The Special Lokayuktya Court here on Friday has granted conditional bail to the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa, his son and member of Zilla Panchayat K.E. Kanthesh and daughter-in-law Shalini in connection with a disproportionate assets case.
The Court has directed all the three to furnish a personal bond of Rs. 5 lakh each and two surety for the same amount. The Court has also told the accused that they must appear for hearing whenever necessary.
On the direction of the Court, all the three accused had appeared for hearing on Friday. Ashok Bhat, counsel for the accused, pleaded with the Court to grant bail for them on the ground that there were no incriminating evidence to prove the allegations levelled against them.
K.P. Sripal, counsel for complainant Vinod B., objected to this and said that, as Mr. Eshwarappa and Mr. Kanthesh were in influential
positions, they may tamper with the evidence. As the Lokayukta police that had probed into the allegations levelled against them earlier had sought information from Enforcement Directorate on the investment by the accused in business in United Arab Emirates, Mr. Sripal urged the Court to issue necessary directions to impound their passports. After the hearing, the court granted bail for them.
Meanwhile complainant Mr. Vinod has expressed displeasure against Mr. Eshwarappa for using the official vehicle to come to the Court for hearing. He told presspersons that the vehicle provided to Mr. Eshwarappa to discharge duty as Leader of Opposition is being used by him for personal works.
