Law minister withdraws resignation after AG gives clean chit

[1]

Karnataka Law minister S. Suresh Kumar on Tuesday decided to withdraw his resignation after the Advocate General exonerated him of the charge that he had violated rules in securing allotment of a residential site.

"The Advocate General in his legal opinion has after reviewing the documents clearly said I have not done anything illegal; I have not given any false information to obtain the residential site", he told reporters here.

Kumar had tendered his resignation to chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Saturday after media reports quoting an RTI applicant said he had made a false claim in an affidavit to get a Bangalore Development Authority site under 'G' category (under the Chief Minister's discretionary quota).

Gowda, who did not accept the resignation, had asked the AG S. Vijay Shankar to give a legal opinion and the latter has absolved the minister of suppressing facts.

The chief minister told reporters earlier there was no illegality in securing the allotment according to the report submitted to him today by the AG, whose opinion was sought after the minister resigned when the controversy surfaced.

The AG has concluded that the allotment of the 50ft x 80ft site was in accordance with rules, he said.

Kumar, who enjoys a reputation of being 'clean' in state politics, had resigned on June 23 after media reports emerged that he had suppressed facts over the site owned by his kin while getting the allotment in a posh locality.

Kumar said he is thankful to the Chief Minister, Cabinet colleagues and State BJP unit President K.S. Eshwarappa who stood by him and requested that he continue in the Ministry, adding, the party has also instructed him to do so.

He said he was surprised by the 'overwhelming support' he received in the past three days from people, particularly from his Rajajinagar Assembly segment. Kumar said his family is deeply hurt by the allegations and his 85-year-old mother was 'inconsolable' on Sunday night after the story dominated news coverage. He strongly denied suggestions that the AG's opinion is debatable, saying "I don’t think the AG is either purchasable or black-mailable".

He also did not feel the need for an inquiry into the allegation against him, noting that it was just a question of verifying documents.