K'taka minister quits; CM refuses to accept resignation

Karnataka Law minister S Suresh Kumar resigned on Saturday after charges surfaced that he secured a residential site in violation of rules, but Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda rejected it saying there was no wrongdoing on his part.

Kumar submitted his resignation to Gowda on 'moral grounds' and wrote to Bangalore Development Authority, surrendering the site allotted to him under the Chief Minister's discretionary quota during the B S Yeddyurappa regime.

He faced the charge that he was allotted a 4000 square feet site in violation of rules though his kin, including his mother and daughter, owned a house and two sites.

Shortly after Kumar submitted his resignation, 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".

Gowda told reporters that Kumar had discussed with him about the allotment of site and also the sites owned by his kin, located outside Bangalore City limits.

The chief minister said 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.

Kumar is perceived to be a man with a clean image in the political class in the state.

With inputs from Vicky Nanjappa in Bengaluru