Karnataka CM Grilled By Lokayukta Over Plot Allotment To His Wife
By : M B GIRISH
Update: 2024-11-06 09:22 GMT
Bengaluru: Summoned by Lokayukta, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday appeared before Mysuru Lokayukta Superintendent of Police TJ Udesh at the Lokayukta office in Mysuru city where he was grilled by the Lokayukta SP for nearly an hour and half (from 10.30 am to 12 pm) in connection with alleged irregularities in 14 plots allotted to his wife B.M. Parvathi by Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) in lieu of her losing 3.16 acres in survey numbers 462 and 464 at Kesare village in Mysuru.
Siddaramaiah belongs to Siddaramanahundi, a village in Mysuru taluk and represents Varuna Assembly seat in Mysuru district.
However, the timing of questioning of Siddaramaiah by Lokayukta led to suspicion by social activist and petitioner Snehamayi Krishna over fair conduct of investigation and he termed the timing as pre-determined one (as per the directions of CM).
A Mysuru-based activist Snehamayi Krishna has filed a writ petition in the High Court asking for transfer of plot distribution investigation from Lokayukta to CBI.
“The timing of questioning (within set time) by Lokayukta leads to suspicion on the (fair) functioning of Lokayukta and has given a solid proof to press for investigation by sleuths of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI),” said the activist.
As per the tour programme of Chief Minister released by his office for Wednesday stated Siddaramaiah arrived in Mysuru city at around 10 am and departed at around 12 pm to campaign for Congress nominee C.P. Yogeshwar in the fray for Channapatna assembly by-poll in Ramnagar district.
On Monday, Lokayukta summoned the Chief Minister to appear for questioning over plot allotments after a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the CM, his wife, brother-in-law among others. The Lokayukta SP had earlier grilled B.M. Parvathi, CM’s brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy among others in the same case.
Responding to the Lokayukta notice, the Chief Minister reached Mysuru city from Bengaluru and appeared before the Lokayukta SP at his office at around 10.30 am and left after the questioning at around 12 pm.
After coming out of Lokayukta office, Chief Minister told reporters he answered queries posed to him by the Lokayukta and his statement has been recorded by the sleuths.
On the questions raised over fair functioning of Lokayukta since it is under the State Government, the Chief Minister said like CBI which is an independent agency under Central Government, Lokayukta is also an independent agency at the State level.
Continuing, he said opposition parties do not have faith in Lokayukta functioning and Lokayukta has taken-up investigation on the orders of the High Court. “Did BJP (during their rule) hand over any cases to CBI?” asked the Chief Minister.
Apart from Lokayukta investigation, sleuths of Enforcement Directorate (ED) have registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) which is equivalent to police FIR against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah charging him under money laundering.
ED sleuths conducted raids on the office of MUDA in Mysuru city and persons linked with irregularities plot allotments by MUDA.
After ED’s ECIR, B.M. Parvathi, wife of Siddaramaiah, wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) stating her decision to voluntarily return the 14 plots allotted to her in lieu of her losing 3.16 acres at Kesare.