Mysuru: Allegations against former chief minister Siddaramaiah related to his alleged involvement in a 37-year-old case of land irregularity are baseless and bogus, said Mysuru District Congress president Dr B.J. Vijay Kumar, who was accompanied by advocates, here on Wednesday.
“Mr Siddaramaiah had purchased the land in 1997 and sold it in 2003. There is no irregularity and there is no evidence to prove that. We are going to take up a rigorous legal battle and approach higher courts, appealing to quash the case. We will also file a defamation case against RTI activist N. Gangaraju, who has filed a private complaint in a court regarding this case. We will start the legal process once Mr Siddaramaiah comes back from the nature cure centre at Belthangady,” he said. “Soon after Mr Siddaramaiah stepped down, a team has been trying to tarnish his image. This is one such instance. Mr Siddaramaiah has served the public honestly, without blemish. Why would he involve in mere 30 guntas of land? Saakamma, Sunanda and Annaiah owned 10 guntas of land each at Vijaynagar Second Stage in survey number 70/4a. It was not notified by the Mysore Urban Development Authority in 1981. It issued a no-objection certificate in 1997. Saakamma, who owned 10 guntas of land, applied for land conversion and got permission for alienation in 1997. Only after its alienation, she sold the land to Mr Siddaramaiah in 1997. But he re-sold it in 2003 as he needed money for elections. We have procured all relevant documents from MUDA. There is absolutely no proof of Mr Siddaramaiah’s involvement. He will come out clean,” Mr Kumar said. RTI activist N. Gangaraju had filed a private complaint before the Principal Senior Civil Judge on June 4. The court has directed Lakshmipuram police to investigate and submit a report by July 23. But the police are yet to file an FIR in this regard.
