Siddaramaiah moves Karnataka HC challenging prosecution order in MUDA 'scam'
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sought legal recourse against the governor's approval to prosecute him over alleged irregularities in land allocation by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The plea was filed before the Karnataka High Court. Justice Hemant Chandangoudar said that the court will hear it either on Monday or Tuesday, subject to chief justice's approval. Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot granted sanction to prosecute Siddaramaiah on Saturday following petitions by social activists TJ Abraham, Snehamai Krishna, and Pradeep Kumar.
Activists sought prosecution sanction in MUDA scam
Abraham sought prosecution sanction in July, and the governor issued a show cause notice to Siddaramaiah immediately after. The controversy centers around the allegation that Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi was granted 14 sites in a premium residential layout as compensation for her 3 acres and 16 guntas of land acquired by MUDA. Under the MUDA 50:50 incentive scheme, individuals who lost their land for layout development are either awarded 50% of the sites or an alternate site.
Siddaramaiah denies allegations, claims illegal development by MUDA
However, opposition parties have claimed that this land, intended for Dalit community members, was wrongfully transferred to Siddaramaiah's wife using falsified documents. Siddaramaiah has refuted all allegations, stating that MUDA unlawfully developed a layout on four acres of land owned by his wife in Kesarur, Mysuru. He dismissed these claims as unfounded. Notably, Parvathi sought compensation for this land in 2014, while Siddaramaiah was chief minister.
Allegations of land misappropriation in MUDA scam
In his complaint, Abraham alleged that the allotment of 14 alternative sites to Parvathi was illegal, resulting in a ₹45 crore loss for the exchequer. Krishna also accused the chief minister of using his power to forge documents to claim MUDA land as his family property. According to the reports, Vijayanagar plots are worth far more than Parvathi's 3.16 acre land in Kesare.
