Case against ex-Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy quashed

Bangalore: In a major relief for former Karnataka chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy, his wife Anita and some of his family members, the High Court on Friday quashed the cases filed against the duo in connection with alleged irregularities in granting mining license and irregularities in land allotment.

The one-judge bench of Justice V Jagannathan ruled that the private complaint filed against Kumaraswamy in the Lokayukta Court was politically motivated. A fine of Rs 1 lakh was also imposed on the complainant for wasting the court's time.

Advocate Vinod Kumar had on August 8 filed a complaint in the Lokayukta Court, which had issued summons to Kumaraswamy and his wife, Anita, a JD(S) MLA.

The court ruled that the complaint filed against Kumaraswamy was politically motivated.

Kumar had alleged that Kumaraswamy, a Lok Sabha member, during his tenure as Chief Minister, had ordered bulk allotment of land to a private housing cooperative society and also recommended renewal of mining licence of a firm.

The court upheld the contention of Kumaraswamy, who had challenged the lower court proceedings on the ground that the petitioner had not secured sanction from the Lok Sabha Speaker to prosecute him, a step which is mandatory, and not furnished proof on his allegations.

The High Court had granted anticipatory bail last month to Kumaraswamy and Anita, after which they appeared before the lower court on September 9.

(With additional information from PTI)

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