Yeddy plea against indictment by Lokayukta posted to Aug 17

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday adjourned to August 17, the hearing of the writ petition filed by former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa praying for quashing of Chapter 22 of the Lokayukta report that indicted him in connection with illegal mining.

The division bench comprising Justice K L Manjunath and Justice H S Kempanna adjourned the petition, granting time to the petitioner to produce relevant documents of the U V Singh report on illegal mining.

Earlier, counsel for Yeddyurappa, Sandeep Patil sought time till August 17, submitting that he did not have copies of the relevant annexures of the said report and also did not have the copy of the Governor's acceptance of the report.

The High Court had on Monday directed Yeddyurappa to produce a copy of the Lokayukta report on illegal mining on his petition seeking quashing of the report that had indicted him.

The BJP leader has prayed for quashing of Chapter 22 of the report, which holds him guilty of financial transactions between a private mining firm, South West Mining Company and Prerana Educational Society, a Trust owned and managed by his family members in Shimoga district.

In his petition, he had said the references made against him in the Lokayukta report was beyond the terms of reference set for the anti-corruption watchdog to investigate illegal mining from 2000 to July 19, 2010.

The Lokayukta report on illegal mining triggered a political storm in the state, leading to Yeddyurappa's resignation as Chief Minister.