BS Yeddyurappa acquitted in Rs 40 crore mining bribery case, says 'Satyameva Jayate'

Bengaluru: In a huge relief to BS Yeddyurappa, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court on Wednesday acquitted the former Karnataka chief minister of charges of accepting bribes in a Rs 40 crore illegal mining case.

The court has also acquitted Yeddyurappa's two sons and son-in-law.

In a judgment delivered in a packed court hall, Judge RB Dharmagouder also exonerated nine other accused in the kickback case which had cost Yeddyurappa his Chief Ministership in 2011 following indictment by the then Lok Ayukta Santosh Hegde.

After the acquittal, the state BJP president tweeted, “Justice is done, I stand vindicated.” The former Karnataka CM further thanked those who stood by him during his tough time. "Satyameva Jayate." he added.

Later, an elated Yeddyurappa told reporters that he “had faith in God that I would get justice and I have been rewarded.”

"I am happy that false allegations and politically motivated charges have been dismissed," the state BJP strongman, who has returned as the state BJP chief earlier this year, said.

He said the court verdict had come as a relief to lakhs of BJP workers and gave a "new fillip" to him to bring back the party to power in the next Assembly polls in Karnataka.

Yeddyurappa was indicted for colluding in illegal iron-ore mining in the mineral-rich district of Bellary in August 2011. 

The CBI had filed a charge sheet in October 2015 against Yeddyurappa, his sons BY Raghavendra and BY Vijayendra and son-in-law Sohan Kumar, a Bellary-based private steel company and a Shimoga-based Trust run by the family of Yeddyurappa for alleged abuse of official position and corruption.

The case also saw Yeddyurappa spend about three weeks in jail in October 2011 in connection with the case before he was granted bail.

The accused had been charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and corruption, according to the CBI charge sheet which had alleged involvement of Rs 40 crore kickbacks, including Rs 20 crore that was allegedly paid to a trust run by the Yeddyurappa's family, for granting favours, including mining licenses, during his chief ministership.

This is what the BJP leader had tweeted earlier today:

Justice is done, I stand vindicated... Thanks to all well wishers,friends & supporters who stood with me in my tough times... — B.S. Yeddyurappa (@BSYBJP) October 26, 2016