In a high-stakes legal battle, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday scheduled the next hearing for a plea seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. The case, which has implicated Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife, has drawn intense scrutiny, with allegations of illegal site allotments and money laundering.
Senior advocate KG Raghavan, representing the petitioner, strongly advocated for an independent CBI investigation, citing concerns over potential state government influence. “The petitioner is seeking a CBI independent agency investigation which doesn’t come under the influence of the state government or the Chief Minister,” Raghavan argued in court.
Currently, the Lokayukta Police is investigating the MUDA scam, but the plea has called for a transfer of the investigation to ensure impartiality.
This development follows Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s plea challenging a Karnataka High Court order that upheld Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s approval for an investigation into his alleged involvement in the MUDA scam. The Governor’s sanction was granted under Section 17 A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Surakha Sanhita, 2023.
Earlier, on September 23, Justice Nagaprasanna ruled that the Governor’s decision did not suffer from “non-application of mind.” Siddaramaiah, however, has questioned the legality of the sanction and continues to challenge the ruling.
The scandal centers on allegations that MUDA illegally allotted 14 prime sites in Mysuru city to Siddaramaiah’s wife. On September 27, the Lokayukta Police filed an FIR following court orders to investigate these claims. Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah and others, further complicating the Chief Minister’s position.
Siddaramaiah has categorically denied all allegations, labeling the case as “politically motivated” and refusing to step down despite mounting pressure from the opposition BJP. “This is a deliberate attempt to tarnish my reputation,” Siddaramaiah said in his defense, accusing the BJP of orchestrating the controversy to destabilize his government.
The BJP, however, has intensified its demands for Siddaramaiah’s resignation, citing the severity of the allegations and the need for an unbiased investigation.
The Karnataka High Court has adjourned the hearing on Siddaramaiah’s plea to January 20, while the petition for a CBI probe continues to gather momentum. As legal and political battles escalate, all eyes remain on the court’s upcoming decisions, which could have significant implications for Siddaramaiah’s political future and the integrity of the ongoing investigations.
This case underscores the growing demand for transparency and accountability in handling high-profile corruption allegations, as Karnataka grapples with one of its most contentious political scandals in recent history.
