Siddaramaiah Charged in Money Laundering | ED Probe

Siddaramaiah Faces Money Laundering Case: What’s the Full Story?

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a money laundering case against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, linked to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam. The case was registered after the state Lokayukta filed an FIR, which the ED took cognisance of, leading to an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).

The Lokayukta police in Mysuru lodged the FIR on September 27, implicating Siddaramaiah, his wife BM Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, and Devaraju, who sold land to Swamy, which was later gifted to Parvathi. This legal move follows a special court in Bengaluru directing the Lokayukta police to investigate Siddaramaiah. The court’s directive came after the Karnataka High Court upheld Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s authorization to probe the Chief Minister’s alleged involvement in illegal land allotments.

At the heart of the controversy is the claim that compensatory sites in a prime area of Mysuru were allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife in exchange for land acquired by MUDA. This case has become a significant talking point in Karnataka’s political circles.

The ED, invoking sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), has now booked Siddaramaiah and the other accused. As per protocol, the agency can summon the accused for questioning and may even seize their assets during the investigation.

Siddaramaiah, aged 76, has stated that this is the first political case against him, suggesting that the opposition is “scared” of him. He further added that he would not step down despite the court’s order for an investigation and has maintained his innocence. He vowed to fight the case in court and prove his innocence.

This case is set to stir up Karnataka’s political landscape, potentially weakening Siddaramaiah’s position. However, the Chief Minister remains adamant, asserting that he will not resign and will handle the situation legally.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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