A team of 12 officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a search at the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) office on Friday as part of a money laundering investigation concerning Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his family. This investigation arises from allegations that they profited from questionable land allotments facilitated by MUDA.
The ED’s inquiry centers around a specific transaction involving Siddaramaiah’s wife, BN Parvathi, who was reportedly allocated 14 plots of land in an upscale Mysuru neighborhood in exchange for 3.16 acres elsewhere. Anti-corruption activists assert that this exchange cost the state ₹45 crore, raising significant ethical and legal concerns.
During the raid, ED officials met with MUDA Commissioner Raghunandan and other staff members from the Special Land Acquisition Office. They are expected to seize pertinent documents related to the case. The agency has announced that it will scrutinize all officials involved in the alleged scam.
In addition to the MUDA office, the ED carried out searches at various locations across Mysuru, although these sites are not directly connected to Siddaramaiah or his family. The raids come on the heels of K Mari Gowda’s resignation as MUDA chief, a decision he stated was prompted by health concerns rather than political pressure from the Chief Minister, despite being a long-time associate of Siddaramaiah.
The legal troubles for Siddaramaiah escalated when Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot authorized the prosecution against him. This decision was promptly challenged in the High Court, but Siddaramaiah lost that challenge. Subsequently, a trial court framed charges against him, and the ED has accused him of evidence destruction.
While BN Parvathi has returned the 14 plots in question, MUDA officials clarified that this action will not impede the ongoing investigation against her, Siddaramaiah, or her brother.
Facing mounting pressure from opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular), to resign, Siddaramaiah has vehemently denied all allegations against him. “I will fight. I am not afraid of anything,” he stated, signaling his intent to contest the charges.
As the investigation unfolds, the implications for Siddaramaiah’s political future remain uncertain, with the ED’s actions likely to draw further scrutiny and debate in the Karnataka political landscape.
Sources By Agencies
