Bangalore:
Spelling more trouble for former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, the Lokayukta police has registered an FIR against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act on charges of financial irregularities in the Upper Bhadra irrigation project related works.
In line with the Aug 8 order of the Lokayukta court directing investigation into the charges against Yeddyurappa in a private complaint, an FIR has been registered under section 158(3) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Incharge Lokayukta Superintendent of Police, Rangaswamy Naik told
PTI.
The complaint filed by JDS spokesperson YSV Dutta, alleged that the project was awarded to the highest bidder, a private firm RN Shetty at Rs 1,033 crore, contrary to the norm, as in the case of a government project it is the lowest bidder who gets the contract. And in turn for this favour, RN Shetty transferred an amount of Rs 13 crore to firms viz. Dhavalagiri Developers and Sahyadri Healthcare, owned by Yeddyurappa's sons and son-in-law, he alleged.
Karnataka Lokayukta, Justice Shivraj Patil told
NDTV that "A private complaint was filed before the Court - and the Court has passed the order for investigation, registration and investigation of the case. Today after receiving a copy of the order, Lokayukta police has registered an FIR against the accused, namely BS Yeddyurappa, former chief minister of Karnataka. Further investigation will be conducted based on that.
This relates to the awarding of a contract to RN Shetty and others, and the allegations are the contract was awarded to favour, although they were not the lowest. As a result of which some favours were received by Dhavalagiri Developers and Sahyadri Health Care which were said to be floated by the sons of the accused, BS Yeddyurappa."
In another case relating to alleged irregularities in denotification of lands acquired by the Bangalore Development Authority,Yeddyurappa is facing a summons along with 14 others to appear before the Lokayukta Special Court on August 27.