Bengaluru court on Thursday denied activist Snehamayi Krishna’s plea to replace the Investigating Officer in the MUDA land allotment case against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. The Lokayukta has been directed to finish the investigation “as expeditiously as possible” within two months.
Bengaluru: A court in Bengaluru on Thursday rejected an application filed by activist and complainant Snehamayi Krishna seeking a change of Investigating Officer in a case involving Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The petitioner had requested the court to direct the Karnataka Lokayukta to assign a different officer to handle the ongoing investigation.
However, the Bengaluru Additional City Civil and Sessions Court turned down the request. Instead, the court instructed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation “as expeditiously as possible” and within a maximum period of two months.
The order made it clear that no further extension of time would be allowed for submitting the comprehensive report.
The court also directed its office to immediately communicate the order to the Investigating Agency. During Thursday’s hearing, the complainant appeared in person, while the Special Public Prosecutor representing both the Enforcement Directorate and the Karnataka Lokayukta was present.
The matter has been scheduled for the next hearing on November 15, during which the final report is expected to be submitted.
The case pertains to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and alleges irregularities in the allotment of compensatory sites to Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi.
It is claimed that the plots allotted to her were in a high-value area in Mysuru, which was considered more valuable compared to the original land she had lost to MUDA.
Under the scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land to the original landowners as compensation in lieu of their undeveloped land, which was acquired to create residential layouts.
Parvathi is alleged to have received plots under this 50:50 ratio scheme in exchange for 3.16 acres of her land, where MUDA developed a residential layout.
It is further alleged that Parvathi did not have legal ownership over the 3.16 acres of land at survey number 464 of Kasare village, Kasaba hobli, Mysuru taluk. Both the Karnataka Lokayukta police and the Directorate of Enforcement have launched investigations into the alleged ‘scam’.
The Chief Minister has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the alleged case.
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