The Karnataka High Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa in which he sought to quash a chapter in the Lokayukta report that indicted him in the mining scam. Yeddyurappa's counsel filed a memo before the bench,comprising justices K L Manjunath and H S Kempanna,seeking to withdraw the petition,citing subsequent developments,as well as liberty to challenge it at a later date. No liberty can be granted, the court said,dismissing the petition as withdrawn,and also observed that seeking quashing of the report when investigation into it had not started is premature The bench observed that the Lokayukta probe was referred by the government. In Chapter 22 of the Lokayukta report submitted to the government last month,the initiation of prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act was recommended against Yeddyurappa. Yeddyurappa's counsel had earlier argued the report had been made without hearing the petitioner and is violative of principles of natural justice. He said the report had gone beyond the terms of reference,among others.
