Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been summoned by the Mysuru Lokayukta Police for questioning on November 6 in connection with the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment. The summons, issued by Superintendent of Police TJ Udesh of the Mysuru Lokayukta, requires Siddaramaiah to answer questions regarding the high-profile land allocation case that has cast a shadow over his administration.
The MUDA Allotment Case: Siddaramaiah, Family Members Named in FIR
The case against Siddaramaiah and several of his family members, including his wife Parvathi and brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, emerged after a special court in Bengaluru directed the Lokayukta to investigate alleged illegalities in the allocation of 14 MUDA sites valued at approximately ₹56 crore. According to the FIR filed by Mysuru Lokayukta police on September 27, these sites were reportedly allocated to Parvathi, raising questions about the legitimacy of the transaction.
Mallikarjuna Swamy, Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law, reportedly purchased a plot from landowner J Devaraju and later transferred it as a gift to Parvathi, adding to the complexities of the case. The investigation has drawn widespread public and political scrutiny, as Siddaramaiah’s critics allege misuse of power for personal benefit.
High Court and ED Involvement Intensify Scrutiny
The Karnataka High Court previously upheld Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s decision to permit a formal investigation into Siddaramaiah’s involvement in the MUDA allotment case, setting the legal framework for a full probe. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also filed a money laundering case linked to the same land allotment issue, further intensifying the case’s implications and adding to the chief minister’s legal challenges.
Siddaramaiah’s Family Reacts to Controversy, Returns Land Amid Allegations
In a bid to deflect controversy, Parvathi, Siddaramaiah’s wife, formally expressed her willingness in September to return the 14 disputed sites, addressing a letter to MUDA Commissioner Raghunandan. MUDA officials, acknowledging her decision, stated they would reclaim the properties without objection.
The Lokayukta, however, pressed forward with the investigation, interrogating Parvathi on October 25 as a second accused in the case. Mallikarjuna Swamy and landowner J Devaraju were also questioned.
Siddaramaiah Defends Family, Calls Allegations Politically Motivated
As the inquiry progresses, Siddaramaiah has criticized the accusations, alleging that opposition parties orchestrated the complaints to tarnish his image and stir public discontent. “My wife returned the lands that were allotted in compensation for unacquired MUDA land in Mysuru. The people of the state know this is a false complaint to create political animosity,” Siddaramaiah stated, defending his family’s actions.
With the Lokayukta, ED, and judicial authorities involved, the MUDA site allotment case has become a complex web of allegations, political maneuvers, and legal battles for Karnataka’s Chief Minister and his family.
