BSY gets bail but stays in jail for another case

BANGALORE: In partial relief to former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, the High Court on Thursday granted him bail in one case. However, he will continue to stay in jail since he is yet to get bail in another case.Yeddyurappa was granted bail in the second complaint relating to denotification of BDA land in Geddalahalli under Arkavathi Layout and in Devarachikkanahalli and Arakere, favouring his aides. Orders in the third complaint, relating to denotification of land in Uttarahalli and Agara, were posted to Friday.A single bench headed by Justice B V Pinto granted him bail upholding the petitioner’s contention that he is not required for interrogation as the matter pertained to documented evidence. The judge said, “Keeping him in jail amounts to violation of criminal jurisprudence as it is unnecessary.”Granting him conditional bail, the court directed the former chief minister to furnish a bond of  Rs 5 lakh along with two sureties with directions not to tamper with evidence and to attend proceedings at the Lokayukta court.  The court observed that there was no evidence to prove that Yeddyurappa benefited from denotification and that the allegations, if proven, would not result in life imprisonment. The court further stated that Yeddyurappa was neither a habitual offender nor has a criminal background.“People like Pappu Yadav have contested elections from jail. It is not true that if the accused is in prison, he won’t tamper with evidence,” the court observed, adding that the accused was entitled to bail.