New Delhi- The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s plea seeking to quash proceedings in a corruption case. Kumaraswamy, the former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) chief, had earlier faced a similar rejection from the Karnataka High Court.
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Rajesh Bindal refused to entertain Kumaraswamy’s petition challenging the Karnataka High Court’s four-year-old order.
The case pertains to land denotification in Halagevaderahalli village in Bengaluru. Kumaraswamy is accused of illegally denotifying two plots for financial gains during his tenure as Karnataka’s Chief Minister. In 2007, despite objections from the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), he allegedly denotified the land, which was later sold to private parties in 2010 for ₹4.14 crore.
Kumaraswamy’s counsel argued that as per amendments in the Prevention of Corruption Act, prosecution sanction was required before proceeding with the trial, which had not been obtained. They contended that the case should not have been taken up without prior approval and that the High Court erred in dismissing his petition.
However, the Supreme Court rejected this argument, stating that the trial would continue and Kumaraswamy must prove his innocence before the trial court.
HD Kumaraswamy is a prominent figure in Karnataka politics and the son of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. The Deve Gowda family holds considerable influence in the state’s political landscape.
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