Bhardwaj ticks off Yeddyurappa over prosecution issue

BANGALORE - Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj Friday dismissed as “unwarranted” the cabinet resolution urging him not to sanction prosecution of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa for allegedly favouring his close kin with prime lands, and said he has every right to go ahead.

In a letter to Yeddyurappa, the governor asserted that he has the right to take independent decision on the issue.

“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 dropping the consideration of the petition itself is unwarranted,” he said in his letter, copies of which were released to the media.

Bhardwaj’s letter is in response to Wednesday’s letter of Yeddyurappa and the cabinet resolution that demanded the governor refrain from considering the plea for sanctioning prosecution of the chief minister as he was “biased”.

Two Bangalore advocates have petitioned Bhardwaj for sanction to prosecute Yeddyurappa, who had allotted prime residential and commercial lands to his two sons, daughter, son-in-law, sister, her daughter and son-in-law.

Yeddyurappa made his relatives to surrender the land after the row broke out in November last year.

Bhardwaj quoted a judgment of the apex court to assert his right to take independent decision on the issue.

He wrote to Yeddyurappa that “allegations of serious nature of corruption” levelled against the chief minister had created “a cloud on your personal integrity”.

Bhardwaj ticked off the cabinet resolution, saying: “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.”