Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde quits

Bangalore, Jun 23: Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N Santhosh Hegde has resigned as he is unhappy with the Government. Hegde provided the resignation on Wednesday, Jun 23 evening. He said that Government did not act against many corrupt people.

Hegde was scheduled to meet H Bharadwaj, the Karnataka Governor at 5:40 pm and address a press conference at 6:30 pm, on Jun 23.

Hegde who was appointed as Karnataka Lokayukta on Aug 3, 2006 for a term of five years, has conducted more than hundred successful raids. He had conducted a probe into a recent flood money scam and the Bellary mining mafia. He had been pressing for more authority to the cases like Suo Moto Power, to investigate corrupt officials.

Hegde had caught several officers who had amassed disproportionate assets. But only a small number of them were convicted due to the government's reluctance to prosecute. Successive state governments refused to make any move to make the anti-corruption institution more effective, as there were oppositions from state bureaucrats and politicians. Hegde decided to quit in protest against the policy of the government.

OneIndia News