Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter YOU’VE GOT BAIL! YEDURAPPA OUT ON BAIL. LOYALISTS CELEBRATE.

Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

15th November 2011 issue-                                        

YOU’VE GOT BAIL!

YEDURAPPA OUT ON BAIL. LOYALISTS CELEBRATE.

Former Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa, who was in jail for 24 days got released on bail. The news of the bail became the reason for celebrations among the BJP workers and leaders. Ministers, MLAs along with their supporters gathered before the Parappana Agrahara Jail to welcome Yedurappa. Finally Yedurappa walked out of the Jail and there was jubilation and celebration of the event by his supporters who burst crackers.

Besides, central jail, BJP workers started celebrating the release on bail by bursting crackers and dancing before the BJP offices. The BJP government on its part laid out a red carpet welcome to Yedurappa from the moment he stepped out of the Jail by according him VIP status. Traffic was halted and he was followed by hundreds of cars. Firstly Yedurappa went to Someshwara Temple in Halasur to offer prayers to Lord Shiva for having got released on bail. There was a move to take him in a procession from Vidhana Soudha to Race Course Road but it was abandoned as his family was waiting for his arrival with Arathi et al.

The entire episode of giving a hero’s welcome to Yedurappa was not for any achievement small or great but a celebration of his release from Jail on bail. Interestingly, only his loyalist ministers and legislators turned up to welcome him and along with willing electronic media gave live coverage to his release from jail.

Yedurappa was sent to jail by the Lokayuktha court which is hearing criminal cases against him under Prevention of Corruption Act. He is charged with scams relating to misuse and abuse of his power and position to show extraordinary favour to his family members. There are five criminal cases against him and family under PC Act. All the cases concern sudden enrichment of his family members at the cost of the state exchequer through his direct involvement, who as Chief Minister bent and broke the laws of the land to favour his family members.

Normally, in such cases, the leaders accused of the crime feels ashamed and their political career comes to an end. Whether they gets exonerated or convicted after the trial, they fall from public esteem. But, the story is different here. Few Ministers loyal to Yedurappa are crying from roof tops that only he can save the party and keep it united. Interestingly, most of these leaders who proclaim loyalty to Yedurappa are not from original BJP. They are defectors from other parties procured by Yedurappa under Operation Kamala. In fact, these leaders have no where to go except sticking with Yedurappa. They are considered traitors by their mother parties because they sold themselves for power and money and in the BJP too, they are viewed with suspicion. True, the original BJP cadre and leaders are sorry for Yedurappa going to jail, but they blame Yedurappa himself for the mess he is in.

Coming back to bail, as the Supreme Court had recently ruled that high profile politicians should be dealt seriously in corruption cases, the Lokayukta judge had denied the bail to him. Finally, the High Court after many hearings granted bail to him, on technical grounds in one of the cases and an anticipatory bail in another case. There are still three more cases against him and his family members that are under process.

Whatsoever, when the HC granted bail to Yedurappa and was released, many leaders proclaimed that it was a great achievement and Yedurappa will come out ‘clean’ of all the cases! The fact is that trial has not started at all in any of the cases filed against Yedurappa. It is a long process and as the court had found prima facie case, it had admitted the cases and issued summons and when he tried to avoid summons, the court issued warrant and sent him to jail. And he is released on bail. This does not mean that Yedurappa has won the cases.

Whatsoever, one feels sick at the celebrations and display of arrogancy and indirect contempt towards courts at the release of Yedurappa from jail, on bail. Mind it, Yedurappa is only on bail. And mere getting a bail in a criminal case is not a big achievement that calls for celebrations. It may be recalled that Yedurappa had blocked all these cases for the last one year and engaged the best legal brains of the country to save himself. He had even forced ‘State Bundh’ after the Governor gave permission to prosecute him under PC Act.

In fact, Yedurappa’s release from jail does not deserve celebration but needs a thorough introspection by Yedurappa and his die hard loyalist Ministers and leaders. 

And that is all.