The CBI conducted raids on residences of former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in Bangalore and Shimoga early this morning . The raids were also conducted on mining companies in Bellary, allegedly involved in paying kickbacks to companies owned by Yeddyurappa’s sons. The CBI sleuths are also believed to have interrogated close associates of Yeddyurappa and his sons. The CBI sources have confirmed that several incriminating documents were seized during the raids in Bangalore, Shimoga and Bellary. The raids were conducted after Supreme Court allowed CBI to probe allegations that mining companies paid kickbacks to companies owned by Yeddyurappa’s sons in return for favours. Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case in the CBI court .
The pre-dawn raids in Bangalore, Shimoga and Bellary began after CBI registered a case against Yeddyurappa, his two sons, B.S. Vijayendra and B.S. Raghavendra, son-in-law Sohan Kumar and mining baron Praveen Chandra under the Prevention of Corruption Act and various sections of the Indian Penal Code yesterday late night. Yeddyurappa and his family members face charges that South West Mining Company had donated 10 crore rupees to an educational trust set up by Yeddyurappa's kin in return for renewing its leases to mine iron ore in 2011 when Yeddyurappa was Chief Minister. Another charge is that 2.5 crore rupees was paid to Bhagat Homes Ltd and Rs.3.5 crore to Dhavalgiri Property Developers Ltd, which are run by Yeddyuppa's kin in return for mining favours.