Governor Greenlights Prosecution Of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA Land Scam

On Saturday, August 17, Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot granted permission to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah concerning a complaint linked to the contentious Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allocation case. The decision has intensified political tensions in the state.

RTI activist TJ Abraham, who brought the alleged "MUDA scam" to light, has been directed to meet with the Governor at Raj Bhavan at 3 PM on Saturday. In India, the Governor's consent is mandatory to prosecute a sitting Chief Minister.

The allegations surrounding the MUDA land allocation have created a political firestorm in Karnataka. The controversy revolves around claims that Parvathi Siddaramaiah, the wife of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, benefited from the irregular land allotments by MUDA.

According to the allegations, MUDA acquired Parvathi Siddaramaiah’s three-acre plot in Kesare village, Mysuru, in 2021 for developmental purposes. In exchange, she reportedly received other plots in the upscale Vijayanagar area of south Mysuru. Critics claim that the market value of the Vijayanagar plots is significantly higher than that of her original land in Kesare.

Abraham, who serves as the President of the Karnataka Anti-Graft and Environmental Forum, complained alleging that Siddaramaiah deliberately omitted his wife’s ownership of the aforementioned land in his 2023 Assembly election affidavit. He argued that this omission was made with full knowledge and with possible ulterior motives, citing violations under Section 125A and Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, as well as various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Governor Gehlot had previously issued a show-cause notice to Siddaramaiah on July 26, seeking an explanation regarding the alleged scam. This followed an earlier request for information from the state's Chief Secretary.

In early August, Abraham submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner of MUDA, calling for the cancellation and recall of the compensatory sites allocated to Parvathi Siddaramaiah. He argued that "illegal manipulations and corrupt steps" were undertaken at various stages of the land allocation process.

Adding to Siddaramaiah’s legal troubles, activist Snehamayi Krishna filed a private criminal complaint in the court of the people's representatives, accusing the Chief Minister of abusing his power to forge documents and claim MUDA land as his family's property. This complaint also requires the Governor's permission for prosecution.

With the Governor’s approval, the case against Siddaramaiah is likely to head to the courts. However, the Chief Minister is expected to challenge the decision, setting the stage for a protracted legal battle. The developments in this case could have significant ramifications for the political landscape of Karnataka.