Karnataka advocate general quits post over Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case

Bangalore: Karnataka Advocate General B V Acharya has reportedly resigned from his post after he refused to tow the state government's line on the disproportionate assets case linked to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa

Acharya said he had quit citing "pressure from the government" to do so.

A very senior lawyer, Acharya is also Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) appointed by the Karnataka chief justice on the direction of the Supreme Court in a corruption case against Jayalalithaa.

The official reason given out for 78-year-old Acharya's resignation was that he could not hold two posts at the same time.

Acharya said there is no legal bar against him functioning both as advocate general of Karnataka and as SPP in the Jayalalithaa case.

He , however, said, he preferred to remain SPP as he was appointed by the Karnataka Chief Justice on the direction of the Supreme Court.

His resignation was accepted by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj late on Wednesday.

The BJP and the government declined to react to B.V. Acharya's claims.

The case against Jayalalithaa is that she amassed assets worth over Rs.60 crore during her first chief ministership. The case has been transferred to a Bangalore court by the Supreme Court to ensure a fair trial.

Jayalalithaa has appeared twice in person in the court and answered over 1,000 questions on the assets and how she acquired them.