Plea filed in high court seeking vacation of stay

A petition was today filed in Karnataka High Court seeking vacation of a stay on criminal proceedings against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his family in a corruption case. The plea was filed by advocate Sirajin Basha. The apex court on April 29 had refused to quash a Karnataka HC order which had stayed criminal proceedings against the chief minister and his family.

The Supreme Court had dismissed the petition filed by two advocates, including Basha, challenging the stay granted by the HC against a trial court order which had taken cognisance of the complaint filed against Yeddyurapp and his family. The bench, while dismissing the petition, asked the High Court to consider the application moved by the complainant, if any, for vacation of the stay not later than six weeks.

Basha had moved the apex court through advocate Prashant Kumar challenging the March 29 Karnataka High Court order which had allowed the petition filed by Yeddyurappa’s son-in-law Sohan Kumar. Basha had sought directions to lift the stay on the criminal proceedings against Yeddyurappa and his family members in a complaint case related to irregularities in denotification of land.

Sohan Kumar had challenged the lower court order for further proceedings, including the Lokyukta probe, against them. There are five complaints filed against the Yeddyurappa’s family members and the Governor had accorded sanction to prosecute for offences committed under IPC section 405 (criminal breach of trust) and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Additional Civil and Sessions Judge had on March 24 postponed prosecution in the complaint and ordered Lokayukta police to probe the matter.