Why Siddaramaiah’s MUDA Case Plea Was Rejected?

Why Did Karnataka High Court Reject Siddaramaiah’s Plea in the MUDA Land Scam Case?

In a significant setback for Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday rejected his petition challenging the Governor’s sanction to investigate him in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam. The case centers on allegations of improper land allotments to Siddaramaiah’s wife, BM Parvathi, involving a prime property in Mysuru.

The Governor, Thaawarchand Gehlot, granted permission for a probe based on complaints from three activists. They alleged irregularities in the allocation of 14 plots to Parvathi, claiming that the family of Siddaramaiah benefited by Rs 56 crore due to the land transactions.

Justice M Nagaprasanna, in his order, stated that it was hard to believe Siddaramaiah was not involved in the transaction, which saw compensation for land worth Rs 3.56 lakh rise to Rs 56 crore. The court found that the allotment rules were seemingly bent in favor of Siddaramaiah’s family, warranting further investigation.

Siddaramaiah had argued that the Governor’s approval violated statutory requirements and constitutional principles, particularly the advice of the Council of Ministers, which he claimed is binding under Article 163 of the Constitution. However, the court countered that it is unrealistic to expect the Cabinet, appointed by Siddaramaiah, to remain impartial when deciding on an investigation concerning their leader.

In conclusion, the High Court upheld the Governor’s sanction and dismissed Siddaramaiah’s petition, allowing the investigation to proceed.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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