While not officially confirmed, this development reportedly follows a complaint by activist Snehamayi Krishna, with the investigation likely proceeding under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Published Sep 30, 2024 | 10:14 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 01, 2024 | 8:41 AM
ED names CM Siddaramaiah, family in ₹56 crore land allotment scam
Several unconfirmed reports claimed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case of money laundering and filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case. The reports could not be independently verified.
Although no official confirmation has come from either ED or CMO Karnataka, this alleged development is said to follow a complaint filed by social activist Snehamayi Krishna, one of the petitioners involved in the MUDA case.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the investigation will proceed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)
In June this year, even as news about the MUDA scam trickled in, an RTI activist revealed the involvement of politicians and their relatives, including Parvathi Siddaramaiah. 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.
Mysuru social activist Snehamayi Krishna moved the Special Court for People’s Representatives, seeking an independent probe.
The Special Court in Bengaluru acted upon the petition from Snehamayi Krishna, directing the Mysuru Lokayukta Police to investigate allegations that the Chief Minister’s wife received 14 sites unlawfully as compensation from the MUDA. The court requested a report on the findings within three months.
Days after the Special Court for elected representatives instructed the Karnataka Lokayukta to investigate allegations against the Chief Minister, an FIR was filed against him on 27 September. In the FIR, Siddaramaiah was designated as A1 (Accused 1), while his wife, Parvathi, was listed as A2 (Accused 2).
Even as the Karnataka Lokayukta filed an FIR against Siddaramaiah, one of the complainants in the MUDA case approached the court seeking a CBI inquiry.
Snehamayi Krishna told reporters in Mysuru: “We have filed another writ petition before the High Court to handover the investigation to the CBI on two grounds: one, Lokayukta falls under the state government and there are chances of influencing the case. Two, there is a rule that CBI has to probe cases that are booked against the Chief Minister and if the irregularities amount to more than Rs 50 crore.”
In the FIR filed by Lokayukta SP Udesh, additional accused include the Chief Minister’s brother-in-law, Mallikarjuna Swamy, and Devaraju, the individual who sold the land in question.
This followed the Karnataka High Court’s dismissal of the Chief Minister’s petition that challenged Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s approval for the investigation into the MUDA scam. Justice M. Nagaprasanna, presiding over the single judge bench, stated that the facts presented in the petition warranted further investigation.
