BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa got temporary relief on Friday as the Kalaburagi Bench of the High Court of Karnataka stayed further investigation and criminal proceedings against him in a case, registered on the basis of an audio clip, for allegedly offering bribe to the son of a JD(S) MLA to get his father to join the saffron party.
Justice P.G.M. Patil passed the interim order while admitting the petition filed by Mr. Yeddyurappa questioning the registration of an FIR (against him and three others) at Devadurga police station in Raichur district.
The court also ordered issue of notice to Sharanagouda, the son of the JD(S) MLA, and adjourned further hearing on the matter.
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The FIR was registered on February 13, based on a complaint filed by Mr. Sharanagouda. BJP MLAs K. Shivanagouda Naik and K. Preetam Gowda, and M.B. Maramkal, former journalist and media coordinator of Mr. Yeddyurappa, are the other three accused named in the FIR.
The complainant had alleged that the accused met him and offered money to convince his father to quit from the post of MLA. Mr. Sharanagouda had submitted a CD purportedly containing a recorded conversation among them.