HC quashes BSY kins petition

BANGALORE: In a setback to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, the High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by his son-in-law, Sohan Kumar, who had challenged a lower court order taking cognizance of cases against him, the Chief Minister and others.Justice K N Keshavnarayana, in his verdict running up to 86 pages, dismissed Kumar’s petition stating that Kumar, against whom no process is ordered, has no locus-standi to question the correctness of the order.Kumar had challenged the lower court order, which had taken cognizance of offences made out in private complaints by advocates Sirajin Basha and K N Balaraj. Kumar stated that the complainant had mischievously misused the sanction order by the Karnataka Governor.Kumar also expressed fear of being arrested.The court termed this apprehension of being arrested as without any basis, and made it clear that the Chief Minister and other accused in the compliant before the special court would not be arrested by the Lokayukta police, who would conduct an inquiry into the materials forwarded to them in four weeks’ time and file the report to the court.“Therefore, the petition filed seeking to quash the common order taking cognizance of the complaints are highly premature and are liable to be dismissed,” the court ordered.Further, the judge stated, “With regard to serious allegations against persons in highest public office, I deem it proper to note seven principles of lifestyles to people in public life by Nolan, including integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership in letter and spirit working solely in public interest.”