NEW DELHI: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday filed a petition in the High Court challenging the order issued by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, which granted permission for his prosecution in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment scam.
The Governor’s decision to allow the prosecution was prompted by complaints from activists T J Abraham, Pradeep S P, and Snehamayi Krishna. Siddaramaiah has strongly denied the allegations and vowed to fight the case through legal channels.
Reacting to the Governor’s decision, Deputy Chief Minister and Congress state president D K Shivakumar called on party members and supporters to stage a kilometer-long march to Taluk and district offices. He urged them to submit memoranda addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, asserting, “You all know that the BJP and JD(S) are plotting a major conspiracy against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. It is our duty to resist it.” Shivakumar underscored the Congress party’s resolve to counter what they see as a conspiracy intended to “eliminate Siddaramaiah.” The party has announced statewide protests against the Governor’s decision to permit the Chief Minister’s prosecution.
The MUDA scam allegations center around the claim that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, in a prime area of Mysuru. It is alleged that these sites had a significantly higher property value compared to her original land, which was acquired by MUDA.
Under a contentious 50:50 ratio scheme, MUDA reportedly allocated 14 sites to Parvathi in exchange for 3 acres and 16 gunts of her undeveloped land, which was used to develop a residential layout. BJP leaders have estimated the potential scale of the MUDA scam to be between Rs 4,000 crore and Rs 5,000 crore.
In response to the accusations, the Congress government established a single-member inquiry commission on July 14, led by former High Court Judge Justice P N Desai, to thoroughly investigate the alleged scam.
