The Karnataka Lok-ayukta, Justice Nitte Sant-osh Hegde, withdrew his resignation on Saturday following a call from his mentor, BJP leader L.K. Advani. Justice Hegde had resigned on June 23 following a suspension notice to a forest officer who had taken up cudgels against customs and port officials for shipping out seized iron ore.
When all efforts to placate the Lokayukta failed, Mr Advani stepped in to rescue the B.S. Yeddyurappa government. He called BJP president Nitin Gadkari, who is in Bengaluru for a party convention, soon after he landed in the city and asked him to accompany CM B.S. Yeddyurappa to meet the Lokayukta with the request to take back his resignation. Mr Advani also reportedly told him they should assure Justice Hegde that the state government would address his concerns.
At around 3.15 pm Mr Advani called Justice Hegde and asked him to withdraw his resignation. “I couldn’t say no to Advaniji, who is a father figure not only to me but to my entire family. He asked me to withdraw my resignation and that the BJP national president, along with the CM, would meet me shortly. His desire was my command,” said the Lokayukta.