Amid Row Over Siddaramaiah Land Case, Key Official Quits Citing Health

Earlier this month the Mysuru Urban Development Authority agreed to take back the 14 plots - at the heart of the land scam charges - from the Chief Minister's wife, BN Parvathi.

Mysuru urban development body chief Mari Gowda resigned Wednesday - citing health concerns - amid an ongoing state and federal investigation into land scam allegations against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife, and other members of his family.

Mr Gowda was a long-time associate of the Chief Minister and worked with him since 1983; he was made President of the Mysuru Taluk Panchayat in 1995, Vice President of the Zilla Panchayat in 2000, and promoted to the top post eight years later.

Siddaramaiah has not responded to the resignation so far.