Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday dubbed the Enforcement Directorate’s letter to the Karnataka Lokayukta police in connection with the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case as “prejudicial” and "politically motivated”.
The Lokayukta police is probing the alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 residential sites to CM’s wife B.M. Parvathi in Mysuru in lieu of the 3.18 acres of her farm land reportedly acquired by the MUDA for developing residential layout. The ED, which is investigating the MUDA case (under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)), in its communication to the ADGP of Lokayukta police had conveyed that it had found “evidence” of several irregularities in the transfer of 14 sites to Parvathi, including contravention of statutory guidelines, tampering with documents, and exerting undue influence. The central agency also stated that the MUDA had illegally allotted a total of 1095 sites in ‘benami’ (proxy) and other unauthorised transactions that amounted to over Rs 700 crore.
“The ED had no powers to investigate the case and the agency leaking the letter (to the media) smacks of political malice. This is prejudicial and meant to influence the high court (divisional bench), which is due to hear my writ petition tomorrow,” said Siddaramaiah, who has appealed against the single bench order that upheld the governor’s sanction to investigate the MUDA case.
It may be recalled that Governor Thawarchand Gehlot had sanctioned prosecution against the chief minister in the MUDA case based on the petitions by three social activists. The CM had appealed before the High Court seeking to quash the Governor's sanction. After the single-bench of the High Court upheld the governor’s order, and allowed the trial court proceedings, Siddaramaiah had challenged the court order before the divisional bench of the high court. Meanwhile, the trial court ordered the Lokayukta police to file an FIR, investigate and submit a report by December 24. The ED, based on the Lokayukta’s FIR registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and started a parallel investigation.
While Siddaramaiah sought to know if the ED was allowed to share information with another agency, the ED, in its letter, has stated that it has the powers to share any relevant information with other investigating agencies.
Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra hails ED probe in MUDA case
State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra alleged the CM had distributed the sites meant for the poor to real estate brokers and was now trying to justify his act. “The ED’s investigation has confirmed our party’s claim that the irregularities in the MUDA case go beyond the 14 sites allotted to the CM’s family. The ED’s preliminary information has stated that illegalities amounting to over Rs 700 crore have been committed. The whole world knows how (fair) the Lokayukta is investigating this case,” said Vijayendra, who was leading the Wakf study tour in Bidar and Kalaburagi.
Revenue minister Krishna Byregowda slammed the ED saying it was BJP’s “witch-hunting agency” meant to threaten and intimidate the political opponents of the party. “The BJP has used the ED to rein in its political rivals in West Bengal, Delhi, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Punjab and 95 per cent of the ED cases are filed against the opposition party leaders. The conviction rate in these cases is 1.5 per cent, which goes to say the ED had failed to prove any charges.”
