Yeddy acquitted in Rs 40-crore mining bribery case

Bengaluru, October 26

In a major relief for Karnataka BJP president and former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, a special CBI court today acquitted him, his two sons, son-in-law and nine others in a corruption case, giving boost to the political fortunes of the BJP leader ahead of the 2018 Assembly poll.

The corruption case related to illegal mining in Bellary that allegedly involved a bribery of Rs 40 crore.

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Pronouncing the judgment in a jam-packed court hall, Judge RB Dharmagouder exonerated all the 13 accused in the case, stating the prosecution failed to establish their guilt under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC.

The verdict has given an impetus to Yeddyurappa, who was appointed the state BJP chief in April this year ahead of the Assembly elections due in 2018.

"The prosecution has been unsuccessful in establishing the guilt of the accused, not only under the Prevention of Corruption Act, but also under the Indian Penal Code, and hence this court acquits all accused in the case," the judge held in his more than 400-page verdict.

Apart from 73-year-old Yeddyurappa, who was the prime accused, his sons BY Raghavendra (an MLA) and BY Vijayendra, his son-in-law RN Sohan Kumar and former minister SN Krishnaiah Setty and nine others were cleared of the charges.

Yeddyurappa, who had led BJP to its first-ever government in the south in the 2008 Assembly poll, was forced to resign as the CM in August 2011 following indictment by then Lokayukta Santosh Hegde in the Bellary illegal mining case.

The CBI filed a chargesheet in 2012 against Yeddyurappa, his sons and son-in-law, Prerana Trust, managed by Raghavendra, South West Mining Company and Bellary-based JSW Steel for alleged abuse of official position and corruption.

The chargesheet alleged involvement of Rs 40 crore kickbacks, including Rs 20 crore that was allegedly paid to Prerana for granting favours, including mining licences, during Yeddyurappa's chief ministership from 2008 to 2011. — PTI