Karnataka high court on Tuesday directed former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to move the Lokayukta court for anticipatory bail in a case relating to alleged irregularities in land denotification.

The directive was issued by Justice L Narayana Swamy during the hearing of the anticipatory bail application filed by Yeddyurappa apprehending arrest in the case filed on a complaint by lawyer Sirajin Basha alleging irregularities in denotification of land of Bangalore development authority to favour his family members.

The Lokayukta court had on August 8 issued summons to Yeddyurappa to appear before it on August 27 in connection with the complaint filed by Basha.

Appearing for Yeddyurappa, senior supreme court lawyer U U Lalit submitted his client was entitled to anticipatory bail.

Opposing the bail plea, counsel for the complainant C H Hanumantharaya said the petitioner had not exhausted the option of approaching the Lokayukta court for bail.

He contended "no exceptional grounds" had been established by Yeddyurappa to "jump the gun" (moving the high court straightaway) and "without following the procedure, the matter would become non-maintainable".

Justice Swamy directed the petitioner to approach the Lokayukta court on August 25 and adjourned the application till then. He also granted time to Hanumantharaya to file his objections on the matter.

The judge also adjourned the hearing on another anticipatory bail application of Yeddyurappa in a case relating to financial irregularities in award of an irrigation project in Upper Bhadra to a private firm filed on a complaint by JD-S spokesperson Y S V Dutta.

The court granted time to Lokyukta police to file its objections to the anticipatory bail plea and adjourned the hearing to August 25.

Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa has moved an application before Justice A S Bopanna seeking a stay of the lower court proceedings in which he has been issued summons.