BANGALORE: This must be the most turbulent period in the life of Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde. Ever since the countdown began for the submission of the final report on illegal mining, the 72-year-old outgoing head of the anti-corruption agency has become a target by almost all party leaders to settle political scores.Speaking to The New Indian Express, the Lokayukta admitted that it has been a testing time for him as he is “targeted by everyone.” “I have enemies in all parties as hands of everyone are tilled in the illegal mining,” he said.However, he is not unduly perturbed by such allegations against him and takes them as a “professional hazard.” “I cannot always expect bouquets, there will be brickbats too,” he said.Hegde suspected that there is an organised attempt to malign his name from Union Minister M Veerappa Moily, Digvijay Singh and B K Hariprasad in the Congress who time and again attacked and accused him of going soft on BJP in general and Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in particular.On the other side, the BJP leaders Arun Jaitley to Dhananjay Kumar have questioned his integrity and honesty. When he refused to entertain the requests to go soft on the chief minister, they started spreading rumours that he is corrupt, has been using one of his nephews to collect money and is parking all such ill gotten money with his brother who runs a chain of educational institutions Nitte in Udupi, he stated.“I am not worried by personal attacks by these tall leaders on me. Even some people went to an extent of spreading rumours that I have illicit relations,” he said.What hurt him most is the fact that the people whom he knew for decades, who were all praise for him till a few months ago, are now baying for his blood.“The Congress leaders think that I am close to the BJP for not going ahead with the probe on land scams involving the CM and his kin. How can I do that when the High Court has issued a stay after a separate commission was set up by the government.On the other hand, the BJP accuses me of joining hands with the Opposition. I understand these political compulsions and I am fine with such charges. But it hurts when one questions my integrity and honesty,” he regretted.Meanwhile, Hegde is planning to write down his memoirs in a book in the coming days. “I am too tired and haggard now and need some rest. After a few days, I plan to resume active life again and even write a book.” On the book, he said that it would be an autobiography on his advocate days, the developments related to superseding of his father Justice K S Hegde for the post of Chief Justice of India, besides a chapter on probing illegal mining.
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