Bangalore:
Karnataka Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development S Suresh Kumar resigned today in the wake of charges that he had secured a residential site, violating rules. However, Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda has rejected Mr Kumar's resignation, saying there was no wrongdoing on his part.
Mr Kumar submitted his resignation to Mr Gowda today on 'moral grounds' and wrote to Bangalore Development Authority, surrendering the site which was allotted to him under the Chief Minister's discretionary quota during BS Yeddyurappa's regime.
Shortly after Mr Kumar submitted his resignation, Mr Gowda said "I don't think Suresh Kumar has committed any crime. By virtue of being an MLA, he was allotted the site under the discretionary quota. He will continue in the ministry".
The Karnataka Chief Minister told reporters that Mr Kumar had discussed the allotment of site and also the property owned by his kin, located outside Bangalore City limits with him.
The Chief Minister said Mr Kumar had sold those sites to raise funds for purchasing a house. "Kumar submitted his resignation as he was pained by the allegations," Gowda said.
Mr Kumar faced the charge that he was allotted the 4000-square-feet site in violation of rules though his kin, including his mother and daughter, owned a house and two sites.