Karnataka Lokayukta resigns over plot row

BANGALORE: Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Shivaraj Patil tendered his resignation here on Monday following reports of alleged irregularity he committed in acquiring residential plots in Bangalore against the norms.

"This malicious campaign has deeply hurt and pained me. In this uncongenial atmosphere, I have deemed it appropriate to submit my resignation," Justice Patil said in prepared note. This is the first time that a Karnataka Lokayukta has resigned from this position. Justice Patil had assumed the office only on August 4, 2011.

Justice Patil, who has had wide, and varied career as a judge was also the one-man committee submitting a controversial report on the 2G spectrum allocation.

Much before Justice Patil announced his resignation, he went and met Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj. It is not known whether the governor has accepted his resignation. According to reports, Justice Patil had violated established norms by acquiring two residential plots from housing cooperative societies when he was already in possession of such a site. He purchased a residential site in Bangalore in 1982 and later was allotted two plots in 1994 and 2006 respectively by two housing cooperative societies, which was allegedly going against the norms.

However, Justice Patil in his press statement defended the two allotments stating that there was no illegality involved in any of the two transactions.

"I gave up my very lucrative practice as a lawyer in the year 1990 to accept judgeship and serve the society. On being persuaded, I once again gave up lucrative assignments to accept this post with a desire to serve the people of Karnataka," Justice Patil said. This resignation comes at a time when the Lokayukta is probing cases against two former CMs.