Bangalore: Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj
Friday dismissed as "unwarranted" a resolution adopted by the
state Cabinet asking him to drop proceedings for prosecution
of Chief Minister BS 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."
PTI
