From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 7: After Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala’s decision of rejecting the Siddramaiah regime’s recommendation for appointing former Congress MLC, V R Sudarshan, as the chairman of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), the opposition BJP has accused the latter of encroaching 10 guntas of government land in Vemagal in Kolar district.

The BJP opposition leader in the State Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar has accused the former Congress leader and chairman of the State Legislative Council of encroaching 10 guntas of government land at Vemagal in Kolar district and constructed a commercial complex.

Jagadish Shettar, who had succeeded D V Sadananda Gowda as the State’s chief minister during the BJP rule, has claimed one Lokesh V had in a complaint to the Lokayukta in July 2014, alleged that Sudarshan grabbed the government land and constructed the complex.

However, the Lokayukta had not initiated the probe till now, Shettar said.

He said the BJP will submit details on land grabbing by Sudarshan to Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala and also the Lokayukta.

However, Sudashan denied all charges made by the BJP and contended that all sorts allegations were being levelled against him after his being nominated to the KPSC by the State Government.

Sudarshan also hinted that he would withdraw from the race if it embarrassed the Congress Government in the State.

Vigilance Clearance Certificates submitted to the Karnataka Lokayutka by the State Government while recommending names of three candidates as members of the KPSC will come under scanner of the anti-corruption body following a petition by RTI activist T J Abraham.

In the complaint to the Lokayukta on Wednesday, Abraham alleged that Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee produced "fabricated, bogus, questionable and not genuine vigilance reports" on three "tainted" candidates – Syed Ulfath Hussain, Professor Govindaiah and Ravikumar – while recommending their names to the KPSC.
A
braham urged the Lokayukta not to clear the vigilance reports and demanded it to conduct an investigation into all persons for whom the certificates have been issued by Mukherjee.

The Siddaramaiah Government has recommended to Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, the names of Congress leader V R Sudarshan and seven other candidates for the post of the chairman and members of the KPSC respectively.

Sudarshan, however, had formally severed his ties with the Congress party and even resigned the primary membership of the party even before his name was forwarded to the State Governor.

The Governor had last week returned the file to the Government seeking more information, including Vigilance reports vetted by the Lokayukta.