Lokayukta's probe clears CM Siddaramaiah, his wife, and others in MUDA plot allotment case; ED investigation into money laundering continues
Bengaluru: The Lokayukta police probing the Mysuru site allotment case said on Wednesday that the charges of irregularities against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife B.M. Parvathi and brother-in-law Mallikarjun Swamy could not be proved for want of evidence.
In a notice to complainant and social activist Snehamayi Krishna, Lokayukta Mysuru wing superintendent of police T.J. Udesh said that no evidence was found against the accused persons in the investigation and asked the complainant to file his objection before the magistrate within seven days.
The investigating officers said that they have submitted the final report to the Karnataka High Court.
The complainant had alleged irregularities in the allotment of plots by Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) from 2016 to 2024.
According to Muda officials, Parvathi was allotted 14 compensatory plots in a posh locality in Mysuru in lieu of her losing 3.16 acres in Kesare in Mysuru taluk to the authority, which had developed the land without her consent.
Social activists T.J. Abraham and Pradeep Kumar, and Snehamayi Krishna, however, had objected to the allotment, alleging that the 14 plots allotted to Parvathi were worth `56 crore which is more than the value of land lost by her. They also alleged that Siddaramaiah used his political influence to get his wife the expensive land.
They petitioned Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot seeking his permission for the prosecution of Siddaramaiah. The Governor granted permission in August 2024.
Following this, a special court dealing with criminal cases against MPs and MLAs heard the case and directed the Lokayukta, Mysuru wing investigate the case.
Krishna, however, moved the Karnataka High Court seeking an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation, doubting the fairness of the probe by the Lokayukta as it functions under the state government. The High Court dismissed the petition.
After Lokayukta sleuths registered an FIR against Chief Minister and his family members, officials of Directorate of Enforcement, Bengaluru registered an enforcement case information report (ECIR) on charge of money laundering in Muda plot allotments.
Subsequently, Paravthi surrendered 14 plots allotted to her to MUDA. Investigation by ED officials, however, is still on.
R. Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, told the media that the Lokayukta report was on expected lines, according to PTI. Krishna, told PTI: “Only those officials who have sold their conscience can give such a report”.
