Bengaluru: Facing prosecution over alleged irregularities in land allotment by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority and demands for his resignation from the opposition BJP, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated on Monday that he has committed no wrongdoing throughout his four-decade political career.
The senior Congress leader asserted that, despite serving as both Chief Minister and Minister, he has “never misused power for personal gain.” He also dismissed the BJP’s protests, saying, “In politics, it’s natural for parties to protest… let them protest; I am innocent.”
Siddaramaiah expressed confidence in the judicial system, noting, “A petition has been filed and is scheduled for hearing. I am confident of receiving interim relief and having the prosecution sanctioned by the Governor quashed.”
This morning, the Chief Minister filed a petition with the Karnataka High Court challenging the Governor’s decision.
On Saturday, Siddaramaiah tweeted that the Governor’s decision was “anti-Constitution” and “against the law,” adding, “It will be challenged in court. I have done nothing wrong to warrant resignation.”
A significant controversy erupted in Karnataka over the weekend after Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot approved the prosecution of the Chief Minister on corruption charges related to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, following petitions from three activists.
The Governor stated that his order was essential for ensuring a “neutral, objective, and non-partisan investigation,” and expressed that he is prima facie “satisfied” that the alleged infractions were indeed committed.
The Congress party reacted strongly to the sanction, staging state-wide protests including sit-ins, foot marches, and rallies in district headquarters such as Mysuru.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized the Governor as being a “puppet” of the BJP, the primary opposition party in the state. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah’s deputy, DK Shivakumar, denounced the sanction as the “murder of democracy.”
The Governor’s decision to sanction the prosecution came after issuing a notice to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, asking him to explain why the investigation should not proceed. Siddaramaiah was given seven days to respond.
The state government has denounced the notice as a “gross misuse of Constitutional office.”
As the controversy has intensified, with calls for Siddaramaiah’s resignation mounting, the Chief Minister has remained resolute, questioning, “Why should I resign? The Governor should resign instead, as he has acted like a puppet for the Government of India…”
The BJP has demanded Siddaramaiah’s resignation to allow the investigation to proceed. This challenge marks the first significant test for the ruling Congress since their unexpected landslide victory in the 2023 Assembly elections.
MUDA Land Scam Case Explained
The alleged MUDA scam centers on the valuation of land allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, in a high-end area of Mysuru as compensation for land acquired elsewhere for infrastructure development. Critics claim that the value of the allotted land is grossly inflated by ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 crore compared to the land taken.
In a complaint filed by activist TJ Abraham, which named the Chief Minister, his wife, his son, and senior MUDA officials, it was alleged that the allotment of 14 alternative sites in a Mysuru neighborhood was illegal and resulted in a ₹45 crore loss.
Siddaramaiah claimed that the land was gifted by his wife’s brother in 1998. However, activist Snehamayi Krishna alleged that the brother had acquired the land illegally and registered it using forged documents with the help of government officials, falsely showing it as purchased in 1998.
In 2014, while Siddaramaiah was Chief Minister, his wife sought compensation for the land.
