Litigations galore against Ministers

BANGALORE: As many as seven ministers, including Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, are facing trial in various courts on charges varying from illegal denotification to building by-law violations to electoral malpractices.As if this were not enough, four former ministers, including former CM B S Yeddyurappa, are facing trial in various courts.This list excludes former minister G Janardhana Reddy who is now lodged in Chanchalguda Jail in Hyderabad on illegal mining charges, and Krishnaiah Setty who is out on bail in an illegal land denotification litigation.Gowda himself informed this to the legislative council on Thursday while replying to a question asked by Congress member K C Kondaiah. However, the CM declined to debate on the issue stating that “all these cases are in various stages of investigation” and it was not appropriate to discuss them at this stage.Apart from Gowda, Home Minister R Ashok, Housing Minister V Somanna, Forest Minister C P Yogeshwar, Excise Minister M P Renukacharya, Medical Education Minister S A Ramdas and Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani, too, are facing charges.Gowda is facing charges of violating BDA guidelines by amalgamating his site at HSR Layout with that of Sringeri MLA D N Jeevaraj. A journalist has approached the court seeking action against the CM. Ashok is accused of purchasing a notified land and then getting it denotified using his influence. The Lokayukta court after taking cognizance of a private complaint filed in this regard had ordered for a probe.While Yogeshwar is facing six cases pertaining to the Megacity Township project and electoral malpractice, Renukacharya is facing four cases.