Karnataka crisis: Yeddyurappa arrives in Delhi to meet BJP top brass

New Delhi, Mar 21 (ANI): Karnataka strongman B.S. Yeddyurappa arrived here on Wednesday evening to meet the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) top brass amid reports that he may once again be given the chief minister's post.

The BJP central leadership had forced Yeddyurappa to quit in July 2011 after he was indicted by the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.

Former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde's inquiry into mining graft in Karnataka had accused Yeddyurappa and other key officials for causing a loss of at least 160 billion rupees to the state exchequer between 2006 and 2010.

Yeddyurappa tendered his resignation on July 31 following allegations of corruption.

The Karnataka High Court had earlier this month granted a major relief to Yeddyurappa by setting aside the former Lokayukta's report on illegal mining, which indicted him.

The court also quashed the permission to register an FIR, granted by Karnataka Governor H. R. Bhardwaj, against Yeddyurappa.

The High Court shot down the Yeddyurappa section of the Lokayukta report on the ground that he was not given an opportunity to defend himself, and that there was no evidence of favours granted or misuse of his position.

Following the High Court's judgement, Yeddyurappa has stepped up his demand for reinstatement as chief minister. (ANI)