Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has got a big relief. Because, the Lokayukta has given a clean chit to the Chief Minister, his wife and two others citing the lack of evidence in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allocation case. Investigation concluded that the allegations were of civil nature and criminal action was not required.
On behalf of the Lokayukta, the complainant Snehamayi Krishna, who is a journalist and social worker, was informed about the conclusions by sending notice. He has been given a week’s time to challenge the report before the nominated magistrate. The notice of the Lokayukta said that the investigation did not find enough evidence to confirm the allegations and suggested that any discrepancy could arise due to the misconception of the legal provisions.
Criminal disturbances were not found in investigation
In the complaint, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others were accused of irregularity in the allocation of Muda and a case was registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act, benami transactions (prohibition) Act and Karnataka Land Hrat Act. However, no criminal disturbance was found in the Lokayukta investigation, due to which the final report was presented to convince the accused.
Despite a clean chit, the Lokayukta said that the allocation of compensatory land made by MUDA between 2016 and 2024 will still be investigated. A supplementary investigation is going on, and after another report is completed, it will be submitted to the court under Section 173 (8) of the CRPC.
What is muda?
Mysore Urban Development Authority calls Muda in short form. This authority is an autonomous body for the development works of Mysore city. The work of acquisition and allocation of land is the responsibility of the authority. The case is of land scam, so Muda’s name has been joining this case from the beginning. Starts i.e. from 2004. This case is related to the allocation of land parcels as compensation from Muda when Siddaramaiah was the Chief Minister. Social workers alleged that there have been irregularities in this process. Due to this, the government treasury has lost crores. In this case, the names of the top officials of Muda and Revenue Department have also come up.
What is the matter?
In 1992, the Mysore Urban Development Authority took some land from farmers to develop some land in residential areas. He was separated from agricultural land under the process, but in 1998, a part of the land acquired was returned to the farmers. In this way, this land once again became agricultural land. Even everything was fine. Now the controversy started since 2004, during this period, BM Mallikarjun, brother of Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvati, bought 3.16 acres in the same land in the year 2004. During this time, there was a Congress JDS coalition government in Karnataka in 2004-05 and then Siddaramaiah was the deputy CM. During this time, it was revealed that this land was once again separated from the land of agriculture, but by the time the Siddaramaiah reached the family to take ownership of the land, the layout had developed there.
What is CM Siddaramaiah claimed?
CM Siddaramaiaiah also claims that this piece of land, for which his wife received compensation, was gifted by his brother Mallikarjun in 1998, but RTI activist Krishna alleged that Mallikarjun got it illegally in 2004. Was done and registered it using fake documents with the help of government and revenue officials. The land was shown to be purchased in 1998, when Siddaramaiah was the Chief Minister in 2014, his wife Parvati demanded compensation for this land. Siddaramaiah also said that his wife was compensated when the BJP was in power and it was his right.