BENGALURU: The high court on Thursday discharged former minister and senior BJP leader
Katta Subramanya Naidu
in the multi-crore KIADB case.
The court also quashed proceedings against former corporator M Gopi in the same case.
"Material support of the case and further narration of sequences do not indicate direct demand or receipt of illegal gratification by the petitioner (Katta) from any party," Justice
Anand Byrareddy
observed while allowing a criminal revision petition filed by the former minister.
As for illegal allotment of land, the court noted that it was made by the
State High-Level Land Clearance Committee
(SHLCC).
The court said in view of proceedings against Srinivas, MD of ITASCA company, the prima facie charge of conspiracy would fail. On charges of extending undue favour to the company, the court said they are vague and could not lead to framing of any charge.
Katta was booked under sections 7, 8, 12, 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and sections 419, 420, 471, 120B, IPC. He moved the high court when the special
Lokayukta
court rejected his application seeking discharge from the case on April 29, 2013.
Venkatesh P Dalwai, special public prosecutor to the
Karnataka Lokayukta
, resigned following the high court order.