BJP leader lashes out against Santosh Hegde, Governor

Shimoga, Mar 8: Karnataka High Court giving a clean chit to B S Yeddyurappa in an illegal mining case is a "black mark" against former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde and Governor H R Bhardwaj, State BJP spokesman Aynur Manjunath, Rajya Sabha MP, on Thursday said.

The High Court yesterday struck down a portion of Hegde's findings on illegal mining, holding that no case has been made out against the BJP leader that he favoured some mining firms.

Speaking to reporters here, Manjunath accused Hegde of submitting a "false report" and Bhardwaj of having acted in a partisan manner by according sanction to prosecute Yeddyurappa without following the principle of natural justice.

He demanded that Bhardwaj resign from his post following the court verdict. Asked whether Yeddyurappa will be reinstated as Chief Minister,Manjunath said the decision would be taken by the party central leadership.

PTI