Corruption: BJP embarrassed as ACB files two FIRs against Yeddy

Bengaluru, Aug 18: In what could be fresh trouble for BJP Karnataka president and chief ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered two FIRs against him in connection with land denotification cases, August 17.

Mr. Yeddyurappa recently got relief from most corruption cases. BJP leaders claim that the FIRs are part of a “political vendetta.”

Denotification of 257 acres

The cases pertain to the alleged illegal denotification of 257 acres, notified for the formation of Dr. Shivarama Karanth Layout by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

The BDA had issued a preliminary notification for 3,546 acres in villages between Doddaballapur and Hesaraghatta on December 30, 2008. However, during this stage, Mr. Yeddyurappa, then Chief Minister, allegedly issued directions to drop 257 acres, based on applications from several landlords.

Private layout

The landowners later took an endorsement of their lands being dropped from the BDA. Sources said a private layout was developed on a part of the 257 acres, allegedly causing pecuniary benefits to many.

The preliminary notification of the 3,546 acres for the Dr. Shivarama Karanth Layout was quashed by the High Court in September 2015 as the BDA did not implement the plan for which the land was notified for acquisition.

The ACB booked Mr. Yeddyurappa and four others under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Sources said dropping 257 acres from the preliminary notification of the layout included 20 such separate instances, all part of a complaint filed by Dr. Ayyappa Dorey, a social activist.

ACB sources said of the 20 instances, preliminary inquiries were completed in two and hence two FIRs.