A Division Bench of Karnataka High Court has quashed the FIR filed against former Chief Minister of Karnataka B S Yeddurappa in a illegal mining case.

Justice Bhaktavatsala and Justice Govindaraju quashed the orders saying that the principal of natural justice was not followed by Lokayukatha while indicting Yeddyurappa in its report on illegal mining.

The case relates to alleged donation of 10 crore rupees paid by South West Mining Company to a trust run by Yeddyurappa's family and also a transaction of 20 crore rupees in the sale of land to a mining firm by them.

In his petition in the High court, Yeddyurappa had appealed that the lower court proceeded against him without giving him opportunity to explain and the 'natural Justice' was not followed by the Lokayukta before filing the FIR and hence it should be quashed.

The then Lokayukta Santosh Hegde report on illegal mining had indicted Yeddyurappa, which led to his exit as Chief Minister in last July.

Governor HR Bhardwaj, who accepted the report, had forwarded it to the Lokayukta for initiating criminal proceedings against Yeddyurappa and others.

On 20th August last year, former Lokayukta Shivaraj Patil had directed the Lokayukta police to proceed in the matter according to law.