In a development that could pose challenges for Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Saturday granted permission to prosecute the Chief Minister in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, according to Raj Bhavan sources. In response, the Karnataka government announced its intention to challenge the Governor’s decision by filing a petition in the High Court.
An order issued by the Karnataka Governor’s Secretariat on August 17 stated: “As directed by the Hon’ble Governor, I hereby enclose a copy of the decision of the Competent Authority in respect of the application for sanction to prosecute Chief Minister Shri Siddaramaiah under Section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 218 of the Bharathiya Nagarika Suraksha Samhitha, 2023, for the alleged offences mentioned in the petitions.”
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also reacted to the news saying that the entire Cabinet is with him. “The entire Cabinet, the party high command, all MPs, councillors, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs are with me…,” he said. The Karnataka government has said that it will challenge the Governor’s action in the High Court.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar today said that the state government will stand with all its might behind Siddaramaiah. “We stand with CM Siddaramaiah. The party, the high command of the entire state and the cabinet are with him. We will fight him legally and also politically… Whatever notice and penalty has been given is against the law. We have made all preparations to fight it legally. This is nothing but a clear conspiracy against the backward class CM Siddaramaiah who is heading the government for the second time.”
Social activist Snehamayi Krishna had earlier filed a complaint against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and nine others, alleging that they forged documents to claim compensation from the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). Responding to these allegations earlier this month, CM Siddaramaiah had said, “In the MUDA case, everything was done as per law. I have not exerted any influence on the allotment of the plot. My wife was given a replacement plot in 2021 during the BJP government’s tenure, as per law.”
The complaint accuses Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathy and his brother-in-law Malikarjuna Swamy Devaraj, who claimed to be a landowner, of wrongdoing. It also alleges that MUDA created fake documents to obtain plots worth crores of rupees. Snehamayi Krishna’s complaint raises several questions about these transactions.
The BJP has demanded that the land given to the CM’s family be returned, accusing Siddaramaiah of confiscating land belonging to the Dalit community.
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