The Supreme Court on Monday refused to cancel the anticipatory bail granted to former Karnataka Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa, in a corruption case linked to a mining lease.
The apex court declined the CBI’s appeal to cancel the anticipatory bail given to the BJP leader by the Karnataka High Court and instead asked the investigating agency to conduct a proper probe in the matter and file a charge sheet.
The apex court also turned down the contention of the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Mohan Parasaran – representing the CBI – that the anticipatory bail should be cancelled as Yeddyurappa was not cooperating with the probe agency. The court said anticipatory bail can be cancelled only if the gravity of the case merits it and if there are chances of the accused jumping the bail.
Disagreeing with Parasaran’s submissions that the High Court virtually went into the merits of the case while granting the anticipatory bail, the apex court, however, said the CBI shall not be influenced in its probe by the High Court’s observations.
The ASG had said the High Court order prima facie gave an impression that the charges against Yeddyurappa were without any basis and that there were no linkages between the grant of the lease and the alleged transfer of funds to him and his family’s account while he was the Chief Minister.