BREAKING: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah gets relief as HC rejects MUDA case transfer to CBI
The Karnataka High Court refused to transfer the MUDA land allotment case against CM Siddaramaiah to the CBI, providing him relief. The case, involving alleged corruption in land compensation to his wife, will continue under the Karnataka Lokayukta. The verdict is a setback for complainant Snehamayi Krishna.
FollowKarnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has received a major relief in the ongoing MUDA land allotment case. The Dharwad bench of the Karnataka High Court has dismissed a petition seeking the transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The bench, headed by Justice Nagaprasanna, announced its verdict on Friday, refusing to hand over the investigation to the CBI.
The case revolves around allegations of corruption in the allotment of land to Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathy, by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The complainant, Snehamayi Krishna, had filed a petition in the High Court, seeking the transfer of the case, arguing that since Siddaramaiah is the Chief Minister, it would not be fair for state agencies to conduct the investigation. Krishna believed that only the CBI could handle the case impartially.
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However, the court ruled that the investigation, which is already being conducted by the Karnataka Lokayukta and state agencies, should continue. This ruling comes as a setback for Snehamayi Krishna, who had hoped for a CBI probe into the matter.
The controversy centers around the land allegedly gifted to Siddaramaiah’s wife by her brother, Mallikarjuna Swamy. The complaint states that the land, initially acquired and later de-notified, was developed by MUDA, and Parvathy received a higher amount of compensation than she was entitled to. Under the 50:50 scheme, she reportedly received 14 alternative lands, which were valued more than the original three acres.
Swamy claims that he purchased the land in 2004 and later gifted it to his sister. However, the involvement of MUDA in the development of the land raised concerns of illegal practices, leading to accusations of corruption.
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In July 2024, after private complaints from activists T.J. Abraham, Snehamayi Krishna, and Pradeep Kumar S.P., the Karnataka Governor permitted the registration of a corruption case against Siddaramaiah. Siddaramaiah challenged the action in the High Court, asserting that the decision to grant compensation to his wife was made independently and without his influence.
In September 2024, the High Court dismissed Siddaramaiah’s petition, and the Karnataka Lokayukta subsequently filed an FIR against him and three others, charging them with corruption, cheating, and forgery. Despite this, the High Court’s recent decision ensures that the investigation will remain under the Lokayukta’s jurisdiction and not be transferred to the CBI.
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