The Karnataka High Court today granted conditional bail to the former Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, in a corruption case relating to alleged irregularities in denotifying lands.
Mr Yeddyurappa has been given bail in the third private complaint against him and his bail application in the fourth private complaint has been posted for orders in the afternoon.
In the event of the court also allowing his bail plea in the fourth complaint, Mr Yeddyurappa may walk free out of the jail.
While allowing him bail in the third private complaint, Mr Justice B.V. Pinto directed him to furnish a surety for Rs five lakh and not to tamper with evidence.
Mr Yeddyurappa is in judicial custody for the last 20 days which was granted by a Lokayukta court before which the case is pending.
The Lokayukta court had earlier dismissed the bail application of Mr Yeddyurappa, against whom it had issued summons in two private complaints regarding alleged irregularities in denotification of government land for pecuniary gains.
Facing arrest, Mr Yeddyurappa had surrendered before the Lokyukta court, where advocate Mr Sirajin Basha had filed the complaints.
Mr Yeddyurappa, his two sons — Mr B.Y. Raghavendra, a Lok Sabha member, and Mr B.Y. Vijendra — and son-in-law Mr R.N. Sohan Kumar have also moved applications seeking anticipatory bail in three other private complaints in which they have been named as accused by Mr Basha.
Their pleas are being heard by Mr Justice Billiappa today.
In another development, the Lokayukta Special Court today extended the judicial custody of Mr Yeddyurappa and former minister Mr S.N. Krishnaiah Setty till November 15. Judge Mr N.K. Sudhindra Rao extended the judicial custody of both, as it ended today.
While Mr Setty was produced before the court, jail authorities had not produced Mr Yeddyurappa, at which the judge took objection.
The court issued a notice to the Superintendent of the Bangalore central prison seeking explanation for the reasons for not producing Mr Yeddyrappa before the court and declined to accept the plea that lack of police personnel as the reason.
All the others accused in the fourth private complaint were present before the court and in the third complaint, four accused filed application seeking exemption from personal appearance.