The Mysuru Lokayukta on Tuesday launched a probe into the case linked to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment scam involving Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Nearly 10 Lokayukta officials along with a team of surveyors and MUDA officers visited Kesare, where 3.2 acres of land was acquired by CM Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law and gifted to his wife Parvathi.
At the heart of the scam is the 3.2-acre parcel of land. Following the acquisition of the land by MUDA, Parvathi sought compensation and was subsequently allocated 14 plots. These plots are said to be substantially more valuable than the original piece of land, claimed reports.
The Mysuru Lokayukta’s action into the matter follows an FIR filed on September 27 against Siddaramaiah and others in connection with the alleged MUDA land allotment scam. The FIR was filed by the Mysuru Lokayukta under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 351, 420, 340, 09, and 120B, among others.
The FIR mentioned that Siddaramaiah, his wife, brother-in-law, and others are accused in the case and alleged that MUDA illegally allotted 14 sites to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s wife in the prime location of Mysuru city.
The Mysuru Lokayukta had sent their first notice to social activist Snehamayi Krishna, who is one of the complainants in the MUDA scam. He also filed a petition to the Karnataka High Court seeking the transfer of the case from the Lokayukta to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Following his notice, activist Snehamayi Krishna said, “No notice regarding any documents has been received. I am ready to provide the documents that I have if at all any documentation is required in the inquiry. Technical evidence is not available; only documentary evidence can be asked for. I have given all the documents while making the complaint earlier; I will give what is asked during the inquiry.”
“I am insisting and calling for a comprehensive investigation into the scams of the 50:50 ratio of illegal plots given and received in private and Lokayukta complaints. I am confident that I will win in these cases too,” he added.
The FIR was filed by Mysuru Lokayukta after a Special Court in Bengaluru passed an order directing them to conduct an investigation against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the allegation of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to his wife Parvathi by the MUDA.
As the allegations surfaced, the BJP has come down guns blazing at the Congress party, accusing it of supporting “corrupt” leaders and demanding CM Siddaramaiah’s resignation. CM Siddaramiah, however, has quashed all demands for his resignation.
‘Victim of Hate Politics’: Siddaramaiah
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi has returned the 14 compensatory sites that were given to her in the Mysuru upmarket area, Siddaramaiah confirmed in an X post on Tuesday.
Later, MUDA said it would accept the plots.
Siddaramaiah alleged that his family was dragged into the controversy by members of the Opposition parties. It came hours after the Chief Minister’s wife, in a letter to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) Commissioner, had expressed her willingness to return the 14 sites, following allegations of illegalities in their allotment.
“My wife Parvati has returned the lands that were given in the form of compensation for the land that was seized without carrying out Muda land acquisition in Mysore. The people of the state also know that the Opposition parties created a false complaint and dragged my family into the controversy to create political hatred against me,” a rough translation of Siddaramaiah’s X post in English suggested.
(With agency inputs…)
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