The Karnataka Lokayukta filed an FIR in the MUDA scam on 27 September, naming Siddaramaiah, his wife BM Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, and Devaraju, from whom Swamy purchased land gifted to Parvathi.
Published Oct 26, 2024 | 10:30 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 26, 2024 | 10:30 AM
Mysuru Urban Development Authority. (Supplied)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife BM Parvathy was questioned by Lokayukta in relation to the MUDA scam on Friday, 25 October, for about four hours in Mysuru.
She was reportedly questioned from around 8 am to 12.30 pm. It has also been reported that Parvathi produced all documents, answered all queries and co-operated with officials.
The Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam came to the limelight in June 2024, with RTI activists alleging the involvement of politicians and their relatives, including Parvathi in the case.
A month later on 18 July, social activist TJ Abraham filed a complaint with the Lokayukta police in Mysuru. On 21 July, he petitioned the governor, seeking sanction for the prosecution of the chief minister.
On 17 August, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot permitted to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA land allotment case.
The Karnataka Lokayukta filed an FIR in the MUDA scam on 27 September, naming Siddaramaiah, his wife BM Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, and Devaraju, from whom Swamy purchased land gifted to Parvathi.
This action followed a special court’s directive and the Karnataka High Court’s endorsement of Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s approval for the investigation against the chief minister.
After reports of ED registering an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against Siddaramaiah and his family members emerged, CM’s wife Parvathi voluntarily returned the 14 sites to MUDA officials on 1 October. Acting on Parvathi’s letter, MUDA officials carried out due process and took back the sites on 3 October.
Additionally, on the CM’s instructions, Congress leader K Marigowda also resigned as the chairperson of MUDA on 16 October.
Siddaramaiah’s family has been accused of illegally obtaining 14 sites — at a prime locality in Mysuru — as compensation from the MUDA over the alleged illegal encroachment of 3.16 acres of land by the local development authority.
The MUDA had allotted plots to his wife Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of her land, where MUDA developed a residential layout.
Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 percent of developed land to the land losers instead of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts.
BJP leaders have claimed that the MUDA “scam” is of the magnitude of ₹4,000 crore to ₹5,000 crore.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula, with inputs from Mahesh G Goudar)
