Lokayukta registers case against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in land scam

The state anti-corruption body on Friday registered a case against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in an alleged scam linked to the land allocation by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

This move, which could pose a major legal challenge for the Congress leader, follows a court order directing the Lokayukta police to probe the allegations that his wife was allocated premium properties by the MUDA in violation of norms.

The FIR names Siddaramaiah as the first accused, followed by his wife Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjun Swamy, and one Devaraj, from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi.

According to the allegations, the Mysuru development body acquired a parcel of land owned by Parvathi and compensated her with higher-value plots. The BJP-led Opposition and some activists have accused Siddaramaiah and his wife, Parvathi, of benefiting from this “illegal” compensatory land deal, estimating the alleged irregularities to be worth Rs 4,000 crore.

In August, Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot granted permission to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Earlier this month, the Karnataka High Court upheld the Governor’s sanction. Subsequently, the Special Court for criminal cases involving former and current MPs/MLAs directed the Lokayukta police in Mysuru to investigate a complaint filed by RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna.

The complaint accuses Siddaramaiah’s wife of being allotted compensatory plots in a prime Mysuru area with higher property values compared to her land acquired by the MUDA. Under MUDA’s 50:50 ratio scheme, Parvathi was allocated plots in exchange for 3.16 acres of land. However, it is also alleged that she had no legal title to the 3.16 acres in Kasare village in Mysuru.

However, the Karnataka Chief Minister rejected these allegations, claiming that the land deal was completed as per mandates and there were no irregularities. He also dismissed the Opposition’s call for his resignation, which grew louder after the court’s order directing a case against him.

Siddaramaiah, speaking to reporters on Friday, claimed he was being targeted as the opposition is “scared” of him and said it’s the first such “political case” against him.

“I have done no wrong. This is the first time a political case has been registered against me. This is a political case, please underline,” Siddaramaiah said. He also accused the central government of misusing central agencies like the CBI, the ED and also the office of the Governor in the opposition-ruled states across the country.