Published Jul 15, 2024 | 12:20 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 15, 2024 | 8:37 AM
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
The Karnataka government on Sunday, 15 July ordered the formation of an inquiry commission into the alleged alternative site scam in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
According to the order, High Court judge (retd) Justice PN Desai will head the single-member commission.
The commission will be required to complete the inquiry and submit its report to the state government within six months. The departments concerned and the MUDA officials will have to cooperate with the investigation by providing the necessary documents and information to Justice Desai, the order said.
The government passed the order late Sunday night ahead of the Legislature session, which will start on 15 July and culminate on 26 July.
The scam gathered steam after the BJP alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi was one of the beneficiaries of alternative sites (plots).
Siddaramaiah categorically rejected the allegation and claimed that MUDA “illegally” took over the four acres of land belonging to his wife and formed a layout without her permission.
The CM said MUDA compensated them by providing them alternative plots. The BJP has raised doubts about the claim saying how can MUDA touch such a “high profile” property.
Mysuru’s RTI activist Gangaraju exposed the alleged illegal allotment of 14 plots, in a prime space, by the MUDA to the Chief Minister’s family in 2022. Apart from this, there are also allegations of several such irregularities in the MUDA.
The irregularities are estimated anywhere around ₹5,000 crore. Not only the opposition, but also civil society groups in Mysuru are demanding for a thorough investigation of the alleged land scam in the MUDA.
Gangaraju had earlier told South First: “The tale of CM Siddaramaiah family’s irregularities pertaining to the MUDA dates back to early 1990s. In 1992, the MUDA notified 130 acres to develop a layout in Devanuru 3rd stage, which also includes part of Kesari village, in Mysuru.”
In 1996-97, the MUDA adhering to the procedures issued preliminary notice and after 15 days awarded final notice and also called for objection over layout development from the land holders. After two years, following no objections filed on the proposal, the MUDA awarded 130 acres layout development work to L&T. The project was approved from the Karnataka government as well.
He further said: “The MUDA developed sites in survey no 462 and 464 as well. In 1998, the government denotified the lands without taking any opinion of the MUDA.” Incidentally, JH Patel was the Chief Minister during this period, leading a Janata Dal government and Siddaramaiah was his Deputy.
“The land owners of survey no 462 submitted the notification copy to MUDA and carried out further procedures.”
Meanwhile, the BJP leaders are up in arms against Siddaramaiah’s family over alleged irregularities pertaining to creating fake documents and claiming compensation from the MUDA, with using muscle and money power.
The BJP staged a demonstration over the matter in Mysuru on 12 July.
(Edited by Neena with PTI inputs)
(South First is now on WhatsApp and Telegram)
