"Let the political battles be fought before the electorate. Why are you being used..?," the Supreme Court questioned.
Published Jul 21, 2025 | 12:25 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 21, 2025 | 2:13 PM
Supreme Court. (iStock)
Synopsis: The Supreme Court upheld the Karnataka HC order quashing ED summons to CM Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvati and Minister Byrathi Suresh in the alleged MUDA scam. It questioned the ED’s political role. The court found no error in the HC’s reasoning. Earlier, Parvathi had returned 14 MUDA plots; the Lokayukta later closed the case citing lack of evidence.
The Supreme Court on Monday, 21 July upheld the Karnataka High Court’s order of quashing ED summons against Karnataka CM Siddaramiah’s wife BM Parvati and State Minister Byrathi Suresh in connection with alleged MUDA scam.
The apex further questioned the agency why it was being used for “political battles.”
According to Livelaw, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai told Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, “Mr.Raju, please don’t ask us to open our mouths. Otherwise, we will be forced to make some harsh comments about the ED. Unfortunately, I have some experience in Maharashtra. You don’t perpetuate this violence across the country now. Let the political battles be fought before the electorate. Why are you being used as a…?”
Further dismissing the matter, the court observed, “We do not find any error in the reasoning adopted in the approach of the learned single judge. In the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, we dismiss it.”
In March 2025, the high court had quashed the summons issued by the ED against Parvati and Suresh.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah welcoming the Supreme Court’s order said that, it is a “resounding slap of justice on the face of the Central Government.”
He further added, “The Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies, unable to confront me politically, have misused constitutional investigative agencies like the CBI and ED to fabricate a false case against my wife, causing immense harassment. The mental distress inflicted on me and my family by this is something I can never forget.”
“The words from the depths of my heart have been echoed by the Honorable Chief Justice Gavai of the Supreme Court. ‘Political battles should be fought with voters, not by misusing constitutional institutions like the Enforcement Directorate,’ their words reflect the opinion of every conscientious Indian who believes in the Constitution. For the past 10-11 years, the Central Government and the BJP’s misuse of IT, CBI, and ED for political vendetta has caused suffering to many, and this verdict brings solace to all such victims while instilling confidence in the judicial system.”
Criticising the Union government, the chief minister added, “Following this eye-opening order from the Supreme Court, I hope Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will wake up, stop the misuse of constitutional institutions like IT, CBI, and ED, grant them the autonomy they deserve, and atone for their sins.”
Demanding apology from the opposition in the state, he added, “If the BJP and JDS leaders in the state, who have been making baseless allegations against me and my family regarding the MUDA case, have even a shred of dignity or honor left, they should immediately apologize publicly for their mistakes.”
ಮುಡಾ ನಿವೇಶನ ಹಂಚಿಕೆ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಪತ್ನಿ ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ಪಾರ್ವತಿಯವರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ತನಿಖೆ ನಡೆಸಲು ಇ.ಡಿ. ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿರುವ ಮೇಲ್ಮನವಿಯನ್ನು ಸುಪ್ರೀಂ ಕೋರ್ಟ್ ವಜಾ ಮಾಡಿ ನೀಡಿರುವ ಐತಿಹಾಸಿಕ ಆದೇಶ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಕಪಾಳಕ್ಕೆ ನ್ಯಾಯದಂಡ ಬಾರಿಸಿರುವ ತಪರಾಕಿಯಾಗಿದೆ.
ಸುಪ್ರೀಂಕೋರ್ಟ್ ನ ಗೌರವಾನ್ವಿತ ಮುಖ್ಯ ನ್ಯಾಯಮೂರ್ತಿಗಳಾದ ಬಿ.ಆರ್.ಗವಾಯಿ… pic.twitter.com/xuJ9q04fwo
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 21, 2025
Siddaramaiah’s family has been accused of misusing public office to obtain 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.
After reports of ED registering an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against Siddaramaiah and his family members emerged, Parvathi voluntarily returned the 14 sites to MUDA officials on 1 October 2024. Acting on Parvathi’s letter, MUDA officials carried out due process and took back the sites on 3 October 2024.
However, on 19 February, the Mysuru Lokayukta Police closed the case against citing insufficient evidence.
In a notice to the original complainant, journalist and activist Snehamayi Krishna, Lokayukta SP Udesh stated that the case was civil in nature and did not warrant further criminal investigation.
“This is civil in nature, not suitable for investigation, indicates wrong understanding of law, and the complaint also contains dismissed cases. Also there is lack of sufficient evidence according to Lok notice. All accused’s accusations are not proven due to lack of evidence. The final report has been submitted to the court, and if there are any objections, they must be raised with the judge within a week,” the notice read.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
