Court dismisses Yeddy''s kin plea to stay proceedings

Bangalore, Feb 26 (PTI) In a setback to Chief Minister B SYeddyurappa, a court here today declined to stay proceedingson complaints against him and his family members over allegedcorruption and nepotism in land dealings and fixed February 28for recording of oral statements and evidence.

The court dimissed as not maintainable two applicationsfiled by Yeddyurappa''s son-in-law Sohan Kumar seeking a stayon the proceedings and to include former chief minister and HD Kumaraswamy as an accused in the case filed based on fivecomplaints by two lawyers on January 22.

Kumar had sought the stay on the ground that theallegations made by the complainants, who secured Governor H RBhardwaj''s sanction to prosecute the chief minister, werealready under Lokayukta investigation and this court cannot gointo them.

Counsel for the complainant objected to the filing ofapplications stating that Kumar had no right to audiencebefore the court issued summons.

Dismissing the applications, Additional City Civil andSession Court Judge C B Hippargi directed complainants SirajinBasha and K N Balaraj to record their statements and evidencethey have in their possession on February 28.

After recording the statements and on perusal of thestrength of the evidence to be adduced by the complainants,the court will decide whether the case merits issue of summonsto those named in the complaint.

Anup Chowdary, counsel for the complainants, contended theapplications filed by Sohankumar were frivolous and intendedto delay the legal proceedings.

Later speaking to reporters, Chowdary hailed the courtorder saying "this meant that the court has taken cognizanceof the private complaints and that the judicial process in themattter has now begun".

Private complaints have been filed against Yeddyurappa,his sons, B Y Raghavendra, MP, and B Y Vijendra and SohanKumar alleging their involvement in land scams.