The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, his two sons B Y Raghavendra, B Y Vijayendra and son-in-law R N Sohan Kumar, a former CEO & senior vice president of Bellary-based JSW Steel and eight others, in a land denotification case.
The CBI officials filed the chargesheet in the court of special judge for CBI cases in Bangalore. The CBI also filed charge sheet against Krishnaiah Shetty, former Muzrai minister in Yeddyurappa’s cabinet.
Raghavendra is a Lok Sabha member, representing the Shimoga parliamentary constituency.
The charge sheet has been filed under sections 120-B r/w 109, 420, 468, 471 IPC; Sec.7, 9, 11, 12, 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of PC Act, 1988 and Sec.9 r/w Sec.4 of Karnataka Land (Restriction on) Transfer Act, the CBI said in a statement.
The CBI had registered a criminal case against Yeddyurappa and others following the directions of the Supreme Court on May 11, 2012, and had conducted raids on offices and residences of Yeddyurappa and others. The Lokayukta report on illegal mining had indicted Yeddyurappa for receiving alleged kickbacks in the land denotification case.
“During investigations, it was revealed that the accused persons allegedly hatched a criminal conspiracy during 2006–2010. Subsequently, two sons and a son-in-law of the then chief minister of Karnataka purchased land for Rs 40 lakh which was notified for acquisition by the Karnataka government in violation of various laws. The said land was de-notified from acquisition by Yeddyurappa by allegedly abusing his official position in violation of various government rules.”
Further, the same land was sold at an exorbitant rate of Rs 20 crore to Bellary-based private group of companies though the guidance value of the land was Rs 1.5 crore.
“Investigation has revealed that the said amount of Rs 20 crore was allegedly a cover-up to the illegal gratification received from the Bellary-based private company as a quid-pro-quo for not insisting on the recovery of Rs 890 crore from the same company, which is the loss caused to a state PSU by a joint venture with the same private steel company,” CBI statement said.
Further, it is revealed that the said Bellary-based private company has allegedly paid through its sister companies a sum of Rs 20 crore as a donation to the trust run by the kin of Yeddyurappa, CBI statement added.
Yeddyurappa resigned as chief minister on July 31, 2011 after the Lokayukta report on illegal mining indicted him following which a spate of corruption and land denotification cases have been filed against him.
In a statement, JSW Steel said, “As the copy of the charge sheet has not been served on any of the officers of the company, it is premature to offer comments. The conclusions drawn by the said authorities leading to charge sheet are without basis. The company always abides by the law of the country and would present its case before the court. The company has full faith in the judiciary that justice will be done.”
