Just wait and watch

Rebel ministers wait for Lokayukta police to file FIR against Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, as it would exert further pressure on him to quit

Rebels may have to wait for Lokayukta police to file an FIR against Yeddyurappa, as the BJP high command hinted at the possibility of seeking the CM's resignation once he is named in the police report. The special Lokayukta court that's hearing complaints of lawyersu00a0-- Sirajin Basha and K N Balaraju00a0-- filed against Yeddyurappa, directed theu00a0 Lokayukta police to investigate the first among the five cases, while fixing a deadline for May 4. The lawyer-duo had filed the cases with three instances of illegal de-notification of government land and nepotism in allotting BDA sites under G-category in each.


Present sir! Out of 27 ministers, only 21 attended the meeting called
by Yeddyurappa yesterday

Police to decide
Although rules do not call for an FIR in this instance, as the case is registered and the court has got the preliminary information, a source in the Lokayukta said the police were contemplating filing one. "In a similar case involving JD(S) leader D C Thammanna, our police had filed the FIR. Just to avoid controversy, it is better that they file one in this case also. However, the police are free to decide on this," said Justice N Santhosh Hegde.

Quoting from an earlier Supreme Court judgment, he added, "The police had to investigate whether there were vested interests in the de-notification of land, as reversing the notification without justification was illegal."

However, Additional Director General of Police R K Dutta told MiD DAY, "We will treat this as any other case brought before the Lokayukta and will file an FIR against the CM within two days. He will be booked under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code."

Pressing for ouster
While the dissidents pressing for Yeddyurappa's ouster were camping in Delhi, the court ruling provided a curious twist to the political development. The BJP high command that met with the rebels led by party state president K S Eswarappa, is understood to have said it would seek the CM's resignation once he is named in the FIR.

Eswarappa said, "Yesterday's court judgement is important and corruption is the burning issue now. We have discussed this including the change in leadership with the party high command. They gave a patient hearing and will take appropriate decision at the appropriate time."

While the national president of the party Nitin Gadkari and Dharmendra Pradhan, in-charge of party affairs in the state, heard the grievances of the rebels during the meeting attended by MP representing Bangalore (Rural) H N Ananth Kumar, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Jagadish Shetter, Tourism Minister G Janardana Reddy,u00a0 other ministers of the camp joined them in the late-night meeting.

Rebel ministers including A S Ramadas, Visweswara Hegde Kageri and Govinda Karajola reluctantly attended the meeting called by the CM, while Eswarappa and others left for Delhi earlier in the day.

21 present, 6 absent
Ramdass, Kageri and Karjola were on the way to Delhi and had reached the airport, when they received the message that they would be sacked if they defy the CM's order, and therefore rushed back to the meeting.

Yet, the turn out was not 100 per cent, as only 21 out of 27 ministers attended the meeting. "Yeddyurappa had called the meeting just to show that his support base in the cabinet was intact and had threatened to sack those who abstained. I did want to take chances and thus, attended the meeting. I may join Eshwarappa in Delhi tonight," said a minister. However, Law Minister S Suresh Kumar sought to clarify on this. He said, "Six ministers had taken prior permission from the CM and there is no crisis as such."

Investigation procedures
ADGP R K Dutta said that the police would need to verify all documents, question and record statements of witnesses followed by collection of evidence. "We would also question, the accused (whose names will be kept confidential) as part of the investigations to give them a fair chance to present their version," he said reiterating that this is as per procedure like any other case the Lokayukta takes up.

Earlier, Judge Chandrashekar B Hipparagi who is hearing the case, recorded statements of the complainants and said that the court has decided to give it to Lokayukta, considering the gravity and seriousness of the complaint.

"The court has also observed that the complainants might have missed some elements while levelling charges, which investigations would help to rectify," Hipparagi said while passing the order under Section 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

(With inputs from Imran Gowhar)