Mysuru urban development body chief K Mari Gowda resigned Wednesday - he said he had been "instructed" to do so by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah - amid an ongoing state and federal investigation into land scam allegations against him, his wife, and other members of his family.
Mr Gowda, however, stressed no pressure had been brought to bear, and rejected any suggestion the Chief Minister, an associate of over four decades, had ever asked him to do anything illegal.
"The Chief Minister instructed me to resign and, following his direction, I have done so. I also have health concerns. There is a judicial inquiry that is on... and that will continue," he told reporters.
"There was no pressure for me to resign. My health is genuinely not good... so I am stepping down voluntarily. I have known the Chief Minister for over 40 years. He never asked me to do anything illegal, including anything related to MUDA (the Mysuru Urban Development Authority)," he said.
Asked again if he was resigning to 'save' the Chief Minister, Mr Gowda said firmly, "No. I am resigning on personal grounds. I had a stroke twice. I felt I could not continue... so I have resigned."
Mr Gowda is a long-time associate of the Chief Minister and worked with him since 1983; he was made President of the Mysuru Taluk Panchayat in 1995, Vice President of the Zilla Panchayat in 2000, and promoted to the top post eight years later.
Siddaramaiah has not responded to the resignation so far.
The Chief Minister faces cases filed by the Mysuru branch of the Lokayukta, or the state anti-corruption body, and the Enforcement Directorate, a federal agency, as well as destruction of evidence charges.
Specifically, Siddaramaiah faces claims that his wife was allotted 14 plots of land - which he has said was a gift from her brother - in the upmarket Mysuru area of Vijayanagar as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.
Anti-corruption activists alleged this caused a loss of Rs 45 crore to the state.
Earlier this month the Mysuru Urban Development Authority agreed to take back those 14 plots from the Chief Minister's wife, BN Parvathi, but said this would have no bearing on the investigation.
READ | Mysuru Body Agrees To Take Back Plots From Siddaramaiah's Wife
BN Parvathi had written to MUDA saying she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it as the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".
Shortly after her letter, Siddaramaiah said his wife was a "victim of the politics of hatred against me" and had been subject to "psychological torture". "I respect her decision," he said.
READ | Wife's Letter "Her Own Decision," Says Siddaramaiah. BJP Disagrees
The MUDA land scam allegations were in focus after the Karnataka High Court cleared Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning prosecution of the Congress leader.
A trial court framed charges the next day, with the Lokayukta beginning its investigation almost immediately and the Enforcement Directorate filing its case shortly afterwards.
Siddaramaiah has also faced criticism from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal Secular, which includes demands he resign and for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry. The CBI, however, will need the state government's permission to do so, since general consent was withdrawn.
READ | "CBI Biased": Karnataka Denies CBI Permission To Probe Cases In State
Faced with attacks from the BJP and jabs from within the Congress, Siddaramaiah has, so far, refused to stand down, pointing out he has not been convicted of any charges as yet.
READ | Siddaramaiah "Unafraid" As Court Orders Case In Alleged Land Scam
"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.
With input from agencies
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