Bengaluru: Veteran journalist Patil Puttappa, 99, a former Rajya Sabha MP passed away on Monday night at 10.10 pm at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS). His final rites will be held today at Halageri in Haveri district in the evening.

He was hospitalised on February 10 after developing age-related complications. On Sunday, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had visited him at the hospital. Born on January 14, 1921, Patil Puttappa was known as a journalist who fought for the cause of Kannada.

Besides being a journalist, he authored several Kannada books and contributed immensely towards the Kannada literally world. His mortal remains will be kept for the public homage at his residence ‘Prapancha’ in Dharawad till this afternoon.

Considered as a close associate of former CM Ramakrishna Hegde and Pai family of Manipal, Patil Puttappa will be remembered for his critical writing. He launched two newspapers Prapancha and Vishwavani, which once shaped the politics of Karnataka.