Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah faces Lokayukta police in MUDA land scam case

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appeared before the Lokayukta police in Mysuru on Wednesday regarding the MUDA land allotment case. This investigation, initiated after a private complaint, alleges corruption, cheating, and forgery linked to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment to Siddaramaiah’s wife, B M Parvathi, in 2021.

According to the case, in 2021, MUDA allotted 14 valuable housing sites to Parvathi as compensation for 3.16 acres of lower-value land gifted to her by her brother in 2010. Siddaramaiah, however, denies involvement in the allotment process, noting that the transaction occurred during BJP’s administration. His wife has since returned the MUDA sites after a corruption complaint led to a money laundering probe by the Enforcement Directorate in September.

The Lokayukta police issued a notice to Siddaramaiah last week, calling him to clarify his role in the allotment. Meanwhile, RTI activist and original complainant Snehamayi Krishna sought a CBI investigation, citing impartiality concerns, as the Lokayukta operates under the state government led by Siddaramaiah. The Karnataka High Court has requested a status report from the Lokayukta by November 26, though the court had earlier rejected Siddaramaiah’s plea to halt the investigation. The HC noted it “difficult to believe” that the CM was uninvolved, citing a family gain of approximately Rs 56 crore from the transaction.

An appeal by Siddaramaiah, challenging the investigation order, remains pending in the High Court.