The Karnataka High Court will hear on October 20 the petitions filed by the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa seeking bail in two of the five corruption cases against him.
When the petitions came up for hearing before Justice B.V. Pinto on Tuesday, counsel for Mr. Yeddyurappa requested that the petitions be heard on October 19, but the judge said he had not read the order of the Special Lokayukta Court, which, on October 15, rejected bail and remanded Mr. Yeddyurappa in judicial custody, as the order was not filed along with the petitions.
However, counsel said that a copy of the Special Lokayukta Court order was received late on Monday and it had been now filed before the High Court. Counsel also informed the court Mr. Yeddyurappa had also filed an application seeking interim bail and requested the court to hear arguments on that application.
Seeks time
But counsel for Sirajin Basha, on whose complaint the Special Lokayukta Court initiated the corruption cases, sought time to file objections to the petitions and requested the court to adjourn the hearing till next week.
At this juncture, counsel for Mr. Yeddyurappa pleaded that the court take up hearing of the interim bail petition on October 20.
Finally the court posted the hearing on the petition for interim bail to October 20.
In its order rejecting bail to Mr. Yeddyurappa, the Special Lokayukta Court had held that considering his (Yeddyurappa's) influence and his command over, and accessibility to, top bureaucrats, files and records, it was of the view that there was every likelihood of evidence being tampered with and witnesses being terrorised, which would frustrate the objective of a fair trial.
“It will be a risky and dangerous step to enlarge the accused No. 1 (Yeddyurappa) on bail in the interest of a fair trial,” the Special Lokayukta Court had observed.
Yet to be heard
The former Minster S.N. Krishnaiah Setty, who is also an accused in one of the cases and is now in judicial custody, has also filed a petition seeking bail.
The petition is yet to come up for hearing.
