Governor rejects plea to drop proceedings for CM's prosecution

BANGALORE: Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj on Friday dismissed as "unwarranted" a resolution adopted by the state cabinet asking him to drop proceedings for prosecution of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on corruption charges.

In a hard-hitting letter to Yeddyurappa with whom he has strained relations, the Governor told him bluntly that he cannot put a lid on serious allegations of corruption.

"The sum and substance of the Cabinet decision is it simply requires me to put a lid on the serious allegations of corruption against you," Bhardwaj said, referring to the January 19 cabinet meeting resolution forwarded to him.

The cabinet resolution had asked the Governor to drop the proceedings to prosecute Yeddyurappa and Home Minister R Ashoka on alleged scams on the basis of a complaint filed by lawyers' forum, saying such a move was nothing short of a "farce and colourable" exercise on his part.

Quoting a Supreme Court order, Bhardwaj pointed out in his letter that "the Governor is entitled to and required to take an independent decision on the basis of the material available and therefore the Cabinet decision recommending to drop the consideration of the petition itself is unwarranted."

Bhardwaj said, "You are aware, allegations relating to land scams, corruption and manipulation of rules and regulations regarding acquisition and denotifying of public lands regularly appeared in the media since September, 2010."

Allegations of serious nature of corruption were levelled against the office of the Chief Minister by various groups, which submitted representations to him personally, creating a cloud on his (Yeddyurappa's) personal integrity, Bhardwaj said in the letter.

The Governor said the Chief Minister did not furnish any details to his December 15 letter seeking factual information on the allegations levelled against him and added "you simply stated that the allegations were politically motivated and without any basis".

"However, you (Chief Minister) informed me that cases relating to land scams have been referred to a Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Padmaraj, a retired Judge of the High Court."