Court to Deliver Verdict on ED's Objections in MUDA Case Involving CM Siddaramaiah
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Synopsis
The Special Court in Bengaluru will announce its decision on the Enforcement Directorate's objections to the closure report in the MUDA case. The case involves Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and his family, with allegations of illegal land allotments and money laundering under investigation.
Key Takeaways
- The Special Court's decision is crucial for the MUDA case.
- CM Siddaramaiah is the main accused in the case.
- The ED challenges the Karnataka Lokayukta's closure report.
- Petitioner Snehamayi Krishna claims evidence against the accused.
- The investigation centers around illegal land allocations.
Bengaluru, April 15 (NationPress) The Special Court designated for MLAs and MPs is set to announce its ruling on Tuesday regarding the Enforcement Directorate’s challenge to the closure report in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, which implicates Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his spouse, and others.
After the completion of discussions and rebuttals, Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat had reserved the decision on April 9.
The ED has contested the closure report issued by the Karnataka Lokayukta by submitting a petition to the Special Court.
Snehamayi Krishna, the petitioner in this matter, expressed confidence on Tuesday that the court would rule against the closure report, asserting that there is sufficient evidence against CM Siddaramaiah and his relatives.
He emphasized that the Karnataka Lokayukta had previously filed the closure report under the influence of CM Siddaramaiah, a point conveyed to the court.
In its plea, the ED urged the court to reject the closure report from the Karnataka Lokayukta in the interest of justice and to provide appropriate directions for further investigation.
While arguing the MUDA scam case before the Special Court for MLAs and MPs in Bengaluru, the ED contended that those implicated in money laundering should not evade accountability.
CM Siddaramaiah is identified as the principal accused in the MUDA case, with his wife Parvati as the second accused and his brother-in-law Mallikarjunaswamy as the third.
Previously, the Karnataka Lokayukta had filed a closure report citing insufficient evidence against them.
Senior counsel Madhukar Deshpande, representing the ED, stated: “The Karnataka Lokayukta has filed a ‘B Report’ concerning the four accused in the MUDA scandal. Thus, the ED is entitled to challenge this closure report. The Supreme Court has indicated that individuals involved in money laundering should not be easily absolved.”
The counsel noted that the ED had shared comprehensive details of its investigation with the Lokayukta police, which were not considered, adding that the ED's report will also be presented to the court.
The ED, as an independent investigative body, possesses the authority to question the Lokayukta's findings. Even if the investigative team files a ‘B Report’ in the original case, the Supreme Court has determined that the ED can still contest it in certain circumstances.
The MUDA case pertains to the alleged unlawful allocation of 14 plots to the Chief Minister’s wife under a 50:50 ratio scheme, in exchange for 3.16 acres of land gifted by her brother, the third accused. Allegations suggest that the Chief Minister’s wife lacked legal ownership of this land.
The Special Court has mandated the filing of the PCR by September 25, 2024. The Lokayukta police in Mysuru had lodged an FIR naming Siddaramaiah, his family, and others. The ED initiated a case on October 1, 2024, launching an investigation under the PMLA.
The Lokayukta had submitted a closure report against CM Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvati, brother-in-law Mallikarjunaswamy, and landowner J. Devaraju.
The Karnataka High Court on March 7 annulled the summons issued by the ED to CM Siddaramaiah's wife, B.M. Parvathi, and state Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh concerning the MUDA case.
The petitioner, Snehamayi Krishna, lodged a complaint with the Commissioner of the Central Vigilance Committee (CVC) on March 12 against senior IPS officials in the Karnataka Lokayukta, questioning the clean chit granted to the CM and his relatives.
The petitioner also filed a writ petition with the division bench of the Karnataka High Court, challenging the single bench's decision to quash his appeal for a CBI investigation into the MUDA case.
The ED submitted an objection to this closure report on April 2, and petitioner Snehamayi Krishna also presented a plea questioning the Lokayukta’s investigation.
The investigative agency noted: “The investigation revealed illegal activities in land acquisition, allotment, generation of proceeds of crime, and improper influence in allotment.”
“Evidence gathered during the investigation under the PMLA, 2002, was communicated to the Lokayukta police in Mysuru via a letter. Currently, the Lokayukta has filed a report in this regard. An examination of the report indicates that the evidence regarding illegalities in the denotification process of the 3 acres 16 gunta land at Survey number 464 of Kesare village, as shared by this directorate with the Lokayukta police, was not included in the report,” the ED stated.
