Lokayukta Submits 11,000-Page Closure Report in MUDA Case Following Clean Chit for Karnataka CM and Associates
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Synopsis
On February 20, the Karnataka Lokayukta submitted an extensive 11,000-page closure report regarding the MUDA case to the Special Court in Bengaluru, declaring a clean chit for CM Siddaramaiah and others involved. The investigation revealed no evidence against the accused while continuing inquiries into other implicated officials.
Key Takeaways
- 11,000-page closure report submitted by Karnataka Lokayukta.
- Investigation cleared CM Siddaramaiah and three others.
- Further investigations against officials and other accused continue.
- Deputy CM states the case is politically motivated.
- No evidence found against the accused.
Bengaluru, February 20 (NationPress) The Karnataka Lokayukta, currently examining the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, presented a comprehensive 11,000-page closure report to the Special Court for MLAs and MPs in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Mysuru Lokayukta SP, T.J. Udesh, delivered the report to the court just a day after the Karnataka Lokayukta declared a clean chit for CM Siddaramaiah and the other accused in the matter.
According to sources, the Lokayukta has filed a closure report regarding the case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife B.M. Parvathi (Accused No. 2), Mallikarjunswamy, Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law (Accused No. 3), and landowner J. Devaraju (Accused No. 4).
Further details indicate that the report incorporates statements from over 50 individuals and concludes that there is no evidence against CM Siddaramaiah and the three other accused.
Nevertheless, the report asserts that investigations will persist against officials and other implicated individuals.
In response to these developments, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar stated in Bengaluru on Thursday, “I have maintained that the MUDA case is fundamentally political. When the BJP and JD(S) organized a padyatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru concerning this issue, I reiterated that it was politically motivated.”
“There is no signature or order issued by CM Siddaramaiah. He only sought a claim regarding the acquisition of his property, and the allotment of sites was conducted accordingly. There is no regulation mandating compensatory sites to be provided in a specific locality. There is no evidence in this case—it has been a purely political scheme,” he asserted.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar further emphasized that both the High Court and the Supreme Court have commented on the matter.
“The Lokayukta is an independent body, and the courts have stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity of local institutions. The police do not follow the CM’s orders for every action. Whether I am the CM or BJP's Basavaraj Bommai is in that position, such interference will not occur,” he added.
He reiterated that the Lokayukta is a constitutional entity beyond the CM's jurisdiction.
“The appointment of officials is done in consultation with the agency, and the officers belong to the Karnataka cadre,” Shivakumar remarked.
Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy also commented, expressing his belief that CM Siddaramaiah would receive a clean chit from the Lokayukta.
“There is no letter from him, nor any recommendation to MUDA for site allotments. The decisions were made during the tenure of the BJP government. The allotments were issued for everyone, including CM Siddaramaiah. If any action should be taken, it must be directed at the BJP-appointed Chairman of MUDA. The BJP and JD(S) must bear responsibility,” he stated.
Priyank Kharge, who oversees Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, IT, and BT, commented that the Lokayukta functions as an independent entity.
“If the BJP claims disbelief in it, how credible is that? What if the BJP and JD(S) conducted a padyatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru? Does that imply we should impose capital punishment? Let the Opposition continue their protests, but they should support it with valid records,” he added.
It was alleged that CM Siddaramaiah fraudulently obtained the allotment of 14 sites through MUDA under his wife’s name in exchange for the acquisition of 3.16 acres of land.
The Karnataka Lokayukta, which scrutinized the situation, has granted a clean chit to CM Siddaramaiah and the other accused.
This information was conveyed in a notice to the petitioner, Snehamayi Krishna, on Wednesday.
The Lokayukta instructed Snehamayi Krishna to approach the magistrate within a week of receiving the notice if he wishes to contest the findings.
Superintendent of Police T.J. Udesh stated in the notice that the investigation determined the case to be of a civil nature and not suitable for criminal proceedings.
The allegations were found to be based on either a misconception or a misunderstanding of the law, rendering no action feasible.
The notice further indicated that no evidence was found against CM Siddaramaiah and the other accused as the fourth point.
The notice also clarified that the accusations against Accused Nos. 1 to 4 in the MUDA case were unsubstantiated due to insufficient evidence.
