The CM of Karnataka Siddaramaiah has found himself in big trouble even as the Governor has given approval for his prosecution in the MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority) scam, a case related to alleged irregularities in the site allotment by the authority. However, the CM would be challenging the approval given by the governor into the case.
BJP v/s Congress over the issue:
The Karnataka Government has been questioned and targeted by the BJP over the MUDA scam and has been demanding the CM should resign.
However, the Karnataka CM has categorically refuted the allegations against him and his spouse BM Parvathi. He also hit back at the BJP, and also termed the charges as ‘Politically Motivated’. He also said that his spouse was given the compensation during the tenure of the BJP government and it was also her right.
The Karnataka CM said that his wife’s brother Mallikarjun had gifted that land for which she had received compensation in 1998. However, the activist made an allegation that it was procured illegally by Mallikarjun in 2004 which was done with the help of forged documentation with the assistance of the officials of the government. Ms. Parvathi, spouse of the CM, had sought compensation for land in 2014 in the tenure of Siddaramaiah as CM.
What’s the scam about:
The MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority) land scam is a case which is related to the allocation of the land-parcels to the spouse of the Siddaramaiah during his tenure as the CM of the state. There were allegations by the activists that there were some irregularities in the procedure and claimed that there have been losses worth crores to the state.
Pradeep Kumar, TJ Abraham and Snehamayi Krishna were 3 activists who had requested the Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to take some action against the Karnataka CM
Mr. Abraham who’s an anti-corruption crusader has also made allegations that the multi-crore scam has led to huge losses to the state while addressing the petition to the governor while asking him to sanction the prosecution against the CM. He had in July also made a complaint to Lokayukta police about allocation of 14 sites in the vicinity of Mysuru to the spouse of Siddaramaiah was illegal, thus leading to loss of 45 crores. Apart from the name of CM, the complaint also named his wife and son S Yathindra and some officials from MUDA.
Another activist known as Snehamayi Krishna had also claimed the involvement of the Karnataka CM, his spouse and also officers belonging from MUDA and other officials from administration. However, the police didn’t not file a fresh FIR as the investigation was already ongoing.
Timeline of the case:
In 1996-97, a land of 3.16 acres was acquired by the MUDA authority in Kesare village from Mysuru as they paid 3.7 lakh as compensation to a local farmer.
In 1998, the land was dropped from the land acquisition. In 2004, Mallikarjun who’s the brother-in-law of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah had purchased the 3.16-acre land from the son of the owner who had died.
In 2010, the land was gifted to the spouse of Karnataka CM’s spouse Parvathy BM. In the period of 2011-14, the land was allegedly taken by MUDA. In 2013, the affidavit of Siddaramaiah made no mention of the same in his affidavit.
In 2014, his wife had demanded a plot in the place of lost land. MUDA in 2021 had offered 14 plots to his wife. In 2024, the Opposition claimed that the land exchange was illegal while the CM said he’s ready to return plots in return for compensation.
