Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Summoned in MUDA Site Allotment Case
The Lokayukta police have summoned Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for questioning on November 6 concerning the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case.
Speaking to reporters in Shiggaon, Siddaramaiah said he would meet the Lokayukta officials and face the questioning on that day.
On October 25, Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi BM, was questioned by the Lokayukta in relation to the same case. Both Siddaramaiah and Parvathi, along with his brother-in-law, Mallikarjuna Swamy, and Devaraju—who sold a plot to Swamy that was later gifted to Parvathi—are named in an FIR registered by the Mysuru Lokayukta police on September 27.
The investigation is ongoing, with the Lokayukta seeking more details regarding alleged irregularities in the site allotment process. Siddaramaiah has denied any misconduct by him or his family, stating that the Opposition is attempting to intimidate him and that this is the first “political case” filed against him.
On October 29, former MUDA Commissioner DB Natesh was detained after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned him in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to the MUDA issue.
What is the MUDA Scam?
The MUDA site allotment case involves accusations of improper allocation of valuable land in Mysuru to Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi. It is alleged that MUDA allotted Parvathi 14 prime plots at a much higher market value compared to land she had provided to MUDA. Under a scheme, MUDA allocated 50 percent of developed land back to those whose undeveloped land was acquired to create residential layouts. However, it is claimed that Parvathi lacked legal ownership of the 3.16 acres she used to claim these plots.
Court’s Stand on the Case
In September, the Karnataka High Court upheld the Governor’s approval to investigate Siddaramaiah under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) for his role in the MUDA case. However, the court rejected permission to prosecute him under Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
The Governor of Karnataka, Thawarchand Gehlot, had granted permission to three activists to pursue corruption allegations against Siddaramaiah concerning the MUDA land allotted to his wife in a prime area of Mysuru’s Vijayanagar.
