The Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, is likely to file a petition before the High Court on January 24 challenging the Governor Mr H.R. Bhardwaj’s sanction to prosecute him under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.

“We are already working on a framework. We will go to court. The Chief Minister is likely to file a petition before the High Court on Monday,” the Minister for Law, Mr S. Suresh Kumar, told PTI here.

He said the Governor is yet to furnish a copy of his order giving sanction to prosecute Mr Yeddyurappa, despite pleas. “Let us see whether the Governor will give us a copy today,” he added said.

On Friday, Mr Yeddyurappa shot off a letter to Mr Bhardwaj objecting to denial of the copy of the order.

Sources said when the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary met the Governor, Mr Bhardwaj told him that he would first give the order copy to complainants. On Friday, the Governor sanctioned the prosecution of Mr Yeddyurappa in alleged land scams.

BJP had hit back at the Governor calling the decision constitutionally improper and politically motivated. The Governor has been engaged in an open battle with the Chief Minister on charges of corruption against ministers, especially the Reddy brothers, in the BJP government in the state.

A Raj Bhavan communique said the sanction was accorded under Section 19(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. Both the provisions relate to Governor’s powers to grant sanction against public servant.

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