Bengaluru: Former Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde collapsed during a public event in the city Friday and was rushed to hospital. The 85-year-old former Supreme Court judge fell ill while attending a felicitation for former minister and state chief commissioner of Bharat Scouts and Guides PGR Sindhia, organised at Kondajji Basappa Auditorium on Palace Road.Sources present at the event said Justice Hegde concluded a brief speech and was returning to his seat when he suddenly collapsed.Assembly speaker UT Khader, who was also at the programme, said, “He (Justice Hegde) vomited while trying to sit and collapsed while trying to climb down from the stage. He was provided with first aid and rushed to hospital in my car as there was no ambulance available at the venue. We informed his family members, and they arrived at the hospital. He responded to treatment and was able to speak and respond to our gestures.“An official bulletin from Manipal Hospital said, “Justice Santosh Hegde is under medical supervision in emergency response at our hospital on Millers Road. He is doing fine and will be discharged in a few hours.”‘Am at home now’Later, Justice Hegde told TOI over the phone that he is fine and recovering. “The doctors told me that I collapsed due to low blood pressure. I went for treatment earlier in the day and was prescribed some new medicines. They said it might have been because of that. I’ve been discharged and am at home now. I’ll continue with my follow-up care with the doctors,” he said.
