The Karnataka High Court has postponed the hearing of a petition calling for a CBI investigation into the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, setting the new date for January 27. Justice M Nagaprasanna, presiding over the case, has instructed the Lokayukta to present the investigation findings to the court by the appointed date.
The petition, lodged by activist Snehamayi Krishna, alleges irregularities in the site allocation practices of MUDA, particularly accusing the authority of favoritism towards Parvathi B M, wife of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The case has stirred considerable public and political interest, with high-profile legal representation evident during the proceedings; Senior Advocates Ravivarma Kumar and Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for the Chief Minister, while Maninder Singh represented Krishna.
During the session, allegations surfaced regarding the disappearance of original documents from MUDA, a claim that adds complexity to the already contentious case. “We will address all issues accordingly. However, it is essential first to receive a comprehensive report from Lokayukta detailing the investigation conducted thus far,” stated Justice Nagaprasanna.
The scandal revolves around the allocation of compensatory sites to the Chief Minister’s wife under a controversial 50:50 scheme, where landowners are compensated with 50 percent of the developed land in return for their undeveloped land acquired by MUDA for residential projects. The scheme has come under scrutiny due to the significantly higher property values of the compensatory land compared to the original plots.
Amidst these accusations, Karnataka Lokayukta police have initiated legal action against Siddaramaiah, Parvathi, his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, and others involved. The Directorate of Enforcement has also begun a probe based on Krishna’s complaint, highlighting the gravity and breadth of the alleged corruption.
