Bengaluru, Dec. 3 -- The Karnataka high court on Tuesday set aside a private complaint that accused state energy minister K J George and senior officials of the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) of allegedly manipulating the tender process for the supply and installation of smart meters. The order effectively ends the criminal proceedings initiated by three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators who had sought action against the minister and officials over alleged irregularities in the procurement process.

Justice MI Arun delivered the ruling while allowing a petition filed by George seeking to have the case dismissed. "Petitions are allowed. Consequently the proceedings pending before the trial court are quashed," ...