Bengaluru, Jan 26: In a big relief for former Deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader R Ashoka, and B Karthik, a co-accused, the Karnataka high court on Thursday stayed investigation as well as further proceedings in relation to the FIR registered by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with Bagar-Hukum land scam.
The interim order will be in force till March 31 and the final hearing on the main petition will be taken on March 5.
Justice R B Budihal passed this order after all the parties agreed to co-operate with the early disposal of the main petitions.
While Ashoka is arrayed as accused no 1, one B Karthik, a resident of Yelachenahalli and a beneficiary to whom 4 acres of land came to be granted is arrayed as accused no.10 in the case registered by ACB.
Ashoka has claimed that the case was registered for political reasons with an oblique motive just before the ensuing assembly elections.
Citing inordinate delay in filing of the complaint, he had also contended that there is already a Lokayukta investigation which is still pending on the same issue
According to him, as MLA from Uttarahalli constituency, he was heading the Bengaluru South Taluk Bagar Hukum Land Regularization Committee (between 1998-2006) and though there were members in the said committee they were not made parties in the complaint as they were attached to Congress party.
Ashoka further claimed that the committee was only a recommendatory body and that the revenue authorities headed by the Deputy Commissioner had the power to cancel any such grant if there were any irregularities.
In his petition, Karthik had claimed that he belonged to weaker section of the society and the allotment of 4 acres land in Agara for which saguvali chit was issued in September 2005, and the same was by the high court.
On the other hand, the ACB had contended that Ashok was responsible for grant of land ineligible beneficiaries and there is a strong, prima facie case against him.
The agency had also opposed grant of interim order citing the bar under 19((3) of the Prevention of Corruption Act , 1988 citing that Ashok may win over witnesses and also destroy incriminating evidences available against him.
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