Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jul 8: Both Katta Jagadish and special land acquisition deputy commissioner, Munarayanappa, have approached the state High Court with a request to quash the first information report (FIR) filed by Lokayukta relating to the alleged land acquisition scam in which they have been named.

In the past, through three separate petitions, Katta Jagadish had contended that according to section 19(3) c of the Prevention of Corruption Act, registration of FIR does not fall within the purview of the Lokayukta. One of these petitions was taken up for hearing by a division bench of the High Court presided over by Justice Mohan Shantana Goudar on Thursday July 7. After ordering issuance of notices to the Lokayukta and the state government to file their objections if any, the bench postponed hearing into the other two petitions to July 11.

The advocates representing Jagadish have been steadfastly opposing the registration of FIR since long. Jagadish, Muninarayanappa and others have also raised objections in the High Court, saying that the Lokayukta has exceeded its jurisdiction in registering the FIR. Their stand is that there is no provision to permit investigations under section 428 of Criminal Procedure Code.

After hearing the arguments placed by the advocates on behalf of Jagadish, the bench asked the Lokayukta to clarify under which rules it has registered the FIR.