Karnataka Law Min Suresh Kumar quits over site controversy

PTI

Bangalore, 23 June 2012: Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar tendered his resignation today following allegations that he suppressed facts in an affidavit for obtaining a residential site, jolting the BJP government.

 

However, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda made it clear he would not accept his resignation in haste.

 

Suresh Kumar, also Urban Development Minister, denied the allegations and said he is ready to face any inquiry to bring out the truth. "I have resigned to save the party and government from embarrassment", he told reporters.

 

A section of the media today carried a story quoted to an RTI applicant, who alleged that Kumar suppressed the fact that his kin already owned two sites while obtaining the ’G’ category (discretionary quota of Chief Minister) site here.

 

"I have not done anything illegal. I have not added any false information in the affidavit", Kumar said. "I don’t think I have done anything wrong".

 

He said his mother, a retired teacher, sold her house here and two sites at Nelamangala on the city outskirts, which does not come under Bangalore Development Authority, including one in the name of his daughter, to buy the present property.

 

The information provided in the affidavit at the time of obtaining the ’G’ category site is true, Kumar asserted.

 

The Chief Minister said he has some information about the site allotment issue and as per his understanding, there is no "wrongdoing" and "injustice".

 

"I will not accept the resignation immediately. After detailed consideration, I will take a decision only if I find wrongdoing", Gowda said, and apparently took a dig at the RTI applicant, saying it’s not correct to attempt to sideline a person from public life.

 

"Everybody knows Suresh Kumar. I don’t have to tell about him", he said, obviously referring to the clean image enjoyed by the two-time city corporator and three-time MLA. "He will continue (as Minister)".