Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Saturday granted permission to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment scam.
This comes after three separate complaints filed by social activists T.J. Abraham, Snehmayi Krishna and Pradeep. The state government has called a special meeting of the Cabinet at 5 pm on Saturday to discuss the governor's move. Siddaramaiah is expected to legally fight the prosecution sanction legally and politically.
Earlier, the opposition parties BJP and JDS had held an eight-day padyatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru, demanding Siddaramaiah's resignation. The BJP claimed that the controversial scheme a scam that amounts to Rs 4,000-5,000 crore.
It has been alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi in Mysuru. The allotted site in an upmarket area in the city reportedly had higher property value as compared to the land acquired from her by the MUDA. Under the scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land in lieu of the undeveloped land acquired from them.
Governor Gehlot had issued a showcause notice to Siddaramaiah on July 26, directing the chief minister to submit his response to the allegations against him within seven days. The governor sought replies regarding why permission for prosecution should not be granted against him.
Following this, the Karnataka government had on August 1 "strongly advised" Gehlot to withdraw his "showcause notice" to Siddaramaiah, slamming him for the "gross misuse" of the Constitutional office of the governor.