Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah reaches High Court against Governor’s order in Muda case
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has approached the Karnataka High Court. He has challenged the order of Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, which allowed prosecution against him in the alleged Muda case.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had recently sought the cabinet’s opinion to prosecute the Chief Minister in the alleged Muda (Mysore Urban Development Authority) land scam. After which a cabinet meeting was held on Thursday, in which the Governor was advised to withdraw the show cause notice. The cabinet also termed it as an attempt to destabilize the majority elected government.
However, the Governor took opinion from legal experts in this regard. After which the Governor approved the prosecution against the Chief Minister. In this case, the complainants had sought approval to prosecute the Chief Minister under Section 17 and 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 218 of the Indian Civil Defense Code, 2023 in the Muda case. Many other complainants including anti-corruption activist TJ Abraham allege that the state treasury has suffered a loss of Rs 45 crore due to illegal allocation in the Muda scam. The complaint sought prosecution against CM Siddaramaiah, his wife, son and Muda Commissioner.
What is Muda corruption case
Mysore Urban Development Authority or Muda is the state level development agency of Karnataka. The job of this agency is to promote urban development and develop quality infrastructure. Also, to provide housing to the people at affordable price. Muda had come up with a scheme for the people who lost their land during urban development. In this scheme named 50:50, people who lost land were entitled to 50% of the developed land. This scheme was implemented for the first time in 2009. Which was stopped in 2020 under the then BJP government.
It is alleged that even after the closure of the scheme, MUDA continued to acquire and allot land under the 50:50 scheme. The whole controversy is related to this. It is alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvati was benefited under this. It is alleged that 3 acres and 16 guntas of land of the Chief Minister’s wife was acquired by MUDA. In return, 14 sites were allotted in an expensive area. This land in Kesare, on the outskirts of Mysore, was gifted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvati by her brother Mallikarjuna Swamy in 2010. It is alleged that MUDA developed the Devnur III phase scheme without acquiring this land.
Based on the application made by Chief Minister Parvati for compensation, MUDA allotted 14 sites in Vijayanagar III and IV Phases. The allotment was for a total area of 38,284 sq ft under the state government’s 50:50 ratio scheme. The 14 sites allotted in the name of the Chief Minister’s wife are facing scam charges. The opposition says that irregularities have been committed in the allotment of these sites to Parvati by MUDA.
