Karnataka High Court Nullifies ED Summons Against Siddaramaiah's Spouse and Minister Suresh
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Synopsis
The Karnataka High Court has quashed the ED's summons to CM Siddaramaiah's wife and Minister Suresh in the MUDA case, providing significant relief to Siddaramaiah, who is the main accused. The court granted them immunity from appearing before the ED.
Key Takeaways
- Karnataka High Court quashes ED summons.
- Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife and Minister Suresh receive relief.
- The case involves the Mysuru Urban Development Authority.
- 14 sites under investigation as proceeds of crime.
- ED's jurisdiction questioned by defense counsel.
Bengaluru, March 7 (NationPress) The Karnataka High Court on Friday nullified the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife, B. M. Parvathi, and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh, related to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case.
A bench led by Justice M. Nagaprasanna made this ruling.
This development is viewed as a significant relief for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is identified as the first accused in the matter.
Recently, the High Court granted immunity to CM Siddaramaiah's wife and Minister Suresh, allowing them to avoid appearing before the ED.
Parvathi, who stands as the second accused in the case, requested the court to annul the ED summons requiring her to be questioned.
Minister Byrathi Suresh, a close ally of CM Siddaramaiah, also filed a petition seeking reprieve from the ED's summons for the investigation.
In representation for the ED, Additional Solicitor General Arvind Kamath stated that when the ED registered the case and filed the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), 14 designated sites were already in the possession of CM Siddaramaiah's wife.
The inquiry is deemed necessary as these 14 sites are considered the proceeds of crime. The ED has not laid any charges in the summons and had merely issued a request for information from her, he explained.
The ASG argued that directions had come from Minister Suresh's office, which also provided endorsements, thereby triggering the summons for questioning.
"Influential individuals are acquiring sites under the names of their relatives. Numerous relatives of the former MUDA Commissioner have received sites illegally. These sites are allocated to the grandfather, wife's grandfather, and brother's son without proper justification. This information will be communicated to the investigating agency," he noted.
The ASG further stated that corruption and the money amassed through illegal means are inseparable. "Whenever corruption occurs, money is illicitly accumulated. The private complaint alleges a scam worth Rs 5,000 crore, and based on this, the Lokayukta has filed an FIR. This matter extends beyond the allotment of 14 sites; the ED is probing allegations of illegalities in MUDA," he mentioned.
Senior counsel Sandeep Chowta, representing CM Siddaramaiah's wife, argued: "The ED is investigating the allocation of 1,708 sites, not just 14. The ED is overstepping its jurisdiction. It has temporarily seized 160 sites and is looking into land acquisition and conversion matters."
"The ED has encroached on the jurisdiction of the Lokayukta police. They have not confiscated the 14 sites returned to MUDA, but have taken other 160 sites. The Lokayukta police have submitted a closure report stating no misappropriation occurred in this case," he added.
Chowta continued, "On October 1, 2024, CM's wife Parvathi returned all 14 sites, insisting she is not in possession of the MUDA-allotted sites and is not benefiting from them. Thus, the alleged proceeds of crime are not in her control."
However, Chowta contended that the ED's registration of an ECIR was erroneous. He highlighted that the ED had registered the ECIR merely four days after the FIR was filed.
He asserted that the ED is redundantly reiterating an investigation already conducted by the Lokayukta Police.
