Bangalore: The Karnataka High Court on Friday extended its stay on Lokayukta court proceedings and further probe by police in a case filed against Speaker K G Bopaiah for alleged misuse of funds in a lake development project.

When the petition by Bopaiah seeking quashing of the FIR in the case came up before Justice N Ananda, he extended the interim stay to January 25, as the complainant sought time.

Earlier, the court had ordered issue of notice to Lokayukta police in the case.

Bopaiah had sought quashing of the FIR on the grounds that no prior sanction was sought for doing so from the concerned authorities (in this case, Governor).

On a direction from Lokayukta court, Lokayukta police in Madikeri on December 8 filed an FIR against Bopaiah and three other government officials on a complaint by Congress member Saritha Poonacha, alleging “misuse” of funds sanctioned for lake construction in Titimathi, about 60 km from here.

Apart from Bopaiah, the other three named in the FIR are: Zilla Panchayat Member S N Raja Rao, Kodagu Nirmiti Kendra Project Manager Yoga Narasimha, ZP CEO N Krishnappa.

Meanwhile, Justice Subhash B Adi adjourned to January 24, further hearing on the anticipatory bail applications filed by the other three accused in the case.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Lokayukta C K Shashidhar filed the FIR under Sections 13 (1D), 409, 420 RW with 120(B) of Indian Penal Code and section 3(A) of the Forest Act 1980.

The FIR was filed pursuant to directions of District and Sessions Judge, Ashok Nijagannanavar, also the judge of the Special Court for prevention of corruption cases.