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Yeddyurappa walks free after getting bail
Shubhadeep Choudhury/TNS

Bangalore, November 8
In a total disregard to LK Advani’s so called nationwide yatra against corruption, loyalists of BS Yeddyurappa gave a hero’s welcome to the former Karnataka Chief Minister on his release from the Central Jail here today following granting of bail to him by the High Court.

A huge convoy of cars, many of them flashing the red beacons symbolising the presence of VIPs, escorted Yeddyurappa from the prison to the city where his first destination was a temple of Lord Shiva. Large number of MLAs and at least three BJP ministers of Karnataka were present at the prison gate to greet the former CM, who is an accused in multiple corruption cases.

Yeddyurappa, dressed in his trademark white safari suit which was a bit crumpled, emerged from the prison at 6.40 pm. He accepted a couple of garlands from his supporters and thanked them for their support. During his brief interaction with the crowd, which also included mediapersons, Yeddyurappa appeared quite overcome with emotions. “Truth will prevail”, he said before heading towards his car.

His supporters burst crackers in front of the BJP’s state office at Malleswaram in Bangalore when the news broke that Yeddyurappa had been finally granted bail.

Arrested in two corruption cases last month, Yeddyurappa was granted bail in the second case today. Justice BV Pinto of the Karnataka High Court granted bail to him on the condition that he furnishes a bond for Rs 5,00,000, two sureties for the same amount each, refrain from tampering with evidence and participate in trial court proceedings against him in the two cases. He was granted bail in the first case on November 3.

Yeddyurappa, the first BJP Chief Minister in south India, was sent to jail on October 15 by Lokayukta Court judge NK Sudhindra Rao, who rejected his bail plea. The former Chief Minister, however, spent only a few hours in jail on October 15. He was shifted to a hospital after he complained of chest pain. He spent three days in two hospitals and went back to jail on October 19 after media and opposition parties slammed what was seen as an attempt to avoid jail stay.

Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, a nominee of Yeddyurappa, said release from the prison would help Yeddyurappa carry out the plan of touring the state and clarify to the cadres “how he has been simply dragged into the corruption cases”.

The former Karnataka Chief Minister, who has to quit office after being indicted by the Lokayukta in his report on illegal iron ore mining, is facing three more corruption and illegal land deal cases and has sought anticipatory bail in them.