MUDA Case: Complainant Krishna Urges Lokayukta to Initiate New Complaint Against CM Siddaramaiah Following ED Findings

Mysuru (Karnataka), Dec 12 (NationPress) The complainant in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, Snehamayi Krishna, has presented a petition on Thursday to the Karnataka Lokayukta, urging the filing of a new FIR against CM Siddaramaiah and others based on the conclusions drawn by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The ED recently provided its findings to the Investigating Officers in the Lokayukta, confirming various illegal activities.

"The Supreme Court in its ruling regarding the case of 'Vijay Madan Lal Choudhary and Union of India' has made explicit observations concerning this matter. The judgement elaborates on the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the process of filing an additional case," he noted.

The ruling clearly indicates that when the ED issues such an opinion, even if a case has already been registered, a new case may still be initiated.

"Therefore, I am submitting the petition along with a copy of the Supreme Court judgement," he added.

"In light of this, and considering the Supreme Court’s direction, based on the information provided to the ADGP Lokayukta by the ED investigating the MUDA case under the PMLA Act, I request the initiation of a fresh complaint against CM Siddaramaiah and others," he asserted.

The petition has been forwarded to the Superintendent of Police for the Mysuru Lokayukta, who is overseeing the investigation.

Petitioner Krishna has also appealed to the High Court to transfer the case to the CBI, while CM Siddaramaiah is seeking to dismiss the case against him.

The government has criticized the ED for its correspondence with the Karnataka Lokayukta regarding the MUDA case.

Minister Priyank Kharge has stated that the ED and IT are merely "puppets" of the Central government.

CM Siddaramaiah’s legal advisor and MLA A.S. Ponnanna claimed that ED officials have acted unlawfully.

"An FIR will be filed. Under the PMLA, the ED has no authority in this matter. Their involvement is politically motivated. We had chosen to remain silent during the investigation. Their inquiry is not aimed at revealing the truth but at concealing it," said Ponnanna.

CM Siddaramaiah expressed that the ED's communication to the Lokayukta is intended to sway the judiciary against him.

The ED, in a recent correspondence to the Karnataka Lokayukta department, asserted that MUDA had "illegally" allocated a total of 1,095 sites in benami and other questionable transactions.

It also indicated that the entire process of site allocation to CM Siddaramaiah's wife was deemed illegal.

The agency has further claimed to have discovered evidence that one of CM Siddaramaiah's aides, S.G. Dinesh Kumar alias C.T. Kumar, exerted "undue influence" during the process.

"Most of the allocations have been made in the names of Benami or dummy individuals under the pretext of land losers. However, the actual beneficiaries of these illegal allocations are real estate moguls and influential individuals," the ED stated.

IANS

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