The Karnataka Lokayukta was directed by the Karnataka high court on Tuesday to submit detailed information about its current inquiry into the land allocation matter involving chief minister Siddaramaiah and the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
Additionally, the HC sent letters to the state and union governments, Siddaramaiah, and co-accused parties, requesting their responses. The case’s next hearing is set for November 26.
During a hearing on a petition asking the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to look into the alleged abuse of power in MUDA’s site allocations, Justice M. Nagaprasanna issued this instruction.
Activist Snehamayi Krishna, one of the three individuals who have lodged complaints against Siddaramaiah, submitted the plea. The petitioner has asked for the Lokayukta to hand over the investigation to the CBI.
Senior advocate KG Raghavan, Krishna’s attorney, contended that a conflict of interest would impede an unbiased investigation because the Lokayukta is a state government agency. He said, “We believe that the investigation is not being conducted in a manner that would restore public confidence in the investigation in a matter of this kind.”
When Siddaramaiah’s plea contesting the governor’s approval of corruption charges against him was denied by Justice Nagaprasanna in September, the MUDA investigation gained immediate attention. Soon after, Siddaramaiah, his wife BM Parvathi, his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, and another individual named Devaraju were identified in a formal complaint filed by the Lokayukta. The allegations centre on the allocation of 14 plots, valued at approximately ₹56 crore, to Parvathi in Mysuru’s prime real estate areas, allegedly bypassing standard allotment procedures.
In order to address concerns about possible irregularities in the MUDA allotments, the Lokayukta started its inquiry on September 27 in accordance with a court order. Siddaramaiah acknowledged on Monday, the day before the court hearing, that he had been summoned to appear before the Lokayukta in Mysuru on Wednesday. “Yes, a notice about MUDA has been issued by Mysore Lokayukta. On November 6, I’ll visit Mysore Lokayukta,” he informed reporters.
The ED recently stepped up its investigation on the case’s financial elements, which increased scrutiny. The agency searched several areas in Mangaluru, Bengaluru, Mandya, and Mysuru on October 28. Six MUDA officials have also been called by the ED to participate in additional interrogation in the matter.
