Governor gives sanction for prosecution of Yeddyurappa

BANGALORE: Even as the BJP legislature party meeting met to elect its new chief minister at a hotel a stone’s throw from Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, governor H R Bhardwaj gave Lokayukta police sanction to initiate criminal proceedings against outgoing CM B S Yeddyurappa over the mining report.
“I have accepted the Lokayukta’s report on illegal mining submitted to me and asked them to initiate action,’’ Bhardwaj told reporters soon after administering the oath of office and secrecy to new Lokayukta Justice Shivaraj V Patil at Raj Bhavan.
Bhardwaj said he’ll accord sanction to prosecute Yeddyurappa only after the preliminary investigation is complete and an FIR is lodged. “Police will have to lodge an FIR following a private complaint,’’ he said.
He said he took the decision as a competent authority under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act with reference to provisions of this Act as well as the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
He said he accepted the findings and recommendations of the Lok Ayukta in Chapter 22 which outlines criminal proceedings against Yeddyurappa and had sent the report back for further investigation.
The ball is now in the new Lokayukta’s court. “I have forwarded my decision to the registrar for placing it before the new Lokayukta. It is up to him now to take further action through Lokayukta police,’’ Bhardwaj said.
Justice Patil said: “I haven’t received the communique from the governor. I have so far only read media reports about the Lokayukta report on illegal mining. I need some time to study the full report and the governor’s decision and then will take a decision.’’