Today, On 4th September, In The MUDA scam case the Karnataka High Court postponed CM Siddaramaiah’s appeal against Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s approval for probe, fixing the final hearing in the second week of November amid growing political tension.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court adjourned till the second week of November the appeal filed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah challenging Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s decision granting sanction to investigate him in the alleged MUDA scam.
Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty, who appeared in the matter, requested the court to take up the case for a final hearing.
The High Court accepted his request and fixed the matter for detailed arguments in November.
Also Read: MUDA Scam | Karnataka HC Adjourns CM Siddaramaiah’s CBI Probe to January 27
The controversy is linked to the alleged irregularities in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. Governor Gehlot had earlier given sanction to probe the Chief Minister, following which Siddaramaiah moved the High Court against the decision.
The MUDA case centers around the alleged illegal allotment of 14 residential sites to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvati, under the controversial 50:50 scheme in return for 3.16 acres of land that she received as a gift from her brother, Mallikarjunaswamy, the third accused. It is alleged that Parvati did not hold legal title to the said land.
The Lokayukta had earlier filed a closure report, citing insufficient evidence against Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvati, his brother-in-law Mallikarjunaswamy, and landowner J Devaraju. However, the ED objected to this report on April 2, arguing that evidence shared with the Lokayukta regarding illegalities in denotification and site allotment was ignored.
Also Read: MUDA Scam | Karnataka Governor Seeks Response from CM Siddaramaiah
Meanwhile, petitioner Snehamayi Krishna, who has been actively pursuing the case, filed a plea questioning the integrity of the Lokayukta’s investigation and also approached the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), raising concerns over the clean chit given to the CM and his family members. Krishna had previously petitioned the High Court seeking a CBI probe, but the request was quashed by a single bench.
Earlier, on March 7, the Karnataka High Court had also quashed the ED’s summons issued to Parvati Siddaramaiah and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh.
In 2021, the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) acquired a 3-acre plot owned by Parvathi Siddaramaiah in Kesare village for development purposes. In exchange, she was allocated plots in the upscale Vijayanagar area of south Mysuru, which are purportedly worth much more than her original Kesare land.
The complaint argues that this omission was made “with his full knowledge and with possible ulterior motives” and calls for legal action against Siddaramaiah under Section 125A and Section 8 of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1950. It also cites breaches of various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.