A special court in Bengaluru on Wednesday ordered a probe by the Lokayukta police against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case.
The court that exclusively deals with criminal cases related to former and elected MPs/MLAs issued the order a day after the high court upheld Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s decision to give sanction for a probe against the chief minister.
The probe against Siddaramaiah will be carried out under section 156 (3) of the CRPC that gives a magistrate the power to order an investigation into a cognisable offense.
Special Court Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat directed the police to file the investigation report by December 24. The order came on a petition filed by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna.
On Tuesday, the high court had dismissed the chief minister’s petition challenging the legality of the governor’s order on August 16.
‘Ready to face probe’
Shortly after the special court order, Siddaramaiah sought to put on a brave face and said he was ready to face any investigation in the MUDA scam case.
“Already I have said that I am ready to face an investigation. I am not afraid of a probe, Siddaramaiah told reporters here. I am ready for a legal fight. I had said this yesterday and I am reiterating it today as well,” he said.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says, "The copy of the court order has not yet been received. I am going to Kerala. I will get the court order copy in the evening. I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally." https://t.co/9DlxW588Ex pic.twitter.com/FRfqfOobfO
— ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2024
He sought to downplay the court order, saying the matter has been referred to the Mysuru Lokayukta police because the complaint was lodged in Mysuru and MUDA is also located in that city.
MUDA scam: ‘Not scared of BJP, JD(S) conspiracies,’ says Siddaramaiah after HC dismisses his plea
On Tuesday, the chief minister had accused the BJP and the JD(S) of indulging in vendetta politics and asserted that he was not scared of their conspiracies.
“After going through the judgement, I will discuss with my cabinet colleagues, party high command and legal experts and decide on what action is to be taken,” he had said.
What’s MUDA scam
MUDA or Mysuru Urban Development Authority is one of the Karnataka’s first urban planning and development bodies. The authority is now in the middle of a massive controversy after media reports alleged gross irregularities in the allotment of residential sites to land losers as compensation.
It is alleged that 14 compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi in an upmarket area in Mysuru. These sites were allotted in lieu of the 3.16 acres of her land which the authority had acquired to develop a residential layout. The sites were allotted to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme.
However, it is alleged that Parvathi had no legal title over this 3.16 acres of land at survey number 464 of Kasare village, Kasaba hobli of Mysuru taluk.
