A petition has been filed in the Karnataka High Court for a CBI probe against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over alleged illegal land allotments involving his wife. Activist Snehamayi Krishna claims that only a central investigation can ensure fairness, as the Lokayukta operates under state jurisdiction.
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BENGALURU: A petition has been submitted to the Karnataka High Court, calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This petition, related to the alleged illegal allotment of land by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), highlights claims of corruption and illegalities, involving Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi Siddaramaiah. The petitioner, activist Snehamayi Krishna, insists that only an investigation by the central agency like the CBI will ensure a fair and unbiased inquiry into the allegations.
The petitioner’s main contention is that the Lokayukta operates under the jurisdiction of the state government, which directly compromises the fairness of any probe involving the state’s Chief Minister. Snehamayi Krishna highlighted this point by stating-
“We have asked for CBI enquiry as Lokayukta works under the preview of the government and CM of Karnataka. CBI must investigate as there are many directions by the Supreme Court as well.”
The demand for an independent probe gained traction after a special court in Bengaluru questioned the Lokayukta’s report, which raised concerns over potential bias.
Snehamayi Krishna continued-
“The Lokayukta has already submitted its report, but the special court criticized and rebuked the Lokayukta for its findings, which are well known to the people of the state.”
Representing the petitioner, Advocate Vasant Kumar, emphasized the need for a transparent and fair investigation by the CBI. Speaking on the matter, he said-
“We have filed a writ petition seeking the transfer of the MUDA investigation to the CBI, which is scheduled for a hearing on Monday. The petition also references the special court’s order, indicating that MUDA appears to be involved in a major scam. Therefore, we have requested the High Court to order a CBI inquiry for a fair and unbiased investigation.”
This is not the first time the case has garnered judicial attention. Earlier, a special court ordered the Karnataka Lokayukta’s Mysuru district police to conduct an investigation into the illegal land allotments by MUDA. These 14 plots, allegedly worth Rs 56 crore, were reportedly allotted to Parvathi Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister’s wife, under questionable circumstances.
On Wednesday, a Special Court in Bengaluru passed an order directing the Karnataka Lokayukta to investigate the alleged illegalities and submit a report within three months. This followed a prior decision by the Karnataka High Court, which had earlier vacated an interim stay order on August 19. The court had initially delayed the investigation but eventually ruled that the probe must proceed, much to the dissatisfaction of the government.
The Special Court’s order came in response to a petition filed by Snehamayi Krishna, urging the judicial system to hold the Chief Minister accountable for the alleged illegal acts concerning MUDA land allotments. This is in line with the activist’s ongoing efforts to bring transparency to the case and ensure justice is served.
Amidst these legal proceedings, political tension has been mounting in Karnataka. The opposition, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has intensified calls for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s resignation. However, the CM has remained defiant, refuting these demands by pointing out legal cases against prominent national figures.
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Responding to the allegations, Siddaramaiah said-
“There is an FIR against Nirmala Sitharaman in the people’s representative court; what is her connection to the electoral bond? Given that an FIR has been filed against her, shouldn’t she also resign?”
He further added-
“Let the BJP resign; in my case, the lower special court made a decision and directed an inquiry with a report due in three months.”
In a bold statement, Siddaramaiah did not limit his defense to addressing the demands for his resignation. He went on to demand the resignation of other political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
He accused these leaders of misusing the electoral bond scheme, stating-
“Let them first demand the resignation of HD Kumaraswamy and others; shouldn’t they insist that Kumaraswamy resign? Modi should also resign over the electoral bond issue. They have misused the electoral bond and engaged in corruption; therefore, HD Kumaraswamy, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Modi should resign first.”
Despite the controversy surrounding the Lokayukta’s role, the Karnataka Lokayukta’s Mysuru district police have been ordered to investigate and submit their findings within three months. The special court has asked them to file an FIR against Siddaramaiah in line with the court’s directives.
As per Advocate Vasant Kumar, the investigation must be thorough and follow the legal framework provided by the courts. He added-
“According to Section 17A, they were instructed to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within three months as directed by the special court. Based on that, they will file an FIR and proceed with the investigation.”
The alleged MUDA scam revolves around the allotment of 14 sites valued at Rs 56 crore by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) to Parvathi Siddaramaiah, the wife of Karnataka’s Chief Minister. The accusations have shaken the political landscape of the state, with numerous political figures and activists questioning the legality of these land allocations.
The BJP has taken an aggressive stance, repeatedly calling for accountability and transparency from the Siddaramaiah-led government. The opposition sees this as an opportunity to expose the corrupt practices they believe have been rampant in the administration.
