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Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Wednesday filed an anticipatory bail plea in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court after officials of the investigating agency launched a probe into his alleged role in illegal mining. The CBI officials earlier today raided Yeddyurappa and his family members' residences and two other mining firms. Officials of the investigating agency conducted raids at eight premises belonging to Yeddyurappa, his sons B.Y. Raghavendra, a Lok Sabha member, and B.Y. Vijayendra as well as son-in-law Sohan Kumar in Bangalore and Shimoga district. Yeddyurappa today expressed confidence that he would come out following the CBI inquiry. He said that he has full regards for the CBI, and added that he would extend his cooperation for further inquiry into the matter. "CBI had filed an FIR yesterday. Today, CBI team has checked my residence in Bangalore and Shimoga. This is (a) painful day of my political life. They have taken some documents. I have got highest regards about CBI and I am going to extend full cooperation for further inquiry," said Yeddyurappa. "I hope that truth will come out after this probe. I have got confidence that I will come clean," he added. The Supreme Court had earlier on May 11 directed a CBI probe against Yeddyurappa for allegedly granting undue favours to firms involved in illegal mining in lieu of donations to a charitable trust run by his kin. Yeddyurappa had then welcomed the Supreme Court order, and expressed confidence that he would be exonerated of all the charges. "I am not worried. Even today I am travelling around the state everyday and doing my work. I respect the court's order and I welcome the CBI investigation. I had asked a full investigation of what I have done during my chief ministership. Santosh Hegde was supposed to the investigation, but instead of doing complete investigation, he just leveled allegations against me. I am sure I will get justice," he had said. Yeddyurappa had earlier on Monday blamed Chief Minister Sadananada Gowda and party general secretary Ananth Kumar for the present political turmoil in the state, and claimed to have the support of 70 MLAs. Yeddyurappa also alleged that Members of the Legislative Assembly who are close to him are being targeted. He also announced that he had deferred taking a decision on resigning from the party and the Assembly. Yeddyurappa was forced to quit from his post of state chief after the Lokayukta report indicted him in the illegal mining scam and also for his alleged role in irregularities in allotment of prime land to his own kith and kin.

Yeddyurappa seeks anticipatory bail in illegal mining case