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Former Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa was on Saturday remanded in judicial custody till October 22 after he surrendered before the special Lokayukta court following the rejection of his bail application and issuance of arrest warrant against him in connection with his alleged involvement in land scams.
On a day of high drama, Yeddyurappa, who was later sent to high security central prison at Parappana Agrahara on the outskirts of Bangalore, turned up in the court even as a team of police officials went to his house to arrest him. Acting on a complaint against him by two lawyers for alleged irregularities in denotification of lands during his tenure as CM, Special Lokayukta judge NK Sudhindra Rao rejected Yeddyurappa’s bail application.
Yeddyurappa is likely to move higher court against the Lokayukta court warrant. Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, who was on way to the airport to catch a flight to Mumbai, cancelled his trip and held deliberations with his ministerial colleagues over the development. Later, he put on a brave face, saying Yeddyurappa’s surrender despite his indifferent health shows the “highest respect he and BJP have for the judiciary”.
The development is a major jolt to the BJP, as Yeddyurappa is its most powerful leader in Karnataka and is credited to bring the party in power for the first time in any southern State. But more importantly, it comes at a time when its veteran leader LK Advani is out on a countrywide campaign against corruption. Advani’s rath will roll in Karnataka from October 30 till November 1.
Sources said the party will continue to back Yeddyurappa even while intensifying its attack against the Congress on the issue of corruption.
The BJP said it will “legally” fight the cases involving Yeddyurappa. “But at the same time, the party would have zero tolerance towards corruption,” party spokesman JP Nadda said.
However, the development gave the Congress an opportunity to go on the offensive against the BJP on the issue of corruption.
“It speaks volume of the morality practised by the BJP constantly preaching without practice,” party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.
Nadda retaliated saying the Congress did not have any moral right to comment on corruption as it itself was “neck-deep” into it.
Apart from Yeddyurappa, another accused in the case --- former Minister SN Krishnaiah Setty --- was also remanded in judicial custody till October 22. He was arrested in the court itself. However, the judge spared Yeddyurappa’s sons, BY Vijendra and BY Raghavendra and his son-in-law Sohan Kumar, besides another BJP MLA Hemchandra Sagar, all of whom got conditional bail.
Rejecting the bail pleas of Yeddyurappa and Setty on the grounds of gravity of their offence, the court said since they were powerful and influential people, they could put pressure on the witnesses and tamper with evidence. Setty collapsed as the court pronounced the order. Seeing his condition, the judge directed officials to provide proper treatment before taking him to jail.
Earlier, reading out his order in a packed court, the judge said he had rejected the bail pleas of Yeddyurappa and Setty, but allowed those of 14 others.
The judge directed Yeddyurappa’s family members to furnish a bond for Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh each as surety for the siblings’ bail, and ordered them to submit chartered accountant-certified copies of bank accounts of Davalagiri Properties and Adarsh Homes Pvt Limited owned by them.
The court directed the remaining accused freed on bail to furnish a bond for Rs 5 lakh each, and slapped conditions that they should not tamper with evidence and not make any attempt to flee the country.
On a day of high drama, Yeddyurappa, who was later sent to high security central prison at Parappana Agrahara on the outskirts of Bangalore, turned up in the court even as a team of police officials went to his house to arrest him. Acting on a complaint against him by two lawyers for alleged irregularities in denotification of lands during his tenure as CM, Special Lokayukta judge NK Sudhindra Rao rejected Yeddyurappa’s bail application.
Yeddyurappa is likely to move higher court against the Lokayukta court warrant. Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, who was on way to the airport to catch a flight to Mumbai, cancelled his trip and held deliberations with his ministerial colleagues over the development. Later, he put on a brave face, saying Yeddyurappa’s surrender despite his indifferent health shows the “highest respect he and BJP have for the judiciary”.
The development is a major jolt to the BJP, as Yeddyurappa is its most powerful leader in Karnataka and is credited to bring the party in power for the first time in any southern State. But more importantly, it comes at a time when its veteran leader LK Advani is out on a countrywide campaign against corruption. Advani’s rath will roll in Karnataka from October 30 till November 1.
Sources said the party will continue to back Yeddyurappa even while intensifying its attack against the Congress on the issue of corruption.
The BJP said it will “legally” fight the cases involving Yeddyurappa. “But at the same time, the party would have zero tolerance towards corruption,” party spokesman JP Nadda said.
However, the development gave the Congress an opportunity to go on the offensive against the BJP on the issue of corruption.
“It speaks volume of the morality practised by the BJP constantly preaching without practice,” party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.
Nadda retaliated saying the Congress did not have any moral right to comment on corruption as it itself was “neck-deep” into it.
Apart from Yeddyurappa, another accused in the case --- former Minister SN Krishnaiah Setty --- was also remanded in judicial custody till October 22. He was arrested in the court itself. However, the judge spared Yeddyurappa’s sons, BY Vijendra and BY Raghavendra and his son-in-law Sohan Kumar, besides another BJP MLA Hemchandra Sagar, all of whom got conditional bail.
Rejecting the bail pleas of Yeddyurappa and Setty on the grounds of gravity of their offence, the court said since they were powerful and influential people, they could put pressure on the witnesses and tamper with evidence. Setty collapsed as the court pronounced the order. Seeing his condition, the judge directed officials to provide proper treatment before taking him to jail.
Earlier, reading out his order in a packed court, the judge said he had rejected the bail pleas of Yeddyurappa and Setty, but allowed those of 14 others.
The judge directed Yeddyurappa’s family members to furnish a bond for Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh each as surety for the siblings’ bail, and ordered them to submit chartered accountant-certified copies of bank accounts of Davalagiri Properties and Adarsh Homes Pvt Limited owned by them.
The court directed the remaining accused freed on bail to furnish a bond for Rs 5 lakh each, and slapped conditions that they should not tamper with evidence and not make any attempt to flee the country.
