Bangalore: The Advocate General row in
Karnataka intensified today with Congress leader M Veerappa
Moily charging the BJP with entering into a "give and take"
with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to secure her
support for the NDA.
B V Acharya, the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) trying
Jayalalithaa in the wealth case against her, has maintained
that he quit as Advocate General following pressure from the
state government, which wanted him to give up the post of SPP
contending that he was holding two positions. He chose to
continue as SPP.
Speaking to reporters here, the Union Corporate Affairs
Ministers said the BJP high-command wanted Acharya to give up
the post of SPP. "That means there is a quid pro quo between
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and BJP".
"That means they (BJP) want to favour Jayalalithaa. It`s
so open, so shameless...", the former Union Law Minister
charged.
"They wanted to dilute the case just to earn support to
NDA....make her to support NDA," he alleged.
"This kind of give-and-take, quid pro quo" and
"interference" in judicial process should be condemned
heavily, the former Karnataka Chief Minister said and noted
that when the AG`s post was offered to Acharya, the Government
was fully aware that he was also serving as the SPP.
Moily said the BJP (allegedly) exerting pressure on
Acharya to quit as SPP "may even amount to contempt of court",
adding, it`s for the judiciary to look into "how this amounts
to interference in the administration of justice".
He lauded Acharya for retaining the post of SPP, saying
any other opportunistic lawyer would have chosen to keep the
AG position which is "high pedestal, important and more
remunerative".
PTI
