Fresh trouble for Siddaramaiah as Special Court orders Lokayukta probe in MUDA scam; Karnataka CM says, ‘I am ready’

MUDA Scam Case: In a significant development, a Special Court in Karnataka has ordered a Lokayukta police investigation into Chief Minister Siddaramaiah concerning the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment controversy.

Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat issued the ruling on Wednesday, following the High Court's recent affirmation of Governor Thaawar chand Gehlot's sanction for the inquiry.

Following the probe order, the Karnataka CM said, “I am ready to face investigation in MUDA case, not afraid of it”.

Siddaramaiah's petition challenging the legality of the Governor's August 16 approval for the investigation under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was dismissed by the High Court.

The allegations center around the improper allocation of 14 plots to Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi, by MUDA. The High Court also lifted a previous interim order that had paused the Special Court's actions regarding complaints against the Chief Minister, thus paving the way for the investigation to move forward.

Afetr the Special court announced the Lokayukta probe, activist Snehamayi Krishna, reiterated the demand for a CBI probe. “The Court has said for Lokayukta investigation but we will approach Karnataka High Court since we want the investigation to happen by the CBI only. Once the FIR is filed we will approach Karnataka High Court”, Snehamayi said.

MUDA Scam Case

The Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scandal has drawn significant attention, centering on allegations that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, benefited from an exchange of less desirable land for valuable prime plots. Opposition parties claim Siddaramaiah usurped land belonging to the Dalit community, with estimates of the scam reaching ₹3,000 crore.

Complainant Snehamayi Krishna alleges that MUDA created forged documents to acquire these plots. The accusations also extend to Siddaramaiah's brother-in-law, Malikarjuna Swamy Devaraj.

In response, Siddaramaiah has denied all allegations, asserting that all actions were lawful and claiming that the Development Authority illegally developed land owned by his wife in Mysuru's Kesarur area.

What did CM Siddaramaiah say?

Siddaramaiah has accused the BJP and JD(S) of "misusing" the Raj Bhavan to launch false allegations aimed at destabilizing his government in light of the ongoing investigation into the alleged MUDA land scam. Criticizing what he termed the Bharatiya Janata Party's "revenge politics," Siddaramaiah expressed confidence in the judicial system and announced his intention to consult legal experts regarding the investigation’s validity.

In a post on X, he stated, “I have learned about the High Court's order through media reports. A formal response will follow after thoroughly reading the full judgment." He clarified that the court dismissed the prosecution under Section 218 of the BNSS Act, while only upholding the investigation under Section 17(A). “I have no objection to any investigation, but I will consult legal experts to determine whether such an investigation is legally valid," he added, indicating that he would decide his next steps based on this guidance.