B V Acharya, one of the senior most advocates in Karnataka, resigned as the advocate general on Wednesday. There is no one reason been given for the resignation and the former two time AG also does not spell out the real reason for him quitting.
However, sources say that his decision to quit had a political reason. It is seen as an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party in cementing a long-term relationship with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
The central leadership of BJP had wanted Acharya to quit for sometime now. However, they did not wish to change him on their own and felt that it would be better if he resigned from the post. And hence they stepped up the pressure on him.
Acharya incidentally is the special prosecutor in the disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa which is being heard in Karnataka.
For the defence he has not been an easy prosecutor and has often considered being too upright regarding the law. This has not gone down too well with the Jayalalithaa legal bandwagon.
Moreover, this is the case which has proved out to be the biggest headache for Jayalalithaa as it is also under the nose of the Supreme Court which transferred the case from Chennai to Karnataka.
The problem for Acharya began ever since senior BJP leader L K Advani visited Chennai and described Jayalalithaa as a 'natural ally', thus dropping a hint that the BJP was looking for a long-term relationship with AIADMK.
Sources in the high court say that building up pressure was the only way to ensure that Acharya resigned to keep Amma in good humour. Moreover it also looks like a favour, as the BJP rules in Karnataka.
An advocate general is basically the state government's legal advisor. It would not have looked good for the BJP to have a legal advisor who was fighting a case against a possible political, and crucial, ally.
The state government has no control over the appointment of the special prosecutor, and it's a decision of the judiciary. Moreover Acharya was appointed as the AG by the chief justice of the Karnataka high court.
Acharya, however, just admitted that there was pressure from various quarters and that he had been resisting the same.
"I would not like to take names here," he added.
He also said that his resignation had nothing to do with the private complaint against him before the Lokayukta court in connection with a trust issue.
To an allegation that he was committing an illegality by holding two posts, Acharya said that it is not an illegality and there is no such bar.
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