ED Set to Take Action Against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA Case

Bengaluru, Dec 4 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is poised to take action against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after accumulating substantial evidence linking him to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam case, as per sources on Wednesday.

The agency has tracked the money trail and hawala transactions associated with the MUDA scam following a complaint lodged by petitioner Snehamayi Krishna.

Furthermore, the ED has communicated its findings to the Karnataka Lokayukta regarding the purported illegal allotment of plots to CM Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathy, as compensation.

Sources have indicated that the ED has compiled evidence concerning the illegal allocation of thousands of plots to CM Siddaramaiah's relatives and supporters.

Previously, ED officials interrogated Siddaramaiah's brother-in-law, Mallikarjuna Swamy, along with landowner J. Devaraju.

RTI activist Gangaraju has also provided critical documents related to the MUDA case to the ED.

Karnataka BJP President B. Y. Vijayendra asserted on Wednesday that the controversy surrounding illegal land allocations in the MUDA scam has already underscored Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's involvement, supported by evidence, including records showing that 14 plots were allocated to his family and thousands of plots misappropriated.

Basing on these documents, the High Court upheld the Governor's decision to grant permission for prosecution, facilitating an open investigation.

Vijayendra stated, “District Commissioners had informed the government that the MUDA scam resulted in losses worth thousands of crores to the state. In response, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated an investigation to clarify the actual situation.”

He also noted, “While the Lokayukta's involvement in the investigation has raised doubts, the ED's findings have further revealed the truth behind the Chief Minister's facade.”

Despite the ongoing situation, CM Siddaramaiah appears intent on continuing his political strategies, reminiscent of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's tactics, seemingly vowing that “even if I face imprisonment, I will not give up the Chief Minister's position.” The Congress High Command's failure to act against Siddaramaiah reflects a troubling aspect of Karnataka politics, Vijayendra added.

Additionally, sources confirmed that the Karnataka government has annulled 48 residential plots sanctioned by the MUDA in a frantic effort to evade ED scrutiny.

Former MUDA Commissioner Dinesh Kumar is implicated in these allotments, which allegedly caused substantial losses to the state treasury. The plots, valued at crores, were reportedly allocated for merely Rs 4 to Rs 5 lakh.

The allocations were made under the guise of a non-existent cooperative society, and former Mysuru Deputy Commissioner Rajendra labeled it a significant scam, also submitting a report on the matter, sources disclosed.

The contested plots, situated in Dattagalli Layout, were distributed in December 2023 during a general meeting of the MUDA.

The Urban Development Secretary K. Latha issued the order based on directives from CM Siddaramaiah, the sources noted.

In a recent correspondence to the Karnataka Lokayukta, the ED claimed that the MUDA had “illegally” allotted a total of 1,095 plots through benami and other such transactions.

The agency also asserted that it had uncovered evidence showing that one of CM Siddaramaiah's aides, S. G. Dinesh Kumar alias C. T. Kumar, exercised “undue influence” in the allotment process.

The ED investigation revealed that most of the allocations were made in the names of benami or fictitious individuals masquerading as land losers. However, the actual beneficiaries of these illegal allotments are real estate developers and influential individuals.