Ex-CM's anticipatory bail plea to be mulled today

The Karnataka High Court will tomorrow pass orders on the anticipatory bail petitions of former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his MLA-wife in two corruption cases filed against them in a special court here.

Reserving orders for 10.30 am tomorrow after hearing arguments on their petitions, Justice L Narayana Swamy granted the couple interim bail till then and also exempted them from personal appearance today before the special Lokayukta court which has summoned them.

The cases pertain to a private complaint filed by advocate Vinod Kumar accusing Kumaraswamy of corruption in bulk land allotment to a housing society and granting permission to renew licence to a mining company during his tenure as Chief Minister between 2006-07.

Counsel for Kumaraswamy and his wife Anita submitted that the trial court judge had issued summons without holding an enquiry, and the bulk allotment was in accordance with a high court order. Anita was a member of the Housing society before her husband became Chief Minister and had also returned the site as it was not as per ‘Vaastu’ principles.

On the renewal of mining licence, the counsel contended it had not been questioned in any court of law, there were no grievances and Kumaraswamy had not misused his power. He pleaded for interim bail apprehending Kumaraswamy’s arrest as the “offence is non-bailable.”

Counsel for Vinod Kumar submitted that there was no threat of arrest and the interim bail application was only to avoid appearance in the court. He alleged that Kumaraswamy indulged in favouritism and exerted pressure on the then Commissioner of Mines and Geology to renew mining licence to the company and that there was “illegal gratification” vis-a-vis the bulk allotment.