MUDA Land Scam Case: The Karnataka High Court on Monday issued a directive to the trial court, instructing it not to take any action against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah till further orders. This directive follows the approval from Governor Thawaar Chand Gehlot to prosecute Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam. The interim relief granted to the Chief Minister will remain in place until August 29, when the High Court is scheduled to hear the case again.
Siddaramaiah Challenges Governor's Sanction
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sought interim relief from the High Court, challenging the Governor's decision to permit his prosecution. Siddaramaiah argued that the Governor's action was "illegal and without authority of law" and claimed that proceeding with the prosecution would cause "grave and imminent risk of irreparable harm" to his reputation. Additionally, he asserted that the prosecution could disrupt governance and potentially lead to political destabilization in Karnataka.
The High Court, in its order, stated that the trial court should defer its proceedings until the next hearing. The court observed that the documents submitted by Siddaramaiah indicated several points that suggested a lack of proper consideration by the Governor when granting sanction for prosecution.
Concerns Over Governor's Decision-Making Process
During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Siddaramaiah, argued that the Governor had approved the prosecution at an unusually fast pace, following the filing of a complaint on July 26. Singhvi urged the court to prevent any "precipitate action" against the Chief Minister, claiming that the Governor's decision was part of a "concerted effort to destabilize the duly elected government of Karnataka."
Singhvi further contended that the Governor's sanction was based on a complaint filed by activist TJ Abraham, out of 12 to 15 similar complaints still pending. He argued that the conditions required for applying Section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, under which Siddaramaiah has been charged, were not met. Singhvi also pointed out discrepancies in the Governor's order, noting that the show-cause notice sent to Siddaramaiah referenced one complaint, while the sanction to prosecute mentioned "other complaints."
Singhvi criticized the Governor's actions, suggesting that there was "legal malice" against the Chief Minister. He emphasized that the Governor's decision appeared to be influenced by external factors, describing it as a case of someone approaching a "friendly governor" to initiate proceedings against Siddaramaiah.
Siddaramaiah Maintains His Innocence
Earlier, CM Siddaramaiah addressed the situation, expressing confidence in the judiciary's ability to deliver a fair judgment. He stated that in his four decades of political career, during which he has served as both Chief Minister and Minister, he had "never misused power for personal gains." Siddaramaiah also dismissed protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the case, asserting his innocence and maintaining that he is "clean."
Controversy Over the MUDA Land Scam
The controversy erupted in Karnataka over the weekend after the Governor sanctioned Siddaramaiah's prosecution on corruption charges related to the MUDA case. The case revolves around allegations that the value of land allotted to the Chief Minister's wife, Parvathi, in a prime area of Mysuru far exceeded the value of land taken for infrastructure development elsewhere. Critics claim the value of the allotted land was overestimated by ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 crore.
In the complaint filed by activist TJ Abraham, Siddaramaiah, his wife, son, and senior MUDA officials are accused of illegally allotting 14 alternative sites in a Mysuru neighborhood, resulting in a loss of ₹45 crore. Siddaramaiah has defended the land allotment, claiming it was a gift from his wife's brother in 1998. However, another activist, Snehmayi Krishna, alleged that the brother had acquired the land illegally and registered it using forged documents with assistance from government officials.
The ongoing legal battle and the implications of the Governor's sanction have sparked significant political and public interest, with the next court hearing eagerly anticipated.
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