In a major relief to Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, the state high court Friday stayed further proceedings in a lower court on corruption and illegal land deals cases against him.
The high court has already stayed a police probe, ordered by the lower court, into one complaint of illegal land deal against Yeddyurappa.
Additional Civil and Sessions Judge C.B. Hipparagi March 24 directed the police probe and was recording evidence in four other complaints against Yeddyurappa.
The five complaints of alleged corruption and illegal land deals were filed by two advocates in the last week of January after they were granted permission by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj to launch criminal proceedings against Yeddyurappa.
Justice K.N. Keshavanarayana of the Karnataka High Court, who March 29 stayed the police probe, Friday directed that all proceedings by Hipparagi in the remaining four complaints also be stopped till further orders.
His direction came on a plea by Yeddyurappa’s son-in-law R. Sohan Kumar.
The five complaints, filed by advocates Sirajin Basha and K.N. Balaraj, alleged that Yeddyurappa, his two sons, son-in-law and others have made money through illegal denotification (freeing from government control) of land by Yeddyurappa as the chief minister.
Justice Keshavanarayana also granted temporary relief to Home Minister R. Ashoka against whom also illegal land deal complaint has been filed in Hipparagi’s court.
The judge stayed proceedings till April 5.
