Government to study matter in Karnataka Lokayukta case

Gulbarga,Sep 18: In the wake of the Karnataka Lokayukta landing in a land allotment row, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Sep 17 said government would study the matter before taking action.

Allegations have appeared in a section of press about ''land purchase case'', he told reporters here when asked if a new Lokayukta was going to be appointed.

"I have no knowledge..I have seen in the press (allegations) only. Anyway after studying the details, government will take further action," he said.

His comments come against the backdrop of Karnataka Lokayukta Shivaraj Patil landing in a controversy for securing allotment of two residential plots from two cooperative housing societies allegedly violating rules. However, Patil, a retired Supreme Court judge, had defended himself, saying his wife had purchased one of the sites.

Following the criticism over allotment of sites to Patil and his wife, the Lokayukta had said he advised his wife to return the plot to the House Building Cooperative Society.

Patil had also defended allotment of a site to him in the judicial layout, saying the issue of allotment of sites to judges has been settled by the Supreme Court and High Court.

Patil assumed office on August 4 succeeding Justice, Santosh Hegde.

PTI