TNN

Bangalore, Jun 9: Sending out a clear message that conflict between different government agencies will not be tolerated, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on 
Monday censured BBMP commissioner S Subramanya and directed him to withdraw his defamation case against Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde.

On Saturday, the commissioner had filed a defamation case against Hegde for his remarks on the Abhishek drowning incident. The 6-year-old boy was washed away in an open drain in Shamanna Layout in Lingarajapuram on May 31.

After directing the BBMP chief to withdraw the case after a meeting on Monday, he promptly followed it up with a letter. According to sources in the CM’s office, the BBMP chief was advised not to press the issue further, considering his post and in the interest of maintaining cordial relations between different agencies.

In an interview to a private channel, the Lokayukta had alleged that the commissioner had not taken interest in the incident and not found time to meet the family.

The BBMP chief hit back that he had indeed visited Abhishek’s family on Sunday night when the tragedy occurred. The commissioner said he did not publicize the matter. Subramanya said the case had been withdrawn. “I have withdrawn the case following the chief minister’s directive. I filed this defamation case to safeguard my self-respect; there’s nothing more to it.’’