Governor accepts Lokayukta Shivaraj Patil’s resignation

Karnataka governor H R Bhardwaj today accepted the resignation of justice Shivaraj V Patil who put in his resignation from the post of the state's Lokayukta yesterday.

Patil stepped down barely a month of his appointment as the ombudsman of Karnataka. His resignation had been prompted by reports that he and his wife own three plots of land in Bangalore in violation of city laws. The Lokayukta's office is called upon in cases of investigation of land scams – sometimes involving high-profile politicians.

Justice Patil had taken over from justice Santosh Hegde as the Lokayukta. Days before the completion of his term, Hegde delivered a strong report that indicted BS Yeddyurappa and other politicians in cases related to illegal mining. Following his indictment in the report Yeddyurappa was forced to resign as chief minister.

Chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda called on Bhardwaj following Patil's resignation.

Speaking to the media, Gowda said a new Lokayukta would be appointed soon. He said he had discussed the matter with the governor.

Patil allegedly violated rules by securing allotment of a 9,600 square foot plot at Judicial Employees Layout in 1994 in Bangalore while his wife secured a 4,200 sq ft plot at Nagavara from the Vyalikaval Housing Cooperative Society. His wife surrendered the plot on 14September after the issue surfaced.

Denying the allegations, Patil said his wife had purchased the plot through "outright sale" and that she was not an allottee as member of the society.