Bengaluru: In a huge relief to senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, the special CBI court on Wednesday acquitted him along with his two sons and son-in-law in a Rs 40 crore illegal mining case.
In the judgment delivered at a packed court hall, Judge R B Dharmagouder also exonerated nine other accused in the kickback case which had cost Yeddyurappa his Chief Ministership in 2011 following indictment by the then Lok Ayukta Santosh Hegde.
ALSO READ: Paul Beatty is the first American to win Booker Prize
CBI had filed the charge sheet in October 2015 against Yeddyurappa, his sons B Y Raghavendra and B Y Vijayendra and son-in-law Sohan Kumar, a Bellary-based private steel company and a Shimoga based Trust run by the family of Yeddyurappa for alleged abuse of official position and corruption.
The case also saw Yeddyurappa spend about three weeks in jail in October 2011 in connection with the case before he was granted bail.
The accused had been charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and corruption, according to the CBI charge sheet which had alleged involvement of Rs.40 crore kickbacks, including Rs 20 crore that was allegedly paid to a trust run by the Yeddyurappa’s family, for granting favours, including mining licenses, during his chief ministership.
ALSO READ: NewsMobile EXCLUSIVE: Donald Trump ‘locker room’ conversations, Trump speaks out
“Satyameva Jayathe. Justice is done. I stand vindicated,” a relieved Yeddyurappa tweeted shortly after the verdict.
Justice is done, I stand vindicated… Thanks to all well wishers,friends & supporters who stood with me in my tough times…
— B.S. Yeddyurappa (@BSYBJP) October 26, 2016
Satyameva Jayate..
— B.S. Yeddyurappa (@BSYBJP) October 26, 2016
“I am happy that false allegations and politically motivated charges have been dismissed,” the state BJP strongman, who has returned as the state BJP chief earlier this year, told reporters.
ALSO READ: World glitters in Diwali mood!
He said the court verdict had come as a relief to lakhs of BJP workers and gave a “new fillip” to him to bring back the party to power in the next Assembly polls in Karnataka.