New Delhi, Sep 19 (Bureau) Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has moved the Supreme Court against Karnataka High Court’s order restoring a criminal complaint against him in a corruption case, despite absence of sanction. On September 8, the High Court had held that a special court’s rejection of sanction cannot be an obstacle for conducting an enquiry in the case against Yediyurappa and others. On July 8 last year the special court had rejected the private complaint filed by activist TJ Abraham, on grounds that an investigation under Section 156(3) of the CrPC cannot be made without valid sanction under Section 19(1) of the prevention of Corruption Act.
Following the High Court order, the State Lokayukta on September 16 filed an FIR under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 under Sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating, extortion and criminal conspiracy against Yediyurappa, his family members and others. According to Abraham, the accused persons allegedly collected bribe of Rs 12 crore on behalf of Yediyurappa to grant a contract for a construction firm to build a housing complex for the government during his tenure as CM in 2019-21.