Bengaluru: In a significant legal and political development, the Karnataka High Court upheld the Governor’s decision to sanction the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, dismissing a petition challenging the move. Justice M Nagaprasanna, who presided over the case, stated that the Governor "did apply his mind in abundance" and that the decision was free from any "non-application of mind."
The court ruled that there was no fault in the Governor's actions and emphasized the need for further investigation into the allegations surrounding the Chief Minister. The petition challenging the prosecution was thus dismissed.
Following this, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the Chief Minister, requested the court to stay its order for two weeks. However, Justice Nagaprasanna declined, stating that he could not stay his own order.
Security tightened
Ahead of the court’s ruling, security measures were intensified around Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's residence, with police placed on high alert to prevent any "untoward incidents." The situation underscored the political sensitivity surrounding the case, which revolves around an alleged land scam involving Siddaramaiah and his family.
BJP demands resignation
Following the verdict, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) escalated its demands for the CM's resignation. BJP state unit chief, BY Vijayendra, called for Siddaramaiah to "resign immediately," asserting that the High Court's decision validated their claims against the Congress government.
"The BJP has been relentlessly fighting against the corrupt Congress government. They accused us of political conspiracy, but the High Court has clearly stated that the Governor's decision is correct. The Chief Minister should accept this and resign without further delay," Vijayendra declared.
Shivakumar supports Siddaramaiah
In response, the Congress party, which has faced criticism over the verdict ahead of the upcoming Haryana elections, stood firmly behind CM Siddaramaiah. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, a prominent Congress leader in the state, dismissed the verdict as part of a "big conspiracy" against the party's leadership. Shivakumar reiterated that the party would continue to fight the legal battle, adding that they respected the judiciary and were confident of obtaining justice in the long run.
"I repeat, there is no setback for the Chief Minister. It is a massive conspiracy against our leaders, and we will fight it out. We believe in the legal system, and we will get justice," Shivakumar told reporters.
Shivakumar’s vocal support for Siddaramaiah is seen as crucial in light of past political tensions between the two. The two leaders were reportedly at odds over the Chief Minister’s post following the Congress' victory in last year’s Karnataka Assembly elections.
Governor’s sanction to prosecute was illegal: Singhvi
Siddaramaiah's legal team, led by Abhishek Singhvi, argued that the Governor’s sanction to prosecute was "illegal" because it was granted without the state government’s approval. Singhvi contended that the Governor "hasn’t applied his mind" and that the order was therefore fully reviewable by the court.
"You are negating the mandate of the people," Singhvi argued, stressing that the Governor had made his decision without consulting the state government. He also emphasized that such a sanction should not have been granted without inputs from Siddaramaiah himself.
The court, however, held that the Governor’s decision could be considered an "independent action" and did not necessarily require the advice of state ministers. This perspective effectively upheld the Governor’s authority in this matter, as per the constitutional framework.
Alleged land scam
The prosecution stems from an alleged land scam involving the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), in which the Chief Minister, his wife, and senior MUDA officials were accused of illegal land allotments. The complaint, filed by activist TJ Abraham, claims that 14 alternative sites in a prime Mysuru neighborhood were allotted illegally, resulting in a loss of Rs 45 crore to the state exchequer. These 14 sites were allocated to Siddaramaiah’s wife, Parvathi, in Mysuru, as compensation for land taken for infrastructure development elsewhere. Critics claim the value of the compensated land far exceeds that of the land taken, with the discrepancy ranging between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000 crore.
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