Hearing of complaints against Yeddy, others adjourned to Feb14

Bangalore, Feb 4 (PTI) A local court today adjournedtill February 14 hearing of all five complaints againstKarnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and some his familymembers, including his son-in-law, over allegations ofcorruption.

City-based advocates Sirajin Basha and K N Balaraj hadfiled the complaints before the Lokayukta court last month.

When hearing commenced before Additional Civil andSessions judge and special judge C B Hipparagi, senior counselfor the two advocates Anup Chowdhary raised the issue ofwhether the accused have the right of audience even beforesummons are issued by the court.

"Till summons are issued there is no right of audiencefor the accused. There is a Supreme Court direction to thiseffect. If you wish to overrule the direction, then it isyour decision," he pointed out.

At this, the special judge adjourned the hearing toFebruary 14.

The case had come up for hearing after it had beenadjourned yesterday. The court yesterday gave the directionafter Yeddyurappa''s son-in-law Sohan Kumar filed anapplication in response to a fifth complaint against himseeking stay of the proceedings on the grounds that the samematter was being probed by the Lokayukta.

In response to Kumar''s plea, counsel for thepetitioners C H Hanumantharaya filed his objections andrequested Hipparagi to post the case for arguments today. PTIBH RS ARP