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s petition seeking to quash of the FIR by Lokayukta police on a private complaint alleging financial irregularities in Upper Bhadra irrigation project.
The order was passed by a division bench comprising Justices K L Manjunath and H S Kempanna.
The complaint was filed by JD(S) spokesperson Y S V Dutta in the Lokayukta court, which later ordered a probe on August 8. Subsequently, an FIR was filed by the Lokayukta police on August 10. Yeddyurappa’s counsel and Supreme Court lawyer U U Lalit had challenged the complaint and order of reference by Special Lokayukta judge N K Sudhindhra Rao under Sec 156(3) of CrPC (initiating criminal proceedings), stating that Rao is not a magistrate and hence has no jurisdiction to take cognisance of the complaint, making a reference under the Section.
“It has to be taken cognisance and referred to under Sec 202 of CrPC which is nothing but collection of evidence,” he had submitted. Counsel had argued that the lower court had superseded its jurisdiction and hence the FIR filed as a consequence by Lokayukta police would have to be dropped. However, the High Court ruled that they found no merit in this argument, saying while the court of the special judge, has power to receive a private complaint and take cognisance, it also has power to refer it for investigation to Lokayukta police under Sec 156(3) of the CrPC. It noted that the special judge enjoys all powers of criminal jurisdiction, except any specifically denied. Dutta had alleged that the project was awarded to the highest bidder, a private firm RNS Jyothi at Rs 1,033 crore, contrary to the norms, as in the case of a government project it is the lowest bidder who gets the contract.
In turn, RNS Jyothi transferred Rs 13 crore to Dhavalagiri Developers and Sahyadri Healthcare, owned by Yeddyurappa’s sons and son-in-law, he alleged.