Bangalore, Mar 30 (The Hindu): The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on Wednesday recommended investigation “in public interest” of a case involving two real estate firms owned by the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa's kin that allegedly received money for the grant of a mining lease.

The Dharwad-based Samaj Parivartana Samudaya had submitted documents to the Supreme Court showing alleged receipt of money by the firms and sought an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Following this, the Supreme Court directed the CEC to examine whether a CBI probe was necessary.

The SPS had attempted to establish a link between favours done by Mr. Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister and as Minister for Mines and the deposits of money by R. Praveen Chandra in two firms belonging to Mr. Yeddyurappa and his family members.

The CEC said in its report that Mr. Chandra, the lessee, had made two payments — one of Rs. 3.5 crore and another of Rs. 2.5 crore — to Dhavalagiri Property Developers Pvt. Ltd. and Bhagat Homes Pvt. Ltd. respectively, which are shown in the balance sheets of the two companies. The directors of the companies are Mr. Yeddyurappa's family members.