Trouble is brewing for Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as the state’s Governor, Thaawarchand Gehlot, has sanctioned his prosecution in the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. This decision comes after a series of events, including a ‘show-cause notice’ issued to the CM by the Governor on July 26th. The notice demanded a response within seven days regarding his refraining from prosecution.
The MUDA scam, which has been making headlines recently, involves the alleged fraudulent exchange of less desirable land in a remote part of Mysuru for valuable land in a prime area. The controversy revolves around the Chief Minister’s wife, Parvathi, being a beneficiary of this exchange, raising suspicion of corruption. Opposition parties have accused Siddaramaiah of usurping land belonging to the Dalit community and estimate the scam to be worth ₹ 3,000 crore.
The complainant, Snehamayi Krishna, has leveled serious allegations against Siddaramaiah and his family, accusing MUDA of creating forged documents to obtain plots worth crores of rupees. In addition to the Chief Minister and his wife, the complainant accuses Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law, Malikarjuna Swamy Devaraj, of wrongdoing. Siddaramaiah has denied all allegations, claiming that all actions were legal. He asserts that the Development Authority illegally developed a layout on four acres of land owned by his wife in Mysuru’s Kesarur without proper acquisition.
The Governor’s decision to sanction prosecution is based on three petitions filed by T J Abraham, Pradeep, and Snehamayi Krishna. Following this development, opposition parties, including the BJP and JD(S), have intensified their calls for Siddaramaiah’s resignation and the return of the land given to his family. Earlier this month, a week-long protest march culminating in a large rally, brought the issue to the forefront, demanding accountability for the alleged scam.
