Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Friday ordered issue of notice to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), the State government, and the Lokayukta on a petition filed by BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok, who has questioned legality of registration a first information report (FIR) against him by the ACB on the alleged irregularities in regularisation of unauthorised occupation of government land during 1998–2007.

Justice Budihal R.B. passed the order after preliminary hearing of the petitions filed by Mr. Ashok and another accused, B. Karthik, who was a beneficiary of regularisation of 4 acres of land at Agara village during 2005. The court adjourned further hearing till January 23 to consider interim plea to stay the criminal proceedings.

Appearing for Ashok, Senior Counsel B.V. Acharya contended that the case was registered with an oblique motive and for political reasons as elections to the State Assembly are scheduled to be held within a few months.

Meanwhile, Senior Counsel C.V. Nagesh, who argued on behalf of Karthik, pointed out that the regularisation of land had been questioned before the High Court of Karnataka, which had upheld the regularisation and hence there was no cause to register FIR against Karthik.