Bengaluru: The high-stakes Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) controversy that had clouded Karnataka politics for months saw a dramatic turn on Thursday. The state cabinet formally accepted the Justice PN Desai Commission’s report, which categorically exonerated Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his family of all charges in the site allotment case.
The report, prepared by former Karnataka High Court judge Justice PN Desai, was submitted to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh on July 31. It was tabled before the cabinet and accepted without dissent.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil declared: “We (the government) had constituted Justice PN Desai’s one-man Commission, which has submitted its report in two volumes. The report makes it clear that there is no truth in allegations made against the chief minister and his family. It has also asked for action against certain officials on various accounts. We (the cabinet) have accepted the report and its recommendations.”
Exoneration of Siddaramaiah, Parvathi BM
The Commission specifically cleared Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi BM, of wrongdoing in the allotment of 14 residential plots in Mysuru’s Vijayanagar Layout. The allegations had claimed she received compensatory sites with significantly higher property value in exchange for 3.16 acres of her land at Kesare village, acquired by MUDA to form a layout.
However, the Commission ruled there was “no illegality” in the allotment process and confirmed that MUDA followed its standard 50:50 scheme, under which land-losers are allotted 50% of developed plots in return for undeveloped land.
Earlier Investigations and Allegations
The controversy dated back to charges that Parvathi had no legal title over the Kesare village land, casting doubt over the legitimacy of MUDA’s compensatory allotments. Further suspicion grew because of her connections to Siddaramaiah’s relatives and associates, including brother-in-law BM Mallikarjun Swamy.
Despite the allegations, both the Lokayukta Police and now the PN Desai Commission have cleared Siddaramaiah, his wife, and other accused figures. The Lokayukta earlier noted that the charges could not be proven due to lack of evidence.
Fallout and Political Ripples
The Desai Commission went beyond clearing the Chief Minister’s family; it recommended punitive action against certain MUDA officials for administrative lapses. While the details remain under wraps, sources indicate accountability measures will be enforced.
