The Lokayukta Police have registered an FIR against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case. The FIR was filed after a special court in Bengaluru directed the Lokayukta to investigate allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 prime sites, valued at ₹56 crore, to the Chief Minister’s wife, Parvathi Siddaramaiah, by MUDA.
The special court, which deals exclusively with criminal cases involving former and current MPs and MLAs, issued the order following a complaint filed by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna. The Karnataka High Court had recently upheld the state Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s sanction to investigate Siddaramaiah in the case, paving the way for the probe.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, presiding over the High Court bench, dismissed Siddaramaiah’s petition challenging the Governor’s decision. In his order, Justice Nagaprasanna noted, “In normal circumstances, a governor has to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers under Article 163 of the Constitution of India, but in exceptional circumstances, the Governor can take independent decisions, and the present case projects one such exception.”
Despite the legal setbacks, Siddaramaiah has maintained his innocence and asserted that he will not step down as Chief Minister. “I have done no wrong. This is the first time a political case has been registered against me. This is purely politically motivated,” he said.
When questioned about the BJP’s demand for his resignation, Siddaramaiah responded defiantly, “Why should I resign? If someone has committed wrong, they should resign. But when I have done no wrong, where is the question of resignation?”
The controversy around the MUDA site allotment case has escalated tensions between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in Karnataka. In a move seen as a countermeasure, the Karnataka government on Thursday withdrew the general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate cases in the state, accusing the federal agency of being “biased.”
Reacting to this development, the BJP lashed out at the Congress government, labeling the move as an attempt to shield the party from corruption allegations. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla remarked, “Thousands of crores have been usurped in the MUDA scam. After this, the Congress has done what is expected from any certified ‘chor and lootera’ (thief and robber). To evade the long hand of law, it has withdrawn the general consent given to the CBI to investigate in the state.”
The MUDA case has now become a focal point of political conflict in Karnataka, with both parties trading barbs over the allegations and legal proceedings. The case’s outcome could significantly impact the state’s political landscape, especially as it involves the Chief Minister and prominent political figures.
Siddaramaiah’s supporters argue that the case is a tactic employed by the opposition to tarnish his image and destabilize the Congress government. Meanwhile, the BJP continues to press for a thorough investigation and accountability in the matter, adding fuel to the ongoing political storm.
