Karnataka: CM refuses to accept minister's resignation

Bangalore, Jun 23:

law minister S Suresh Kumar resigned from his post on Saturday in the wake of charges that he had secured a residential site violating rules. "The Minister has submitted his resignation letter to Chief Minister DV

and also written to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), surrendering the site allotted to him", sources close to him said.

However, shortly after Kumar submitted his resignation, Gowda said, "I don't think Suresh Kumar has committed any crime. By virtue of being an MLA, he was allotted the site under the discretionary quota. He will continue in the ministry". A section of the media on Saturday carried a story quoted to an RTI applicant, who alleged that Kumar had suppressed the fact that his kin already owned two sites while obtaining the 'G' category (discretionary quota of Chief Minister) site.

Gowda said Kumar had discussed with him about the allotment of site and also the sites owned by his kin, located outside Bangalore City limits. The Chief Minister said Kumar had sold those sites to raise funds for purchasing a house. "Kumar submitted his resignation as he was pained by the allegations and did not want the issue to malign either the party or the government's image", Gowda said. Kumar is perceived to be a man with a clean image in the political class in the state, an inspiring one among the supporters.

It is learnt that Gowda was allotted 4,000 sq feet site by the BDA by former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa under the discretionary quota. He faced charges that he had secured the allotment though his kin, including his mother and daughter, who owned a house and two sites. Kumar told his confidants that he had disclosed these issues to the Lokayukta and that the site owned by his kin was not in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's (Corporation) limits.

PTI