In the Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) site allocation case, the Karnataka Lokayukta awarded Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife, and two other people a clean sheet. The anti-corruption watchdog is expected to publish a B-report, claiming a lack of proof. According to the investigation’s findings, the accusations were civil in nature and did not call for criminal action.
Journalist and social activist Snehamayi Krishna, the complainant, received a note alerting him to the results. He has one week to contest the report in front of the assigned magistrate. According to the Lokayukta’s notice, the investigation did not discover enough evidence to support the allegations and hypothesized that any inconsistencies might have resulted from a misinterpretation of the law.
The case, which was filed under several provisions of the IPC, the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, and the Karnataka Land Grabbing Act, accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others of irregularities in Muda’s site allocations. A final report exonerating the accused was submitted after the Lokayukta’s investigation revealed no criminal activity.
Snehamayi Krishna, the complainant, reacted angrily to the development by accusing the Lokayukta personnel of working under political influence. “Whatever I suspected about the Lokayukta officers has come true. They have sold their conscience, been influenced by politicians, and worked against their duty. Despite providing all kinds of evidence, they are falsely claiming a lack of proof.”
He further said, “They assert that there is insufficient evidence against all four accused – Siddaramaiah, his wife, Mallikarjun, and Devaraj – and intend to file a ‘B report’ on the case. Moreover, they have even issued a notice to me. It is shameful that an educated IPS officer has conducted such an investigation. I have only studied up to the 10th grade, but I will ensure that Siddaramaiah is brought to justice and punished under the law.”
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka also hit out at the Lokayukta’s findings, calling it a “clean chit guarantee machine” under the Siddaramaiah-led government. In a post on X, he said, “The Lokayukta investigation in the MUDA land scam was an investigation of Siddaramaiah, by Siddaramaiah, and for Siddaramaiah. Congress ministers and MLAs had given a clean chit to the CM and his wife even before the investigation had begun. So it is no surprise that the Lokayukta police has now submitted a B report giving a clean chit to the CM and his wife. Neither the people of Karnataka expected that the Lokayukta investigation would bring justice in this case.”
Taking aim at Siddaramaiah, Ashoka further added, “CM @siddaramaiah avare, your desperate efforts to bury the truth and jeopardise justice will not succeed. Justice may have been delayed but won’t be denied. Truth and truth alone will win.”
The Lokayukta stated that compensatory land allotments made by Muda between 2016 and 2024 will still be closely examined notwithstanding the clean sheet. A supplemental investigation is in progress, and upon completion, a follow-up report will be filed with the court pursuant to Section 173(8) of the CrPC.
