Bengaluru/New Delhi: In a major relief for Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, the Supreme Court agreed to hear his petition that challenges the Karnataka High Court’s order to allow the restoration of an FIR against him and Murugesh Nirani, who was his Cabinet colleague at the time.
Although the Supreme Court refused to stay the HC’s order, the bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde issued a notice to the complainant in the original case.
The Chief Minister can still face charges in connection with the 2011 case but the SC has allowed his petition to review the HC’s order.
During the hearing, the CM’s advocate, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi said that Yediyurappa was seeking protection from arrest that can be warranted owing to the order by the High Court.
The 2011 case is based on a complaint filed by businessman Alam Pasha, who accused Yediyurappa, who was the Chief Minister back then, and Murugesh Nirani, who was the minister for industries at that time, of criminal conspiracy. He also accused the duo of forging documents to allegedly withdraw land of 26 acres for a Rs 600 crore housing project in the Devanahalli area near Bengaluru city.