Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah got angry with a journalist on Thursday. The reporter asked him when he was resigning. Siddaramaiah took the reporter's mic away from him and said that he would call and inform when needed.
The opposition demands that Siddaramaiah should resign as CM. The BJP and the Janata Dal are protesting outside the secular assembly demanding resignation on Thursday.
In fact, Siddaramaiah has come under investigation in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot ordered an inquiry against Siddaramaiah in the scam. Siddaramaiah went to the High Court against this, but the court also said that the inquiry order was right and should be done.
A special court in Karnataka has handed over the probe to a Lokayukta team. An FIR may be registered against him soon. The names of Siddaramaiah, his wife, son-in-law and some officials have surfaced in the MUDA land scam. Activists TJ Abraham, Pradeep and Snehmoyi Krishna alleged that the Chief Minister connived with MUDA officials to swindle 14 expensive posts.
The BJP-JDS staged a protest outside the assembly demanding CM Siddaramaiah's resignation over the MUDA scam.
Siddaramaiah's petition against the probe was dismissed in the High Court
On September 24, the High Court upheld Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order to investigate Siddaramaiah in the MUDA scam. Justice M. Nagprasanna rejected Siddaramaiah's plea against the Governor's order.
The court said that- 'It is necessary to investigate the matters mentioned in the application. The Chief Minister's family is involved in this case, so the application is dismissed.
On August 16, the Governor approved action against Siddaramaiah under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 218 of the Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS), 2023. The Chief Minister challenged this in the High Court on August 19.
Karnataka Governor's Secretariat has issued a notice to take action against Siddaramaiah.
Siddaramaiah said- Truth will win
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he was not afraid of facing an inquiry, but would seek legal advice on whether an inquiry could be made in the matter. He further said, I believe in law and constitution. In the end truth will prevail.
What is a MUDA case?
In 1992, the urban development body Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) took land from farmers to develop residential areas. In return under MUDA's incentive 50:50 scheme, land owners were given 50% of the space in developed land or an alternative site.
MUDA is accused of allotting Siddaramaiah's wife Parvati 14 plots in a posh area of Mysore in 2022 in exchange for her 3.16 acres of land at Kasare village in Kasaba Hobli, Mysore. The value of these places was much higher than Parvati's land.
However, Parvati had no legal right to this 3.16 acres of land. The land was gifted to Parvathy's brother Mallikarjuna in 2010. MUDA developed the Devanur Stage 3 layout without acquiring this land.
BJP and JDS held a seven-day march from Bengaluru to Mysore from August 3 over the MUDA scam. JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy and Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra were also present.
What is the charge against Siddaramaiah?
- The Vijayanagar plot that Siddaramaiah's wife received as compensation from MUDA is worth much more than her land in Kasare village.
- Snemayi Krishna filed a complaint against Siddaramaiah. In this he has accused Siddaramaiah of forging documents to claim the MUDA Site as family property.
- From 1998 to 2023, Siddaramaiah held influential positions as Deputy CM or CM in Karnataka. Although he was not directly involved in the scandal, he used his power to help those close to him.
- Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathy's brother Mallikarjun had illegally bought 3 acres of denotified land in 2004. In 2004–05, Siddaramaiah was the Deputy CM in the Congress-JDS coalition government in Karnataka.
- The land of the land owners under the scheme has been acquired by MUDA. They have been allotted alternative posts of higher value as compensation. Apart from this, real estate agents have also been given land under this scheme.
- The land allotment scam was exposed by an RTI activist, who said that over 6,000 sites have been allotted under the 50:50 scheme in the last four years.
- BJP MP and Spokesperson Sambit Patra said that this is a scam of 3 thousand to 4 thousand crore rupees. This includes Siddaramaiah's family. Congress is keeping silent on this. Thanks to the Governor who has ordered an inquiry.
A probe into the scam was demanded
On July 5, 2024, activist Kurubara Shantakumar wrote a letter to the Governor stating that – The Deputy Commissioner of Mysore has written 17 letters to MUDA between February 8, 2023 and November 9, 2023. On 27 November, a letter was written to the Urban Development Authority, Government of Karnataka to investigate the 50:50 ratio scam and to the MUDA Commissioner. Regardless, the MUDA Commissioner allocated thousands of sites.
Siddaramaiah said- wife got land in BJP government
On the allegations, Siddaramaiah said – In 2014, when I was the CM, the wife applied for compensation. I told my wife not to apply for compensation as long as I am Chief Minister. In 2020-21 when BJP was in government, the wife was allotted compensation land. BJP is trying to make false allegations against me.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
