Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to be prosecuted in MUDA scam case

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Saturday granted sanction for prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment 'scam’."The Governor has granted sanction for prosecution against the Chief Minister. It is based on three petitions filed by -- T J Abraham, Pradeep Kumar and Snehamayi Krishna," as per sources of Raj Bhavan. The Governor's secretariat has written to Pradeep Kumar S P, T J Abraham and Snehamayi Krishna about the decision of the component authority on the request of sanction of prosecution against Siddaramaiah, under section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and section 218 of Bharithiya Nagarika Suraksha Samhitha, 2023 for the commission of alleged offences mentioned in the petitions.

Earlier, on July 26, Governor Gehlot had issued a "show-cause notice" to CM Siddaramaiah, asking him to respond within seven days why he should not face prosecution. In response, the Karnataka cabinet had "strongly recommended" that the governor retract the notice issued to the chief minister, accusing him of misusing his constitutional role.
The Chief Minister, who has been denying the allegations, is likely to challenge the Governor's permission for prosecution in court.According to him, the land allocation to his wife was completed following all due legal procedures. Reacting to opposition parties' protest marches over the 'scam', the Chief Minister recently asserted, "I will not budge, no matter how many padayatras the BJP and JD(S) undertake with their evil intentions".
In a complaint filed with the Lokayukta police in July, Abraham had alleged that the allotment of 14 alternative sites in an upscale Mysuru neighbourhood to Siddaramaiah's wife BM Parvathi was illegal, which caused the exchequer a Rs 45 crore loss.The complaint named Siddaramaiah, wis wife, son S Yathindra, and senior MUDA officials.Another activist, Snehamayi Krishna also alleged the involvement of Siddaramaiah, his wife, and MUDA and administrative officials in the alleged land scam. A fresh FIR was not filed as the police said probe was already underway in the case.

Home Minister Parameshwara on Saturday decried that the Governor's office has been 'misused' after Thaawarchand Gehlot granted sanction to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with alternative site scam in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority.He claimed that there was pressure from the top on Governor Gehlot, which is now proved.

(State Correspondent)