The Karnataka High Court has issued notices to the state government and other respondents following an appeal by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah against a previous court order that upheld the Governor’s sanction for an investigation into the MUDA site allotment scandal. The case, involving allegations of improper allocations made by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), has been set for further hearing on January 25, 2025, by a division bench comprising Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind.
This appeal challenges the decision made on September 24 by Justice M Nagaprasanna, which dismissed Siddaramaiah’s initial petition against the investigation sanctioned by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. The Governor’s approval was criticized by Siddaramaiah, who alleged it was unjust and lacked substantial reasoning.
At the heart of the controversy are accusations that MUDA illegally allotted 14 plots to Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi B M, in a prime Mysuru locality under a compensatory scheme intended for land losers. These plots, located in the upscale areas of Vijayanagar Layout 3rd and 4th stages, were part of a deal where landowners received developed property equivalent to 50% of their land taken by MUDA for public development.
Following the single bench’s ruling, a Special Court in Karnataka ordered a Lokayukta police investigation into the matter, directing that a report be filed by December 24. The investigation has implicated not only Siddaramaiah but also family members and associates, including his wife, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, and others involved in the land transactions.
Additionally, on September 30, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) took cognizance of the Lokayukta FIR and filed an enforcement case information report (ECIR), marking a significant escalation in the legal scrutiny facing the Chief Minister.
